Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy ministers
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Australian Energy Employment Report survey

    Share insights to help the energy workforce plan for the future

    Find out more

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
  4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
  5. Environmental Water Knowledge and Research

Sidebar first - EN - Water

  • Monitoring and evaluation
    • Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program
    • Future Flow-MER
    • Recent highlights Flow-MER Program
    • Aquatic ecosystems toolkit

Environmental Water Knowledge and Research

The Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research (MDB EWKR) Project was a five-year project coordinated by the Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems at La Trobe University, undertaken in collaboration with scientists from a range of research organisations and jurisdictional agencies, to improve the science available to support environmental water management in the Murray-Darling Basin. The work is being continued through the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program.

Projects like EWKR have value beyond the performance of research projects as they provide a unique opportunity for the formation of collaborations, networks and research directions between water managers, research organisations and government agencies in the Murray Darling Basin.

Some key findings include:

  • Floodplain inundation is crucial to provide the highest quality resources for riverine foodwebs
  • Processes within the Basin operate at a myriad of scales so managing a river for recruitment or dispersal, for example requires information at each scale (i.e. site, catchment, basin)
  • Connectivity of rivers, habitats and catchments is needed to ensure the movement of organisms and resources across the Basin
  • Improvements in habitat quality can be influenced by flow management and resource management e.g. by providing flows that promote fish movement or improve the structural complexity within rivers
  • There is no one correct way to manage the Basin. The ‘boom and bust’ variability of unregulated Australian rivers needs to be mimicked to provide the maximum opportunity for all life history strategies

Stories about the learnings and adaptive management can be found on the EWKR Story Space.

Final reports

The Synthesis Report presents the technical research findings, methods, decision support tools and recommendations for improved approaches for further research. The report integrates research findings under the four research Themes – Fish, Food Webs, Vegetation and Waterbirds.

The research theme reports outline the priority research undertaken to address the key knowledge gaps. Each theme report synthesizes findings, key considerations for water managers and highlights what remains to be learned to better inform environmental water management.

  • Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Synthesis Report - 2019
Vegetation
Fish
Waterbirds
Foodwebs

Research questions and sites:

The selection of priority research question and sites is outlined in the report MDB EWKR: Selection of priority research questions and sites.

Originally it was intended that research would be conducted at four sites across the Murray-Darling Basin; Mid-Murray, Lower Murray, Macquarie Marshes and the Lower Balonne. However, as the project evolved it became clear that not limiting research to certain areas would provide better knowledge and coverage across the Basin. Research was undertaken at each of the four priority sites, but other sites were also included as the research evolved. A summary of the sites and research undertaken at each of the sites can be found in Appendix 1 – Research Site Report of the Synthesis Report.

Research Plans

The Multi-year Research Plan outlines the research activities undertaken to address the priority research questions. The Multi-year Research Plan was updated annually and supported by a more detailed Annual Research Plan.

  • Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Annual Research Plan 2016-17
  • Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Annual Research Plan 2017-18
  • Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Annual Research Plan 2018-19
  • Murray–Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Multi-Year Research Plan and Addendum
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.