NESP Project
Environmental water needs for the Fitzroy River
The west Kimberley’s mighty Fitzroy River has high environmental, economic and cultural significance. Areas within the catchment are National Heritage listed for a mix of biodiversity, Indigenous, historic, geological heritage and aesthetic values. There is increasing interest in the Fitzroy’s significant land and water resources for development, and the need for environmental research to inform land use and water allocation decisions is critical. Planning to maintain these multiple values is a focus of our research in this catchment. Identifying environmental and Indigenous water needs for the Fitzroy River and supporting Traditional Owners in decision making through research are also key research priorities. We also need to better manage weeds on the riverbanks and get a better understanding of the distribution and health of bilby populations in the catchment.
Completed project
Environmental water needs for the Fitzroy River
Indigenous water needs for the Martuwarra/Fitzroy River
Investing in Indigenous cultural and natural resource managers
Knowledge brokering for Indigenous land management
Managing savanna riparian zones
Monitoring, mapping and safeguarding Kimberley bilbies
Multi-objective planning in northern Australia
Multiple benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programs
Research priorities for Indigenous Protected Areas across northern Australia
Transdisciplinary research for water management
Indigenous values and river flows
River and wetland health framework
Scientific Paper
November 2023 | Open Access
Identifying intermittent river sections with similar hydrology using remotely sensed metrics
Tayer TC, Beesley LS, Douglas MM, Bourke SA, Meredith K and McFarlane D (2023) 'Identifying intermittent river sections with similar hydrology using remotely sensed metrics', Journal of Hydrology, 626(A):130266, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130266.
Scientific Paper
October 2023 | Open Access
Brief floodplain inundation provides growth and survival benefits to a young-of-year fish in an intermittent river threatened by water development (scientific paper)
Pratt OP, Beesley LS, Pusey BJ, Gwinn DC, Keogh CS and Douglas MM (2023) 'Brief floodplain inundation provides growth and survival benefits to a young-of-year fish in an intermittent river threatened by water development' Scientific Reports 13:17725, doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45000-x.
Scientific Paper
February 2023 | Open Access
Ecohydrological metrics derived from multispectral images to characterize surface water in an intermittent river
Tayer TC, Beesley LS, Douglas MM, Bourke SA, Callow JN, Meredith K, McFarlane D (2023) 'Ecohydrological metrics derived from multispectral images to characterize surface water in an intermittent river', Journal of Hydrology 617:C, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129087.
Scientific Paper
February 2023 | Open Access
Improving the accuracy of the Water Detect algorithm using Sentinel-2, Planetscope and sharpened imagery: a case study in an intermittent river (scientific paper)
Tayer TC, Douglas MM, Cordeiro MCR, Tayer AND, Callow JN, Beesley L and McFarlane D (2023) ‘Improving the accuracy of the Water Detect algorithm using Sentinel-2, Planetscope and sharpened imagery: a case study in an intermittent river’, GIScience & Remote Sensing 60:1, https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2023.2168676
Video
December 2022
Monitoring, mapping and safeguarding Kimberley bilbies (impact video)
Report
December 2022
Monitoring, mapping and safeguarding Kimberley bilbies (final report)
Info Sheet
December 2022
Monitoring, mapping and safeguarding Kimberley bilbies (wrap-up factsheet)
Scientific Paper
November 2022 | Open Access
Modelling the longitudinal distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the giant freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium spinipes) in a large intermittent, tropical Australian river to inform water resource policy (scientific paper)
Beesley LS, Killerby-Smith S, Gwinn DC, Pusey BJ, Douglas MM, Novak PA, Tayer TC, Keogh CS, Kennard MJ, Canham CA and Setterfield SA (2022) 'Modelling the longitudinal distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the giant freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium spinipes) in a large intermittent, tropical Australian river to inform water resource policy', Freshwater Biology 00:1– 16, https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.14009.
Scientific Paper
November 2022 | Open Access
A well-being framework for cross-cultural assessment of development scenarios: a case study from north-western Australia (scientific paper)
Wallace K, Kiatkoski Kim M, Álvarez-Romero JG, Pannell D, Hill R and Marshall M (2022) 'A well-being framework for cross-cultural assessment of development scenarios: a case study from north-western Australia', People and Nature, 00:1–17, https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10407.
