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In this issue:

• Riversymposium to study waterways management and science 
• Crawford Fund Conference tackles sustainability, irrigation, food 
• Hume Reservoir gets more water for coming irrigation season 
• Lock 8 weir water level lowered 
• World’s filmmakers zoom in on sustainability 
• Rangelands conference to “weave cutting edge yarns” 
• Researching and managing river floodplains 
• Species Bank site expands community wildlife experience 
• Namoi CMA tackles weeds to improve aquatic habitats 
• Murrumbidgee urban salinity project enters Phase 2 
• Increasing livestock profitability and pasture sustainability 
• Valuable new landholder tool in Lower Murray regional weed strategy 
• Free facilitator's guide to collaborative projects available 

Riversymposium to study waterways management and science
River management and the integration of science, business, institutions and the community in managing the problems facing rivers, waterways and catchments around the world.

That’s the main focus of the 9th International Riversymposium to be held in Brisbane 4-7 September. Senator Ian Campbell, Minister for Environment and Heritage and a member of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, will officially open the Riversymposium

This year the symposium will also explore “Managing rivers with climate change and expanding populations” across a number of topics.

From the presentation of important river management case studies to the awarding of the prestigious International and National Thiess Riverprizes, the International Riversymposium celebrates the ecological and social value of rivers, showcases world's best practice in river management and provides a global forum for research and policy development.

The Riversymposium is an integral part of Brisbane's Riverfestival, an annual, cultural festival focused on the Brisbane River, celebrating water and promoting environmental sustainability.

Topics to be covered at the conference include:

• Planning for climate change in river and catchment management; 
• Managing wetlands in a time of change; 
• Natural disasters: How to restore rivers after tsunamis and hurricanes and protect from future events; 
• Agricultural practices and rivers: Feeding the expanding populations and maintaining healthy ecosystems; 
• NGOs: What is their role in managing rivers?; 
• Water reform; 
• Challenges for rivers in the Pacific; 
• Indigenous river management; and 
• Rivers and human health. 

• David Grey, Senior Water Advisor of the World Bank and chair of the Water Resources Management Group of the World Bank; 
• Roberto Epple, founder and Director of the European Rivers Network; 
• Dr Caroline Sullivan, Head of the Water Policy and Management Group, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK; 
• David Molden and Max Finlayson, Coordinators of the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Sri Lanka; 
• Emilio Gabbrielli, Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership (GWP); 
• Dr Jon Olley, Research Director, Rivers and Coasts at CSIRO Land and Water; and 
• Fred Pearce, author of the book  "When the Rivers Runs Dry", which studies consequences of the world's current water crisis if no remedial action is taken. 

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Crawford Fund Conference tackles sustainability, irrigation, food
This year's Crawford Fund free one-day development conference to be held at Parliament House in Canberra on 16 August, will tackle the challenges to efficient and sustainable water use in irrigated agriculture and in ensuring food security.

Through four international river system case studies – including the Murray Darling – the conference will also focus on the tension between water for food and for environmental services.

The other river system case studies in the conference’s theme of “Find a Flow for All” are the Mekong in Vietnam, the Indo-Gangetic in India and China’s Yellow River.

The Crawford Fund's mission is to increase Australians' engagement in international agricultural research, development and education for the benefit of developing countries and Australia. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is a major sponsor of the event.

More than one third of the world's food is produced on about 250 million hectares of irrigated land that accounts for about 80% of global fresh water consumption.

Without irrigation, people would starve. However, environmental services and river flows grab significant public attention, particularly in developed countries like Australia.

The event will bring together international and national leaders and specialists in the broad range of issues of interest in Australia and globally related to irrigated agriculture, and the best use of water for agriculture and the environment.

The conference will be opened by The Hon. Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs and addressed by The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary with special responsibility for water policy.

International and national speakers include:

• Dr Wendy Craik, Chief Executive, Murray-Darling Basin Commission; 
• Dr Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka; 
• Dr Mark Rosegrant, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington; 
• Professor Li Rui, Director, CAS Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; 
• Dr Tushaar Shah, IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program, India; 
• Dr Philip Hirsch, Director, Australian Mekong Resource Centre, University of Sydney; 
• Professor Wayne Meyer, CEO, CRC for Irrigation Futures; 
• Dr Bryson Bates, Coordinator, CSIRO Climate Change Program; and 
• Dr John Radcliffe, National Water Commissioner. 

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More water for Hume Reservoir for coming irrigation season
More water began to be transferred from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir in late July in preparation for the coming 2006-07 irrigation and water supply season.

