Many of Australia’s freshwater systems and river basins are in crisis, driven by engineering, over-allocation of water and the impacts of climate change. Run-off into rivers, creeks and wetlands has been significantly modified and, in some areas, reduced to unsustainable levels. River red gums are dying because they no longer get the water they need. Our native fish populations have crashed to. Waterbird numbers are declining, and many colonies of waterbirds do not breed as often as they used to because there is less flooding, which impacts their breeding habitat. Increasing blackwater events, due to changed hydrology, can have devastating impacts on fish and crustaceans.

Alternatively, healthy water systems with more natural flow regimes can support an abundance of plant and animal life as well as increase nature’s resilience to the impacts of climate change and other stresses to our waterways.

Managing freshwater for a range of competing uses is complex, however our freshwater systems need more support. The Environmental Water Trust provides a way to draw on private resources to invest in water for our environment and our future.

Wellspring

The Trust has established a Scientific and Cultural Advisory Committee. The Chair is Professor Richard Kingsford. Professor Kingsford is the Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of NSW. He has focused his research over about the last 20 years on the waterbirds, wetlands and rivers of arid Australia, which cover about 70% of the continent. He has identified the significant impacts of water resource development on the rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin and contributed to policy development and environmental flow management.

Other committee members are:

Darren Perry is a most esteemed Ngintait man, who has contributed very significantly to justice with regard to Aboriginal water rights in the Murray-Darling Basin. Through his efforts over many years, in concert with other Traditional Owners associated with the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations Group, Darren has offered strong leadership and been essential to the success of recognising Aboriginal rights to Country in Victoria.

Dr Anne Jensen, an environmental consultant with a passionate interest in sustainable management of our natural resources, particularly the River Murray and wetland environments. Her experience ranges across government policy, private not-for-profit conservation, academic research and environmental consulting services for a range of clients. Anne is particularly interested in communicating science to a broad audience, using photographs and stories to explain issues around water and protecting natural ecosystems in terms that are understood by the wider community, so that we can manage our environment sustainably for our common future.