Dr Belinda Robson, A/Prof brad Mitchell, Dr Ed Chester and Dr Ty Matthews from Deakin University are preparing two reports for the National Water Commission. The NWC is an independent statutory body responsible to the Prime Minister for water reform in Australia. Part of its responsibility is to improve environmental management practices, leading to improved environmental outcomes for Australia's inland waters. The Commission asked the Deakin team to review the literature on refuges for Australian aquatic fauna, indicate knowledge gaps in this area and provide principles for refuge management. Refuges are places that aquatic plants and animals use to survive drought and other disturbances and from which they can recolonise landscapes after the disturbance has passed. Preserving such places is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and waterbody health. In the second project, the commission asked Deakin to identify pathways for recovery in rivers after environmental flow releases and review the literature on this topic. Framing the likely pathways for river recovery will assist in monitoring rivers to determine whether environmental objectives are being met and rivers and their plants and animals are benefiting from environmental flow releases.

For more info contact:Dr Belinda Robson Senior Lecturer in Aquatic Ecology School of Life & Environmental Sciences Deakin University PO Box 423 Warrnambool 3280 Phone: 03 5563 3330 International: +61 3 5563 3330 Fax: 03 5563 3462 International: +61 3 5563 3462 Email: belinda.robson@deakin.edu.au Website: http://www.deakin.edu.au