Science helps us track how native animals and plants respond to watering actions. It also helps us track water quality and flow in the Murrumbidgee River Valley.
Lessons learnt
Monitoring, evaluation and research shows us what's working and what's not. This knowledge helps us manage water for the environment in real-time and in the future.
Frog breeding and rising water levels
Rising water levels in wetlands during October and November triggers breeding in many frog species. This includes the southern bell frog, which is a nationally-listed vulnerable species.
Aquatic vegetation and water for the environment
From 2014 to 2024, water for the environment helped create aquatic plant communities in the mid-Murrumbidgee and Lowbidgee floodplains.
Native fish species in floodplain creeks and wetlands
Native fish species can reproduce within floodplain creeks and wetlands without a connection to the Murrumbidgee River. Golden perch spawn and recruit in Tala Creek in response to water for the environment.
This shows that floodplain creeks and connected systems, like lakes and lagoons, are ideal habitats for native fish recruitment.
Environmental flows from the river can also supply fish larvae and juvenile fish to the floodplain.
Fish spawning and water temperatures
There is a link between water temperatures and the spawning of riverine fish in the Murrumbidgee River.
So far, there is little evidence that flow peaks in the mid-Murrumbidgee affect spawning of fish like the golden or silver perch. This may be partly due to already higher flows during breeding season.
Australasian bitterns
Environmental water has helped Australasian bitterns breed in spring and summer. Recent research has also found Bitterns using wetlands in winter.
CEWH science
We support several projects through our CEWH science programs.
In the Murrumbidgee River Valley, we work on these projects with:
- local community
- First Nations people
- scientists
- New South Wales agencies
- landholders.
Flow-MER Program publications
On-ground activities for the Flow-MER Program are underway. Read the Murrumbidgee Area science publications containing detailed information on the Murrumbidgee Area monitoring, evaluation and research activities planned for 2024–29, including updates and reports.
You can also visit the Flow-MER website to learn more about monitoring in the Murrumbidgee River Valley area.