March NewsStream
Welcome to the first NewsStream of 2021! In this Easter edition we share with you:
Published Pieces: Where is all the sand coming from? What does it mean for the River Murray?
Project Profile - Autumn Feature: Where do platypus hang out? Identifying habitat improvements for Diamond Creek.
Project Snapshot: How much is to much for waterways? Urban flows and environmental impacts in Sydney’s waterways.
StreamTeam: What has the StreamTeam been up to? We welcome our newest member Dr Peter Sandercock, on the lookout for great people, givaways to be had in out What River is this competition, how our team celebrates the year that was, and, how can we help you?
So go on, grab that coffee and an Easter egg or two and have a quick read…
Published Pieces
Where is all the sand coming from? What does it mean for the River Murray?
The Barmah Choke (aka Parma Narrows to the Yorta Yorta) acts like an hour glass: sediment and water are slow to pass through. This has major implications for the management and operations of the River Murray. In 2019 the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) undertook a detailed survey of the River Murray channel through the Barmah–Millewa Forest. Drawing upon this data Streamology has demonstrated that a very large quantity of sand is present on the bed of the river, and this will impact flow through the Barmah Choke, increasingly limiting the flow capacity of the River Murray. The next phase is what to do about it, a project being undertaken by Streamology for the MDBA. If you want to understand where the sand is, where it has come from, and what it means for flow capacity don’t hesitate looking into the reports by Streamology and Dr James Grove on the MDBA website. Clink the button below to read more.
Project Profile:
Image thanks to Australian Platypus Conservatory website
Where do platypus hang out? Identifying habitat improvements for Diamond Creek
The Healthy Waterways Strategy (HWS) lists platypus as one of nine key values for rivers within the Melbourne Water region, for their importance to the community and as proxy indicators for a range of other environmental and social values. The species faces threats from habitat loss, predation, climate change, urbanisation, litter, and low flows. In Diamond Creek, platypus are considered vulnerable due to low flows and sub-standard habitat. To rectify this Streamology and Associates worked out what habitat platypus like and how to get it back. Read more by clicking below.
Project Snapshot:
How much is too much for waterways? Urban flows and environmental impacts in Sydney’s waterways.
It is not only the rain that has been busy lately in Sydney (and we hope everyone is recovering as well as possible). We also need to understand how streamflows generated by urbanisation, both stormwater and treated water, are critical to planning and managing waterways for environmental and social values. To make this easier, Streamology, in conjunction with Sydney Water and CTEnvironmental developed the Urban Streamflow Impact Assessment (USIA). The USIA method is currently being used to evaluate the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre’s (AWRCs) environmental impacts based on a range of potential treated water and stormwater runoff discharge scenarios. Once constructed, the AWRC is set to be one of the most efficient water treatment plants in the southern hemisphere. This also leads to Streamology’s role in the production of ecohydrological and geomorphological assessments for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ensure impacts are minimised and benefits are maximised (and yes treater flows and stormwater can be beneficial!). Very relevant to recent events an assessment of impacts during extreme floods has been undertaken alongside CTEnvironmental to quantify historic flood impacts for species at risk, such as the Camden White Gum (see below).
As it happens the award winning USIA method is a finalist for the National Stormwater Awards: fingers crossed!
StreamTeam’s newest member: Dr Peter Sandercock
We are very pleased to welcome the highly experienced Dr Peter Sandercock to the StreamTeam! Peter is a fluvial geomorphologist with more than 20 years’ experience in research and consulting in Australia, Europe and China. He has worked for clients including Melbourne Water, North Central, Goulburn Broken and North East CMAs, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Department of Land, Water and Planning, and Goulburn Murray Water. Peter also brings a wealth of academic experience from the fluvial dynamics of waterways (such as his PhD on the Ord River) and the role of vegetation in waterway processes and stability (such as his Post Doctoral Research in Southern Europe).
Peter’s specialties includes geomorphology investigations, environmental flow assessments, large wood management and controls for waterway protection in urban catchments. He is commonly sought for high-level advice on geomorphological and ecological processes, and waterway planning and strategic management.
When not working, Peter enjoys running in the bush, time together with the family, getting out and about with two active boys, drinking coffee and eating cake. Streamology is delighted to have Peter join the team, and we are really looking forward to even more amazing work drawing upon Peter’s knowledge and experience. Welcome Peter!
Could you be part of the StreamTeam?
Do you want to work in a growing boutique environmental consultancy working throughout Australia? You could be a CEO, GM, technical boffin or an innovative project manager (or all of these!). You might want to lead a great team, develop client relationships or work on really (really) interesting projects. You might know us but we don’t know you. If you really (really) think this is you then send an email to admin@streamology.com.au and we will arrange a confidential call with you.
What River is this?
Be the first to send in the correct answer by emailing your answer with your name and contact details to win a care pack from Streamology*
*care pack includes a Streamology water bottle (to really impress your friends!), and some brilliant local Sixpence Coffee and Bright Tea from our beloved North East Victoria
Christmas Surprise…better late than never!
The StreamTeam works hard, so it is nice to get time out. It did take a while to align the diaries but we managed to surprise everyone with an adventure to the top of the mountains! We celebrated a tough but rewarding year in the Alpine Nature Experience yurts at Wire Plain, Mount Hotham. We highly recommend it for summer or winter!
How can we help you?
Did you know, the StreamTeam love solving problems. So if you have a water or waterway problem that you are needing some advice on we are here to help. It could be about runoff in urban areas, it could be that a development is about to happen and you need to check out the soil type in relation to how it reacts with water, it could be that you need more information about the flows and erosion, or you may not be able to exactly work it out yet, but you know you need help. We ask the questions to work out the problems to get you the solution or the strategy needed to help your team and your environment. Send us an email and we will get the right person to give you a call to discuss.
Thanks for reading, until next time
The StreamTeam