Lakes and reservoirs are essential for water supply for humans and agriculture, and have an important role in flow regulation, biodiversity, and streamflow below dams. Australia has been subject in recent decades to severe drought which has heightened the importance of reservoirs for human populations and highlighted the need for careful management of water levels to maintain continuity of supply.
Climate change is likely to exacerbate water shortages, with extended periods of drought, interspersed with more discrete and intense rainfall, leading to challenges for storing water in reservoirs and potentially affecting the quality of water.
Griffith University researchers have examined the water quality risks from low and variable water levels in dams and reservoirs in Eastern Australia. This research found that the water quality responses to low water levels were variable among the 12 reservoirs examined in detail.
The project’s Final Report and Factsheet are now available. While the Final Report is exclusive to WaterRA members, the Factsheets are available to the public, however a login is required to download the resources.
Visit our website now to discover how this study also examined the effect of climate change on catchment runoff to reservoirs using climate change models coupled with a hydrological model.