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Soil and Landscape Science
Surface Water Hydrology
Groundwater Hydrology
Environmental Information Systems
Environmental Earth Observation
Catchment Biogeochemistry and Aquatic Ecology
Contaminant Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Water Reuse and Environmental Process Engineering
Urban Water Systems Engineering
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 Perth Laboratory - Public Seminar Series 2005For further details contact Jackie
Walsh (08) 9333 6380 Underpinning Australia’s Water Reform Process with Robust Science and Information Colin Chartres In 2004, the Council of Australian Governments embarked on a vital and bold process of water reform under the National Water Initiative (NWI) to deal with increasing water scarcity and river health decline. The NWI has eight key elements with objectives, outcomes and actions in the following areas;
Full implementation of the NWI will result in a nationally-compatible system for managing surface and groundwater resources for rural and urban use based on market mechanisms, regulatory solutions and water resource planning. Fundamental to the process are scientific data and knowledge about water quantity and quality, and riverine environmental health. This presentation details the ways that the National Water Commission is using science to inform decision making processes, to identify knowledge gaps, to assess project proposals under the Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards Programmes and to evaluate and monitor change as the reform process progresses. By 2015, Australia would like to lead the world in the careful and sustainable use of water resources. Success will depend on whether we can develop water management and use systems that are underpinned by sound scientific knowledge, regulated and managed by enlightened policies and understood by all water users. About the Speaker Colin Chartres is on secondment (from CSIRO Land and Water) to the National Water Commission as their Science Adviser. He has a background in soil and water science. Recently, he has completed major reviews of science in the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality/NHT and has compiled a major report for ASEAN on the State of Water Resources Management in ASEAN and a Strategic Plan of Action for Water Resources Management in ASEAN. He is a director of the eWater CRC and on the steering committee of the CGIAR Challenge Programme for Water and Food. Harmful Algal Blooms: from Molecular Processes to Global Ocean Phenomena Professor Gustaaf M. Hallegraeff Harmful algal blooms (HABs) range from harmless water discolourations to species that produce toxins that are potentially fatal to human consumers of seafood products. Since many algal blooms are more or less monospecific, correctly assessing the precise taxonomic identity of the causative organisms is crucial in understanding potential impacts. HAB species range from marine to brackish to fresh water organisms and cover a broad range of phylogenetic types (dinoflagellates, diatoms, raphidophytes, cyanobacteria). Molecular approaches (notably sequencing of the large subunit rRNA) have been indispensable in redefining HAB species, or detecting and monitoring previously cryptic taxa. In the past two decades, evidence for an alarming global increase in the frequency, intensity and geographic distribution of HABs has been brought to the attention of international forums such as UNESCO and WHO. Coastal eutrophication, global climate change and ship ballast water discharges are undoubtedly contributing to the increasingly detrimental effects of algal blooms on fisheries, aquaculture, human health, tourism, the marine environment and subsequently even regional economies. Molecular approaches and satellite monitoring are now providing us with the forensic tools to resolve the key mechanisms responsible for algal blooms, thereby allowing human society to make well-informed decisions on adequate control, management and mitigation strategies. About the Speaker Gustaaf Hallegraeff is a Professor of Plant Science with the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, D.Sc. from the University of Tasmania and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. His main research interests are harmful algal blooms that affect aquaculture industries, their spreading via ships' ballast water and linkages to global environmental changes. He and his collaborators were awarded the 2004 Eureka Prize for Environmental Research. Among his many publications are key books such as the 'Aquaculturists' guide to harmful Australian microalgae', and editorial work on UNESCOs 'Manual on Harmful Marine Microalgae'. In 2005 he was a finalist for Australian of the Year in recognition of his international standing as a leader in his field. You can contact him on Hallegraeff@utas.edu.au. Residence time and chemistry of soil organic matter: And why we should care about it Dr
