Research
Introduction to the Riparian Restoration Experiment
A degraded riparian zone, typical of small creeks throughout southeastern Australia.
The restoration of riparian zones is being carried out across streams throughout Australia, costing millions of dollars annually. These efforts are motivated by an understanding that the overall health of our streams is intimately linked with condition of the riparian zone. However, the magnitude, rate and timing of ecosystem recovery once restoration activities have commenced is far less certain.
There is also a need to better understand the specific mechanisms involved in recovery and the key factors that might indicate success. In most cases the responses of a stream to riparian rehabilitation are not monitored, and where monitoring is conducted no consistent methods are used. With the support of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, and CMA's, a team of scientists are addressing this knowledge gap. The project is called the "Riparian Restoration Experiment".
Broken River and Broken Creek, Monitoring Native Fish
Knowledge of the status of native and introduced fish communities is important in managing natural resources. This knowledge is required to make decisions about whether management actions (e.g., habitat rehabilitation or increased fish passage) are required and what needs to be implemented to provide desired outcomes. The existence of baseline and continued monitoring is also vital to investigate the effects of management actions.
In the Broken Creek a study was undertaken between Nathalia and Numurkah to:
- collect baseline fish data;
- assess upstream fish movement as a continuation of the lower Broken Creek fishway program; and
- identify areas with the potential for habitat rehabilitation.
In the Broken River a study was undertaken upstream of Shepparton to:
- provide information on the distribution, diversity and abundance of fish and;
- establish whether instream barriers continue to restrict fish movement.
 | Monitoring of Native Fish Communities in the Broken Creek and Broken River Knowledge of the status of native and introduced fish communities is important in managing natural resources. This survey was the first to monitor sites upstream of Benalla Weir and indicates that the fish community upstream of this structure appears to be very different to that below it. | |
 | Effects of the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan on fish community structure in the Broken River One-year report |
Mid Goulburn River Health Report
The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) contracted Charles Sturt University's Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) to explore landholder and wider community values, perceptions, priorities and actions in relation to management of the riparian zone of the Mid-Goulburn River. This research was intended to support the implementation GB CMA's Regional River Health Strategy.
The research team had previously conducted similar research in the GB CMA region in 2001 (Curtis et al. 2001). These data provided an important baseline against which to compare changes over time in aspects of landholder management of river frontages.
| Mid Goulburn River Health Report - Final 11 September 2008 | |
| Management of water ways and adjoining land in the Mid-Goulburn River Landholder and other stakeholder actions and perspectives. |
Honeysuckle Creek Catchment Research Forum - August 2003
A research forum was held in August 2003 at the Caniambo Hall to present a range of projects being undertaken the Honeysuckle Creek Catchment. A brief outline of the presentations and contact details for the research projects are listed.
More info on Honeysuckle Creek Catchment Research Forum - August 2003
Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities Conference - December 2004
Presented by the GBCMA and the University of Melbourne's Centre for Water and Landscape Management (CWLM), Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities 2004 was a research-based conference held at the University of Melbourne's Dookie Campus. Click here to view biographies and presentations from the conference.Presented by the GBCMA and the University of Melbourne's Centre for Water and Landscape Management (CWLM), Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities 2004 was a research-based conference held at the University of Melbourne's Dookie Campus. Click here to view biographies and presentations from the conference.
More info on Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities Conference - December 2004
Research in Progress
The following abstracts are current research projects in progress which are funded by the Goulburn Broken CMA River Health program.