Water for a Healthy Country Update


Message from the Director As we approach the end of 2006 it is timely to reflect on what has been a most amazing year. The challenges continue to mount for all those involved in water resources research as Australia battles one of the most challenging periods in water management in its modern history. Read more International recognition for our WRON initiative David Maidment, Director of the Center for Research in Water Resources at the University of Texas (Austin) was recently in Canberra (Nov. '06) to support an industry briefing on building a Water Resources Observation Network for Australia. Maidment heads up a similar project in the US. Read more Research partnership to protect the Coorong One of Australia's most significant wetlands, the Coorong, at the mouth of the River Murray, is the focus of a new multi–million dollar research partnership that aims to improve the ecological health of the region and protect threatened birds and fish. Read more Sharing the Waters of the Murray-Darling Basin While the Murray-Darling River system begins in Queensland and wends its way through four states and dozens of Shires and towns, the river itself cares little for our borders and boundaries. Two reports compiled by the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship are making the risky business of planning for the river's future a little clearer. Read more Interpreting householder preferences to evaluate water supply A new attitudinal model that can both evaluate a water supply system's likely acceptability and allow water systems to be tailored to community requirements has been developed through the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. Read more Study helps 'water down' community concerns On the border of NSW and Victoria, Lake Mulwala is at the centre of debate among the region's farmers, residents, visitors, indigenous communities and resource managers. Read more Designing environmental flows for the Murray With increasing awareness of, and pressure to deliver, environmental flows to segments of the Murray, Catchment Management Agencies and water managers will find a helping hand in the recently released River Murray Floodplain Inundation Model (RiM-FIM). Read more Can domestic bores help save our drinking water? While the future of Perth's urban water supply looks increasingly challenging, a joint study draws some surprising conclusions. Researchers recommend we take another look underground. Read more The Ring of Confidence - Incorporating Uncertainty into Sediment Transportation Models Damage to the near shore regions of the Great Barrier Reef from terrestrial run-off is an issue of national concern. A pilot study, incorporating uncertainty measures into the transportation of sediment loads, aims to provide resource managers and policy makers with more informative sediment load estimates for confident decision-making. Read more Community Engagement for the Reef's sake The community of the Tully region in far north Queensland has teamed up with scientists from the Water for Healthy Country Flagship to create a leading example of participatory research in action. Read more Snippets New guide to nutrients in the tropical landscape Honour for Research excellence	IN THIS EDITION: Update Home Message from the Director International recognition for our WRON initiative Research partnership to protect the Coorong Sharing the Waters of the Murray-Darling Basin Interpreting householder preferences to evaluate water supply Study helps 'water down' community concerns Designing environmental flows for the Murray Can domestic bores help save our drinking water? The Ring of Confidence - Incorporating Uncertainty into Sediment Transportation Models Community Engagement for the Reef's sake Snippets About this email Meet visiting Fellow *from the Water for a Healthy Country* Flagship Meet Dr Bob Ferrier Meet the Flagship's new Science Director Meet Dr Ian Prosser Meet one of our PhD students Meet Deborah Reed EARLIER UPDATES** April 2006 September 2005 April 2005 November 2004
The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.
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Water for a Healthy Country Flagship CSIRO Editor: Leane Regan CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, ACT, 2601 Phone: +61 2 6246 4565 Fax: +61 2 6246 4564 editor.healthycountry@csiro.au www.csiro.au/healthycountry/


December 2006	National Research Flagship	Water For A Healthy Country