Environmental Water

South Australia is a state rich in biodiversity, natural resources and economic activity. Water is a major contributor to the State’s economy and natural beauty. The regions along the River Murray and in the South East of the State are home to world-class wineries, irrigated horticulture, livestock production and forestry. Numerous wetlands are home to a number of threatened and endemic species and give the region its unique character.

Water managers in the region need to understand the relationship between surface water and groundwater flows, and the ecological response in streams, on the floodplains and in wetlands. This improved ecological understanding must be capable of informing policy and management decisions at a regional as well as local scale.

The Goyder Institute will aid the State to develop the most comprehensive ecological response model ever prepared to support water management in the South East and provide a decision support tool to optimise surface water and groundwater management to meet the wetland health and biodiversity goals of the region.

The Environmental Water Theme aims to deliver outcomes that will scientifically underpin government water strategies to ensure optimal outcomes for the environment while also achieving social and economic outcomes. It will develop knowledge and tools to support the provision of water to environmental assets to ensure resilient, connected and healthy ecosystems.

Environmental Water Roadmaps

E.1 River Murray

Objective: Managing the Murray Darling Basin as an integrated catchment ROADMAP E1 (A3 Format) (PDF 148.09 KB)

E.2 Surface Water, Groundwater, Wetland Relationships

Objective: Tools for planning and management of surface water – groundwater connected systems ROADMAP E2 (A3 Format) (PDF 129.75 KB)

The indicative outcomes of the Goyder Institute’s Environmental Water Theme are as follows:

• Achievement of optimal environmental outcomes while also achieving social and economic outcomes in the context of changing climate and policy arrangements
• Assist South Australian government with the effective implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan
• Whole of system approach to ecology of aquatic ecosystems
• Leadership in environmental flow science and in the communication of the research outcomes to environmental managers and wider public
• An informed public and stakeholders on the environmental benefits and tradeoffs of water management options
• Provide tools to ensure that South Australia is making the best possible use of available water resources in the State

Photo: Department for Water - Riverland