Murrumbidgee river and floodplains; supporting ecosystems and biodiversity

The Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Program is the primary means by which the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) is monitoring and evaluating the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering actions.

The challenge

The Murrumbidgee is a lowland river system with large meandering channels, wetlands, lakes, swamps and creek lines. The Murrumbidgee has significant cultural and ecological values. Indigenous Australians have been caring for the Murrumbidgee for all time. It is also a working river, supporting broad areas of irrigated agriculture that underpin rural economies.

The Murrumbidgee region has important habitat and biodiversity including intact stands of River red gum forest and aquatic grassy meadow communities. Some of its wetlands are of national significance, supporting a rich diversity of waterbirds, supporting key waterbird rookeries, native fish, frogs, mammals and reptiles .It is also home to populations of threatened species including the Southern bell frog, Australasian bittern, the grey snake and fisher bat.

Project name
CEWH Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Services - Murrumbidgee Selected Area (2019 - 2023)

Funding Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water - Cwlth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH)$3.327M

Our response

Monitoring and evaluating the use of water for the environment is helping to build knowledge about the best way to improve the health of the rivers and wetlands in the Murrumbidgee, based on what works and what doesn’t work.

We are focused on understanding how native fish, waterbirds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as wetland vegetation communities, benefit from these targeted environmental watering actions.

The core focus being the precise delivery of water to the high value wetlands and riverine assets that make up critical habitat to maintain regional biodiversity. Our work here provides knowledge to underpin water management and delivery decisions so that the environmental outcomes are maximised.

We are studying riverine and wetland habitats, and collecting a broad range of data on:

native and exotic fish communities and their spawning events
waterbird rookeries and migratory waterbird numbers and their breeding events
floodplain frog diversity and call phenology (relates to frog life cycle events)
vegetation communities

The goal

Our work focuses on the relationships between biodiversity responses and environmental watering actions. This knowledge is being used to inform the adaptive management of environmental water delivery.

Current focus

Developing optimisation models for improved water management
Understanding native fish dispersal, recruitment, and habitat refuge
Gathering baseline data on wetland and riverine species diversity in the Yanco Creek system

What we have learnt:

Inundation regime
Lateral connectivity
Timing of watering actions
Mode of delivery

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In the media

Experience the spectacular sounds of a Murrumbidgee wetland erupting with life as water returns

1 Million Women

16 Jan 2022

Despite the drought rains and floods, bird numbers are unlikely to fully recover

Sydney Morning Herald

17 Dec 2021

Our team

Principal scientist

Professor Skye Wassens

swassens@csu.edu.au View full profile

Our research team

Professor Andrew Hall

Research Fellow in Remote Sensing

View full profile

Dr Anna Turner

Freshwater Ecologist

View full profile

Dr Sarah Talbot

Research Officer

Dr Gilad Bino

Research Fellow at the University of NSW

Dr Jennifer Spencer

Senior Scientist with the Water and Wetlands Science Division of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Dr Kate Brandis

Research Fellow and freshwater ecologist at the University of NSW

Dr Yoshi Kyobashi

Senior Research Scientist and freshwater ecologist with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Dr Rachael Thomas

Freshwater ecologist with the Water and Wetlands Science Division of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Dr Jason Theim

Research Scientist and fish ecologist with the Division of Freshwater Ecosystems at the Department of Primary Industries

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The Bidgee Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter that provides updates on our progress as we monitor the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water flows in the Murrumbidgee Selected Area.

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Key research publications

Research Activity Reports

Wassens, S., Hardwick, L., Poynter, C. & Hall, A. (2021). Murrumbidgee Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program, Murrumbidgee Vegetation and Wetland Assets Benchmark Report. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Turner, A., Wassens, S. & McNeil, D. (2020) Yanco Creek and tributaries: Intensive frog surveys of creek and farm habitats 2019-20. Final report for Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council. Institute of Land Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury.
Kopf, R.K., Wassens, S., McPhan, L., Dyer, J., Maguire, J., Spencer, J., Amos, C., Kopf, S. & Whiterod, N. (2019). Native and invasive fish dispersal, spawning and trophic dynamics during a managed river-floodplain connection. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. Murrumbidgee Selected Area Final report, pp 1-49.
Baldwin, D.S. (2019) Weir stratification and hypoxic water management - Murrumbidgee River 2019. A report prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Reports from Murrumbidgee LTIM 2014-2019

Wassens, S., Michael, D., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Wright, D., Thomas, R., Kobayashi, T., Jenkins.K., Wolfenden, B., Hall, A., Bourke, G., Bino, G.,, Davis, T., Heath, J., Kuo, W., Amos, C. & Brandis, K. (2020) Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project Murrumbidgee River System Selected Area Summary Report 2014-2019
Wassens, S., Michael, D., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Wright, D., Thomas, R., Kobayashi, T., Jenkins.K., Wolfenden, B., Hall, A., Bourke, G., Bino, G.,, Davis, T., Heath, J., Kuo, W., Amos, C. & Brandis, K. (2020) Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project Murrumbidgee River System Selected Area Technical Report 2014-2019. Prepared for the Commonwealth of Australia.
Wassens, S., Spencer, J., Wolfenden, B., Thiem, J, Thomas, R., Jenkins, K., Brandis, K., Lenon, E., Hall, A., Ocock, J., Kobayashi, T, Bino, G., Heath, J., and Callaghan, D. (2017) Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Long-Term Intervention Monitoring project Murrumbidgee River system Selected Area evaluation report, 2014-17.
Wassens, S., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Wolfenden, B. Jenkins, K., Hall, A., Ocock, J., Kobayashi, T, Thomas, R., Bino, G., Heath, J., Lenon, E. (2016) Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project Murrumbidgee River System evaluation report 2014-16.
Wassens, S., Bino, G., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Wolfenden, B., Jenkins, K., Thomas, R., Hall, A., Ocock, J., Lenon, E., Kobayashi, T, Heath, J. and Cory, F (2016) Commonwealth Environmental Water Office long-term intervention monitoring program Murrumbidgee River system Selected Area, 2014-15 Synthesis report.
Wassens, S., Thiem, J., Spencer, J., Bino, G., Hall, A., Thomas, R., Wolfenden, B., Jenkins, K., Ocock, J., Lenon, E., Kobayashi, T, Heath, J. and Cory, F. (2016). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Long Term Intervention Monitoring Murrumbidgee Selected Area 2014-15 technical report.

