NCCARF
Adaptation Research Network for Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity
Victorian Node Discussion Paper
Produced by the Victorian Node of the
Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network
October 2009
Authors:
Philip Wallis
Jane Catford
In consultation with 35 Victorian water researchers
Contacts:
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Summary
The Adaptation Research Network for Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity has been established, in part, to put forward research proposals dealing with adaptation to climate change.
We are part of a multi-disciplinary network, therefore, any proposal is more likely to be favoured if it includes collaboration across institutions and disciplines. Any proposal with national benefit is more likely to succeed. A small number of strongly collaborative research proposals are more likely to be funded then a large number of small proposals. What we propose will need to help Australia adapt to climate change impacts.
The Victorian node has a strong presence in the southern Murray-Darling Basin and in south-eastern Australia more generally, therefore we have a strategic advantage in proposals in this region. As the southern Murray-Darling Basin generates a large proportion of Murray-Darling inflows, as well as significant agricultural production, research focused on this region might be considered in the national interest, especially if what we are proposing has wider application.
Victorian node consultation
On behalf of the Victorian node, Dr Philip Wallis and Dr Jane Catford have been conducting a series of meetings, through July to October 2009, with a sample of researchers that have expressed an interest in the Water Adaptation Research Network. Addressing the second goal of the Water Network (to facilitate the development of collaborative and cross-disciplinary research at the national scale), the aim of the meetings was to identify common research interests and key knowledge gaps that limit the ability to adapt to climate change impacts. The major findings of this consultation are presented in Section 3 of this document, and form the basis for further discussion and refinement of research topics.
Next Steps for the Victorian Node
We seek to progress the Adaptation Research Network for Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity by identifying research proposals within the Victorian Node that address adaptation to climate change. This paper provides a starting-point for discussion about which collaborative research proposals should be supported.
Providing feedback
Feedback on this discussion paper can be provided in a number of ways: 1) through the wiki dedicated to group discussion of this paper - contact us for access; 2) by making comments or tracking changes on the word document directly and emailing this back to us so we can post these on the wiki; or 3) contacting either Phil Wallis or Jane Catford directly to discuss the paper or arrange for a face-to-face meeting.
Following the release of this discussion paper, we hope to collect feedback over a three-week period (end date: 9th November 2009), after which time we will update the paper. We seek expressions of interest in leading working groups to develop research proposals and will provide support for thematic workshops. A workshop of the whole Victorian node is planned for February 2010 where groups can report back on research proposals and a Victorian Node plan developed.
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1. Introduction
In recognition of the dangerous and unavoidable effects of climate change, in 2007, the Australian Government committed funding to establish the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF). Based at Griffith University, NCCARF aims to identify the research and information required to adapt to the physical impacts of climate change. See http://www.nccarf.edu.au/.
To achieve these aims, eight national research networks have been established to investigate ways to manage, and adapt to, the effects of climate change on areas such as water resources, human health, emergency services, settlements and infrastructure, and biodiversity. Research outputs will be focused on the needs of decision-makers in governments, vulnerable industries and communities as they respond to the likely impacts of climate change. The right to host the ‘Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network’ was won by a bid comprising the universities and organisations listed below:
Griffith University (convener)University of Adelaide
Australian National University
Charles Darwin University
CSIRO
James Cook University
MDFRC (MDBA, CSIRO, LaTrobe)
Melbourne University
Monash University
Murdoch University
Museum of Victoria
NRETA / NSW Dept Climate Change
Qld University of Technology
SAWater
SARDI
University of Canberra
University of Newcastle
University of New South Wales
University of Southern Qld
University of Tasmania
University of Technology Sydney
University of Western Australia
Uniwater
In accordance with the aims of NCCARF, the Water Network will develop research proposals that address adaptation to climate change. Proposals that yield national benefits and foster collaboration by including multiple institutions and disciplines will be encouraged. The primary goals of the network are to:
· Synthesise relevant knowledge to give Australian water and biodiversity managers the best chance of coping with a difficult climate future;
· Facilitate the development of collaborative and cross-disciplinary research at the national scale;
· Build research capacity through support and mentoring of early career scientists.
The intention is to develop a single, inclusive network with the aim of facilitating open exchange of information and sharing of resources among the water research community in Australia. Additional partners will be able to join in activities coordinated by the host institution within their geographic region, fill gaps in expertise and broaden the reach of the network into government and industry.
1.1. Research themes
The coordinators of the Water Network have proposed four research themes in the National Adaptation Research Plan (NARP):
· Governance: Including water allocation, markets and trading - activities to inform development of water allocation and market arrangements that support adaptation to climate change
· Water Resources: Inform policies and management practices for interception activities (including farms dams, plantation forestry and re-afforestation with native vegetation) and the joint management of surface and groundwater.
· Freshwater Biodiversity: Research to inform adaptive management of environmental flows and other mitigation strategies to protect freshwater biodiversity and maintain aquatic ecosystem health.
· Climate scenarios: Develop scenarios of likely climate change and its implications for freshwater biodiversity and water resources
1.2. Victorian node
The Water Network has been split into regional nodes that will facilitate interaction among researchers in each of the regions, as well as supporting researchers to attend meetings in other regions. The nodes will provide a point of contact for engagement with industry partners (e.g. state and local government agencies), and ensure that issues addressed are locally relevant. Uniwater, a joint initiative of the University of Melbourne and Monash University, is acting as the Victorian Node Coordinator through Monash University.
A priority of the Victorian Node is to facilitate future collaboration among researchers with shared research interests and complementary skills. Funding of projects will initially be sought from NCCARF on a competitive basis. It is envisaged that a maximum of three research proposals will be developed by the Victorian Node, though it is possible to develop proposals across regional nodes and research networks. Recognising that many research topics therefore cannot be included, the Victorian Node aims to develop strong proposals that address key knowledge gaps relating to climate change adaptation from an integrated, multi-disciplinary perspective.