Scientific Paper
October 2022 | Open Access
Functional traits of riparian trees in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia (scientific paper)
Canham CA, Woods C, Setterfield SA, Veneklaas E, Freestone FL, Beesley LS and Douglas MM (2022) 'Functional traits of riparian trees in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia', Ecohydrology, 10.1002/eco.2488
Scientific Paper
September 2022 | Open Access
Characterising the woody vegetation in contrasting habitat types in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia (scientific paper)
Freestone FL, Canham CA, Setterfield SA, Douglas MM, Beesley LS, Loomes RC (2022) 'Characterising the woody vegetation in contrasting habitat types in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia', Australian Journal of Botany, 10.1071/BT22039.
Report
July 2022
Northern Hub Final Report 2021
Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub. 2021. Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub Final Report. Charles Darwin University, Darwin.
Research product or tool
February 2022
ValueMapper: an interactive web-based tool to map and visualise spatial data (software)
Álvarez-Romero, J.G. & Osbaldiston, J. 2021. ValueMapper: an interactive web-based tool to map and visualise spatial data [GIS software]. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia. DOI: 10.25903/d0zk-9818
Other
January 2022
ValueMapper: an interactive web-based tool to map and visualise spatial data (software manual)
Álvarez-Romero, J.G. & Osbaldiston, J. 2021. ValueMapper: an interactive web-based tool to map and visualise spatial data [GIS software]. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia. DOI: 10.25903/d0zk-9818
Other
November 2021
Traditional Owners’ response to stories about the future of the Fitzroy River Basin (poster)
Presentation
November 2021
Assessing how changes in cultural services associated with future scenarios affect the wellbeing of different cultural groups (presentation)
Report
November 2021
Assessment of the potential changes in wellbeing of key interest groups in the Fitzroy River catchment under alternative development scenarios: Scenario team’s workshop 3 (report)
Kiatkoski Kim, M.,1 Alvarez-Romero, J.,2 Wallace, K.,1 Pannell, D.,1 Douglas, M.1 and Pressey, R.2 2021. Assessment of the potential changes in wellbeing of key interest groups in the Fitzroy River catchment under alternative development scenarios: Scenario team’s workshop 3, Broome, Western Australia, 15–16 October. The University of Western Australia, Perth.
Report
November 2021
Multi-objective planning in northern Australia: co-benefits and trade-offs between environmental, economic, and cultural outcomes (final report)
JG Álvarez-Romero, M Kiatkoski Kim, D. Pannell, M. Douglas, K. Wallace, R. Hill, V. Adams, A. Spencer-Cotton, M. Kennard, R. Pressey. 2021. Multi-objective planning in northern Australia: co-benefits and trade-offs between environmental, economic, and cultural outcomes. Final report to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. James Cook University.
Scientific Paper
November 2021
Participatory multi-stakeholder assessment of alternative development scenarios in contested landscapes (scientific paper)
Kiatkoski Kim, M., Álvarez-Romero, J.G., Wallace, K. et al. Participatory multi-stakeholder assessment of alternative development scenarios in contested landscapes. Sustain Sci (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01056-0
Report
November 2021
Environmental water needs of Western Australia’s Fitzroy River (final report)
Beesley LS, Canham CA, Douglas MM, Setterfield SA, Freestone FL, Keogh CS, Kennard MJ, Pusey BJ, Burrows RM. 2021. Environmental water needs of Western Australia’s Fitzroy River. The University of Western Australia, Perth.
Other
October 2021
Living waters of the Martuwarra/Fitzroy River (Story Map)
Milgin, A., Nardea, L., Grey, H., Laborde, S. and Jackson, S., (2021) Living waters of the Martuwarra. Griffith University, Queensland.
Report
October 2021
Transdisciplinary environmental research: Trial and evaluation (final report)
Kiatkoski Kim M., Douglas M, Pannell D. Setterfield S, Hill R, Jackson S, Álvarez-Romero J, Laborde S, Beesley L, Canham C. 2021. Transdisciplinary environmental research: Trial and evaluation. The University of Western Australia, Perth.
Report
October 2021
Multiple co-benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programs across northern Australia (final report)
This report should be cited as: Stoeckl N, Jarvis D, Larson S, Grainger D, Addison J, Esparon M, with contributions (in alphabetical order) from Bidan Aboriginal Corporation, Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation, Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Hill R, Pert P, Poelina A, Ross J, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation, Watkin-Lui F and Yanunijarra Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. 2019. Multiple co-benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programs across northern Australia. James Cook University, Townsville.
