| Lake Wetherell drone image. Photo credit: Kathryn Korbel/DCCEEW |
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| River Health Project introduction The Darling-Baaka Flood Recovery Program will monitor river health until June 2025 and is coordinated by the Environment Protection Authority. The program is being delivered through two key projects: the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Darling-Baaka River Health Project (DBRHP) and the Ngarratja Warrkina Project led by the Barkandji Prescribed Body Corporate (BPBC). |
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Project activity highlights |
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| April-June 2024 April: - The first River Health Project Expert Panel meeting was held
- Barkandji Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate’s Ngarratja Warrkina (All Working Together) Project launch 12 April
- The new DBRHP sampling and analysis plan was created
- Routine water quality sampling and analysis
May: - Biological sampling began
- Routine water quality sampling and analysis
- Barkandji Rangers sampling and measurement training began
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June:- Pooncarie smart buoy installed
- Anabranch smart buoy installed
- Routine water quality sampling and analysis
- Groundwater sampling program began
- Dissolved oxygen probes deployed in six sites
- Participation in the DCCEEW fish research community day
- Participation in the EPA’s emergency practice day.
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| Project statistics snapshot |
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8
water quality sampling trips
since October 2023 |
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5 smart buoys installed 1 smart buoy relocation |
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 | | The River Health Project information stations at the Ngarratja Warrkina launch. Photo credit: Jenn Griffith/DCCEEW |
 | | The macroinvertebrates observation desks were popular at the Ngarratja Warrkina launch Photo credit: Jenn Griffith/DCCEEW |
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 | | A River Health Project scientist sampling for eDNA on the Baaka River near Menindee. Photo credit: Jaydon King/DCCEEW |
 | | Preparing to deploy the new Pooncarie smart buoy into the river. Photo credit: Angus Ferguson/DCCEEW |
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| | Final touches for the newly deployed Pooncarie smart buoy. Photo credit: Angus Ferguson/DCCEEW |
| | The monitoring equipment contained in the smart buoys is the same for each site. Photo credit: Angus Ferguson/DCCEEW |
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 | | Sampling heats up in Autumn Our sampling efforts have intensified over recent months. We have expanded our routine water sampling from 20 to 34 sites, stretching from Wilcannia to Wentworth, and also along the Anabranch. Since our March eNewsletter, we have had two water quality sampling trips (April and May) where we have collected samples for nutrient, algae and pesticide analysis. The results from our water quality sampling from January to March will soon be published on the EPA website in a Science Snapshot and we will communicate when they are available. Results from the April-June monitoring will be available in the next quarter through the Snapshot reports. Autumn sees the start of our first intensive biological sampling program. The autumn sampling season (running from mid-March to mid-June) has seen our scientists and technicians busy sampling for a variety of animals, including fish, macroinvertebrates, microorganisms and water birds. In NSW, it is standard practice to sample macroinvertebrates in Autumn and Spring. This allows comparison of animals against long-term databases and for samples to be collected under different environmental conditions. Our macroinvertebrate and fish sampling will occur in Autumn and Spring, with other biota (including bacteria, zooplankton and algae) sampled more frequently throughout the program. Read more about macroinvertebrates in the Under the Microscope article beneath. Groundwater sampling has also begun. Here we test the water stored beneath the ground’s surface, and look at the animals that live in the groundwater. This gives us great clues about the health of both the groundwater and the river. We began sampling groundwater in June, and we will do this again in October. Additionally, our oversight of river health has expanded through the installation of a new telemetered smart buoy in Pooncarie, deployed 100m upstream of the old town wharf, and the relocation of the upper Menindee buoy into the lower Great Darling Anabranch. The live water quality data from all five smart buoys is available via the EPA website: Darling-Baaka flood recovery program (nsw.gov.au). |
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| Working together for river knowledgeWe were thrilled to work with the EPA and the Barkandji PBC to support the launch of the Barkandji PBC’s Ngarratja Warrkina (All Working Together) Project on Friday 12 April at the Menindee Central School hall. The Ngarratja Warrkina Project aims to connect with community and integrate Barkandji cultural knowledge and practices into water quality monitoring. The launch was an opportunity for the community and local stakeholders to hear about both projects and their connection to the work underway to monitor the health of the Baaka River through the Darling-Baaka Flood Recovery Program. It was also an opportunity to further discuss bringing together cultural knowledge and conventional science to build a complete story around the Baaka river’s health. The River Health Project team set up information stations about a range of conventional river health science subjects including macroinvertebrates, smart buoy data navigation, sampling and sites of significance. The school community and beyond joined in the activities, shared their stories, and spoke with the Barkandji PBC team, River Health Project staff and the EPA about a range of topics. The community was invited to give the smart buoys in their river traditional names, with the Barkandji PBC running a naming competition and elected winners given a certificate. The chosen names were: - Parntu Kira (Fish Country)
Menindee Central School students
- Kindji Yupparra (Baaka Patrol)
Community member
- Baaka Marli (River boy)
Menindee Central School students.
