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An adult congolli caught in a fishway trap, this fish was measured and released. Photo credit: SARDI

Water for the environment from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and other agencies is helping native fish move through South Australia’s Lower Lakes and Coorong, according to recent monitoring by SARDI scientists.

Communications and Engagement

June 29, 2026

Collaboration in conservation: A podcast companion to 'Mosaic: Life on the Western Lakes'

Ecologist Skye Wassens and landowner Peter Morton talk about bringing Paika Lake back to life, as part of the Mosaic project.

Connections to Kalari Bila: An Indigenous Knowledge book project for the Lachlan River

Families and Traditional Owners along the Kalari Bila are sharing stories for a new book capturing Country, culture and history on the Lachlan.

Tracking Golden Perch in the Lower Murrumbidgee

Eighty-one golden perch have been tagged with acoustic trackers in the Lowbidgee wetlands. Charles Sturt University researchers are now following their movements to uncover when and where they spawn, and how environmental water can best support their recovery.

Dr Anna Turner

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Poor water quality impacted the Goulburn River at Shepparton in March 2026 as a result of sediment, ash and other organic material entering the waterway from the Longwood bushfire. A delivery of water for the environment helped dilute poor-quality water and maintain dissolved oxygen levels. Credit: Daniel Lovell, Goulburn Broken CMA

Goulburn River and Northern Victorian Tributaries

River Flows and Connectivity

June 18, 2026

Resilience In Action: How environmental water protected Goulburn River health through floods, fires and poor-quality inflows

When the 2026 Longwood bushfires sent ash and debris surging into the Goulburn River, environmental water already flowing through the system provided critical dilution at the right moment.

Lydia Drake

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During an optional field trip to the Macquarie Marshes following the forum, guests were welcomed to Country by Wayilwan Elder Uncle Tom Carney and enjoyed a performance in the Wayilwan language by the Warraan Widji Arts Centre’s Budjirriwan band. Video: Jane Howard, UNSW

Macquarie River and Marshes

Cultural Outcomes

May 21, 2026

2026 Flow-MER Northern Basin Forum

Flow-MER Project members, water managers, Aboriginal people, and other environmental experts came together for two days in March for the 2026 Flow-MER Northern Murray-Darling Basin Forum in Dubbo.

Jane Howard

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A large flock of ducks, mainly grey teal (Anas gracilis) with some pink-eared ducks (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) and Australasian shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis), at Louden's Lagoon in the Northern Nature Reserve Video: NSW DCCEEW

Macquarie River and Marshes

Waterbirds

May 21, 2026

Final Macquarie Marshes waterbird survey for 2025-2026

Final waterbird survey for 2025-26 recorded 31 waterbird species across 18 sites, including vulnerable brolgas and white-bellied sea-eagles. The most numerous species recorded were grey teal (Anas gracilis), with about 2,500 birds recorded.

Narran Lakes fish surveys undertaken over the full flood cycle

Floods in 2024 and 2025 filled the Narran Lakes wetlands. In December 2025, the Lower Balonne Flow-MER team, led by Austral Research and Consulting, completed a third fish survey at Narran Lakes (Dharriwaa) which focused on the recession stage, when floodwaters began to recede.

Caring for Country, together

For more than 65,000 years, Aboriginal people have held a deep connection to land and water. This knowledge has been built through care, observation and cultural practice. But for generations, they have been excluded from decisions about managing Country.

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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Lower Murray and Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth

Cultural Outcomes

April 30, 2026

Learning about Pondi: A Pondi monitoring and electrofishing demonstration event for First Nations Elders and broader communities

Pondi (Murray cod) holds deep cultural significance for First Nations people of the Lower Murray and Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth Area, featuring prominently in the creation story of the Murray River itself and all fish.

Associate Professor Qifeng Ye

Mosaic: Life on the Western Lakes

In south-western New South Wales, on Mutthi Mutthi country, the Murrumbidgee River reaches the Western Lakes. This is a mosaic of temporary and permanent wetlands, where environmental water is delivered to support vegetation and create habitats for water-dependent animals.

Professor Mitchell Whitelaw

Professor Skye Wassens

Completing in 2025

News

Celebrating 10 years of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s science program: Flow-MER (digital booklet)

Water for the environment supports fishway function and native fish migration

Collaboration in conservation: A podcast companion to 'Mosaic: Life on the Western Lakes'

Connections to Kalari Bila: An Indigenous Knowledge book project for the Lachlan River

Tracking Golden Perch in the Lower Murrumbidgee

Resilience In Action: How environmental water protected Goulburn River health through floods, fires and poor-quality inflows

2026 Flow-MER Northern Basin Forum

Final Macquarie Marshes waterbird survey for 2025-2026

Narran Lakes fish surveys undertaken over the full flood cycle

Caring for Country, together

Watering event in Toorale and vegetation condition on the Western Floodplain

Learning about Pondi: A Pondi monitoring and electrofishing demonstration event for First Nations Elders and broader communities

Mosaic: Life on the Western Lakes