An assessment of the conservation values of the wetlands of the lower and middle reaches of the Daly River, Northern Territory ...

French, Veronica, 2007, An assessment of the conservation values of the wetlands of the lower and middle reaches of the Daly River, Northern Territory, against criteria for national heritage and the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. MSc in World Heritage Management, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin. 188 p.

This thesis provides a summary of the natural, historical and cultural values of the wetlands in the Daly River region and evaluates them against criteria for National Heritage and Ramsar listing.

Visions of Tropical River Futures for Northern Australia

N. Collier, Coast 2 Coast Conference, Darwin 2008
Potential scenarios for the Daly River region are explored using a systems modelling approach engaging multiple stakeholders.
http://www.track.gov.au/publications/registry/144

TRaCK Project: 1.1: Scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts: integrating the TRaCK research program

Exploring scenarios for a tropical river catchment using systems dynamics modelling

River Symposium Conference, Brisbane 2008.
Potential scenarios for the Daly River region are explored using a systems modelling approach engaging multiple stakeholders.
http://www.track.gov.au/publications/registry/158
see TRaCK project 1.1 Scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts: integrating the TRaCK research program

Daly River Catchment ? towards an integrated catchment management

Andrew S. Wygralak
ASEG Extended Abstracts Volume 2006 Number 1, ASEG2006 - 18th Geophysical Conference
The Daly River catchment has good soils and is earmarked for the future agricultural development. The NTG placed a Moratorium on major developments, pending completion of an Integrated Regional Land Use Plan. The aim, based on analysis of hydrological, biological, environmental and social studies, is to develop a balanced holistic catchment management approach. Most of the multidisciplinary studies of the catchment completed till now were conducted without sufficient attention paid to the interconnection between economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of the river catchment management. As a result no integrated catchment management plan has as yet been proposed. Further research is needed to fill the existing knowledge gaps.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/267/paper/ASEG2006ab200.htm

Managing for Indigenous cultural values of water in freshwater protected areas

S. Jackson
Inland Rivers Network, 27-28 September 2004

The Indigenous cultural landscape and social catchments within which rivers flow are two facets of the social geography of freshwater protected area policy, which are examined with specific reference to the socio-ecological systems of northern Australian rivers.

An assessment of social and economic values of Australia’s tropical rivers : scoping report prepared for Land and Water Australia’s Tropical Rivers Pr

N. Stoeckl, O. Stanley, V. Brown, S. Jackson and A. Straton
James Cook University,

This project assesses the social and economic values of Australia’s tropical rivers based on literature reviews and three focus groups (held in Katherine, Derby and Mt. Isa). The report includes a social and economic profile of the tropical rivers region; social and economic values and issues relevant to tropical rivers; significant processes and pressure points impacting on future management; future research needs and priorities; and questions and approaches for further research and development.

http://www.lwa.gov.au/Research/Research_Programmes/Tropical_Rivers/Final_reports_and_publications/index.aspx

Daly Region Community Reference Group Draft Report

This is a report of the Daly Region Community Reference Group, which has been prepared with the assistance of the Daly Region Expert Reference Group. This draft Report outlines the processes the Community Reference Group chose to follow in consulting people with interests in the Terms of Reference Area, an area of over 2 million hectares. It outlines the issues which were raised as being of concern to the community and sets out the ways in which the Group has dealt with identifying the values of the Focus Area and the interactions between them.
This report provides an overview of the Daly Region, Inventory, Values, risk assessment and management, key risks to ecological sustainability and adaptive management.

Social Values of the Daly Region Final Report

M. Young
Charles Darwin University, School for Social and Policy Research

The current report adopts a fairly broad perspective to assess the value of the Daly Region to the society within which it is situated. In this sense it seeks to document and assess the meanings and values different groups ascribe to the area, and how these values may be incorporated into the CRG process. It attempts to incorporate the perspectives of those groups who may not have a direct commercial or other vested interest in the place, but for who the place is nonetheless meaningful, and who maintain an active and valid interest in the region’s management and future. In short it is concerned with the reasons why the Daly Region is a publicly valuable place. It is specifically guided by the following research question: What are the shared public understandings of the meaning and significance of the Daly Region? How do these understandings overlay, interrelate or conflict?

A report that covers a number of different social values in the Daly Region, which can be related back to management and development issues in the area.

Valuing tropical river ecosystem services

A. Straton
CSIRO
This project is identifying and valuing tropical river ecosystem services and some non-market uses of tropical rivers to enable comparison of the impacts of management scenarios. This project is taking place through 3 case studies: the Daly in the NT, the Fitzroy in WA, and the Mitchell in Qld. This project will contribute to the broader research agenda of the TRaCK research hub.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

People and the economy: socio-economic activity and water use in the tropical rivers region

N. Stoeckl, O. Stanley, D. Carson, A. Taylor, S. Campbell, S. Larson and K. Alexandridis
This project will provide socio-economic background and population projects for river catchments across northern Australia. Socio-economic profiles and tourism will be developed for catchments in the TRaCK region.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

The changing status of water in the political economy: testing the waters of the Daly River

D. Spruyt
University of Sydney
An examination of the interaction between political processes and economic values, focused on the water resource on the Daly River.

