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 (2024-2029)

Funding Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water - Cwlth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) $4.91M

This Flow-MER 2.0 program builds on two previous programs – the Long Term Intervention Monitoring (LTIM) Project which ran from 2014 to 2019 and the Flow Monitoring Evaluation and Research (Flow-MER) 1.0 Program which ran from 2019 to 2024. The 2024-2029 Murrumbidgee Flow-MER 2.0 Program is designed to continue evaluating the outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water.

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

Subscribe to the Quarterly Snapshot (Previously Bidgee Bulletin)

Our team

Principal scientist

portrait of Professor Skye Wassens
Professor Skye Wassens
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Our research team

portrait of Professor Andrew Hall
Professor Andrew Hall
Research Fellow in Remote Sensing
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portrait of Dr Rupert Mathwin
Dr Rupert Mathwin
Freshwater Ecologist and Modeller
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portrait of Dr Gordon O'Brien
Dr Gordon O'Brien
Freshwater Ecologist
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Karunya Prasad
PhD Student
Emmalie Sanders
PhD Student Topic Ecology and resource use of the rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) in the Murrumbidgee catchment area
portrait of Dr Fleur Stelling
Dr Fleur Stelling
Environmental Sociologist
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portrait of Dr Anna Turner
Dr Anna Turner
Freshwater Ecologist
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portrait of Dr Sarah Talbot
Dr Sarah Talbot
Research Officer
Abdullah Toqeer
PhD Student Topic Developing and Applying Remote Sensing Techniques to Monitor Woody Plant Encroachment
Dawa Yoezer
PhD Student Topic Developing and Applying Remote Sensing Techniques to Monitor Woody Plant Encroachment

Subscribe to the Quarterly Snapshot

The Quarterly Snapshot 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

Quarterly progress reports

2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Reports from previous projects

Community Reports

A collection of threatened and migratory species of the Murrumbidgee Valley

A range of threatened species make their home in and around the Murrumbidgee. These include brolgas, Australasian bitterns, southern bell frogs, and many other species. Knowing where these animals live is important. This information guides decisions about where and when to use water for the environment to help animals thrive.
Download Threatened Species Poster

Stories of Connection: Tuckerbil Wetlands - A story by Nella Smith | Flow-MER

This story from Nella Smith shares her deep connection to Tuckerbil Wetlands, a Ramsar-listed site near Leeton that provides vital refuge for rare and migratory birds, including brolga, bitterns and black swans. Through rich observation and personal reflection, Nella highlights the cultural and ecological importance of this unique wetland—and her hope that future generations will continue to cherish and protect it.

Connect and collaborate

We are looking for researchers, students, funding and partners to help take our research to the next level.

Get in touch