Evelyn Krull Thursday 3 November at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium This presentation provides an overview of different soil organic carbon (SOC) studies, including the (1) importance of charcoal in SOC, (2) determining human-induced vegetation change and (3) effect of vegetation change on soil hydrology. (1) Many of Australia’s ecosystems have a high fire frequency, leading to a steady production of charcoal which is incorporated into SOC or eroded into rivers, streams and estuaries. However, it is not well known what determines the age of charcoal and whether it differs in different depositional environments. (2) The process of “woody thickening” describes the invasion or proliferation of trees into grasslands and savannas. Such changes have been documented worldwide and are thought to be encouraged by European-style land management practices such as domestic cattle grazing and fire suppression. Human-induced thickening is believed to be very widespread in the dry, grazed woodlands of eastern Australia. We determined at selected sites whether a change from grassy (C4) to woody (C3) vegetation had occurred since the initiation of European agricultural practices (last 50-150 years) and how this change had affected soil carbon levels. Our results showed that thickening can be confidentially traced using d13C and 14C analyses of size-separated SOC fractions. Based on the results of this project, sampling was extended to the entire Burdekin catchment to investigate whether thickening was entirely driven by human-induced land management changes or was a factor of climate, soil type or vegetation. (3) Thickening, like clearing, is likely to change the demands for water by the existing vegetation. However, compared with the effects of clearing, thus far, no work has been done on the effects of gradual vegetation change (e.g. thickening) on soil hydrology. We used compound-specific (dD and d13C) isotopic analyses of n-alkanes in plants and soil to determine the long-term changes in soil and plant hydrology About the Speaker Dr Evelyn Krull is a research scientist in the Aquatic Biogeochemistry and Ecology stream, part of the Rivers and Coasts theme, at CSIRO Land and Water. Read her staff profile. Research issues for future agriculture: An economist’s perspectiveDr Ross Kingwell Wednesday 19 October at 12.00pm, CSIRO Auditorium In this talk some key trends and challenges affecting Australian agriculture are discussed briefly. Their ramifications for agricultural R&D are outlined and some R&D opportunities are described. The talk also comments on the nature of interaction between economists and scientists in the R&D process and explores some of the ways economists can assist scientists to identify and prioritise R&D opportunities. About the Speaker Dr Ross Kingwell is a senior manager in the WA Department of Agriculture and a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia. He is co-editor of the Australian Journal of Agricultural & Resource Economics and has a key research interest in bio-economic modeling. Dutch Water Boards: Dealing with climate change and rising water levelsAlbert Vrielink – Senior Adviser Water
Systems, Thursday 13 October at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium Twenty-six percent of the Netherlands lies below sea level. Without dunes or dikes, 66% of the Netherlands would be flooded on a regular basis. And it can get worse according to the predicted climate change. The Netherlands has seen many floods. Flooding and drainage were the reason why water boards were established in the Middle Ages. Nowadays water boards are functional decentralised democratic government bodies whose tasks include flood protection, irrigation, drainage, protection of aquatic ecosystems i.e. its ecological and chemical status and urban wastewater treatment.
Photo Left: River Meuse flooding 1995 The WFD focuses on international cooperation and policy harmonisation to achieve good water quality. The NAAW sets out how and by what means, and according to which timetable, Dutch water management is organised between now and 2015. As a result of this agreement all water boards made a hydrological study of the safety level of their water system, measured by a draft flood frequency standard. The study should answer the question of our former Prime Minister: “Is our water system in good order?” If not, what measures do we have to take to guarantee the safety of our inhabitants and keep the flood damage to a minimum?
