Murray+Darling+Basin


 * __ Week 5 __**

• Key Knowledge - distribution of water resources in the MDB region • Key Knowledge - factors affecting patterns of water use in the MDB region

We have looked at the distribution of rainfall in the MDB but there are other sources of water available. You need to investigate how diversions, groundwater, floodplains and wetlands contribute to water as a resource in the MDB.

Using supplement p.4-6 summarise how each of the above sources are available and used in the MDB. For example, how much is used, what it is mainly used for, any impacts that arise from sourcing this water.

Homework - complete activities 1b,3,4 and 6 from page 7 of the supplement. Due 04/03 [|Supp p.7 activity.doc]

REMEMBER ALL HOMEWORK NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED ON LOOSE LEAF OR A SMALL BOOK SO THAT I CAN COLLECT AND MARK AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

The MDB is used differently according to what area is being utilised. It is divided into four simplistic 'zones' to help describe farming types, Uplands/Plains/Rangelands/Irrigation areas. Each 'zone' is used for a different purpose.

The amount of return is also affected by land type and area and the livestock/agriculture. This is explained as return per unit of land. Some farmers are making the shift from low value farming such as sheep and cattle to high value farming. This of course is only an option when irrigation is available.

Watch the Systems in Crisis chapter and complete the worksheet. **[|Land and Water Use dvd worksheet.doc]**

Using the information from the DVD, supplement p.11 and handout, complete the map of landuse in the MDB. [|Landuses_MDB.pdf] This map needs to be completed by Tuesday 9/03.

**__ Week 6 __**

• Key Knowledge - distribution of water resources in the MDB region <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">• Key Knowledge - factors affecting patterns of water use in the MDB region

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land for the purpose of agricultural production. It is very important in the MDB. Watch the irrigation powerpoint and Systems in Crisis chapter and complete the handout.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is just an intro into irrigation as we willl be checking out irrigation in the Shepparton Irrigation Area on our fieldtrip Friday.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lets get to know the Goulburn Valley before we go. Read p. 14-15 in the supplement. Answer questions 1,2,4,5 for homework due 11/3.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The Goulburn catchment is very important when it comes to river flow in the MDB region.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">**__ Week 7 __**

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">• Key Knowledge - distribution of water resources in the MDB region <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">• Key Knowledge - factors affecting patterns of water use in the MDB region <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - current management policies and strategies

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The fieldtrip was an excellent opportunity to see how water is used in the Shepparton Irrigation Region. We ensured in class today that your fieldtrip notes were complete and correct. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For homework you need to make sure you can map the region. Complete the mapping task from the back of your fieldtrip notes. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Mapping the Goulburn Broken Catchment.doc] Due 18/3.**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the next lesson we are going to have a look at another case study for the use of water in the MDB, cotton. If you do not have a supplement, please print off this page for class on Thursday 18/3. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Supp p.18 Figure 1.20.doc]**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cotton is an important crop in the MDB and in Australia. It employs 10000 people and supports 4000 businesses as well as earning $1.5 billion in revenue for Australia! You copied down some important facts from the board in class that you can use in answering questions. You should also have useful notes from pages 18-19 in the supplement.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">What does it mean to evaluate? To carefully appraise the value of a statement, viewpoint or situation. You need to consider BOTH the strengths and weaknesses. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">TIP: By using the words however, although or on the other hand... you can make sure that you explain both pros and cons.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the Geography exam, students are often asked to __evaluate__. We are going to practise this skill.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">On a sheet of paper of book that I can collect in, answer q.3, 1 and 7 from the supplement on page 19. <span style="color: #ff0047; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Due 19/3.

It is not just important to allocate water for agriculture and drinking water, but it is necessary to allocate water for the environment. These are called environmental flows or environmental water allocations. On our fieldtrip we visited Reedy Swamp and saw the ecosystem that exists there. Your fieldtrip worksheet asked you why environmental flows are needed and whether conflicts may arise between users as a result. In class we watched a dvd chapter on this to help improve your knowledge.

The way water is used in the MDB has been greatly influenced by history. To really understand water use we need to take a trip back to the early days.... The Systems in Crisis DVD is very good at looking back to the early settlers and how water use has evolved since then. We watched this in class and you were to fill in the worksheet provided to ensure you get accurate notes.

We are now going to move onto explaining other the reasons behind the way water is used in the MDB. You should be able to recall SHEEPT from Unit 1-2 geography so your homework task is just minor revision. Elaborate what each letter stands for and then try to provide an example for the pattern of water use in the MDB. For those of you who did not do geography last year, you are to make notes from the beginning of the textbook (p.15) on how to describe geographic factors. <span style="color: #ff0047; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Due 22/3.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">**__ Week 8 __**

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">•Key Knowledge - factors affecting patterns of water use in the MDB region <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - current management policies and strategies

Continuing with describing geographic factors.... <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Using the DVD and p.171 of the textbook we were looking at classifying different geographic factors of water use in the MDB.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Homework now on the homework task page.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Obviously humans can't be using all this water without it having some impact on the environment. The degree of impact depends on how well we manage the water and how sustainably it is used. Many of the problems have arisen from years of mismanagement once the settlers arrived in Australia. Ensure you have these points copied down. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Impacts of Water Use.doc]**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In class we also did a matching activity from the supplement p.21. If you were absent, have a read of this page to see just how the environment has been affected by water use in the MDB.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">We will be looking at two specific issues that have arisen, Salinity and Blue-Green Algae Blooms.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The issue of salinity arises from the water table. The water table explains the level of water under the surface. A rising water table means ground water carrying the naturally occurring salts rise close to the surface. Why does it rise? Simple, there is more water leaking into the ground water. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">More water makes its way into the soil due to land being cleared of native vegetation for crops and farming. Crops and pasture use less water and so the excess seeps into the soil. Increases in irrigation areas also means there is more water being applied therefore more seepage. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Both the supplement (p.22) and the textbook (p.173) have good diagrams depicting this occurrence and the impacts. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In class we watched the DVD chapter and completed the worksheet. If you were absent, make sure you download this worksheet and find the answers from the book pages above. Also complete this question [|Salinity MDB.doc]

