Watching the Tide Roll Away – reply to Tibby et al. (2020)

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Peter A. Gell
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Future Management

The published findings on the diatom-inferred condition of a terminal lake in the Murray–Darling Basin were overlooked in favour of a revised unpublished interpretation, without the provision of new evidence or argument, posted on the website of the managing state government. Coauthors of the posted report have responded (Tibby et al. 2020) to the publication (Gell 2020) that outlined the changes made to this interpretation. This reply reaffirms that subtle changes were made to published interpretations and that these were critical in the development of a watering plan for the system. It also illustrates that anecdotal evidence was used selectively but would be a valuable contribution if aligned to known climatic variability. Further, this response corrects the widespread misunderstanding that signatory nations to the Ramsar Convention are obliged to retain listed wetlands in the condition observed at the time of listing. Finally, this response contests the favouring of certain evidence and seeks an approach that reconciles all available evidence, incorporates variability into planning and prepares for future management challenges.

scholarly journals Watching the tide roll away – contested interpretations of the nature of the Lower Lakes of the Murray Darling Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Gell
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Independent Evidence ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Entire History ◽  
Variable Condition ◽  
Consumptive Water ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Management Challenge

The Murray Darling Basin Plan (Murray Darling Basin Authority 2012) represents the largest investment by government in an Australian environmental management challenge and remains highly conflicted owing to the contested allocation of diminishing water resources. Central to the decision to reallocate consumptive water to environmental purposes in this Plan was the case made to maintain the freshwater character of two lakes at the terminus of the Murray Darling Basin, in South Australia. This freshwater state was identified as the natural condition on the basis of selected anecdotal evidence and was enshrined in the site’s listing under the Ramsar Convention. The commitment to the freshwater state was challenged under drought when sea water was seen as a means of averting acidification when low river flows risked the exposure of sulfidic sediments. Independent evidence from water quality indicators (diatoms) preserved in lake sediment records, however, attested to an estuarine, albeit variable, condition before the commissioning of near-mouth barrages in 1940. This interpretation for a naturally estuarine history, published after peer review, was overlooked in a report to the South Australian government, which argued, without the provision of new evidence from the lakes, that they were fresh for their entire history. This revised interpretation is widely cited in the scientific literature, government reports and online discussion and underpins a watering strategy aimed at a freshwater future for the Lower Lakes. The allocation of large volumes of fresh water to achieve this condition presents significant difficulties owing to the highly contested nature of water use across the Basin.

scholarly journals Corrigendum to: Watching the tide roll away – contested interpretations of the nature of the Lower Lakes of the Murray Darling Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
Peter A. Gell
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Independent Evidence ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Entire History ◽  
Variable Condition ◽  
Consumptive Water ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Management Challenge

The Murray Darling Basin Plan (Murray Darling Basin Authority 2012) represents the largest investment by government in an Australian environmental management challenge and remains highly conflicted owing to the contested allocation of diminishing water resources. Central to the decision to reallocate consumptive water to environmental purposes in this Plan was the case made to maintain the freshwater character of two lakes at the terminus of the Murray Darling Basin, in South Australia. This freshwater state was identified as the natural condition on the basis of selected anecdotal evidence and was enshrined in the site's listing under the Ramsar Convention. The commitment to the freshwater state was challenged under drought when sea water was seen as a means of averting acidification when low river flows risked the exposure of sulfidic sediments. Independent evidence from water quality indicators (diatoms) preserved in lake sediment records, however, attested to an estuarine, albeit variable, condition before the commissioning of near-mouth barrages in 1940. This interpretation for a naturally estuarine history, published after peer review, was overlooked in a report to the South Australian government, which argued, without the provision of new evidence from the lakes, that they were fresh for their entire history. This revised interpretation is widely cited in the scientific literature, government reports and online discussion and underpins a watering strategy aimed at a freshwater future for the Lower Lakes. The allocation of large volumes of fresh water to achieve this condition presents significant difficulties owing to the highly contested nature of water use across the Basin.

scholarly journals THE RIGHT TO HOUSING IN THE CONTEXT OF NIGERIAN LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICE

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23
Author(s):  
Emeke Chegwe
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
State Government ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Government Intervention ◽  
Human Rights Practice ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
The Right ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Mega Cities

Every society needs a set of laws which stipulates the rights and duties of citizens, aswell as regulate the conduct of the society. But law is often perceived as repressive andunpopular by majority of the urban poor in many developing countries who feel that the lawhas done little or nothing to ameliorate their sufferings. For example, new evidence fromsatellite images has revealed the true extent of forced evictions going on in Badia East-Lagos,one of Nigeria’s mega cities. The pictures taken during and after the demolitions carried outby the Lagos State government on 23rd February 2013, clearly shows that a densely populatedarea containing concrete housing and other structures was razed to the ground. Given theimportance of housing to the overall development and existence of mankind, it is necessary tofirst determine the existence of a legal right to adequate housing to warrant a demand by thecitizen to fulfil this right and in order to appreciate the need for government intervention inthis area.

New Evidence on the Frequency of Teacher Turnover: Accounting for Within-Year Turnover

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 577-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Redding ◽  
Gary T. Henry
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Turnover ◽  
Teach For America ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
School Year ◽  
Traditionally Prepared ◽  
Turn Over ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Annual Turnover

Teacher turnover occurs during and at the end of the school year, although documentation of within-year turnover currently rests on anecdotal evidence. On average, over 4.6% of teachers turn over during the school year, which amounts to 25% of total annual turnover. Teachers transfer within districts at higher rates at the beginning of the school year and leave teaching at higher rates at the beginning of the spring semester. Higher performing teachers are less likely to turn over during the school year and less likely to turn over within the year than at the end of the year. Teach for America corps members are much less likely and teachers from out of state much more likely to turn over during the school year than traditionally prepared teachers.

