The Hawkesbury Nepean River Recovery Program (HNRRP) aims to help improve the health of the river system by reducing the amount of nutrients entering the river system and making more water available for environmental flows. The March 2011 issue of HNRRP e-news explores one of these important objectives, looking at how the HNRRP is working to prevent an estimated 48.2 tonnes of nutrients entering the river system each year and discussing how this will benefit the river. You can also read about the start of works for the Hawkesbury City Council South Windsor Effluent Reuse Scheme and some interesting insights into other HNRRP projects.
The Thiess International and Australian Riverprizes are awarded for excellence in river management, and since 1999 RiverFoundation has awarded over AU$2.75 million in Riverprize awards. In 2011, Thiess International and Australian Riverprize winners and finalists will each receive a trophy and a cash prize. A twinning grant will be made available to the winner of each category to facilitate the sharing of their knowledge and expertise. Submissions are now open until 30 March 2011. The 2011 Riverprizes will be awarded at a Gala Dinner held as part of the 14th International Riversymposium (26-29 September 2011, Brisbane, Australia). To find out more or apply visit Riverprize 2011 – How to enter.
Comprising seven projects, the Hawkesbury Nepean River Recovery Program (HNRRP) aims to improve river health by making more water available for environmental flows and reducing nutrient inputs to the river system. The seven projects have come a long way since commencing last year. You can read about their progress in the HNRRP e-news December 2010.
The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) is one of the most comprehensive marine, estuarine and freshwater monitoring programs in Australia. It delivers a regional assessment of the ambient ecosystem health (or pulse) for each of South East Queensland’s (SEQ) 19 major catchments, 18 river estuaries, and Moreton Bay, highlighting where the health of the region’s waterways is getting better or worse. The EHMP has just released the 2010 Report Card.
The world’s rivers, the single largest renewable water resource for humans and a crucible of aquatic biodiversity, are in a crisis of ominous proportions, according to a new global analysis. The report, published 30 September in the journal Nature, is the first to simultaneously account for the effects of such things as pollution, dam building, agricultural runoff, the conversion of wetlands and the introduction of exotic species on the health of the world’s rivers. Read more in ScienceDaily (Sep. 29, 2010) – World’s Rivers in ‘Crisis State’, Report Finds.
Come along and celebrate the beautiful Georges River at the inaugural Bankstown City Council Cross Currents – Celebrating our connection to the Georges River festival on Saturday 23 October as part of National Water Week. Read the rest of this entry »
Produced by the eWater CRC, Source Catchments is a water quality and quantity modelling framework that supports decision making and a whole-of-catchment modelling approach. It is designed to help natural resource managers and consultants develop targets, prioritise improvement programs and measure the effectiveness of a broad range of catchment management activities. The software provides a framework for modelling the amounts of water and contaminants flowing though a catchment and into major rivers, wetlands, lakes, or estuaries. Source Catchments integrates an array of models, data, and knowledge that can be used to simulate how climate and catchment variables (like rainfall, evaporation, land use, vegetation) affect runoff, sediment and contaminants. To find out more visit eWater Source Catchments.
Join E-Water CRC and their NSW partners – NSW Office of Water, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Sydney Catchment Authority and the University of Newcastle in launching a modelling system that will support analysis and decision-making across the full water cycle. Read the rest of this entry »