A Charles Sturt University (CSU) expert on river ecology and dam operations has advised the federal Coalition’s Dams Taskforce currently visiting the NSW-Victoria border on sustainable dam planning and operations.

 

“It is possible to change the management and operation of existing dams and result in better outcomes for society and the environment,” says Associate Professor Robyn Watts, a leading researcher in water management with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society.

 

Professor Watts, who gave a presentation to the taskforce, described how win-win outcomes can be achieved for the environment, society and the economy by exploring a broad range of alternatives.

 

“It is possible to increase the benefits of dams, through improved water delivery, flood mitigation, power production, and environmental flows, while simultaneously reducing negative social, economic and environmental impacts of established dam operation practices,” said Professor Watts, who provided examples from around the world of sustainable dam operation that were highlighted at a UNESCO workshop in Paris last year.

 

“We may not need a new dam in North-East Victoria such as the one proposed for Big Buffalo if we were to manage the whole system better,” Professor Watts said.

 

“However, if an extension to the Buffalo Dam is put forward, the proposal should incorporate state-of-the-art dam design to minimise negative environmental and socio-economic impacts. An integrated floodplain management plan, new dam operational guidelines, and an environmental flows plan would need to be developed during the dam planning phase, so that the best dam design could be selected.”