Photo Right: River Dommel flooding 1995 including the international highway A2 About the Speaker Albert Vrielink is the Senior Advisor Water Systems, with the Water Board ‘De Dommel’, The Netherlands. Contact him. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems in WA: Who are we and where are we going?Dr Michael Robertson Thursday 6 October at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium Abstract CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems (CSE) was formed in 2000 out of a merger between the former divisions of Wildlife and Ecology and the farming systems components of Tropical Agriculture. The merger at the time was seen as a bold step to broach the issue of sustainability in managed terrestrial systems. The CSE group at Floreat has for many years worked in the wheatbelt on nature conservation issues. The emphasis has changed recently to focus upon the management of farmlands from both a production and environmental point of view. The seminar will give some brief history of CSE and its predecessors in WA and discuss possible future directions. About the Speaker Dr Michael Robertson is the Officer in Charge for CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems at Floreat, Perth with expertise in crop and pasture agronomy and physiology. He is also Project Leader for the Farm Water Futures project with the Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship. Can groundwater abstraction control rising saline water tables in WA rural towns?Dr Olga Barron Thursday 29 September at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium Urban salinity problems in WA rural towns are linked to a phenomenon known as dry land salinity. The excessive groundwater recharge in rural towns, that is broadly associated with land clearance in the region, is also reinforced by the existing water supply schemes. Consequently groundwater abstraction is often considered as a possible water management option which may control the rising groundwater table. The talk will address some research outcomes related to hydrogeological investigations in a number of WA rural towns, undertaken as part of the Water for a Healthy Country and Rural Towns – Liquid Assets projects. They are related to the specifics of the hydrogeological tests, groundwater modelling and their application to the development of a salinity management strategy, which is based on the novel approach to salinity risk evaluation. About the Speaker Dr Olga Barron is a principle research scientist with CSIRO Land and Water and has been working with CSIRO since 2003. Her main activities are with the CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship on research primarily related to urban water management issues, including urban salinity and catchment urbanisation. Before moving to Australia, Olga worked in Ireland on projects related to river eutrophication within agricultural catchments and the environmental impact of abandoned mine sites. Adaptation to climate change in WA: What is the IOCI message and how can CSIRO partner to deliver the climate science needed to address the future?Dr
Brian Ryan Thursday 15 September at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium The Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI) is a contributing partnership of WA State Agencies, CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre and the WA Regional Office of the Bureau of Meteorology. The current phase of IOCI is linked to the State Water Strategy, WA Government Greenhouse Strategy as well as supporting the specific interest of state partners. In this talk, some of the key messages from a recent IOCI seminar and workshop will be discussed and used as a guide for addressing the major challenge of integrating climate change and climate variability into a broader adaptation frame work. I will conclude with some personal thoughts on the opportunities to set climate research priorities within CSIRO such that the outcomes from IOCI and the climate node of the WA Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) are integrated with or linked to other climate sensitive research projects being pursued at the CSIRO Centre for Environment and Life Sciences. About the Speaker Dr Brian Ryan is CSIRO’s Project Leader for IOCI, and was formally Joint Leader, Climate Modelling and Applications at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and Leader, Climate Variability and Change for the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. . Modelling Biogeochemistry of Contrasting Australian EstuariesDr Barbara
Robson Tuesday 13 Septembers at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium Until recently, much more attention has been given to temperate and Mediterranean-climate estuaries than to tropical estuaries in Australia. In this seminar, three contrasting estuaries are considered, including the wind-driven, Mediterranean-climate Swan River estuary and the macrotidal, tropical Ord River Estuary. Biogeochemical models have been combined with field process studies for each system to improve our understanding of the way tropical and temperate estuaries function and the differences between them. While salinity, temperature and flow control the dynamics of phytoplankton in the Swan River estuary, light, tides and sediment dynamics are of primary importance in the Ord River estuary. The models have also been applied to a number of predictive scenarios for each estuary to provide quantitative predictions of responses to change, to facilitate management. About the Speaker Dr Barbara Robson is a research scientist in the Aquatic Biogeochemistry and Ecology stream, part of the Rivers and Coasts theme, at CSIRO Land and Water. Read her staff profile McGillivray Oval Direct Use Project
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Like
all the water boards in the Netherlands,
water board ‘De Dommel’ has some
challenging tasks ahead. The key aim is to
make the Netherlands safe and liveable, now
and in the future. To achieve this, a healthy
and resilient water system must be created,
built-up and maintained in a way that guarantees
its sustainable use. Key processes for ‘De
Dommel’ are implementing the European
Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the National
Administrative Agreement on Water (NAAW). 
The
first rough conclusion is that Dutch water
boards have some work to do. Between 5-10%
of each catchment area does not satisfy to
the draft flood frequency standard. The most
important policy to solve this problem is
to give water more room; in an urbanized
country like the Netherlands spatial planning
for floodplains is crucial to keep it safe
from flooding now and in the future.