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Forecasting risks to fish and their available habitat from low flows and hypoxia

The research focused on improving understanding of low flow requirements of environmental assets and values in a climate change context and developing a conservation prioritisation method to identify priority locations for future management decisions.
MD-WERP
Science and research
Fish

 

MD-WERP theme Environmental outcomes
MD-WERP research question What are the low-flow needs of the environment?
Project title Forecasting risks to fish and their available habitat from low flows and hypoxia
Research lead La Trobe University and Griffith University
Authors Ryan Shojinaga and David P Hamilton
Author contact details Ryan Shojinaga
David P Hamilton
Date of publication September 2024
Report full title Forecasting risks to fish and their available habitat from low flows and hypoxia 
Keywords Murray–Darling Basin; hypoxia and anoxia; dissolved oxygen (DO); fish habitat; climate change; riparian vegetation; flow regulation; water quality; hydrodynamic model; stratification; fish Habitat Suitability Index (HSI); Culgoa River; Darling River; temperature; sediment
Summary of output
  • The rivers and streams of the Murray–Darling Basin frequently experience low or no flow. During these times, the threats to native fish are heightened due to the potential for poor water quality to diminish habitat quantity and quality.  
  • The aim of this project was to develop a predictive model to assess risks to native fish species and their critical habitats during low flow, cease-to-flow, and/or high flow events in the Barwon–Darling River. 
Key findings / recommendations
  • The study found:
    • climate change to be a major driving factor on fish habitat, with potential to create less than ideal conditions for water temperature and quality
    • low flow has impacts on water quality and risks to fish habitat in the Basin
    • near stream vegetation is an important influence on surface water temperature and therefore dissolved oxygen, however the results were mixed in terms of exacerbating or mitigating the risks to fish habitat.
  • The results highlight the need to achieve optimal water quality conditions using different levels like flow and riparian vegetation cover to preserve fish habitat. Temperature and DO are critical parameters for such optimal conditions.
Target audience Water managers, researchers, Australian government, state governments, local governments, conservation advocacy groups, First Nations advisory groups and individual First Nations people

Published date: 19 May 2025