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The Sustainable Rivers Audit: assessing river ecosystem health in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Citation
Davies, PE and Harris, JH and Hillman, TJ and Walker, KF, The Sustainable Rivers Audit: assessing river ecosystem health in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia , Marine and Freshwater Research, 61, (7) pp. 764-777. ISSN 1323-1650 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
© 2010 CSIRO
DOI: doi:10.1071/MF09043
Abstract
Abstract. The Sustainable Rivers Audit (SRA) is a systematic assessment of the health of river ecosystems in the
Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia. It has similarities to the United States’ Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program, the European Water Framework Directive and the South African River Health Program, but is
designed expressly to represent functional and structural links between ecosystem components, biophysical condition and
human interventions in the MDB. Environmental metrics derived from field samples and/or modelling are combined as
indicators of condition in five themes (Hydrology, Fish, Macroinvertebrates, Vegetation and Physical Form). Condition
indicator ratings are combined using expert-system rules to indicate ecosystem health, underpinned by conceptual models.
Reference condition, an estimate of condition had there been no significant human intervention in the landscape, provides
a benchmark for comparisons. To illustrate, a synopsis is included of health assessments in 2004–2007. This first audit
completed assessments of condition and ecosystem health at the valley scale and in altitudinal zones, and future reports
will include trend assessments. SRA river-health assessments are expected to play a key role in future water and catchment
management through integration in a Basin Plan being developed by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority for
implementation after 2011. For example, there could be links to facilitate monitoring against environmental targets.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | environmental monitoring, fish, floodplain, fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, macroinvertebrate, physical form, vegetation. |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Freshwater ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Davies, PE (Professor Peter Davies) |
ID Code: | 64601 |
Year Published: | 2010 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 166 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2010-08-12 |
Last Modified: | 2011-05-16 |
Downloads: | 19 View Download Statistics |
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