Barmah-Millewa forest environmental water allocation

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Stewart ◽  
B. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Developing Area

The formal allocation of water for the environment is a developing area of river management both scientifically and in terms of community participation. This case study, illustrating the recent use of the Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental Water Allocation (EWA), provides a practical demonstration of community participation in environmental water management, the application of hydrological and biological “triggers” and a positive, demonstrable biological outcome from an environmental water allocation. The Barmah-Millewa Forest covers an area of 70,000 ha across the floodplain of the Murray River, upstream of the town of Echuca. About half the forest is in NSW (Millewa) and half is in Victoria (Barmah). The Barmah Forest is a Wetland of International Importance listed under the Convention on Wetlands - Ramsar Convention. The forest is the largest river redgum forest in the world. The natural flooding cycle associated with the forest has been significantly altered by regulation of the Murray River - impacting upon the overall health of the forest ecosystem. Recognising this, the Murray Darling Basin Commission developed a water management strategy for the forest to enhance forest, fish and wildlife values. To implement this strategy, between 1990 and 1993 reports were completed and community consultation took place. In 1993 the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council approved allocation of 100 Gigalitres of water per year, provided in equal shares by NSW and Victoria, to meet the needs of the forest ecosystem and in 1994 the Barmah-Millewa Forum was established under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. The vision for the Forum is to maintain and, where possible, improve the ecological and productive sustainability of the Barmah-Millewa Forest and to establish a planning and operational framework to better meet the flooding and drying requirements of the riparian forests and wetlands. Between October 2000 and January 2001 the Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental Water Allocation was used for the second time. A total of 341 GL was released as an EWA. This amount represented only 8% of the total flows downstream of Yarrawonga Weir from September 2000 and January 2001. The strategic use of the relatively small amount of water enabled flooding to be maintained and ensured significant breeding success for water birds and other biota in the Forest.

The Disproportionate Impact of Voter-ID Requirements on the Electorate—New Evidence from Indiana

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 111-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt A. Barreto ◽  
Stephen A. Nuño ◽  
Gabriel R. Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
State Government ◽  
United States Supreme Court ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
Voter Identification ◽  
Voting Requirements ◽  
The Right ◽  
New Evidence

On January 8, 2008, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments inCrawford v. Marion County Election Board, a case related to the discriminatory effects of voter-identification laws in the state of Indiana. Indiana has one of the most stringent voting requirements in the nation, as voters are required to present an up-to-date photo identification issued by the federal or state government in order to cast a ballot. Plaintiffs argued that the Indiana requirements prevent significant and unequal obstacles to the right to vote. The state argued that Indiana had the right to enforce strict requirements to prevent fraud and uphold confidence in the electoral process. Similar laws have also been proposed in many other states, typically related to charges of vote fraud, and often times tied into the divisive debate regarding undocumented immigrants or African American felons. Therefore the recent decision of the Court has tremendous implications to the future of photo-identification laws across the United States.

scholarly journals Flows for native fish in the Murray-Darling Basin: lessons and considerations for future management

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 40-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Koehn ◽  
Alison J. King ◽  
Leah Beesley ◽  
Craig Copeland ◽  
Brenton P. Zampatti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Fish ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Future Management

Elections and Democratization in Ukraine By Sarah Birch. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. 212p. $65.00.

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 228-229
Author(s):  
John T. Ishiyama
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Theoretical Structure ◽  
Over Time

Elections and Democratization in Ukraine represents a valuable contribution to our understanding of the dynamics of party systems development in postcommunist politics. Unlike many volumes that rely on largely anecdotal evidence and narrative, this book is extremely well organized and systematic. There is a clear theoretical structure, and systematic evidence is employed to test specific hypotheses. Using some of the classic works on the development of party systems and relations between parties and voters to provide a theoretical framework, the author derives a set of hypotheses about characteristics that might affect voter choices over time.

Relationships between seed bank composition and an invasive plant in a floodplain wetland of the Murray–Darling Basin

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
L. M. Vivian ◽  
R. C. Godfree
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
River Regulation ◽  
Floodplain Wetland ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Flood Depth ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Native Species Richness ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Seed banks are an important characteristic of wetland plant assemblages, enabling the storage of dormant propagules through wet and dry periods until the next favourable period for growth and reproduction. In this study, we use a seed bank emergence experiment to investigate whether the seed bank of a grassy floodplain wetland located in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin has been impacted by the invasion of Juncus ingens N.A. Wakef. River regulation and altered flood regimes have encouraged the spread of this species throughout grassy wetland areas, particularly at Barmah Forest, a Ramsar Convention-listed wetland of international significance in Victoria. We particularly focus on changes in the seed bank of an ecologically important, but declining, floodplain grass, Pseudoraphis spinescens (R.Br.) Vickery, and implications for restoration. We found that sites invaded by J. ingens had a higher density of emerged J. ingens plants, a lower density of P. spinescens and a lower overall native species richness. J. ingens-dominated sites were also characterised by a significantly deeper maximum flood depth than P. spinescens-dominated sites. The overall density of P. spinescens plants emerging from the soil was very low in comparison to most other species, and largely restricted to shallow sites where the species was already present. This suggests that restoration efforts may need to focus on encouraging vegetative regrowth from existing grassy swards, rather than expecting recovery from a viable seed bank, and highlights the importance of conserving the remaining P. spinescens patches at Barmah Forest.

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