Professor Skye Wassens

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Murrumbidgee
April 7, 2026

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.

Dr Fleur Stelling
Mitchell Whitelaw
Emmalie Sanders
Dr Sarah Talbot
Professor Skye Wassens
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Murrumbidgee
Species Diversity
June 23, 2025

A collection of threatened and migratory species of the Murrumbidgee Valley

A range of threatened species make their home in and around the Murrumbidgee. These include brolgas, Australasian bitterns, southern bell frogs, and many other species. Knowing where these animals live is important. This information guides decisions about where and when to use wa

Dr Fleur Stelling
Ashleigh Pengelly
Professor Skye Wassens
Karunya Prasad
Professor Andrew Hall
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Murrumbidgee
River Flows and Connectivity
February 4, 2025

2024 – Another Great Year for Southern Bell Frogs: A Success Story in Conservation

Southern bell frogs are making a comeback in the Lower Murrumbidgee floodplain, thanks to targeted conservation efforts and environmental water deliveries.

Dr Fleur Stelling
Professor Skye Wassens
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Basin-scale
River Flows and Connectivity
December 11, 2024

​​Basin-scale evaluation of 2022–23 Commonwealth environmental water: Synthesis​ Report

High rainfall in 2022-23 led to extensive flooding in the Murray-Darling Basin, boosting wetland health and supporting diverse plant and animal species.

Di Flett
Susan Cuddy
Dr Shane Brooks
Dr Tanya Doody
Dr Felix Egger
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Murrumbidgee
Species Diversity
April 3, 2024

The water requirements of the endangered Australasian bittern

Scientists use audio recorders to track the elusive Australasian bittern, revealing how water management can boost breeding success in key wetlands.

Professor Skye Wassens
Dr Elizabeth Znidersic
Dr Sarah Talbot
Professor Andrew Hall
Dr Jennifer Spencer
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Murrumbidgee
Native Vegetation
December 2, 2021

Managing aquatic meadows in the Lowbidgee

In the Lowbidgee, aquatic meadows flourish with diverse plants and wildlife, supported by innovative water management and community efforts.

Associate Professor Damian Michael
Professor Skye Wassens
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Murrumbidgee
Cultural Outcomes
July 20, 2021

Indigenous cadets connecting culture and science in the Murrumbidgee catchment

Indigenous cadets in the Murrumbidgee catchment are blending cultural knowledge with science, enhancing wetland health and gaining valuable skills.

Associate Professor Damian Michael
Paul
Jamie Turner
Professor Skye Wassens
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Murrumbidgee
Species Diversity
January 4, 2021

Life on a tree – monitoring arboreal lizards in floodplain environments

Explore how artificial bark covers reveal the hidden lives of tree-dwelling lizards, frogs, and spiders in the Murrumbidgee wetlands.

Eva Moore
Associate Professor Damian Michael
Gaye Bourke
Professor Skye Wassens
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Murrumbidgee
River Flows and Connectivity
July 20, 2020

Pumped: how flows are revitalising fish, frogs and flowers at Sunshower Lagoon

Sunshower Lagoon's revival sees native fish, frogs, and plants flourish as innovative water management combats drought and invasive species.

Joshua Bruni
Gaye Bourke
Associate Professor Damian Michael
Professor Skye Wassens
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Murrumbidgee
Species Diversity
February 20, 2020

Water for the environment assists an endangered snake

Environmental water transforms the Murray-Darling Basin, reviving endangered grey snakes and enriching wetland ecosystems with thriving frog populations.

Associate Professor Damian Michael
Gaye Bourke
Professor Skye Wassens
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Webinars

Celebrating 10 years of the CEWH’s science program Flow-MER

For a decade, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) has invested in science to ensure environmental water is planned, delivered and evaluated on a strong evidence base. The CEWH’s science program Flow-MER (Flow Monitoring, Evaluation and Research) has been central to this effort—building long-term datasets, strengthening partnerships and improving how outcomes are measured across the Murray–Darling Basin.

Watch Recording

Species conservation in the age of uncertainty

Globally, freshwater vertebrates are declining rapidly, four times faster than their terrestrial counterparts, due to threats like habitat loss and invasive species. This presentation will discuss the challenges faced by threatened species in managed floodplains and explore the potential of environmental water management in conservation efforts.

Watch Recording

Biodiversity in the Basin

Freshwater ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots. In the Murray-Darling Basin rivers and wetlands support numerous rare and threatened species and are vital habitats for many migratory waterbird species. We introduce the frogs, reptiles, waterbirds, mammals and monotremes in the Murray Darling Basin and discuss how managed environmental water deliveries can support biodiversity.

Watch Recording

What can reptiles and frogs tell us about environmental flow delivery

The benefits of flow delivery and environmental water are likely to aid many other wetland dependant vertebrates – including frog-eating snakes – so what can they tell us about water management? In this webinar, Skye, Damian and Erin share their learnings about wetland dependant vertebrates like snakes and frogs, and their relationship with the delivery of environmental flows.

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.

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