Murray-Darling Basin Commission – December 2004 E-letter No 37

Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin monthly e-letter with reports of happenings across the Basin.

Contributions are welcome. Please send items (no more than 150 words) to the editor at leone@netspeed.com.au

An online html version is available at: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/commcentre/elist/eletter/eletter_menu.html

Please feel free to pass this e-letter along to anybody who might be interested.

To subscribe online go to http://www.mdbc.gov.au/commcentre/elist/form.htm

To be removed from the mailing list, please reply to this message with "unsubscribe" in the subject heading.

This newsletter currently has 740 subscribers.

(See also The Living Murray website at http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au)

In this issue:

Ministerial Council agrees to initial four water recovery proposals
On 26 November, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council agreed to an initial four water recovery proposals under the first step of The Living Murray Initiative.

The communiqué issued after the meeting said implementation of the proposals was subject to resolution of issues relating to the National Water Initiative by COAG.

The four proposals from Victoria and New South Wales will recover 240 GL at a cost of $179 million. This is nearly half the water to be recovered in the First Step decision, costing about 35% of the budget agreed at COAG.

These proposals, when implemented, will provide new water for environmental flows for the River Murray and the six significant ecological assets. They will also lead to improved irrigation infrastructure, creation of a new separate tradeable water product in northern Victoria and reliable access to stock and domestic water for landowners in the Darling Anabranch.

The Council noted the progress made over the last 12 months in implementing The Living Murray including funding for four feasibility assessments of infrastructure projects which may ultimately result in water recovery in excess of 60 GL. A further call for proposals will be made shortly.

Under the $150M Environmental Works and Measures Program, 38 projects are currently underway including development of hydraulic models, additional watering of drought stressed red gums at 5 sites on the Chowilla Floodplain and fishways completed at the barrages and at Locks 7, 8 and 15 in 2004.

The Council agreed to the Business Plan for The Living Murray and to its public release. Activation of the Business Plan would also be subject to resolution of issues relating to the National Water Initiative by COAG.

To read the full communiqué and the attachments to the communiqué go to: www.mdbc.gov.au/news_room/media_release/mc-26dec04.html
The site also includes background photographs relating to issues raised in the communiqué.
 

The drought to continue as another dry year shapes up
The 2004-05 season is shaping up to be another dry year, making the current drought arguably the most serious to affect the River Murray since records began in the 1890’s.

That’s the conclusion of a drought update information paper issued by the Murray-Darling Basin’s River Murray Water business unit recently.

The fact sheet says the drought has left no one untouched, impacting on irrigators, communities and the environment.

"It is now clear that the current drought is longer and more severe than that experienced in the mid 1960’s. Whilst there have been more prolonged drought periods in the 1940’s and 1890’s, the four years to October 2004 have eclipsed all previous recorded River Murray system inflows and been the driest four years on record, " the paper says.

"These previous extended droughts occurred prior to significant irrigation development, so that the impacts now being observed – both to communities and the environment - are unprecedented.

"It is particularly important to note that the combined impacts of the severe drought inflows and current levels of consumptive water use have resulted in record low in-stream flows in the River Murray."

For example, flows in the River Murray at Euston have been extremely low for the

last 6 years with only one significant flood event during that time. Even during the prolonged drought periods of the 1890’s and 1940’s floods were far more frequent due to fewer dams and limited diversions for consumptive use.

On the Darling River, inflows to Menindee Lakes for the three years to October 2004 have been the driest three years on record. It’s the same story in South Australia where for 9 out of the last 10 years, flow to South Australia has been below average, and flow over the last three years has been the lowest three year total flow on record.

The paper goes on to cover the impacts of the drought on agriculture, water quality and the environment.

For a copy of the paper go to the website: www.mdbc.gov.au

For more information call River Murray Water on 02 6279 0100 or the Drought Hotline: Ph 1800 814 647, www.affa.gov.au or the Bureau of Meteorology: Ph 03 9669 4082, www.bom.gov.au
 
 

Transfer of water from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir to be cut
The rate of transfer of water from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir is to be reduced in response to improved inflows in the River Murray System in November.

River Murray Water (RMW) General Manager, Mr David Dreverman said on 26 November that the storage in Hume Reservoir had risen from 48 per cent of capacity at end of October to 54 per cent of capacity by 25 November 2004, which is higher than previously forecast assuming dry conditions. In addition, Lake Victoria is close to being full.

"Welcome rain earlier in November has boosted storage levels in Hume Reservoir and Lake Victoria and has reduced the volume of water required to be transferred from Dartmouth to Hume over the remainder of the irrigation season." he said.

Release from Dartmouth is currently 6 000 ML/day or about 2.3 m on the Colemans gauge. Beginning on the morning of Monday 29 November 2004, the release rate will be gradually reduced to 4 000 ML/day (2.1 m gauge height).

Further downstream at Tallandoon, it is expected that the river level (currently 2.8 m gauge height) will gradually decline to about 2.5 m gauge height, and continue near this rate if there is no further significant rain.

