Fourth meeting for the Adelaide River water advisory committee
On 11 and 12 March, the Adelaide River water advisory committee had their fourth meeting. The meeting focused on the science informing the development of the Adelaide River water allocation plan.
Water Resources presented on how flow data is collected in the streams and rivers across the catchment using boats, both human-operated and radio-controlled. Several committee members volunteered to assist with future monitoring!
Flora and Fauna division presented on their aquatic ecology study completed last year. The study sampled aquatic vertebrates from water-dependent ecosystems, in collaboration with Charles Darwin University and Museum and Art Gallery of the NT.
The committee heard how Water Resources creates a model of the area to replicate the flows, volumes and paths of water through the catchment. Modelling draws on water monitoring data since 1952 and rainfall data since 1900 which will be presented at the next meeting at the end of May.
Information on water quality in the catchment was presented on the saltwater and freshwater regions. These studies show the catchment comprises a number of distinct zones. These zones can be described as Margaret River catchment (freshwater); Upper Adelaide River catchment (freshwater); Tidal freshwater, downstream of where these 2 rivers meet; and tidal saltwater, from Arnhem Highway to the river mouth.
An independent subject-matter-expert Technical Advisory Panel has been established to contribute to the drafting of the plan, chaired by Dr Alison King from the CSIRO. The Panel consists of 14 members with a broad range of North Australian expertise in freshwater and marine ecology, ecological modelling, environmental flows, risk assessment frameworks, vegetation, birds, freshwater and marine fish, and threatened species.
The committee actively participated in a values of the catchment workshop conducted by True North Strategic Advisory. This workshop continued from meeting 3 PDF (191.2 KB) and is core to the role of the committee in providing recommendations to the Minister of Water Resources on the water plan.
The committee look forward to receiving further information about the science in the catchment, prior to the draft water plan being released to the public to have their say latter in the year.
Don’t forget to sign up to waterresources.depws@nt.gov.au to receive updates on the planning progress for Adelaide River.
