Publication (Media): RIVER HEALTH REPORT RELEASED

Publication Type:	Media Release
Publication Name:	RIVER HEALTH REPORT RELEASED

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Kirk, Lawrie (2001) RIVER HEALTH REPORT RELEASED - Oct 24 2001, CRCFE, Canberra - Media Release.

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MEDIA RELEASE

RIVER HEALTH REPORT RELEASED

Wednesday 24 October 2001

Two major reports relating to the health of the rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin were released today by the President of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Dr Roy Green.

The reports are part of a comprehensive program being undertaken by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to improve river health. "A major research program is being implemented to underpin discussion of the wide range of policy options now being considered" said Dr Green.

The first report, Snapshot of Murray-Darling Basin River Condition found that
overall biological and environmental condition of the River Murray and lower Darling is degraded throughout those river systems, with an increasing trend in degradation towards the river mouth. Fish populations are in very poor to extremely poor condition throughout the River Murray though in slightly better condition in the lower Darling. Macro-invertebrate communities are generally in poor condition and declining towards the river mouth. The condition of riparian vegetation along the entire river was assessed as poor with grazing and alterations to the flow regime being the major causes.

The quality of wetlands has been significantly reduced, particularly in the area between Hume Dam and Mildura. Most wetland loss is attributed to permanent inundation of previously intermittently flooded wetlands. Hydrological condition in the river channel is poor for all areas, with the extent, timing and duration of floodplain inundation all significantly impacted. Riverine habitat was found to be poor or very poor through all areas with connectivity, riparian vegetation and bedload all affected by regulation. The condition of floodplain inundation was assessed as very poor in all reaches.

The report has been prepared to inform discussion on matters affecting river health in the Basin. It presents an interim picture of river health at two scales - the first a broad view of river health across all rivers in the Basin, the second a more detailed assessment of the health of the River Murray and lower Darling.

"It does not pretend to be more than a glimpse of river health, but the picture is clear - rivers in the Basin are generally in poor ecological condition." said Dr Green.

This Snapshot is the first collation of river health information prepared specifically for the Basin. The report has been reviewed by the Commission's Independent Sustainable Rivers Audit Group and their overview comments have been included. Importantly, they note that the current level of health is less than what is required for ecological sustainability and that the evidence for decline is inescapable.

The Snapshot report was based on current information, funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and prepared by the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology in collaboration with CSIRO Land and Water and the National Land and Water Resources Audit. The report used information from the National Land and Water Resources Audit, which had collated and recorded the information of State and national programs in a systematic and rigorous manner.

Views on the health of the River Murray have also been collated in a second report released today by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. This report titled Stakeholder Profiling Study was commissioned by the Project Board of the River Murray Environmental Flows and Water Quality Project.

In releasing this report Dr Green said, " It is the first time that the Murray-Darling Basin Commission has independently and systematically identified a range of community concerns relating to the health of the River Murray. The report was funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and prepared by CSIRO’s Australian Research Centre for Water in Society. It provides an insight into the views of more than 300 rural and urban people.”

The report indicates that communities do accept the need for change in the management of the River Murray. Communities are concerned about the health of the Murray, they believe the time to act is now and they do want to be involved in decisions that affect the way the river is managed. Understandably, there is divided opinion on issues relating to water allocation, water rights and priority uses. This Stakeholder Profiling Study will help to shape the future community engagement processes that need to be undertaken to address environmental flows and water quality of the River Murray.

Other elements supporting the Environmental Flows project include the construction of fishways on Commission structures to allow fish passage from Hume Dam to the Murray Mouth, water allocations to key environmental areas and revised river management guidelines to produce more natural flow patterns.

Copies of the two reports can be found on the Murray-Darling Basin Commission web site www.mdbc.gov.au. Media contact: Lawrie Kirk 02 6279 0107, 0417 219 158 or Daniel Connell 02 6279 0129

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