1.3. Network priorities and activities
The National coordinators of the Water Network have suggested a list of activities that the network will perform:
· Connect existing networks and expertise in water into the Water Network.
· Participate in an inception workshop that will establish strategic priorities for the next few years and decide on lead organisations and individuals for thematic issues.
· A mid-term international workshop/conference aimed at developing stronger links with international developments in the water/climate area.
· Synthesise existing and emerging research into themes.
· Facilitate open exchange of information and sharing of resources among research partners.
· Assist with developing detailed thematic research plans.
· Facilitate the establishment of research teams to work on priority areas with reference to the National Adaptation Research Plan.
· Provide support for early career scientists and postgraduate students to actively participate in regional and national meetings and workshops, and to be included in the development of research proposals.
· Provide access for university students to the water industry, and provide training and job experience in areas of importance to the water industry.
· Encourage and support co-supervision of students across research partners and, where relevant, across disciplines.
2. Research capacity – Victorian node
The Victorian Node of the Adaptation Research Network has been consulting with water researchers at Monash University, the University of Melbourne and the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) in order to identify common research opportunities and key knowledge gaps that limit the ability to adapt to climate change. This consultation will extend to interested water researchers at other universities and research organisations in Victoria that were not originally listed on the network bid. Key Victorian water managers will then be invited to share their views on knowledge gaps and research needs to get an idea of where the Adaptation Research Network can develop research proposals to inform water policy and management.
Activity in the Victorian Node will primarily focus on three of the research themes identified in the National Adaptation Research Plan: 1) governance, 2) water resources and 3) freshwater biodiversity. The governance theme engages with existing research collaboration in this area between Monash and Melbourne Universities, which also includes researchers at universities interstate, making this a national theme. The water resources and freshwater biodiversity themes will be developed around research in south east Australia.
The Water Network has recently issued a call to produce synthesis papers aimed at communicating key issues, highlighting knowledge gaps and identifying the role of the network in helping to address these knowledge needs. The Victorian node has put forward nominations to develop synthesis papers for the freshwater biodiversity theme; for the governance theme; and for the water resources theme on the topic of water markets. We welcome further suggestions for synthesis papers.
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3. Potential Research Topics
Through an initial consultation process with a sample of water researchers, we have identified research themes that are focused on climate change adaptation and incorporate the diversity of views and research interests within the network.
3.1. Understanding system behaviour of freshwater ecosystems
Increasing our understanding of freshwater ecosystems is essential for understanding what the physical impacts of climate change will be and for developing adaptation strategies. This includes increasing understanding of critical ecological thresholds, the impacts of disturbance which may become more important for management under climate change (e.g. bushfires, low flows). Ecological responses to environmental flows (ecohydrology) are a key topic under this theme, as environmental flow regimes are, to a certain degree, a management lever.
Understanding the impacts of climate change on riparian vegetation (which is important for energy and nutrient dynamics in-stream), was nominated as an important area of adaptation research. For example, die-back and degradation of river red gums reduces leaf litter production, which can cause trophic starvation to higher orders, with resultant impacts on ecosystem services.
The importance of learning from past research was a key priority for some of those interviewed; especially the use of multiple lines of evidence for causal criteria analysis of ecological responses. A desktop study was proposed to draw on existing information to develop frameworks that document current knowledge gaps.
Integrated modelling of freshwater ecosystems has also been flagged as an area of interest, especially in a holistic landscape-scale context, including groundwater modelling. The effects of climate change on groundwater-surface water interactions in Australia are poorly understood. Consequently, the effect of these interactions on ecosystems is also poorly understood. This is a potential area for a collaborative research proposal. A project of this type would potentially be limited to locations where groundwater monitoring networks already exist. The effects of climate change on ephemeral streams, which would become less frequently connected under a warmer and drier climate, needs to be evaluated; in particular, an increased ability to make predictions on how these functions would assist in their management.
Estuarine environments have been flagged by a number of researchers as an area that requires a greater understanding of system behaviour. It was suggested that estuaries are clearly within the scope of the freshwater network, rather than the marine network, due to the strong catchment influence on estuary water quality and flows. To ensure that estuaries do not fall in a gap between marine environments and inland streams, this topic could be potentially be taken up through a collaboration between the freshwater and marine networks.
Climate change will impact water quality through increased fire frequency or extent, reduced discharge, potential increases in pollutants, and an increase in human population pressure. In addition, the re-connection of salinised and acidified wetlands and stream reaches with, for example, the Murray River system could create water quality problems. Research currently seems to be focussed more towards water quantity issues, except in urban systems. This balance needs to be redressed.
Land use change and the ecological consequences of land management practices are overlain by the impacts of climate change. What will be the effect of increased carbon dioxide concentration on aquatic ecosystems? What effect will climate change have on energy resources for aquatic environments?
Increasing the use of genetic approaches to examine resilience and the effects of extended drought on lowland rivers and their floodplains was suggested as a potential topic. For example, it was suggested that the health of key tree species could be examined across the whole Murray-Darling Basin to see if climate change-driven processes are causing bottlenecks in overall genetic structures.
3.2. Aquatic ecological sentinel sites
The identification of long-term environmental research ‘sentinel sites’ to detect climate change impacts on inland waters was an area with much support from those consulted. Such sites would already have climatic, hydrological and ecological data already being collected or joint programs where these combined datasets could be most easily supported. The collection of long-term ecological data in wilderness areas would help to better understand climate change impacts on water resources without the compounding influences of urban and rural land management impacts. Attributing climate change impacts from other environmental stressors is essential for understanding the drivers of change and developing adaptation strategies.