Paul Frazier and Neil Argent recently spoke at the University of New Englands GeoPlan Seminar. Their presentation, titled Kularku dreaming on Baakandji Country: Aboriginal knowledge meets Western science perspectives on cultural water, focused on the Toorale Cultural Day held in June 2023. Use the link in the article to watch the full presentation.
The composition of inland floodplain vegetation communities, such as those on the Western Floodplain of the Warrego River, fluctuates as the floodplain alternates between wet and dry periods. Water loving species dominate wet periods, but as the floodplain dries these species die off, creating space for terrestrial species to move in.
Whilst common to northern and central Australia, in the Murray-Darling Basin Hyrtl’s tandan is only present in the Warrego, Paroo (PaaRu) and Condamine Rivers. The preservation of Hyrtl’s tandan in the Warrego River is aided greatly by the contribution of Commonwealth water for the environment.
We are lucky to work in special places like the Toorale State Conservation Area. Here are some of our favourite photographs we’ve taken over the eight years of the Long Term Intervention Monitoring (LTIM) and Flow-MER programs in the Warrego Selected Area. We hope you enjoy!
In late May researchers from across the Northern Murray-Darling Basin came to the University of New England to participate in a two-day forum showcasing the last years worth of new environmental flow related science. The annual forum highlights opportunities for collaboration where we all share the mutual goal of achieving better environmental outcomes through environmental water delivery and management.
Kevin, our Warrego-Baaka (Darling) Cultural Advisor, shared with us this song by Leroy Johnson. It delivers a powerful message from Leroy about the Baaka – the lifeblood of the Baakandji people.
Paul and Ellen made quick trip over to Moree to catch up with Liz (Gwydir Cultural Advisor), Kevin (Warrego-Darling Cultural Advisor) & Jane (Local Engagement Officer, CEWO). We talked about the project so far and about what we’d like to achieve in the next phase, we are excited! Can’t beat an in-person catch up!
Toorale State Conservation Area provides for many significant bird species which rely on water flows through the system, and over the past 8 years of monitoring we have had the pleasure of capturing images and records of many threatened species.
The end of 2021 saw higher than average rainfall across the Northern Murray-Darling Basin which produced the largest flows through the Darling River since 2012, with a peak of 73,000 ML/day at the Bourke gauge. Usually, the Warrego River flows into the Darling just south of Bourke. However, during this event water levels in the Darling got so high that water flowed over the banks of the Darling to the floodplains and riparian areas and also backed up into the Warrego channel!
In Flow-MER we talk a lot about primary productivity, here’s a breakdown of what we are talking about.
