Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences Centre for Ecosystem Science

Flow-MER

The Centre for Ecosystem Science undertakes monitoring, evaluation and research (MER) on the outcomes of environmental water delivery in the Macquarie River and Marshes and Lower Balonne to provide information to support environmental water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.

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Macquarie Marshes with rippling water in the foreground, banks with reeds and trees and a blue sky in the background

Flow-MER is a program run by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) to undertake monitoring, evaluation and research (MER) on the outcomes of environmental water delivery to provide information to support environmental water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Centre for Ecosystem Science has been engaged by the CEWH to conduct Flow-MER activities in the Macquarie River and Marshes and Lower Balonne. The two Areas include the internationally significant, Ramsar-protected Macquarie Marshes and Narran Lakes (Dharriwaa).

The Macquarie River and Marshes Flow-MER project team is headed by UNSW’s Professor Richard Kingsford and the Lower Balonne Area team is led by UNSW’s Dr Kate Brandis.

The current program runs from July 2024 until June 2029 with MER activities informing the below themes:

  • Cultural outcomes (determined by Aboriginal People)
  • River flows and connectivity
  • Native vegetation
  • Waterbirds
  • Native fish.
Macquarie

The Macquarie River and Marshes Area incorporates critical wetland and river assets including the Macquarie Marshes, one of the largest and most important wetlands in the Murray–Darling Basin, extending over 200,000 hectares, approximately 19,000 hectares of which are Ramsar-listed.

Lower Balonne

The Lower Balonne Area encompasses the Lower Balonne Floodplain, supports the largest number of wetlands of any catchment in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), and includes the internationally significant and Ramsar-listed Narran Lakes (Dharriwaa).

Our team

The UNSW’s Professor Richard Kingsford and Dr Kate Brandis collaborate with researchers and other specialists to undertake the Flow-MER work. These specialists include representatives from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and local Aboriginal People.

Resources

The UNSW-CES has a range of downloadable publications and factsheets about the Lower Balonne and Macquarie River and Marshes Flow-MER programs plus kids colouring-ins.