**Blue Green Algae** – occurs naturally in the environment, in fresh water. The issue in the MDB is when this algae ‘blooms’, known as Algal blooms. The blooming can overtake an area and produce a green scum on the surface of the water. This produces toxins which are dangerous to humans and all wildlife. Humans have directly impacted on the prevalence of Algal blooms in the MDB. Farming practices, sewage treatment and fertilisers add the conditions needed for these algae to occur. In class we read through p.23 of the supplement (This is not included in the textbook) and watched the DVD. If you were absent, make sure you can complete the handout using research. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Algal Blooms DVD worksheet.doc]**

** TERM 2 ** ** __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Week 1 __ **

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - conflict over the use of water in the MDB <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - current management policies and strategies

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**What is conflict?** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Conflict is a disagreement over or opposition to current or potential use of a resource. It is more than just a disagreement. In any conflict there are more than one party involved. These parties can also be known as stakeholders. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the MDB, the variable nature of water inflows and its high demand means there are many conflicts about water use. There is over allocation of water in some areas (more is allocated for use than there is) and competition for its use is increasing. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">There are various reasons as to why conflicts generally exist over water in the MDB and in specific areas. To ensure that all areas are covered we can use S.H.E.E.P.T to explore such reasons. By using this technique you will find it easy to break down reasons and give complete answers if needed. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">The supplement covers factors which contribute to conflict and this is the material needed to answer q.1 of the homework (if not completed in class).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">Victoria Food bowl Modernisation Project – The North South Pipeline **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">This will be our case study about conflict over water use in the MDB. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Part of the project is to build a 70km pipeline from the Goulburn River to the Sugarloaf Reservoir just outside of Melbourne. This is at a cost of $750 million of tax payer money. Water will be moved from the Goulburn River for use in Melbourne.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When we visited the Goulburn Valley we saw the management strategies to increase water savings such as the automated channel gates and channel linings. This, as you should know, is part of the NVIRP – Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project. The government has projected that 225 gigalitres of water will be saved by such strategies. This ‘saving’ will be shared by Melbourne, irrigators and the environment, each receiving 75 billion litres or gigalitres. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is however, extremely controversial. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In class we examined different articles on the pipeline to identify different stakeholders, their opinions and whether they support the pipeline. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">You also need to be able to show on a map of the MDB where this pipeline will run. It can be easily mapped by locating Lake Eildon and the Goulburn River then counting west 2 tributaries. This is where the pipeline will start, by the town of Yea. It will end at Sugarloaf Reservoir which is not shown on a general MDB map but can be accurately marked northeast of Melbourne. MAKE SURE YOU CAN DO THIS. Homework for this part is on the homework page.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">**Management and Strategies**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Management policies over the last 100 years have been introduced to try and manage water in the MDB. Within these policies are the strategies used to try and achieve the policy aim.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Define Policy vs. Strategy.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">Over these 100 years, management policies have changed in terms of their goals. The focus of water use since the mid 1850s has also impacted to management decisions.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Read page 28 of the supplement as introduction into various management policies. Use this table to record some information about management policies. We are going to also include the Norrthern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Policiy (NVIRP) and the Native Fish Strategy. Be sure to record dates and be as in depth as posssible. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[|Management Policies fill in table.doc]**.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In class we discussed ideal answers for distribution patterns and spatial association questions. Use this as a reference! <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Water Allocation** – Licenses are issued to irrigators to allow them to use a measured amount of water from the river system. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The Murray Darling Basin Authority regulates the total amount of water able to used each year for irrigation. It then allocates the water to each state. If drought conditions are severe the MDBA will declare a period of water restriction. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Because water allocation depends on estimates of the amount of water available, irrigators need to plan crops carefully so as to maximise their harvests. More water can be allocated during a season but water allocations cannot be decreased. To prevent this, estimates are made for the least possible amount of water available (minimum or dry inflow conditions). <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Recently irrigators in the Goulburn Valley were only receiving 30% of their water allocations but due to recent light rainfall in the catchments, the 2009/2010 allocation will be at 71%. This is the best it has been since 2005. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Each state is responsible for deciding how much of their allocation each farm is entitled to. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If there is enough water in the system, South Australia will be the first state to receive its allocation and usually in full. However, if water is low then all states and territory will share what is available.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%;">Week 2 __**

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - conflict over the use of water in the MDB <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• Key Knowledge - current management policies and strategies

Today we looked at another strategy for the management of water in the MDB.


 * Water Buy Backs** - In 2008 as part of the Water for the Future program, the Federal government announced it would be allocating $3.1 billion to buy back water from irrigators wanting to sell their water licenses. The water entitlements purchased by the government are to be returned to the river system as environmental flows. Read p. 33 of the supplement. [] watch the video from the ABC to determine potential impacts of irrigators selling their water entitlements.

We began an individual research task to collect some more information and understanding about two management policies and the strategies used to implement them. The instructions are on this document. [|Research activity Mgmt policies.doc]

You will also need this document. [|Evaluating_policies.pdf]

Thursday we ocntinued working on the research activity. **THIS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY TOMORROW, FRIDAY 23/04.**