OBJECTIVES FOR LOWER MURRAY–DARLING ASSETS IN-CHANNEL ASSETS END OF SYSTEM OFF-CHANNEL ASSETS OUTCOMES River Lower Great Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Hattah Floodplain and Floodplain and (Matters in red link Murray Darling Darling Mouth Lakes wetlands from wetlands from to the Basin-wide environmental from River Euston to South South Australian watering strategy, Euston to Australian border border to Lower MDBA 2014a) Lower Lakes Lakes Provide habitat to support increased microinvertebrate and macroinvertebrate survival, diversity, abundance and condition. INVERTEBRATES OTHER Provide habitat to support survival, maintain condition and provide recruitment opportunities for frogs and turtles. Maintain baseflows and increase Maintain latitudinal connectivity (within constraints) overall flows in the River Murray. to wetlands and floodplains, by contributing an increase in the frequency of lowland floodplain Maintain longitudinal connectivity along flows. the Lower Darling and Murray rivers, including connectivity between the two systems in order to fulfil important environmental functions, such as nutrient and sediment transport, CONNECTIVITY organism dispersal and water quality. Maintain lateral connectivity through contributing to an increase in the frequency of freshes, bankfull and lowland floodplain flows. Improve the connection of the River Murray to the Coorong and the sea, through supporting increased barrage flows and Murray mouth openness. Increase primary productivity, nutrient and carbon cycling, biotic dispersal and movement. PROCESSES Increase transport of organic matter, salt and nutrients downstream and out the Murray Mouth. Maintain water quality and provide Maintain salinity regimes below Increase mobilisation and export of salt from the refuge habitat from adverse water critical thresholds for key flora and River Murray system. quality events (e.g. blackwater). fauna in the Lower Lakes and WATER QUALITY Coorong through supporting the export of salt through the Murray Mouth. RESILIENCE Maintain drought refuge habitat and maintenance/condition of native biota (e.g. fish and other aquatic fauna). Information sourced from: MDBA (2014a); Department of the Environment (2011 and unpublished); MDBA (2012a-i); DELWP (2015), Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2015).
OUTCOMES (Matters in red link to the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy, MDBA 2014a) OBJECTIVES FOR LOWER MURRAY–DARLING ASSETS IN-CHANNEL ASSETS END OF SYSTEM OFF-CHANNEL ASSETS River Murray from Euston to Lower Lakes Lower Darling River Great Darling Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Hattah Lakes Floodplain and wetlands from Euston to South Australian border Floodplain and wetlands from South Australian border to Lower Lakes INVERTEBRATES Provide habitat to support increased microinvertebrate and macroinvertebrate survival, diversity, abundance and condition. OTHER Provide habitat to support survival, maintain condition and provide recruitment opportunities for frogs and turtles. CONNECTIVITY Maintain baseflows and increase overall flows in the River Murray. Maintain longitudinal connectivity along the Lower Darling and Murray rivers, including connectivity between the two systems in order to fulfil important environmental functions, such as nutrient and sediment transport, organism dispersal and water quality. Maintain lateral connectivity through contributing to an increase in the frequency of freshes, bankfull and lowland floodplain flows. Maintain latitudinal connectivity (within constraints) to wetlands and floodplains, by contributing an increase in the frequency of lowland floodplain flows. Improve the connection of the River Murray to the Coorong and the sea, through supporting increased barrage flows and Murray mouth openness. PROCESSES Increase primary productivity, nutrient and carbon cycling, biotic dispersal and movement. Increase transport of organic matter, salt and nutrients downstream and out the Murray Mouth. WATER QUALITY Maintain water quality and provide refuge habitat from adverse water quality events (e.g. blackwater). Maintain salinity regimes below critical thresholds for key flora and fauna in the Lower Lakes and Coorong through supporting the export of salt through the Murray Mouth. Increase mobilisation and export of salt from the River Murray system. RESILIENCE Maintain drought refuge habitat and maintenance/condition of native biota (e.g. fish and other aquatic fauna). Information sourced from: MDBA (2014a); Department of the Environment (2011 and unpublished); MDBA (2012a-i); DELWP (2015), Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2015).
portfolio-mgt-plan-lower-murray-darling-2017-18.docx