Announcing the transfer, River Murray Water General Manager David Dreverman said that January to June 2006 was an exceptionally dry period across the River Murray system.

“Consequently, by the end of the 2005-06 season River Murray system storage was drawn down to low levels (40%). The majority of the Commission’s current active storage is held Dartmouth Reservoir (75 %)”, Mr Dreverman said.

“If dry conditions persist, substantial volumes of water will need to be transferred from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir and from Hume Reservoir to Lake Victoria to meet requirements across the River Murray system for NSW, Victoria and South Australia this season”, he added.

Beginning on 31 July the release from Dartmouth Reservoir would be progressively increased and it is expected the release will be varied fortnightly.

“The variable release is aimed at providing environmentally beneficial variation in river levels in the Mitta Mitta River and to minimise the impact of sustained high flows on riverbank stability”, Mr Dreverman said.

“Unless there is significant rain over the coming months, further increases in release from Dartmouth and an extended period of transfers at higher flow rates may be required this season”, Mr Dreverman added.

River Murray Water will provide regular updates throughout the season on the program of release from Dartmouth Reservoir, particularly when significant changes are required.

For more information contact David Dreverman on (02) 6279 0100

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Lock 8 weir water level lowered
The water level at Lock 8 Weir pool at Wangumma will be partially lowered as part of a series of trials to gain a better understanding of the wide range of interests associated with manipulating weir pools along the Lower Murray.

River Murray Water’s Tony Morse said the ability to either raise or lower weir pool levels provides improved operational flexibility and allows more efficient management of water resources and improves environmental values of the river.

“If weir pool manipulations can be implemented over many years, the increased water level variability is expected to provide a greater range of habitat for aquatic flora and fauna. It will also minimise the undercutting of the river banks along the weir pool, thereby gradually improving the riverine environment”.

In spring 2005, the Lock 8 Weir level was successfully raised 60 cm to help drought stressed parts of the floodplain.

Mr Morse said that from 10 July it was gradually lowered at a rate of about 1-2 cm/day to reach a level about 40 cm below full supply level by early August. The lowering of the weir pool will expose parts of the river bank and associated wetlands that suffer from continuous inundation.

“The partial lowering of the Lock 8 weir pool is being undertaken in consultation with New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian agencies and with the co-operation of adjacent landholders. The river depth and salinity will be closely monitored to assess the potential for impacts on river navigation and water users”, he said.

“The weir pool level will be regularly reviewed to take into account any changing conditions along the River Murray and the pool level will be returned to the full supply level during the spring when irrigation requirements increase”, Mr Morse said.

River pumpers, landholders, stock owners, boat operators and other river users are advised to take this operation into account and make any necessary adjustments in response to the lower pool level.

In particular boat masters are reminded that regardless of the changes to the weir pool level, they need to follow the NSW Maritime Authority's Boating Handbook (http://www.maritime.nsw.gov. au/boathandling.html#inland).

For more information contact Tony Morse on (02) 6279 0100.

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World’s filmakers zoom in on sustainability
Sustainability is the theme of this year’s SCINEMA 2006, the 6th International Festival of Science Film and Multimedia to be held August 12-20 at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum and Univeristy of Technology.

Since its launch in 2000, SCINEMA has played to tens of thousands of people across Australia. For the first time, the competitve component of this travelling festival will be hosted in Sydney during National Science Week.

SCINEMA is a partnership of the CSIRO, Cosmos Magazine and National Museum of Australia.

Some of the topics covered are:

• the geometry of the ancient Greeks; 
• the discovery of radioactivity; 
• creating Winter Olympic champions; 
• the mass extinctions that almost killed life on Earth; 
• the birth of writing in Mesopotemia; and 
• how sound is decoded in the human brain. 

Organisers promise “science on film like you’ve never seen it before”  with films narrated by actors Matt Damon and Ed Norton, and with visiting filmmakers like Germany’s Joachim Pütz describing their craft.

For more information visit the website at www.csiro.au/scinema or email scinema@csiro.au

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Rangelands conference to ‘weave cutting edge yarns’
The Australian Rangeland Society’s 14th Biennial Conference with its title, “Cutting Edge”, will focus on People, Place and Possibilities - threads and yarns woven by presenters selected from over one hundred contributed papers.

The conference, to be held in Renmark, South Australia from 4 to 7 of September, is an official Australian event for the “International Year of Deserts and Desertification”.

Conference committee chair, Geoff Mills said Renmark was an ideal place for such a theme.

