Bayesian network models for environmental flow decision making in the Daly River, Northern Territory, Australia

Terence U. Chan, Barry T. Hart, Mark J. Kennard, Bradley J. Pusey, Will Shenton, Michael M. Douglas, Eric Valentine, Sandeep Patel
River Research and Applications, Sept 2010
This paper reports the development and application of two Bayesian Network models to assist decision making on the environmental flows required to maintain the ecological health of the Daly River. The abundances of two fish species—barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and sooty grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus)—were chosen as the ecological endpoints for the models, which linked dry season flows to key aspects of the biology of each species. If current extraction entitlements were fully utilized, the models showed there would be significant impacts on the populations of these two fish species.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.1456/abstract

Water in the Timor Sea Drainage Division report

A report to the Australian government for the CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yeilds Project. August 2009
The Daly is one of six regions covered in this report. Water resources are assessed using available historical data and modelling under various climate scenarios. Knowledge gaps are identified.

http://www.csiro.au/science/NASY-Timor-Sea.html

Hydrology of the lower Daly River, Northern Territory

Chappell, John and Bardsley, Kristin. 1985. Australian National University, North Australia Research Unit, Darwin.
This survey describes statistical behaviour of the freshwater discharge of the Daly River just upstream of the tidal limit, and inundation of the floodplains below the tidal limit. Objectives of this report include description of the statistical behaviour of discharge throughout the wet season.

Copy available at NRETAS and DPI Library

A model to predict the response of the benthic macroalga Spirogyra to reduced base flow in the tropical Australia

S. A. Townsend and A. V. Padovan 2009
River Research and Applications v. 25(9) p. 1193-1203

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/122208520/ABSTRACT
A model was developed to predict the impact of reduced dry season base flow, due to groundwater and river extraction, on the standing crop of Spirogyra along an 18 km reach of the Daly River, located in the Australian wet/dry tropics.

Hydrological changes and ecological impacts associated with water resource development in large floodplain rivers in the Australian tropics

Catherine Leigh, Fran Sheldon, 2008
River Research and Applications, v. 24(9) :1251 - 1270
We examined flow variability in large floodplain rivers in the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia, and the potential ecological impacts of future water resource development (WRD). Flow metrics based on long-term records were used to classify flow regimes and predict hydrological drivers of ecological function. Flow regimes of selected rivers were then compared with those simulated for pre- and post-WRD flows in the Darling River. We propose that flow permanence and regularity; flow variability and absence; and wet-dry seasonality are the key hydrological drivers of biodiversity and ecological function in the floodplain rivers of Australia's north. Reduced and homogenized habitat, loss of life-history cues, inhibited dispersal and shifts in community composition, as a result of WRD, threaten the ecological integrity of rivers adapted to the three hydrological drivers above.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117954745/abstract

A model to predict the response of the benthic macroalga Spirogyra to reduced base flow in the tropical Australia

S. A. Townsend, A. V. Padovan
River Research and Applications, Feb 2009
A model was developed to predict the impact of reduced dry season base flow, due to groundwater and river extraction, on the standing crop of Spirogyra along an 18 km reach of the Daly River. The model demonstrates the utility of applying a benthic algal model to evaluate the ecological impact of modified flow regimes and contribute to environmental flow recommendations.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122208520/abstract

Classifying the flow regime of data-limited streams in the wet-dry tropical region of Australia

Dene R. Moliere, John B.C. Lowry and Chris L. Humphrey
Journal of Hydrology, v. 367, Pages 1-13, 2009
In this study, an analysis was undertaken to link significant hydrological variables to a selection of basic catchment characteristics. Long-term discharge records from streams within three relatively well-gauged catchments – Daly (Northern Territory), Fitzroy (Western Australia) and Flinders (Queensland) rivers – were analysed to classify streams into flow regime groupings. Results indicate that the predicted hydrology variables can be used to broadly classify the flow regime of ungauged or data-limited streams within Australia’s wet-dry tropics.
doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.12.015

An analysis of primary production in the Daly River, a relatively unimpacted tropical river in northern Australia

I. Webster, N. Rea, A. Padovan, P. Dostine, S. Townsend and S. Cook
Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 3, 303-316, 2005

The dynamics of primary production in the Daly River in tropical Australia are investigated. The study investigated how primary production and respiration evolve during the period of low flow in the river (April–November). The relationship between primary production and the availability of light and nutrients enabled the role of these factors to be assessed in a clear, oligotrophic tropical river.

