The nation has been consumed by water management discussions =
over
the past few years, including the major issues around the Murray Darling
Basin.
Charles Sturt University river ecologist, Dr Paul Humphries reckons it's =
time
for freshwater parks.
He says we're seeing a whole raft of indicators of freshwater =
collapse.
"We've actually seen the ecological collapse of most of the river systems =
in
the Murray Darling Basin.
"We've seen a huge loss if species over the past couple of hundred years =
and
the rise of introduced species like carp, redfin, trout and other smaller
species we don't see so much.
"We've seen the ecological extinction of native species like Murray Cod,
algal blooms have become more prominent as have fish kills."
Dr Humphries says there's huge pressure on the basin system because of
drought, climate change and increasing demand for water by populations.
He doesn't believe water trading or buybacks of small amounts will solve =
the
problems, but rather creating the freshwater or river version of a national
park.
The idea is based around conserving biodiversity in the system where =
hasn't
already been severely impacted, creating areas for species to breed up then =
move
out and effectively re-seed places where those species have been lost.
Dr Humphries also says there's a need to manage the water and rehabilitate =
the physical habitat as well, in a coordinated way, not just in random chunks =
along the system in isolation.
"In fresh water there are some complications because you've got that
downstream flow of water, which means whatever you do upstream will affect
downstream.
"But certainly we have rivers in the Murray Darling Basin for example =
which
are iconic for particular reasons or are fairly undeveloped, and to create
freshwater parks around those rivers, or even close to the whole basin if we =
had
that sort of vision in mind, could be possible.
"Obviously because rivers are influenced by the land adjacent to them we =
have
to think about a myriad of influences on those rivers. So the riparian zone, =
the
edge zone, the tributaries coming into those major rivers, the upstream =
inputs,
the types of species that are in there, would have to be considered.
"It's a very complex matter."
There might be some rethinking of both water and recreational issues =
around
the rivers as well.
"If we can't provide the types of flows that the river would have had
naturally we need to think about how we supply that water in a way that is
conducive to the sustainability of the animals and plants that live in =
it.
He says there would need to be some active intervention to help =
rehabilitate
the plants and animals in the system.
"Targeted reintroduction of particular species, not necessarily just the =
main
species we like to catch.
"It also may mean limitations on what people can do in those parks. While =
it
may not prevent people from fishing in those parks, it may in some cases =
prevent
people from taking fish away.
"They may need to catch the fish, look at it, kiss it and throw it back =
into
the water!"
But Dr Humphries recognises that both politically and in the broader
community it might be too big an ask at the moment, but he's adamant it's
something which must be done.
"If we think in the timeframe of one or two years or five years even it's =
too
difficult, but in the medium to longer term it's absolutely essential.
"If you'd said maybe 20 years ago that the Snowy River would have some =
flows
restored to it or adding water back to the system in some way, people would =
have
laughed at you.
"If people said the lower lakes of the Murray system were in danger, in =
dire
straits - 20 or 30 years ago people might have laughed at you at the severity =
of
the problems we're now facing.
"At the moment we might think that something like freshwater parks or
protected areas is pie in the sky. I think we have to start the discussion =
now,
and I think that scientists and managers and the community need to take the =
idea
seriously.
"If we don't start the discussion now I think it may be too late to do
something in the future."
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