Info Sheet
October 2021
Characterising vegetation zones along the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia (project update)
Freestone FL, Canham CA, Setterfield SA Douglas MM & Loomes RC. 2021. Characterising vegetation zones along the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia (project update). University of Western Australia, Perth.
Report
October 2021
Characterising vegetation zones along the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia (report)
Freestone FL, Canham CA, Setterfield SA Douglas MM & Loomes RC. 2021. Characterising vegetation zones along the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia. University of Western Australia, Perth.
Report
September 2021
Looking back to look forward: A timeline of Western Australia’s Fitzroy River catchment (report)
Video
August 2021
NESP Northern Hub wrap-up video
Scientific Paper
August 2021 | Open Access
Learning together for and with the Martuwarra Fitzroy River (scientific paper)
Hill, R., Harkness, P., Raisbeck-Brown, N., Lyons, I., Álvarez‑Romero, J.G., Kiatkoski Kim, M., Chungalla, D., Wungundin, H., Aiken, M., Malay, J., Williams, B., Buissereth, R., Cranbell, T. Forrest, J., Hand, M., James, R., Jingle, E., Knight, O., Lennard, N., Lennard, V., Malay, I., Malay, L., Midmee, W., Morton, S., Nulgit, C., Riley, P., Shadforth, I., Bieundurry, J., Brooking, G., Brooking, S., Brumby, W., Bulmer, · V., Cherel, V., Clifton, A., Cox, S., Dawson, M., Gore‑Birch, C., Hill, J., Hobbs, A., Hobbs, D., Juboy, C., Juboy, P., Kogolo, A., Laborde, S., Lennard, B., Lennard, C., Lennard, D., Malay, N., Malay, Z., Marshall, D., Marshall, H., Millindee, L., Mowaljarlai, D., Myers, A., Nnarda, T., Nuggett, J., Nulgit, L., Nulgit, P., Poelina, A., Poudrill, D., Ross, J., Shandley, J., Skander, R., Skeen, S., Smith, G., Street, M., Thomas, P., Wongawol, B., Yungabun, H., Sunfly, A., Cook, C., Shaw, K., Collard, T. and Collard, Y. 2021. Learning Together for with the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Sustainability Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-00988-x
Other
July 2021
Looking back to look forward (Fitzroy River catchment timeline Story Map)
J.G. Álvarez-Romero, and R. Buissereth. 2021. Looking back to look forward: A timeline of the Fitzroy River catchment, Story Map. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
Info Sheet
July 2021
Scenario planning for WA’s Fitzroy River catchment (wrap-up factsheet)
Video
June 2021
Veins of the Country (video)
Impact Storie
May 2021
Strengthening and sharing knowledge for land and sea management (impact story 2020)
Impact Storie
May 2021
Engagement is a two-way street: Creating symbols for science communication (impact story 2020)
Scientific Paper
April 2021
The use of regional and alluvial groundwater by riparian trees in the wet‐dry tropics of northern Australia (scientific paper)
Canham, C.A., Duvert, C., Beesley, L.S., Douglas, M.M., Setterfield, S.A., Freestone, F.L., Clohessy, S. and Loomes, R.C. (2021), The use of regional and alluvial groundwater by riparian trees in the wet‐dry tropics of northern Australia.. Hydrological Processes. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14180
Scientific Paper
April 2021
When and where are catfish fat fish? Hydro‐ecological determinants of energy reserves in the fork‐tailed catfish, Neoarius graeffei, in an intermittent tropical river (scientific paper)
Beesley, LS, Pusey, BJ, Douglas, MM, Keogh, CS, Kennard, MJ, Canham, CA, Close, PG, Dobbs, RJ, & Setterfield SA. When and where are catfish fat fish? Hydro‐ecological determinants of energy reserves in the fork‐tailed catfish, Neoarius graeffei, in an intermittent tropical river. Freshwater Biology. 2021; 00: 1– 14. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13711
Other
March 2021
More Than Words (CSIRO Double Helix article Jan 2021)
Scientific Paper
February 2021
Faster juvenile growth promotes earlier sex change in a protandrous hermaphrodite (barramundi Lates calcarifer) (scientific paper)
Roberts, B.H., Morrongiello, J.R., Morgan, D.L., King, A.J., Saunders, T.M., & Crook, D.A. (2021) Faster juvenile growth promotes earlier sex change in a protandrous hermaphrodite (barramundi Lates calcarifer). Scientific Reports 11, 2276. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81727-1
Other
November 2020
NESP State & Territory showcase (2020)
Other
November 2020
Nyikina seasonal connections poster
A. Milgin, L. Nardea, H. Grey & S. Laborde. 2019. Birr Walangarri-yoonoo Nganka (Elements of Nyikina ecological science). Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the National Environmental Science Program
Other
November 2020
Nyikina seasonal calendar
A. Milgin, L. Nardea, H. Grey & S. Laborde. 2020. Birr inmany jada Warloongaryi nganka Woonyoomboo-ni - A Nykina seasonal calendar. Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the National Environmental Science Program.
