Environmental flow requirements in arid zone rivers - A case study from the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia

J. F. Costelloe*, J. T. Puckridge, J. R.W. Reid, J. Pritchard, P. Hudson, V. Bailey, M. Good

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The ARIDFLO project takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the collection and analysis of data required to formulate appropriate environmental flow requirements for rivers in the Lake Eyre Basin. The key drivers of the ecological processes underpinning the health of these rivers are identified by modelling whole-of-ecosystem biological responses to hydrological events over a range of spatial and temporal scales. First, the hydrology of these poorly gauged (often ungauged) rivers needs to be modelled and validated to mimic real flow and inundation patterns at the catchment, reach and waterbody scale. Modelled and actual discharge data are then used to provide a suite of hydrological predictor variables which, in conjunction with other environmental variables, are used to model observed biotic responses. The key hydrologic and environmental drivers identified by the statistical models need to be taken into account when determining environmental flow requirements for these river systems. Further work is required to assess the predictive power of the models in the highly variable, complex systems of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)65-72
    Number of pages8
    JournalWater Science and Technology
    Volume48
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Environmental flow requirements in arid zone rivers - A case study from the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this