The River Murray Channel Monitoring Plan (RMCMP) focuses on monitoring River Murray system scale responses to coordinated water for environment delivery in the Southern Connected Murray-Darling Basin. It builds on existing monitoring programs to fill gaps and to evaluate ecological responses to flow at as system scale, to inform and improve the way water for the environment is managed.
Implementation of the RMCMP is expected to significantly improve monitoring coverage in the River Murray, focusing on productivity and fish indicators that will directly inform improved management and coordination of flows. Implementation is expected to focus on 2021-22 in the first instance, with commitments for future years not yet made. A key element of the Plan is an annual review of implementation, which will inform any refinements to the Plan over the five year period.
The RMCMP, jointly funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), examines the productivity and fish responses to flow in the River Murray Channel. Monitoring occurs at 4 reaches: 1) Hume to Torrumbarry, 2) Torrumbarry to Euston, 3) Euston to SA border and 4) SA border to Wellington. The data set includes fish census (abundance, length), ageing (otolith) and length/weight data.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder acknowledge the First Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the lands, waterways and skies of the Murray-Darling Basin. We respect their continuing connection to culture and Country, and we thank them for their knowledge and science and the values reflected in these data.
CEWH RMCMP (2023)