Members of the DBRHP at Menindee Central School for the Ngarratja Warrkina launch day |  |
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| Training plan a boost for shared mentorship workA significant DBRHP milestone was reached on 10 May with the launch of a nationally accredited sampling and measurement training program for the Barkandji Rangers. The Certificate 2 training plan was developed in consultation with the Barkandji PBC and the EPA and is being delivered through virtual learning and in-person practical work. The Rangers will complete several learning modules this year, some of which include data recording, routine sampling collection and measurement, and equipment checks. The training is part of our partnership with the Barkandji Rangers that provides training and development in river health monitoring. A screenshot of the first virtual session in May |  |
As part of this partnership, two DBHRP team members travelled to Wilcannia in late May, where they
provided mentorship around water quality monitoring and guidelines.The project team was taken out to site by the Rangers, to discuss the cultural significances of the river, trees, and fish. DBRHP staff listened as the Rangers shared knowledge and stories regarding specific trees and cultural links, as well as observations of potential groundwater exchanges.The project team look forward to working with the Barkandji PBC to share more opportunities for observation and additional training in sampling techniques.A photo of the DBRHP team and the Barkandji Rangers at Steamers point. |  |
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Have you watched our first project webinar?The project’s first webinar was held on Wednesday 24 April 2024. The purpose of the webinar was to introduce the DBRHP, explain its key deliverables, how they will be achieved, and provide an opportunity for questions and feedback.
Most of the project team shared insights from their area of expertise. Topics presented included:- an outline of the project objectives
- the basics of river health
- what we look for when sampling
- an explanation of the smart buoys installed and available data
- how cultural indicators and science are being incorporated
- the approach to reporting findings
- project communications.
Community members, advisory panel members, agencies connected to the management of the Darling-Baaka River, and local and state government representatives joined us for the hour-long information session. If you missed webinar 1 or would like to watch it again, the recording is available on the DCCEEW Vimeo account. Stay tuned for news on webinar 2 later in the year. |  |
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Under the microscope: macroinvertebratesIn this segment we take a closer look at the finer points of the science activity happening during the River Health Project. In this edition, we have put macroinvertebrates being sampled in the Darling-Baaka river under the microscope. 
A baby yabby found in the Darling-Baaka River. Photo credit: Jaydon King/DCCEEW.
Macroinvertebrates are small animals that have no backbone. Aquatic macroinvertebrates spend all, or some of their life cycle in the water. These small animals include worms, beetles, dragonflies, shrimp and snails. Macroinvertebrates live in most river systems and are important food sources for larger animals, such as fish, frogs and birds. Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to changes in water quality and habitat conditions, making them reliable indicators for assessing river health. For instance, an abundance of pollution-sensitive species like mayflies typically indicates clean, well-oxygenated, healthy waters. Meanwhile, a dominance of pollution-tolerant species such as worms can signal lower water quality. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are particularly important for the River Health Project because they reflect the long-term quality of the river. This helps scientists and environmental managers detect long-term trends or changes, and implement measures to protect and restore the river environment. Our scientists are currently sampling the macroinvertebrate communities living in the Darling-Baaka River. This data will be combined with various other indicators (such as water chemistry and riparian vegetation) to assess the health of the river. Maintaining a healthy population of aquatic macroinvertebrates is crucial for the overall health of the river, ensuring it remains a viable resource for local communities and wildlife.
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 | Staff spotlightIn each project newsletter a River Health Project team member will share what a day in the life of the project looks like for them.In this edition, we welcome Senior Technical Officer Remi Rouquette What attracted you to joining the River Health Project Remi? After spending many years in research and university settings, I was keen to work on a project that deeply impacts the community and helps enhance our understanding of environmental issues. I have always been interested by the crucial role of water in our ecosystems and its significance for local populations. I am excited to bring my expertise in analytical science, operations management, and collaboration to help our team deliver tangible results that will benefit the community. What will your work be focusing on? My background is in analytical chemistry and laboratory management. While I will participate in some field sampling, my focus will be on coordinating the analysis of the samples at the Lidcombe laboratory. This involves working closely with laboratories to deliver results and performing in-house analyses. Another key part of my role will be helping to build a large database, which will be used to analyse and interpret data. What is your favourite ecosystem? I have been fortunate to live on three different continents: Africa, Europe, and now Australia, and have experienced a variety of ecosystems. While Australian beaches are stunning, I have a particular fondness for rainforests, especially those in northern Queensland, due to their rich biodiversity and lush environments. |
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 | July 2024- Water quality sampling results from January to March 2024 will be published on the EPA website in the first River Health Project Science Snapshot. Watch this space for an update.
- Sampling: water quality, algae and biological sampling using environmental DNA. Pesticides will also be analysed in July.
- Both the Inter-Agency Working Group and the Expert Panel will convene again in July.
August 2024 - Sampling: water quality and biological sampling using environmental DNA
- Barkandji Ranger mentorship in sampling methods.
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