Quarterly progress reports

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Reports from previous projects

Monitoring of waterbird, invertebrate and nutrient responses to environmental water delivery in the Lowbidgee floodplain in 2015-16 and 2016-17
Monitoring the ecological response of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in 2013-14 to the Murrumbidgee River system.
Monitoring the ecological response of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in 2012-13 to the Murrumbidgee river system - Final Report Executive Summary
Monitoring the ecological response of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in 2012-13 to the Murrumbidgee river system - Report 1, Institute for land, Water and Society - Charles Sturt University for Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Monitoring of ecosystem responses to the delivery of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee system. (2012) ILWS Report 2 for SEWPAC.
Monitoring of ecosystem responses to the delivery of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee system. (2012) ILWS Report 1 for SEWPAC.

Quarterly Progress Reports

2021

Report #7 Selected Area Progress Report January- March 2021

Murrumbidgee MER Plan

Wassens, S., Michael, D.R., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Kobyashi, T., Bino, G., Thomas, R., Brandis, K., Hall, A., & Amos, C. (2019) Murrumbidgee Selected Areas Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Plan 2019 Schedule of monitoring, evaluation and research activities to be undertaken in the Murrumbidgee River System June 2019 – June 2022

MER Summary and Technical Reports

Spencer, J., Michael, D., Brandis, K., Francis, R. & Wassens, S. (2021). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Murrumbidgee River System – Category 3 waterbird breeding monitoring summary report July 2021, Commonwealth of Australia 2021.
Wassens, S., Michael, D., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Thomas, R., Kobyashi, T., Bourke, G., Bino, G., Brandis, K., Turner, A., Wright, D., Heath, J., Kuo, W., Amos, C. & Hall, A. (2021). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program Murrumbidgee River System Technical Report, 2014-20. Report prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Wassens, S., Michael, D., Spencer, J., Thiem, J., Thomas, R., Kobyashi, T., Amos, C., Hall, A., Bourke, G., Bino, G., Wright, D., Heath, J., Turner, A. & Kuo, W. (2021). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program Murrumbidgee River System Summary Report 2019-20. Report prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.

Field Reports

Talbot, S., Turner, A., Moore, E., Sundblom, C., & Wassens, S. (2023). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water: Field report. Number 15, March 2023. Charles Sturt University.
Turner, A., Moore, E., Talbot, S., Sundblom, C., & Wassens, S. (2023). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water: Field report. Number 14, January 2023. Charles Sturt University.
Turner, A., Moore, E., Talbot, S., & Wassens, S. (2022). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water: Field report. Number 13, September 2022. Charles Sturt University.
Turner, A., Moore, E., Talbot, S., & Wassens, S. (2022). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water: Field report. Number 12, April 2022. Charles Sturt University.
Turner, A., Moore, E., Talbot, S., Michael, D., & Wassens, S. (2022). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water: Field report. Number 11, March 2022. Charles Sturt University.
Turner, A.E., Moore, E., Talbot, S., Michael, D.R. and Wassens, S. (2021). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 10, December 2021. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Turner, A., Moore, E., Talbot, S., Michael, D. and Wassens, S. (2021). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 9, November 2021. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Turner, J.M., Michael, D. and Wassens, S. (2021). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 8, March 2021. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Turner, J.M., Michael, D. and Wassens, S. (2021). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 7, January 2021. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/e910752e-c2de-4253-9fc1-7c0d79785520/files/murrumbidgee-mer-program-eco-response-cew-jan-2021.pdf
Michael, D., Turner, J.M. and Wassens, S. (2020). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field Report. November 2020. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/e910752e-c2de-4253-9fc1-7c0d79785520/files/murrumbidgee-mer-program-eco-response-cew-nov-2020.pdf
Bourke, G., Michael, D. and Wassens, S. (2020). Murrumbidgee Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 5, September 2020. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Bruni, J., Bourke, G. & Wassens, S. (2020) Murrumbidgee Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 4, March 2020. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Bourke, G., Wassens, S. and Bruni, J. (2020). Murrumbidgee Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 3, January 2020. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Bourke, G., Wassens, S. & Michael, D. (2019) Murrumbidgee Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water, Field report. Number 2, December 2019. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
Bourke, G., Wassens, S. & Michael. D. (2019). Murrumbidgee Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program, ecological responses to Commonwealth environmental water Field report. Number 1, October 2019. Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.

Community Reports

Turner, A., Sanders, E., Talbot, S., Moore, E., & Wassens, S. (2022). Yanco Creek system community report. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.

Bidgee Bulletin

The Bidgee Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter designed to provide updates on our progress as we monitor the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water flows in the Murrumbidgee Selected Area.

Turner, A., Talbot, S., Moore, E., Sundblom, C., & Wassens, S. (2023). The Bidgee Bulletin: Quarterly Newsletter of the Murrumbidgee Monitoring Program. Autumn 2023 Issue 15. (pp. 1-8). Charles Sturt University.