Northern Australia Aquatic Ecological Assets
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Northern Australia Aquatic Ecological Assets Summary Report – Assessing the Likely Impacts of Climate Change and Development TRaCK – Research to support river and estuary management in Northern Australia TRaCK brings together leading tropical river researchers and managers from Charles Darwin University, Griffith University, the University of Western Australia, CSIRO, James Cook University, Australian National University, Geoscience Australia, the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science, North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance, and the Governments of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Disclaimer TRaCK has published the information contained in this publication to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the sustainable management of Australia’s tropical rivers and coasts. Where technical information has been prepared by or contributed by authors external to TRaCK, readers should contact the author(s), and conduct their own enquiries, before making use of that information. No person should act on the contents of this publication whether as to matters of fact or opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific independent professional advice which confirms the information contained within this publication. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct, matters covered by the publication are subject to change. Charles Darwin University does not assume and hereby disclaims any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. This report was jointly funded by the National Water Commission and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Copyright This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced, by any process, without written permission from the publisher, Enquiries should be made to the publisher, Charles Darwin University, c/- TRaCK, Casuarina Campus, Building Red 1 Level 3, Darwin NT 0909. Citation Close, P.G., Dobbs, R. and Davies, P (2012). Summary Report – Assessment of the likely impacts of development and climate change on aquatic ecological assets in Northern Australia. A report for the National Water Commission, Australia. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility, Charles Darwin University, Darwin. Technical Report Citation Close, P.G., Wallace, J., Bayliss, P., Bartolo, R., Burrows, D., Pusey, B.J., Robinson, C.J., McJannet, D., Karim, F., Byrne, G., Marvanek, S., Turnadge, C., Harrington, G., Petheram, C., Dutra, L.X.C, Dobbs, R., Pettit, N., Jankowski, A., Wallington, T., Kroon, F., Schmidt, D., Buttler, B., Stock, M., Veld, A., Speldewinde, P., Cook, B.A., Cook, B., Douglas, M., Setterfield, S., Kennard, M., Davies, P., Hughes, J., Cossart, R., Conolly, N. and Townsend, S. (2012). Assessment of the likely impacts of development and climate change on aquatic ecological assets in Northern Australia. A report for the National Water Commission, Australia. Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility, Charles Darwin University, Darwin. ISBN: 978-1-921576-66-9. 561pp Images and layout Front cover image – Water lilies in a northern Australian wetland. Image: Ian Dixon Back cover images – Top: Plumed Whistling-ducks. Image: TRaCK; Bottom: Yellow Water Lagoon in Kakadu National Park, NT. Image: John Baker and DSEWPaC. Design and layout – First Class in Graphic Design, Darwin. Summary Report | Assessing the Likely Impacts of Climate Change and Development North Australia Aquatic Ecological Assets | Foodwebs and Biodiversity Aquatic ecosystems in Northern Australia Northern Australia hosts a range of high value aquatic provide the information required to assist in the ecosystems, including, estuaries, rivers, lakes and protection and sustainable development of northern wetlands. These ecosystems have important intrinsic Australia’s water resources, which is consistent with and cultural values, and among other things, provide the National Water Initiative. This project, one of a clean water, food and recreational activities for people. number under the NAWFA, aimed to assess the likely Climate related changes in rainfall, run off and sea impacts of possible development and climate change level, together with future development and expansion on northern Australian aquatic ecosystems. of agricultural, urban and industrial land use represent significant risks to these high value aquatic ecosystems. The systems support high biodiversity and many species of aquatic plants and animals that are found nowhere else. It is important that these valuable assets be sustainably managed and protected so that they provide ongoing value to both human activities and ecological requirements. What is being done to inform the protection and sustainable development of water resources? The Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment A variety of biota rely on natural patterns of river flows. Image: TRaCK. (NAWFA) is an Australian Government initiative to Irrigated agriculture on the Daly River floodplain, NT. Image: Michael Douglas. Development and climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems in northern Australia This project has provided water planners and 6. Recommend management strategies managers with additional information on the possible and monitoring frameworks to report on impacts of future development and climate change environmental change scenarios on aquatic ecosystems in northern Australia. This new knowledge will be incorporated into the 7. Identify specific knowledge needs and future decision making process for future water management investment priorities plans, to ensure that potential impacts resulting from development and climate change can be managed Where was the research undertaken? more effectively. The geographical area considered by the project This project addressed seven key tasks: stretches more than 3,000 km, from Broome in the west to Cairns in the east. This area includes three 1. Describe the ecology and hydrology of northern drainage divisions (Timor Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria and Australian aquatic assets the part of the North-east Coast Drainage Division, north of Cairns) and 64 river basins. The Project 2. Identify the major human related factors focussed on 15 catchments identified by jurisdictions impacting upon the assets and their relationship as likely to experience hydrological change due to to future development and climate change risks water resource development or climate change. 3. Assess the impacts of these threats on landscape Climate, landscape and groundwater connections vary connectivity over the 1.25 million km2 NAWFA region. A diversity of river systems exist, including those that flow year- 4. Identify key ecological thresholds in terms round, and others that cease to flow for varying lengths of ecological water requirements, ecosystem of time during the dry season. function and habitat use by key biota 5. Describe the relationships between assets and Below: NAWFA study region and focus catchments (blue) their social and cultural values used in this project. page 2 Summary Report | Assessing the Likely Impacts of Climate Change and Development North Australia Aquatic Ecological Assets | Foodwebs and Biodiversity A number of groundwater basins occur across exceptions, few rivers in the region are regulated and northern Australia, which have important interactions levels of catchment disturbance remain relatively low. with some surface water systems, most notably the contribution of groundwater to perennial flows. The Kimberley region of Western Australia is remote and waterways in the region have typically low levels of Northern Australia is generally characterised by disturbance. The region is rich in natural resources and low relief landscapes. River flows in the central to mining activities represent a significant potential for western regions are typically constrained in rocky increased water resource use, increased infrastructure channels, flanked by a succession of relatively small, and concentration of populations. discontinuous floodplains. In comparison, rivers draining to the Gulf of Carpentaria flow through The Northern Territory includes a diverse range of extensive alluvial floodplains for much of their length. waterways in both remote and developed catchments. To the east of the Great Dividing Range (i.e. the Groundwater discharge is an important feature of northern North-East Coast Drainage Division) steep some catchments, maintaining river flow throughout coastal escarpments abut a narrow