Some variation in river level at Tallandoon could occur in response to any rainfall and increased flows in tributaries of the Mitta Mitta River. Release from Dartmouth will be reduced, if necessary, to avoid (as far as possible) flow exceeding the river’s channel capacity.

"It is currently planned to commence, in late December 2004, a program to vary the release from Dartmouth in a cyclic pattern to mimic to some extent the variability of river levels seen under natural conditions," Mr Dreverman said.

"This mode of operation aims at providing environmental benefits including reduced impact on stream banks of the Mitta Mitta River."

The rate of release from Dartmouth will be kept under continual review in the light of conditions across the entire River Murray System. RMW will provide further updates throughout the season on the program of release from Dartmouth Reservoir, particularly when significant changes are required.

For more information go to http://www.mdbc.gov.au/river_murray/river_info/river_info.html
 
 

New MDBC book looks at social and land use perspectives of Darling River
A brilliantly illustrated new MDBC book about the Darling River examines attitudes and issues from social and land use perspectives.

Launching the book in Wentworth on November 15, MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik, said the colourful, new publication expressed the personal experiences of a wide range of authors as well as conveying scientific and technical information related to the management of the river and its catchments.

Dr Craik, speaking at the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC), said information contained in the Darling Book would be a valuable contribution to information on the people and resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Some chapters focus on natural systems and portray the changes in species and habitat as well as identifying what was necessary for their survival, while other chapters on sustainable land use examine environmental flows, responses to land use and the conservation of terrestrial environments.

"The book is written in such a reader-friendly format that I can confidently recommend it to all sections of the community," Dr Craik said.

"Catchment and river groups, students, natural resource planners and policy makers, and anyone with an interest in the Darling Catchment covering southern Queensland and NSW west of the Divide, would get much from this comprehensive work".

The Darling Book’s foreword was written by MDBC President the Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC.

The final chapter looks at the future of the river and its catchments. It explores new development opportunities that will occur through innovation, new enterprises and higher value uses of resources and alternative land uses.

To buy the book online, go to http://publish.csiro.au/pid/4832.htm

For media inquiries contact: Allison Hicks, Phone: 02 62790129, BH Mobile (0407) 704609, Email: allison.hicks@mdbc.gov.au
 

River red gums and black box surveyed
Earlier this year the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, in cooperation with the South Australian Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources initiated a survey of river red gums in 2004.

The Survey complements an investigation of River Red Gum condition undertaken in 2003 on the River Murray floodplain downstream of Wentworth.

The objective of the latest survey is an assessment of current condition of trees across a larger area (Echuca to Mannum) as well as a comparison of changes in health of trees at some sites where there is data from a survey undertaken in 2002.

The draft Report of the 2004 Survey was completed in September 2004. Independent review of the draft Report is currently being undertaken in line with the standard practice for reports commissioned by the MDBC. After review the 2004 Survey will be released in early 2005.

The information from the Survey will be used by the MDBC and the States to help inform how water is allocated and managed under the Living Murray and other State initiatives to ensure a future for these icons of the Murray.

Copies of the 2003 River Red Gum Survey are available from The Living Murray website – www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au or by phoning 02 6279 0100.
 
 

Successful MDBC leadership program participants announced
The sixteen successful participants for the third annual intake of the Murray-Darling Basin Leadership Program were announced on 26 November.

The program is jointly supported by the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) Ministerial Council and its Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The successful participants were announced by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry the Hon Warren Truss.

This year’s participants are drawn from the ranks of farm business managers and owners through to environmental scientists and catchment co-ordinators.

The six male and ten female participants range in age from 25 to 52 years and come from all Basin states. NSW – 6; South Australia – 2; Queensland – 4 ; Victoria – 3 ; ACT – 1.

The program will be conducted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF).

A policy adviser with Cotton Australia based in Annerley, Queensland, Chaseley Ross said her MDB leadership program selection would enable her to share knowledge about the Basin with other industry policy makers as well as taking up new ideas and applying them in other areas of policy and community engagement across her state.

Natural Resources and Community Support Officer with Landcare based in Yackandandah, Victoria, Kim Krebs said: "I have earned a great deal of respect and trust from the community that I support, so being involved in this program would enable me to return the gift of communication that has the greater community and environment as the winners".

The other successful applicants are:

Name	State	Affiliation
Louise Adcock	NSW (Leeton)	Manager, Environmental Programs, Ricegrowers’ Assoc.
Magnus Aitken	NSW (Forbes)	Farm Manager
Alexandra Anthony	NSW (Moulamein)	Farmer (irrigation). Company Director, Murray Irrigation Ltd
Luke Bayley	VIC (Stanley)	Regional NRM Coordinator NECMA
Joanne Grainger	NSW (Mungindi)	Farmer (cotton and grain)
Chris Hogendyk	NSW (Warren)	General Manager, Auscott Macquarie
David May	QLD (Carina Heights)	Director, Environmental Package P/L
James McKee	QLD (Toowoomba)	Regional Planning Officer, Qld MD Committee.
Kate Preiss	SA (Mannum)	Project Officer, Eastern Hills & Murray Plains Catchment Group
Mark Siebentritt	ACT (Canberra)	Manager, Environmental Delivery, MDBC
Shirley Smith	SA (Finniss)	Farmer/vigneron
Jean Sutherland	VIC (Cohuna)	Dairy farmer, self employed accountant
Amy Webb	NSW (Deniliquin)	Project Officer – Barmah-Millewa Forum, MDBC
Kym Wiseman	QLD (St George)	Regional Catchment Coordinator, SW Qld Traditional Owners Management Association

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The 2005 program will be conducted over six months at locations within the Basin where participants will learn about the key natural resource management issues facing communities; about themselves as leaders and individuals; and will have the opportunity to meet a range of other active leaders in their fields.

