Environment and Resource Management

Reduced stream flow

Impacts

In this context, stream flow refers to the discharge of water that occurs in a waterway, where discharge is the volume of water that passes through a given section of the waterway within a specified time. Stream flow can be altered by rainfall capture and retention, structures such as dams and weirs, diversion of water for uses such as irrigation, amounts of rainfall and snow melt, entry of groundwater, release of water from dams and industrial plants, evaporation, leakiness of stream beds and banks, floodplain harvesting, etc.  Stream flow combined with the size of the water body influences water quality by affecting:

A thermocline is a layer of water that is warmer or cooler than the layers of water above or below it.

Suggested indicator: Farm water flow*

Reduced stream flow may be associated with:

Potential associated impacts Suggested indicators
Reduced water quality
  • Salinity of water*
  • Nitrates in water*
  • Phosphates in water*
  • Microalgae in water*
  • Faecal coliforms in water*
  • Farm chemicals in water*

Changed in-stream habitat, leading to changed fauna presence and health

  • In-stream habitat*
  • Fish*
  • Aquatic macro-invertebrates*
  • River & wetlands fauna*
Reduced water availability for riparian vegetation
Reduced water availability for terrestrial fauna
  • Native land fauna*
  • Fauna behaviour*
  • River & wetland fauna*
  • Exotic pest fauna*
Reduced floodplains and wetlands that can significantly influence the breeding cycle of many organisms
  • Impacts on wetlands*
  • Wetland area*
  • River & wetland fauna*
  • Fish*

* Yet to be developed

Last updated: 27 August 2008

Land Manager's Monitoring Guide

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