“Renmark, on the edge of the Australian Rangelands is a beautiful and diverse place, with pristine heavily wooded shrubland immediately to the north and irrigated vineyards and fruit blocks along the river. It’s a meeting place of two different worlds in the heart of the Murray-Darling Basin.”

Organisers say panel sessions will maximise time for a greater number of presenters with a panel of experts asking questions and drawing out key messages.

Field tours to held as part of the conference will cover a range of country and topics from flood plain and water issues, to pastoral land and land managed for conservation. All tours will finish the day with dinner at Banrock Station on the banks of the River Murray.

For more information check the Australian Rangeland Society website www.austrangesoc.com.au

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Researching and managing river floodplains
A workshop on the “Fundamentals and Frontiers of Floodplain River Research and Management” will be held at the University of Canberra on Thursday 21 September.

Speakers include Professor James Thorp, Professor Klement Tockner, Associate Professor Martin Thoms, Dr Tony McLeod, Dr Neil Saintilan and Dr Ben Gawne

Australia’s floodplain rivers are a valuable but threatened resource. Floodplain river systems provide the basis for major agricultural activities as well as natural ecosystem functioning.

The aim of this workshop is to enhance our knowledge of the structure and functioning of floodplain river systems that underpin their management and sustainable use.

Organisers say the workshop will provide a synthesis of current knowledge of river floodplain ecosystems and identify the potential areas for research and development.

For more information and to register contact  Alie Cowood, Water Research Lab, University of Canberra, phone (02) 6201 5453, email: Alie.Cowood@canberra.edu.au.

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Species Bank site expands community wildlife experience
A Web project by the Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage aims to expand the wildlife experience of the Australian community.

The site, Species Bank, describes and illustrates species of interest and/or importance to the community, their interactions with each other and ourselves, and their importance as a natural part of the environment we all share.

The wildlife of Australia is amazingly rich, and includes an estimated 2 million species of animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms.

Species Bank provides simple, reliable information about a variety of Australian species. Each description is illustrated and includes information on distribution, biology and interaction with humans under several headings.

In some cases, additional images, audio and video files may be viewed or played by clicking on the thumbnail image or link.

Some species records also include links to general topics which provide additional information on the topic relevant to all the species that link to it.

The main groups of species represented so far are: spiders, ants, desert fishes, crabs, lobsters, crayfishes, barnacles, corals and sea anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, bivalves, squids, cuttlefishes, octopus, sea snails, limpets, cones, chitons and some flowering plants and fungi.

More records will be loaded into Species Bank as they become available.

For more information and to access the site go to www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/species-bank/index.html

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Namoi CMA tackles weeds to improve aquatic habitats
Namoi CMA has welcomed Federal and State government funding of $1.2 million from the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) to address high priority weeds and improve aquatic habitats.

Namoi CMA General Manager, Bruce Brown said that the two projects worth $600,000 each over two years are funds over and above the Investment Strategy and are designed to help control high priority weeds and improve aquatic habitats.

According to Clare Smith, Catchment Coordinator for the Lower Namoi the weeds project will target species with the most significant environmental impacts.

“In terms of representing value for money, the best investment will be for those weeds that are not widespread and where an effective control method exists.

“Namoi CMA will consider projects to control high priority weeds in areas of High Conservation Value and extension and education for weeds that are not widespread.  In the long run, this approach will save time, money and the environment”, she said.

The remaining $600,000 will also be used over the next two years to carry out aquatic habitat rehabilitation at specific sites across the Namoi Catchment.

Nathan Penny, Riparian Catchment Officer will coordinate this project to improve the prevalence and abundance of aquatic species with an associated reduction in pest species.

For more information contact Anne Ferguson Namoi CMA- (02) 6742 9202 or 0429-048 867 or anne.ferguson@cma.nsw.gov.au

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Murrumbidgee urban salinity project enters Phase 2
Additional funds from the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) will allow the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, in partnership with local government, to continue a pilot urban salinity project begun in 2005.

The pilot was conducted in five townships within the Murrumbidgee catchment (Cootamundra, Junee, Griffith, Yass and Wagga Wagga).

The aim of the project was to investigate, mitigate and manage salinity within urban townships in the Murrumbidgee Catchment.

Phase 2 of the project will involve:

• on-going monitoring and analysis of groundwater monitoring networks; 
• a technical investigation/assessment of the nature and extent of salinity in each township and the preparation of urban salinity Technical Reports; 
• the preparation of urban salinity management plans; and 
• the implementation of additional priority on-ground works in recharge and discharge areas to address the impacts of urban salinity and protect urban infrastructure in the five townships. 

