Environmental Flow Assessments
Environmental flow assessments are used to estimate the quantity and timing of flows that are required to sustain river ecosystems. Rivers are comprised of a range of habitats, such as in-channel areas, riverbanks, riparian vegetation, floodplain wetlands, and many of the larger rivers in Tasmania flow into estuaries. All of these habitats and the flora and fauna within river ecosystems are influenced by flow, and some habitats and species have specific flow requirements.
Environment flows in rivers in Tasmania are managed by a range of policies and decision frameworks that relate to water management. In addition, where demands on water resources are high, environmental flow assessments are typically undertaken to inform water management, including the development or review of Water Management Plans .
Tasmanian Environmental Flows Framework (TEFF)
Where environmental flow assessments are required, NRE Tas advocates that the Tasmanian Environmental Flows Framework (TEFF) is used to undertake the assessments. The TEFF is flexible approach, whereby assessments can be tailored to suit the environmental characteristics of different catchments. The process involves six steps:
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Identify freshwater ecosystem values
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Characterise flow patterns
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Develop conceptual models that identify links between values and flows.
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Define environmental objectives
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Assess the flow requirements of components of the river ecosystem
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Recommend flows that meet the objectives of the assessment
Environmental Flow Assessment Reports
Over recent decades, environmental flow assessments and associated studies have been undertaken for several rivers in Tasmania (listed below). These assessments have used a range of methods to derive environmental flows, ranging from desktop studies that have focused on hydrology to comprehensive field-based assessments that employed the most appropriate methods available at the time of the assessment.
Copies of these report are available upon request.
Ansons River
Arthur River Blythe River Boobyalla River Cam River
Coal River River Clyde River Derwent Duck River Emu River George River Great Forester River Great Musselroe River Hurst Creek Jordan River
| River Leven
Little Forester river Little Swanport River Little Musselroe River Macquarie River Montagu River Mountain River Nicholls Rivulet North Esk River North-West Bay River Ringarooma River Rubicon River Shannon River South Esk River St Patricks River Swan River Tomahawk River
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