For further information contact:

Mr Rob Patrick, Australian Rural Leadership Program, 0408 429 944
or
Leith Boully, Community Advisory Committee, MDB Ministerial Council 0412 678 633
 

How the MDBC performed in 2003-04
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission Annual Report for 2003-04 has been tabled in the Federal Parliament and is now available online in a new html "dynamic’ version.

The report also will be tabled in the parliaments of each jurisdiction through the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council).

The online version contains all the information found in the hard copy version , but allows visitors to the site to navigate all its chapters. It fully searchable and also allows visitors to download a complete version in PDF form.

This report describes the objectives and significant achievements of the MDBC during the 2003–04 financial year.

It also incorporates the annual report of the Ministerial Council’s Community Advisory Committee, the primary community body advising the Ministerial Council on natural resources management issues in the Basin.

To view or download the report go to www.mdbc.gov.au/about/reports_menu.html
 

New MDBC report investigates grazed native grasslands management
A new MDBC report highlights how better management of grazed native grasslands in hill country can lead to improved catchment health.

Hill Country Native Grasslands: Better Management for Healthy Catchments draws on the results of the MDB project Productive sustainable grazed native pastures in the Murray-Darling Basin and other related work.

The project investigates the impact of management on the composition and productivity of hill country native grasslands and the consequent effects on water, nutrient and sediment movement through the landscape.

The new report provides insights which will support government and community efforts to improve native grassland management with potential improvements in catchment health.

Grazed native grasslands are a vital part of the natural resource assets in the Murray-Darling Basin. The management of these grasslands have a profound influence on the provision of water for environmental and consumer uses, the potential for dryland salinity, the quality of stream and ground waters and the status of biodiversity.

The report and accompanying summary brochure can be downloaded from the MDBC website at www.mdbc.gov.au or by contacting the MDBC Information Officer on 02 6279 0141 or email info@mdbc.gov.au.

For more information on the Productive sustainable grazed native pastures in the Murray-Darling Basin project contact Dr Sharon Davis on 02 6279 0171 or email Sharon.Davis@mdbc.gov.au.
 

Call for Development of Infrastructure Improvement Projects applications
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission has issued a second call for applications to the $1.2m Development of Infrastructure Improvement Projects Program.

Applications are invited from catchment management authorities, industry, irrigation and community groups to put forward ideas on possible water recovery projects under The Living Murray initiative.

The funding is specifically to undertake feasibility assessments for possible future projects in the southern part of the Basin that will each result in an average annual increase of flows in the rivers of at least two gigalitres at a cost of less than $2000 per megalitre.

Examples of infrastructure improvement projects that would deliver water savings include installation of pipelines, lining of sections of irrigation channels, construction of works to change how lakes and storages are operated, installation of metering systems, and de-commissioning of some water supply structures or some sections of irrigation systems.

Funding for the feasibility assessment for each project is expected to be $100,000 or less, but special cases will be considered.

Projects which were successful in the first round included:

For more information go to the website at http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au or contact Leanne Wilkinson on 02 6279 0516; Leanne.Wilkinson@mdbc.gov.au. 
To be placed on the mailing list for the Prospectus, when available, contact Leanne Wilkinson on 02 6279 0516.

A look over the fence helps farmers fight salinity
According to a recent CSIRO media release, farmers can now look across a "virtual" fenceline to see what is happening on their neighbours' properties.

The new web-linked technology provides real-time information on drainage under different land management practices.

The 'Across the Fenceline' project will help farmers tackle dryland salinity and develop sustainable agricultural practices through an innovative mix of automated monitoring and community education.

Project leader Dr Paul Hutchison from CSIRO Land and Water said the idea grew from a discussion at a field day with farmers, when they reminded him that farms don't always behave the same way as research plots.

Seeking better on-farm solutions, the project team has developed a relatively inexpensive Drainage Meter that can remotely monitor deep drainage and relay the data direct to farmers.

These instruments are installed in strategic locations, usually across a fenceline that separates two land use practices. Local farmers and advisors visit the sites to compare the results, which are also sent directly to the Across the Fenceline website.

"At present we are monitoring an annual cropping system, an improved perennial pasture system and a best practice phase farming system, on a range of representative soil types," Dr Hutchinson said.

To read the full media release go to: www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=fenceline&style=mediaRelease

Or visit the website: www.clw.csiro.au/fenceline/

ends