Identify Aquatic Priorities for Inland Waters Across the Northern Territory

M. Kraatz, P. Jolly, M. Douglas and P. Lloyd
This project will provide information to enable more integrated decision making and planning relating to the Territory's inland aquatic ecosystems. It will review current information about these ecosystems (including wetlands, waterways and groundwaters), determine gaps in critical information for planning for sustainable resource use, prioritise research and monitoring work to fill these gaps and identify catchments and groundwater aquifers at risk from salinity, nutrients, toxins or sediment pollution, and recommend appropriate action. The work will be assisted by an Advisory Group with technical expertise to ensure all necessary information is gathered and assessed appropriately. The work will be done in collaboration with proposed projects under IW1 and IW2 assessing water monitoring requirements and environmental and cultural values. Analytical and risk assessment reporting will identify research and monitoring requirements for improving the information base for future natural resource management and the protection of inland waters.

Lessons from past irrigation and water management experiences

B. Kellett
University of Melbourne, NAIF, CRC for Irrigation Futures
Interviews were conducted with a number of key stakeholders from the Burdekin, Daly and Ord River regions. Seeking feedback on their involvement in irrigation and /or water management as well as their ideas on what lessons history and current practice teach us about management across northern Australia in the future. The objective of the research is to explore if and how stakeholders are applying these lessons. The research is encouraging individuals to reflect on successes, failures, challenges and aspirations. The research is also about sharing perspectives and lessons not only between stakeholders in each region, but also north Australia wide.

Water regime dependence of fish in the wet-dry tropics

M. Douglas, B. Pusey, M. Kennard and S. Jackson
CDU
Relate patterns of fish diversity and activity across contrasting flow and hydraulic habitat characteristics. To support a capacity to predict effects of changes in flow regimes on fish and hence to recommend minimum flow rates. Record indigenous knowledge and values of fish and use this to inform models.

River futures in Australia's tropical north : accessing scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts

N. Collier and K. Alexandridis
CDU; CSIRO Sustainable ecosystems
This research project pulls together the findings from other TRaCK projects to help sort the complexity in ways that are useful to decision makers on the future of Australia's tropical rivers. Daly catchment is one of three where the research is being conducted.
http://www.track.gov.au/publications/registry/136

see TRaCK Project 1.1: Scenarios for tropical rivers and coasts: integrating the TRaCK research program.

Waterhole foodwebs: importance of waterholes as aquatic refugia and the biophysical processes that sustain these waterholes

S. Bunn
Researchers will describe when and where waterholes are present in the river landscape and investigate the main sources of water that sustain them. Primary sources of carbon and nitrogen and factors limiting plant growth and major sources of organic carbon supporting animals will be determined. Focus will be on animal species of commercial, recreational or cultural value. This research will facilitate the development of waterhole management and monitoring programs in order to protect their environmental, economic, cultural and social values.
http://www.track.gov.au/research.html

Integrated assessment of wetland services and values as a tool to analyse policy trade-offs and management options

A case study in the Daly and Mary River catchments, northern Australia.
de Groot R, Finlayson M, Verschuuren B, Ypma O & Zylstra M
Supervising Scientist Report 198, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT. 2008
The aim of this study was to provide a framework for the analysis of the ecosystem services provided by the wetland and riverine ecosystems of northern Australia. A key implication for management is that by explicitly stating the functions and values of wetland ecosystems and identifying where benefits are likely to accrue, it provides justification for specific management actions and proposals. By highlighting potential trade-offs, the decision-making process can become more transparent and encourage consensus and communication between stakeholder representatives and government agencies.
http://www.environment.gov.au/ssd/publications/ssr/198.html

Aquatic conservation values of the Daly River Catchment, Northern Territory, Australia

S. Blanch, N. Rea and G. Scott
WWF-Australia, Charles Darwin University and the Environment Centre NT, 2005
This report has assessed the Daly River system as being of national significance due to a range of aquatic conservation values. The report as been designed so that it will assist governments and communities as they seek to manage and protect the natural resources of the catchment. It provides the first relatively comprehensive assessment of the aquatic conservation values of the DRC. The assessment draws primarily upon information published in the scientific literature and from various reports by NT Government agency staff, as well as from observations made by researchers and people familiar with the Daly River. It provides descriptions of aquatic ecosystems and aquatic species of conservation value.

Analysis of the Functions and Ecological importance of the Daly and Mary River catchments in Northern Australia

S. Bachet
Wageningen University and Research Centre, April 2005
Thesis assessing the functions and ecological importance provided by the Northern wetlands of Australia. The study is conducted in two areas: the Mary and the Daly River catchments.

An Introduction to the Aboriginal People of the Daly River Region: Their History, Land and Sites

Author/s: Northern Land Council and Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
Publisher/Date: 2004
Summary: The aims of this paper are to describe the essential features of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal historical contact (Section 1); to act as a guide to the nature of Aboriginal attachment to the Daly River Catchment and Focus areas (Section 2); and to document the importance of sacred sites to Aboriginal people and discuss means by which such areas are protected.
The report was concerned with the history of Aboriginal presence within, and in close proximity to, the Daly Region Focus Area. In the report there are lists of the Aboriginal groups associated with the catchment area or associated with the Focus Area along with their geographical locations. This report presents detailed information on the general effects on the Aboriginal population of non-Aboriginal settlement and provides details on sacred sites and their protection.