The seasonal accrual and loss of benthic algae (Spirogyra) in the Daly River, an oligotrophic river in tropical Australia

S. Townsend and A. Padovan
Marine and Freshwater Research, 56, 3, 317-327,

The hierarchy of factors that control the growth and biomass of Spirogyra sp. was examined for an 18-km reach of the Daly River in the wet/dry tropics of northern Australia. On an annual temporal scale, hydrological disturbances control Spirogyra. Over the wet season (typically December–April), frequent runoff events prevent the colonisation and growth of Spirogyra in the Daly River. This is followed, however, by a lengthy period (typically May–November) without hydrological disturbances and river velocities that favour benthic algal growth.

Stream baseflows in the Daly Basin

S. J. Tickell, S. Cruikshank, E. Kerle and G. Willis
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, October 2002

Analysis of Groundwater Fed Flows for the Flora, Katherine, Douglas and Daly River

P. Jolly, D. George, I. Jolly and Z. Spiers
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, Natural Resource Division
The aim of this study was to undertake a preliminary analysis of groundwater fed flow data. The objective was to develop relationships between rainfall and groundwater fed flows that could be used to predict dry season flows in the absence of detailed low flow gaugings. Good long term daily rainfall data is available for Katherine. The area studied was the Daly Basin with a specific emphasis on the Daly River, the Katherine River, the Flora River and the Douglas River.
The report covers flow rates in the Daly River, it looks at the relationship between rainfall and potential recharge in the Katherine Region and also the relationship between estimated recharge and groundwater fed baseflows for the Katherine River at the Low Level crossing.
http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/hpa-services/techreport?report_id=WRD00036

Environmental flow tools for tropical rivers

D. Warfe and P. Davies
University of WA, CDU, Griffith University
This project will combine knowledge derived from other TRaCK projects and previous research to produce a set of 'rules' to determine environmental flow requirements for tropical rivers. This will facilitate development of water allocation plans and management of tropical rivers.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Estuarine fish: flow impacts on estuarine finfish fisheries of the Gulf of Carpentaria

I. Halliday
This project aims to increase our understanding of how freshwater flows in tropical rivers affect the abundance of some key estuarine fish species. Data collection will occur in the Gulf of Carpentaria and key catchments adjoining the gulf, including the Daly river.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Environmental flows and ecological assets: flow-ecology relationships for biodiversity and ecosystem processes

P. Davies
This research will investigate the relationships between flow and fish, habitats, foodwebs and ecosystem processes in tropical rivers. It will build on work already done as part of the "Daly river fish and environmental flows" project. The project will develop models and tools which evaluate the environmental consequences of flow alteration.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Sediment and waterholes: bedload transport in large tropical rivers and its effect on dry-season pool habitats

A. Brooks
The results from this and other TRaCK research will be used to develop models that quantify how water and sediment moves. This a building block to developing models of how land use change will affect sediment movement in north Australian rivers and the availability and function of waterhole habitats. Research will focus on the Mitchell and Daly Rivers
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Stream Baseflows in the Daly Basin

Author/s: Tickell, S.J. Cruikshank, S. Kerle, E. Willis, G.
Publisher/Date: Department of Infrastructure Planning and Environment, Natural Resources Division 2002
Summary: Dry season stream gaugings were carried out in the Daly River catchment in order to determine the locations and quantities of groundwater inflow (and/or loss) to the river system. The main areas of interest were those stretches of the rivers that cross the Tindall and Oolloo aquifers of the Daly Basin.
URL: http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/hpa-services/techreport?report_id=WRD02036