Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Canning River environmental flows project
The once fast-flowing Canning River system of Western Australia's Swan region has slowed significantly since the construction of drinking water supply dams.
Now, for the first time in the region, regulated rivers will have environmental water provisions allocated in an effort to improve river flow, water quality and habitat diversity.
The project aims to find a balance for the Canning River system through a comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan.
Funding
Work under the Plan is funded with more than $94,000 from the Australian and State Governments through the Swan Catchment Council and the WA Department of Water.
Activities and achievements
Project Coordinator Laurence Radin said the region's Mediterranean climate and lower rainfall made water a critical natural resource for human use and the natural environment.
"There's been almost 25 years of below average rainfall here, which has severely reduced runoff and groundwater recharge," Laurence said. "This has had consequences for reliable water supplies and for ecosystems that depend on surface water. The use of water by humans and natural systems is competitive, so our Plan aims to balance this demand through better management of flows.
"The first stage of the project will identify social, economic and environmental values of water in the Canning River system.
"At the moment we're investigating and modelling the relationship between river flows, ecology and habitat, and then we'll move onto a trial of the recommended environmental flows. Stage four will determine an environmental flow allocation and Stage five will see the Water Resource Management Plan finalised."
Eight sites along the Canning are undergoing monitoring through surveys to define how environmental characteristics can be enhanced, including riffles, in-stream benches, fish spawning area, perennial pools, and wetlands. Fish and aquatic species monitoring is also happening at Kelmscott to support the design and construction of a structure to increase fish passage along the river.
Continued monitoring will help relationships between flow regime and ecological objectives to be determined including the required flood frequency level, benefits for fish migration and spawning, and the effects of flushing of pools on sediment storage.
More information
- Laurence Radin, Department of Water Project Coordinator: (08) 9364 6788 or laurence.radin@water.wa.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window