Author(s): T. N. Morrison; S. Rayburg; C. Allery; M. D. Atiquzzaman
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Semi-arid; Floodplain; Wetlands; Water Resource Management; Hydrodynamic Modelling; Environmental Flows
Abstract: The Macquarie Marshes is a large fluvial and floodplain wetland system at the end of the Macquarie River in northwest NSW. At the system inlet, the Macquarie River undergoes avulsion into a series of anastomosing channels that spread across the floodplain before remerging downstream. The Marshes support a variety of important ecosystems and as such are the recipient of environmental water allocations. However, little is known about the hydraulics within the Marshes or the quantity of water travelling through each flow pathway. A one-dimensional hydraulic model (Mike11) was created and calibrated against historical gauging with the purpose of determining the percentage flow down each anabranch. A network diagram of the Marshes was then created to show the proportions of water which reach various parts of the ecosystem including a consideration of transmission losses. This representation can be used by managers to target environmental water for specific ecosystems within the Marshes.
Year: 2011