New study to throw light on water needs of the Narran lakes

Scientists are joining forces with the community in a new $1.6 million study of the water available for the Narran Lakes, on the Lower Balonne Floodplain, near the Queensland–NSW border.

Water allocation in the Lower Balonne region has been subject of much controversy in the last year, because pastoralists, farmers, indigenous communities, towns and the environment including the Narran Lakes, all depend on the river flow in this semi-arid area.

Far from buying into the arguments about water use, a team from the CRC for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE) is using its expertise in freshwater biology, river flows and waterbody structure to see how flows and flow variability affect the way the lakes function.

Can the lakes still be valuable habitat for birds, fish, plants and animals if their water supply is being shared with towns, pastoral properties and irrigated cropping upstream?

`The challenge for us is to combine the research results with the knowledge of local people to improve the overall outcome,' says Ralph Ogden, leader of knowledge exchange for the project.

`Local knowledge is extremely important in a project like this,' says Ogden. `The team plans to work closely with the area's pastoral, agricultural, urban and indigenous communities.'

The project is funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, and run by the CRCFE as a collaborative study between its partners the University of Canberra, Monash University (Melbourne) and the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre at Goondiwindi.

Listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1999, the Narran Lakes Nature Reserve accommodates waterbirds from all over the world, as well as several species noted in bilateral treaties with Japan and China for the protection of waterbirds.

This combination of wetlands, lakes, river and floodplain occupies about one seventh of the land area on the Lower Balonne floodplain, at the upper end of the Darling River. It's a very significant part of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Say project co-leaders Martin Thoms, based at the University of Canberra, and Gerry Quinn, based at Monash University, both of the CRCFE,

`We want to be able to predict what could happen when climate or river conditions change'.

ENDS Background information sheet attached

FOR INTERVIEWS:
National media: Associate Professor Ralph Ogden, phone 0407 013 077 (mobile) or 02 6201 5369
Queensland and northern NSW media: Dr Glenn Wilson, Goondiwindi, phone 07 4671 6134
or 0429 837 082 (mobile).
Victoria media: Asssociate Professor Gerry Quinn, phone 0409 438 945 (mobile) or 03 9905 5633.
ACT media: Associate Professor Martin Thoms, phone 02 6201 2933 (16 June onwards).





Background information for Narran Lakes Project media release: 11 June 2003

Geography
The Narran Lakes are on the Lower Balonne Floodplain, at the southern end of the Narran River. The lakes are roughly between Brewarrina and Walgett in NSW. The Narran River flows into them from the north, via Dirranbandi, in Queensland, downstream from St George.

The Narran River stops at the lakes, and the lakes do not often overflow, so they are known as a terminal wetland (a bit like a delta in a river that goes out to sea). Terminal wetlands, like other wetlands, are generally important as sites where waterbirds, fish and other animals can feed and breed.

The Narran Lakes wetland ecosystem covers about 10,000 hectares. It consists of three lakes (Back Lake and Clear Lake, which are part of the Narran Lakes Nature Reserve, and Narran Lake) and the floodplain and channel of the Narran River itself. Water for the Narran River and Narran Lakes originates in the Maranoa River and the Condamine River (see map), draining central and south-eastern Queensland respectively.

The Lower Balonne Floodplain is home to pastoral properties and irrigated cotton farms, as well as several towns. It is a semi-arid area, with annual rainfall of about 450 mm falling mainly in summer.

Project goals, aims, etc.
An important goal for the CRC for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE) is to combine the knowledge of local people with the research results to improve overall knowledge about the area and the overall outcome of the project. We want the community to be part of the study, and hope that they will be proud to be associated with the results.

The broad aim of the CRCFE's Narran Lakes project is to contribute ecological knowledge to the policies being developed for water resource and land use in the region.

Specifically, the study teams wants to:

1) determine what happens to the Narran Lakes ecosystem and the life that depends on it when river inflow varies or there are changes to land-use and water-use;

2) predict what will happen at the Narran Lakes if climate change affects the area;

3) find out how important the Narran Lakes ecosystem is to the ecology of the region.

Local input and quality control
Four groups have been set up to facilitate the study and advise on project development and progress:
1) a Project Steering Committee, made up of representatives from relevant government departments,
2) a Technical Management Group of scientists,
3) a Community Reference Group, made up of local community members (including members of the indigenous community) from Queensland and northern NSW, and chaired by Mrs Leith Boully, a wool, beef and cotton producer on the Lower Balonne Floodplain near Dirranbandi, who is also Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Community Advisory Committee, and
4) an International Scientific Panel of eminent ecologists from Australia and overseas.

Action so far
The study officially began on 1 April 2003. So far, the core scientific team (Associate Professors Martin Thoms and Gerry Quinn at Canberra and Monash, and Dr Glenn Wilson at Goondiwindi) is assembling some basic data, and beginning to consider potential study methods.

Community knowledge being valued
Glenn Wilson and Ralph Odgen (Director of Knowledge Exchange for the CRC for Freshwater Ecology) have met with community representatives at St George. A web site is being built for the project. It includes a ‘living page’ or guestbook through which interested residents of the area can add to the growing body of knowledge about the area. The team also plans to have ongoing discussions with local people.

The CRC for Freshwater Ecology (CRFFE) develops ecological understanding to improve and protect Australia's inland waters. The CRCFE comprises 19 partners, including Monash University, the University of Canberra and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre labs at Goondiwindi, Albury-Wodonga and Mildura are also part of the CRCFE.