Emphasising the importance of ecological monitoring underpinning collaborative partnerships of agencies and scientists working to adapt water deliveries to minimise ecological harm.
1A – Monitoring
The Goulburn River’s flow regime is changing due to shifting environmental and downstream water needs. The changing landscape of water use includes the recent key driver of large volumes of water traded from the Goulburn to downstream areas. An unintended consequence was the negative impacts observed on the Goulburn River’s ecology from high sustained summer flows.
Long-term ecological monitoring and community concern highlighted the likelihood of irreversible ecological damage and was able to change this trajectory through policy change. New trading rules and continuation of ecological monitoring has enabled adaptive management of Goulburn River water deliveries.
This paper emphasises the importance of ecological monitoring underpinning collaborative partnerships of agencies and scientists working to adapt water deliveries to minimise ecological harm. Decision-making processes and outcome of water deliveries in the 2024-25 year under operational rules and scientific guidance is provided as a case study.
