News

Tree resilience but constrained recruitment success in the Lower Balonne

Autumn surveys in the Lower Balonne found hundreds of new eucalyptus and acacia seedlings sprouting along riverbanks, but grazing, drying soils and disrupted flooding patterns are putting their survival, and the future of these tree populations, at risk.

Final Narran Lakes waterbird survey for 2025-26

Final waterbird surveys at Narran Lake for the 2025–2026 water year recorded 23 species, including a vulnerable white-bellied sea eagle, alongside surging tadpole and frog activity after recent water flows.

Flows, inundation and vegetation condition across the Gwydir / Guwayda Wetlands in 2024-25

Native food and fibre on-Country experience

Gomeroi cultural advisors led Year 8 students on a hands-on learning day at Whittaker's Lagoon. The students explored the cultural uses of wetland plants guli and burrarra and the role environmental water plays in keeping Country healthy.

How AI Is helping scientists listen as wetlands come to life

BirdNET, an AI technology trained to recognise frog and waterbird calls, is helping researchers track how quickly these species respond when water for the environment flows into dry wetlands along the Murrumbidgee River.

New drone method helps track floodplain vegetation across the Basin

A new drone and LiDAR method is helping Flow-MER researchers monitor floodplain vegetation more accurately and at greater scale across the Murray–Darling Basin.

From science to practice: improving riverbank health in the Goulburn River

Drone monitoring on the lower Goulburn River revealed how steady base flows were driving concentrated erosion, prompting a shift to variable "saw-tooth" flow pattern for water delivery that is already showing healthier riverbanks.

The Gwydir Wetlands: A wetland oasis in a modified landscape

Sixty kilometres north-west of Moree, surrounded by northern NSW farming country, the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area is home to threatened aquatic ecosystems.

First of its kind Darling-Warrego / Baaka-Warriku fish survey with mixed results

Fish sampling was undertaken in the Darling / Baaka and Warrego / Warriku rivers during May and June 2025. This allowed us to monitor the state of the fish community immediately after high natural flows from heavy rainfall and flooding in the northern Basin over autumn.

Water for the environment supports fishway function and native fish migration

Water for the environment from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and other agencies is helping native fish move through South Australia’s Lower Lakes and Coorong, according to recent monitoring by SARDI scientists.

Collaboration in conservation: A podcast companion to 'Mosaic: Life on the Western Lakes'

Ecologist Skye Wassens and landowner Peter Morton talk about bringing Paika Lake back to life, as part of the Mosaic project.

Connections to Kalari Bila: An Indigenous Knowledge book project for the Lachlan River

Families and Traditional Owners along the Kalari Bila are sharing stories for a new book capturing Country, culture and history on the Lachlan.