The Murrumbidgee CMA has commissioned Dr Jasmine Rutherford, hydrogeologist from MWH Australia Pty Ltd, to conduct the technical investigation/assessment of the nature and extent of salinity in each township over the next 5 months.

The assessments will include a desktop analysis of available data and field inspections of the townships.

Information and training workshops for Local Council employees will begin in October.

For more information go to http://www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/

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Increasing livestock profitability and pasture sustainability
Landholders looking to increase livestock profitability and long-term pasture sustainability will benefit from the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) Profitable Animal Production Project, funded by the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

The project builds on the Evergraze research project undertaken by Charles Sturt University and the NSW Department of Primary Industries to increase perennial vegetation for the control of recharge and dryland salinity in high rainfall (above 550mm) grazing areas of the Murrumbidgee catchment

“The project will enlighten landholders on the production and sustainability benefits of perennial systems, including both pasture and shrubs,” said Murrumbidgee Chairperson, Mr Lee O’Brien.

“Through on-site demonstrations, landholders will learn to apply natural resource management practices that will promote sustainable production and productivity well into the future,” said Mr O’Brien.

With site visits currently underway the Murrumbidgee CMA is looking for individual landholders, farmer groups or landcare groups in the Cooma district with ideas for on-site demonstrations relating to perennial pasture and shrubs for production purposes.

Demonstration site size may vary depending on the nature of the demonstration, with a local field day anticipated at each site during the course of the project.

A maximum of $15,000 per demonstration site will be available over the life of the project, with participants to sow and contribute to the monitoring of sites.

Murrumbidgee CMA Officers will be available to assist with the project development and operation.

All project proposals are welcome and may include topics such as; Broadacre pasture species and mixture trials, “Alley” farming pastures and shrubs, break of slope shrub and pasture planting, or spray applications for renovation of existing perennial pastures.

For more information or to register interest in the project please contact: Pam Vipond, Murrumbidgee CMA Community Support Officer (02) 6452 4150

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Valuable new landholder tool in Lower Murray regional weed strategy
A Regional Weed Strategy funded and published by the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority (LMD CMA) gives landholders a valuable new managment tool.

Available for free download fom the Authority’s website, the strategy is a straight forward, easy to use tool that clearly outlines the definition of weeds and their priorities in various land use areas of the catchment.

LMD CMA Chair Mark King says the document will provide landholders and land managers with the ability to make informed decisions on where to best invest precious funds in weed control in the Lower Murray Darling Catchment.

“The natural resource outcomes of these decisions will benefit the community as a whole,” he says.

This Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for weed management in the Lower Murray Darling Catchment (LMDC), giving clear directions for community and government investment in weed management.

Land managers and others concerned with weed management in the LMDC were consulted to establish agreed outcomes for the Lower Murray Darling (LMD) Regional Weed Strategy (the Strategy).

As a first step, these stakeholders agreed upon a vision for the Strategy which would minimise the economic, environmental and social impacts of existing and new and emerging weeds in the Lower Murray Darling Catchment through coordination, cooperation and commitment from weed managers and the community.

 The Strategy recognises the diversity of the region and aims to meet the needs of all stakeholders by addressing particular weed issues for the following areas - horticultural, rangelands, cropping and riparian areas.

For more infomation and to download a copy of the Strategy go to www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au/pdf/RWS_LMDC_2nd_edition.pdf

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Free facilitator's guide to collaborative projects available
A free, comprehensive how-to manual for anyone needing to facilitate a sustainability or natural resources management project is now available online.

Packed with tools and methods to get the most out of working with others for change, the book CoCreate: the Facilitator's Guide to Collaborative Projects, is based on the guide developed for the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority’s Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Program (NEIP).

The guide aims to ensure smooth, effective and enjoyable running of collaborative planning and management projects. The authors say it sets out a clear, structured process and provides ready-to-use tools, as well as tips and advice for facilitation.

According to the authors, the NEIP developed a “remarkable process that changed participants, changed institutions, and ‘changed the world’ through collaborative decision-making and action.”

They say the processes and tools are not limited to the environmental field - they will be just as useful in tackling community development, health promotion, injury prevention, economic development, and emergency management challenges.

“In fact, many of the tools were borrowed from those sectors in the first place.

“It’s up to you to bring the essential human ingredients to make your project work: good will, optimism, perseverance, and seat of- pants creativity. With these things practically anything is possible!”

For more information and to download a free copy go to http://enabling-change.com.au/cocreate_page.html

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