Darling and Warrego

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The confluence of the Darling / Baaka and Warrego / Warriku rivers. The Warrego / Warriku enters the Darling / Baaka from the right of the image. Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area, January 2024. Photo credit: Felix Noble, University of New England
Darling and Warrego
Native Fish
July 20, 2026

First of its kind Darling-Warrego / Baaka-Warriku fish survey with mixed results

Fish sampling was undertaken in the Darling / Baaka and Warrego / Warriku rivers during May and June 2025. This allowed us to monitor the state of the fish community immediately after high natural flows from heavy rainfall and flooding in the northern Basin over autumn.

Dr Jason Thiem
NSW DPIRD Fisheries
Darling-Warrego Area Team
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Coolibah woodland site on the Western Floodplain in Toorale National Park and Conservation Area in spring 2025. This site was completely submerged in autumn-winter 2025. Draw-down of the floodwaters led to the dense, species-rich cover of lush ground-cover vegetation visible in this image. Photo: D. Mackay, University of New England.
Darling and Warrego
Native Vegetation
May 18, 2026

Watering event in Toorale and vegetation condition on the Western Floodplain

A record 2025 flooding event at Toorale National Park, driven by Queensland floodwaters, significantly boosted plant species richness, cover, and diversity across all four monitored floodplain communities.

Darling-Warrego Area Team
Dr David Mackay
Professor Caroline Gross
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Darling and Warrego
Communications and Engagement
March 19, 2026

Darling-Warrego (Baaka-Warriku) – Where two rivers meet

Journey through the diverse landscapes of Toorale National Park and Conservation Area. Once part of the world’s largest sheep station on the lands of Kunja and Kurnu-Baakandji Peoples, Toorale now protects the iconic plants and animals that depend on these floodplains.

Darling-Warrego Area Team
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A film showcasing the beautiful Warrego Western Floodplain
Darling and Warrego
December 5, 2025

Showcasing the Warrego Western Floodplain

Beautiful as it is rugged, the Western Floodplain of the Warrego (Warriku) River to its junction with the Darling (Baaka) River west of Bourke, covers over 10,000 hectares and boasts an amazing collection of habitats.

Aquatic Ecology Lab, University of New England
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
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Featured image: Mark Southwell wading through an inundated Warrego towards a lignum monitoring site in March 2020. Photo credit: Ben Vincent.
Darling and Warrego
River Flows and Connectivity
November 7, 2024

The Warriku-Baaka catchment: a decade in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin

A decade of monitoring in the Warrego-Darling reveals how environmental water supports diverse species, from frogs and fish to flowering coolibah trees.

Tamara Kermode
Rebecca Lamb
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Featured Photo: Figure 1 Ephemeral wetlands were scattered across the floodplains adjacent to the Warrego-Darling/Baaka confluence. Photo credit: Jared Reid, 14 December 2022. Traditional Paakantyi Language of the Kurnu-Baakandji nation used in this article. (L. A. Hercus – Paakantyi Dictionary).
Darling and Warrego
Waterbirds
August 10, 2023

Commonwealth water for the environment supports breeding ducks in the Western Floodplain

In Toorale National Park, a wet year and targeted water management create ideal conditions for diverse duck species to breed and thrive.

Tamara Kermode
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Featured Image: Murray cod. Photo credit, Arthur Rylah Institute
Darling and Warrego
Native Fish
February 1, 2023

Bringing Murray cod back to the Baaka

Efforts to revive the iconic Murray cod in the Darling-Baaka River face challenges, but united action offers hope for this culturally significant species.

Ellen Ryan
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The iconic Kularku (Brolga). Image credit: Ben Vincent.
Darling and Warrego
Waterbirds
June 14, 2022

Waterbirds on Toorale: What Have We Seen in 8 Years

Over eight years, 57 waterbird species, including the Kularku (Brolga), have been recorded in Toorale's wetlands, showcasing the area's rich biodiversity.

Tamara Kermode
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Gingham Waterhole of the Gwydir Wetlands. Photo credit: UNE.
Gwydir
Cultural Outcomes
December 15, 2021

New Cultural Advisors for Gwydir and Warrego-Darling regions

In the Gwydir and Warrego-Darling regions, new Cultural Advisors Liz Taylor and Kevin Knight are bridging traditional knowledge and modern science to enhance community engagement.

Flow-MER
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Turtles like this fella feeding in the flowing water below Presbury weir on the Barwon River need well oxygenated water to survive. Photos credit: University of New England.
Darling and Warrego
Food Webs and Water Quality
March 8, 2021

Restarting dry rivers: Risks to water quality

Discover how restarting dry rivers can impact water quality, revealing the delicate balance needed to protect native species and their habitats.

Flow-MER
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Boera Dam on Toorale National Park / the Warrego-Darling Selected Area, June 2020. Photo Credit – Shjarn Winkle.
Darling and Warrego
River Flows and Connectivity
March 8, 2021

A Guide: Monitoring River Systems During a Global Pandemic

Discover how the Flow-MER team adapted to monitor the Warrego-Darling river systems during COVID-19, ensuring the health of fish, frogs, and birds.

Flow-MER
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Looking west over Booka Dam in Toorale National Park during golden hour. Photo – Shjarn Winkle
Darling and Warrego
Food Webs and Water Quality
October 15, 2020

Wading through the Warrego – some reflections from a rookie

Join Shjarn Winkle's journey through Toorale National Park, exploring its rugged beauty, diverse wildlife, and the importance of environmental monitoring.

Shjarn Winkle
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Webinars

Citizen science & science communication in Flow-MER

Citizen science & science communication in Flow-MER

Citizen science projects involve public participation in and engagement with science. This Flow-MER Friday webinar features case studies from Dr Munique Reid, Gwydir River System and Darling and Warrego River Systems Area-scale projects & Prof. Robyn Watts, Mid-Murray River System Area-scale Project.

Watch Recording
River System Reflection: Warrego-Darling & Gwydir

River System Reflection: Warrego-Darling & Gwydir

Watch Recording
A day by the Warriku

A day by the Warriku

Sharing observations and learnings from a Culture to Science Day held on the banks of the Warriku (Warrego) River that brought together different ways of knowing and understanding our rivers.

Watch Recording
River Journey stop 7, The Warrego-Darling/Baaka

River Journey stop 7, The Warrego-Darling/Baaka

2021-22 was a year of two halves for the Warrego River and Western Floodplain, with low flows early on giving way to a wetter conditions. Flood-dependent vegetation communities responded well, as did lignum, coolabah and blackox which flowered and set-seed. For fish, some generalist species responded well while other species such as silver perch, freshwater catfish and Murray cod were found in low numbers.

Watch Recording
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Artwork credit: Wiradjuri Artist Rebecca Salcole
Acknowledgement of Country

The Flow-MER Program team acknowledges the First Nations communities of the Murray–Darling Basin and pays respect to Elders past and present.

We acknowledge First Nations people as the Traditional Owners of the land, water and sky Country across the Basin and value the expertise, wisdom and enduring connections that have informed their care for Country over millennia.

We recognise the intrinsic connection of First Nations people to Country, and we value the enduring cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to the rivers, wetlands, and floodplains of the Basin. We are committed to working with First Nations people across the Murray–Darling Basin to build relationships in a meaningful and genuine way to support and empower them in reaching their aspirations.

Australian Government Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder crest and FLOW Monitoring Evaluation Research logo.

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