University Research ProjectsHome | Water | Biodiversity | University Research Projects | 2008 What research information is available for 2008University of Wollongong Environmental Science Research Reports
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Author |
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BEnvSc Research Reports |
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David Virtue
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Calculation of Ecosystem Services
Background/Objectives Council owns a large area of passive open space (from natural bushland to manicured sporting fields). Much of this land is within riparian areas. The true value and management cost of these areas is undocumented.
Ecosystem services are the natural processes that are responsible for producing clean air, clean water and healthy uncontaminated food. Examples include: water filtration, the break down of wastes and pollutants, provision of shade and shelter, and biotic pollination. The value of ecosystem services to Council has not been calculated but might be considered as an offset to Council costs.
This project aims to provide information to assist Council with the quantification of: • the value of ecosystem services provided by Council land, and • the costs and benefits of retaining this land in public ownership and managing it. The outcomes of this project will assist Council to decide whether to accept new parcels of land into their open space network and to calculate the value of various parcels of land to the community/Council.
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Jill Harrop |
Adapting to Climate Change Background/Objectives The aim of this project is to conduct a risk assessment for climate change in the Shoalhaven region, and to evaluate the potential for assisting this adaptation method with spatial data. Using a case study area within the Shoalhaven Region. A large part of this assessment will be looking at climate risk models and assessing whether Council holds data that could be used in these models.
There are
spatial support systems and modelling
tools available. There is also a risk
analysis method for local government adaptation to climate change. There
is the potential for the two methods to be combined to aid the
adaptation process. These tools can
make it easier to convey the message to the community through the
use of visual diagrams and assist the
planning process.
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Cassy Baxter |
Water quality attributes of ephemeral streams in coastal catchments - A case study in the Moona Moona Creek catchment Background/Objectives Like the south coast in general, the Shoalhaven Local Government Area contains many sensitive coastal waterways which support ecologically, economically and socially important ecosystems. Sustaining these systems is a key consideration for land use planners and catchment management authorities. While many catchment management and water quality decision support tools have emerged in recent years, their effectiveness is currently limited by a lack of locally derived water quality data for model calibration. There is a particular need for water quality data in ephemeral streams with different land uses. Wet weather or event-based water quality monitoring has previously been regarded as too difficult/expensive outside of well resourced research projects. This project involved using cost effective techniques for collecting water samples during storm events, as well as erosion risk modelling. The study was undertaken in the Moona Moona Creek catchment which contains extensive areas of State significant wetlands and a range of land uses including forest, rural-residential, farmland, and residential.
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To obtain full copies of these reports or more information contact Environmental Science, University of Wollongong.
Home | Water | Biodiversity | University Research Projects | 2008