Report
October 2020
Distribution maps of freshwater crocodiles and their nests at Danggu (Geike Gorge) National Park (report)
Other
October 2020
Hydro-socio-ecological (HSE) conceptual model enables inclusive and integrated water allocation planning for WA’s Fitzroy River (poster)
Impact Storie
October 2020
A transdisciplinary approach to WA’s Fitzroy River water planning (impact story 2019)
Scientific Paper
October 2020 | Open Access
Sustainability crises are crises of relationship: lessons from Nyikina ecology & ethics (scientific paper)
Milgin, A., Nardea, L., Grey, H., Laborde, S., & Jackson, S. Sustainability crises are crises of relationship: Learning from Nyikina ecology and ethics. People Nat. 2020; 00: 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10149
Info Sheet
October 2020
Sustainability crises are crises of relationship: lessons from Nyikina ecology & ethics (science summary Oct 2020)
Scientific Paper
September 2020 | Open Access
New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management (scientific paper)
Beesley, L.S., Pusey, B.J., Douglas, M.M. et al. New insights into the food web of an Australian tropical river to inform water resource management. Sci Rep 10, 14294 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71331-0
Video
July 2020
Launch of Our Knowledge Our Way: Indigenous-led best practice guidelines
Other
July 2020
Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Summary
Other
July 2020
Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management
Scientific Paper
January 2020
Water velocity and groundwater upwelling influence benthic algal biomass in a sandy tropical river: implications for water-resource development (scientific paper)
Burrows, R.M., Beesley, L., Douglas, M.M. et al. 2020. Water velocity and groundwater upwelling influence benthic algal biomass in a sandy tropical river: implications for water-resource development. Hydrobiologia doi:10.1007/s10750-020-04176-3
Scientific Paper
January 2020 | Open Access
Indigenous land and sea management programs (ILSMPs) enhance the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians (scientific paper)
Larson, S., Stoeckl, N., Jarvis, D., Addison, J., Grainger, D., Watkin Lui, F., Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation, Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. 2019. Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs) Enhance the Wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1),125. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010125
Scientific Paper
November 2019 | Open Access
Conceptualizing hydro-socio-ecological relationships to enable more integrated and inclusive water allocation planning (scientific paper)
Douglas, M.M., Jackson, S., Canham, C.A., Laborde, S., Beesley, L., Kennard, M.J., Pusey, B.J., Loomes, R. & Setterfield, S.A. (2019). Conceptualizing Hydro-socio-ecological Relationships to Enable More Integrated and Inclusive Water Allocation Planning, One Earth, Volume 1, Issue 3, 361-373, ISSN 2590-3322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2019.10.021.
Video
November 2019
Children working with the Fitzroy River 3D map (Oct 2018)
Impact Storie
June 2019
Telling our stories face to face (impact story)
Impact Storie
June 2019
Showing and sharing knowledge through a hands-on map (impact story)
Impact Storie
June 2019
Caring for Country and improving Indigenous lives through Indigenous land and sea management programs, and Hub research (impact story)
Impact Storie
June 2019
Communicating an Indigenous understanding of WA’s Fitzroy River through art and film (impact story)
Scientific Paper
June 2019 | Open Access
The importance of social learning for non-market valuation (scientific paper)
Grainger, D. & Stoeckl, N (2019). The importance of social learning for non-market valuation. Ecological Economics 164: 106339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.05.019
Scientific Paper
May 2019 | Open Access
The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access (scientific paper)
Addison, J., Stoeckl, N., Larson, S., Jarvis, D., Bidan Aboriginal Corporation, Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Yanunijarra Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC & Esparon, M. (2019). The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access. World Development 120: 91-104, ISSN 0305-750X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.04.004.
