The Balance of Water—Navigating Water Security, Ecology, and Development in Northern Australia
Tracks
Trinity Room
| Wednesday, July 23, 2025 |
| 4:05 PM - 4:25 PM |
| Trinity Room |
Overview
Dr Paula Cartwright, James Cook University
Speaker
Dr Paula Cartwright
Senior Research Scientist
James Cook University
The Balance of Water—Navigating Water Security, Ecology, and Development in Northern Australia
Presentation Overview
Water security in Northern Australia is a critical issue at the intersection of agricultural expansion, ecological sustainability, and climate resilience. With increasing demand for water resources, maintaining environmental flows is essential to sustaining riverine and coastal ecosystems. This study investigates the importance of seasonal river flows and dry-season water permanency for biodiversity, particularly in the context of expanding water extraction. Through the Water Security for Northern Australia program—a collaboration between CRCNA and leading universities (James Cook University, Charles Darwin University, and Central Queensland University)—we are assessing the potential impacts of increased water allocation on both aquatic ecosystems and economic development.
Northern Australia's extensive river systems, including the Flinders, Gilbert, and Daly Rivers, are crucial for biodiversity, fisheries, and Indigenous cultural values. In the dry season, remnant waterholes within catchments serve as critical refuges for a range of species, including endangered and listed species such as freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis) and speartooth sharks (Glyphis glyphis). Water permanency is essential for these, and many other species, as reduced connectivity and shrinking waterholes can lead to population declines, increased predation, and loss of genetic diversity. Hydrological data from 2003 to 2023, combined with satellite data, reveal strong correlations between wet-season river flows, flood plume distribution, and primary productivity in adjacent coastal seas. Larger flood plumes contribute to elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations, supporting marine food webs, migratory shorebirds, and commercial fisheries. However, climate projections suggest declining rainfall and flood plume extents by 2070-2099, threatening these ecosystem services. Unregulated water extraction for agriculture risks further depletion of these refuges, compounding climate-driven pressures.
As agricultural development intensifies, water management strategies must incorporate ecological thresholds to prevent irreversible damage to aquatic habitats. By integrating scientific data into policy and decision-making, we can safeguard Northern Australia’s unique biodiversity while ensuring long-term water security for agriculture.
Northern Australia's extensive river systems, including the Flinders, Gilbert, and Daly Rivers, are crucial for biodiversity, fisheries, and Indigenous cultural values. In the dry season, remnant waterholes within catchments serve as critical refuges for a range of species, including endangered and listed species such as freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis) and speartooth sharks (Glyphis glyphis). Water permanency is essential for these, and many other species, as reduced connectivity and shrinking waterholes can lead to population declines, increased predation, and loss of genetic diversity. Hydrological data from 2003 to 2023, combined with satellite data, reveal strong correlations between wet-season river flows, flood plume distribution, and primary productivity in adjacent coastal seas. Larger flood plumes contribute to elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations, supporting marine food webs, migratory shorebirds, and commercial fisheries. However, climate projections suggest declining rainfall and flood plume extents by 2070-2099, threatening these ecosystem services. Unregulated water extraction for agriculture risks further depletion of these refuges, compounding climate-driven pressures.
As agricultural development intensifies, water management strategies must incorporate ecological thresholds to prevent irreversible damage to aquatic habitats. By integrating scientific data into policy and decision-making, we can safeguard Northern Australia’s unique biodiversity while ensuring long-term water security for agriculture.
Biography
Dr Paula Cartwright is a senior research scientist at James Cook University's Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER). Paula is a multi-disciplinary scientist specialising in marine and freshwater ecosystems, with a focus on water quality. She researches the dynamic processes and ecological services provided by marine, coastal and freshwater habitats, often utilising satellite and geospatial data to assess relationships between water quality and large scale processes such as river flood plumes, metocean processes, and climate drivers. Paula is a project lead on the Water Security for Northern Australia program, with a focus on the Gilbert River catchment.
