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Review of cold water pollution in the Murray–Darling Basin and the impacts on fish communities
Author(s) -
Lugg Allan,
Copeland Craig
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecological management and restoration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.472
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1442-8903
pISSN - 1442-7001
DOI - 10.1111/emr.12074
Subject(s) - environmental science , biota , pollution , structural basin , fish <actinopterygii> , downstream (manufacturing) , hydrology (agriculture) , water pollution , thermal pollution , drainage basin , water resource management , surface water , aquatic ecosystem , fishery , environmental protection , ecology , geography , environmental engineering , geology , biology , paleontology , operations management , geotechnical engineering , cartography , economics
Summary The release of water from deep below the surface of large dams causes significant disturbance to water temperature regimes in downstream river channels with consequent impacts upon aquatic biota and river health. The Murray–Darling Basin ( MDB ) has a large number of dams, which are known to cause cold water pollution ( CWP ) in the downstream reaches of the impounded rivers. This study reviews the situation with regard to CWP in the MDB including the location, magnitude and extent of temperature suppression, the impacts upon fish, constraints and progress towards ameliorating the problem.