Video
May 2019
NESP 2019 Canberra Forum summary (Feb 2019 video)
Video
May 2019
Multiple benefits of Indigenous land & sea management programs (user & co-researcher perspectives video)
Video
April 2019
Showing and sharing knowledge in the Fitzroy River catchment – Ro Hill, Lloyd Nulgit and Gordon Smith Junior (video Feb 2019)
Video
April 2019
Multiple benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programs – Natalie Stoeckl and Diane Jarvis (video Feb 2019)
Other
April 2019
Managing stinking passionflower with Dr Bruce Webber (radio interview)
Bruce Webber interview with Wangki Radio about managing stinking passionflower
Info Sheet
March 2019
Finding out about fish in the Fitzroy (research story)
Info Sheet
March 2019
Environmental water requirements for the Fitzroy River (project update Feb 2019)
Info Sheet
February 2019
A holistic view to monitoring Indigenous land and sea management programs (policy note Feb 2019)
Presentation
February 2019
Multiple benefits of ILSMPs (presentation Feb 2019)
Presentation
February 2019
Knowledge brokering for Indigenous land & water management (presentation Feb 2019)
Info Sheet
February 2019
Indigenous water needs for the Fitzroy River (project update Feb 2019)
Video
January 2019
Stable Isotopes, Fatty Acids and Compound Specific Stable Isotopes of Fatty Acids as biomarkers (video Dec 2018)
Presentation
January 2019
Use of otolith chemistry to trace life history variability in barramundi (presentation Dec 2018)
Video
November 2018
3D catchment map Kimberley road trip (video Nov 2018)
Info Sheet
November 2018
Transdisciplinary research for water management (start-up factsheet)
Other
October 2018
Indigenous science partnerships (brochure)
Info Sheet
October 2018
Building trust and establishing legitimacy across scientific, water management and Indigenous cultures (science summary Oct 2018)
Info Sheet
October 2018
Water and Indigenous rights: Mechanisms and pathways of recognition, representation, and redistribution (science summary Oct 2018)
Info Sheet
September 2018
Applying knowledge of river flow–ecology links (start-up factsheet)
Presentation
September 2018
Exploring possible development futures for the Fitzroy catchment through participatory scenario planning (presentation Sept 2018)
Scientific Paper
August 2018
Building trust and establishing legitimacy across scientific, water management and Indigenous cultures (scientific paper)
Jackson S. 2018. Building trust and establishing legitimacy across scientific, water management and Indigenous cultures. Australasian Journal of Water Resources, DOI: 10.1080/13241583.2018.1505994
Info Sheet
July 2018
Multiple benefits of Indigenous land and sea management programs (project update Jun 2018)
Info Sheet
July 2018
Using measures of wellbeing for evaluating the impact of Indigenous Land & Sea Management programs (policy note)
Video
July 2018
Showing and sharing knowledge in WA’s Fitzroy River catchment (June 2018)
Presentation
May 2018
NESP Fitzroy update for Fitzroy Valley Futures Forum (presentation May 2018)
Presentation
April 2018
e-Flows synthesis project (presentation)
Info Sheet
March 2018
Knowledge brokering at the Kimberley Ranger Forum (report summary)
Info Sheet
March 2018
Knowledge brokering at the Kimberley Ranger Forum (report summary)
Report
March 2018
Kimberley Ranger Forum (Report 2017)
Presentation
June 2017
Knowledge brokering with Indigenous land managers to support informed decisions (Jun 2017 presentation)
Info Sheet
June 2017
Multiple benefits and of Indigenous land and sea management programs (project update Jun 2017)
Other
May 2017
West Kimberley research overview (brochure Jun 2018)
Scientific Paper
December 2016
Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers (scientific paper)
Dobbs, R., Davies, C., Walker, M., Pettit, N., Pusey, B., Close, P., Akune, Y., Walsham, N., Smith, B., Wiggan, A., Cox, P., Ward, D., Tingle, F., Kennett, R., Jackson, M., & Davies, P. (2016). Collaborative research partnerships inform monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems by Indigenous rangers. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 26(4), 711-725. DOI: 10.1007/s11160-015-9401-2
Presentation
October 2016
Appendix 2: Reporting back – Kimberley discussions (Nov 2015)
Presentation
October 2016
Appendix 2: Reporting back – Kimberley discussions (Nov 2015)
Info Sheet
September 2016
Indigenous water needs for the Fitzroy River catchment (start-up factsheet)
Info Sheet
September 2016
Multi-objective planning in northern Australia (start-up factsheet)
Info Sheet
August 2016
Environmental water needs for the Fitzroy River (start-up factsheet)
