Turn Australia's rivers inland?

The Great Goose

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Bradfield Scheme - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think it's a shame we don't do it.

Possible benefitsEdit

Bradfield Scheme irrigation area

The water was expected to provide irrigation for more than 1,000,000,000 hectares (2.5×109 acres) of agricultural land in Queensland. The scheme would reduce the massive natural erosion problems in areas of Central Queensland. The scheme had the ability to generate 370 megawatts (500,000 hp) of power and the potential to double that amount. Controlling and reducing the flow of northern rivers into the ocean may benefit the Great Barrier Reef as fresh water causes coral bleaching, and the excess nutrients in the rivers from coastal farming and development support algal growth that can harm the reef.


It is claimed that extra water and vegetation in the interior may then produce changes to the climate of Australia, however various studies have concluded that this is unlikely.[6]This may increase the rainfall in areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Extra rainfall may drought-proof Eastern Queensland, and thereby improve river inflows to the Murray-Darling River system.

It is claimed that a full Lake Eyre would moderate the air temperature in the region by the absorption of sunlight by the water instead of heat radiation from dry land into the air. No evidence to support the theory that an inland sea would increase rainfall has ever been produced, nor have any of the other claims been supported.

It would provide large areas suitable for the production of algae fuel, a type of biofuel. The catchment area of the Herbert River holds a population of approximately 18,000, 75% of whom dwell in the lower flood plain area. Diverting some water from this river would reduce the risk of flood.
 
Dont know that much about the ecosystem in Australia but the fresh water inflow into Galveston bay and all along the Gulf coast is a necessity for a healthy bay and the brackish water is home to many species of fish.
Cut the flow of fresh water and the Gulf coast would die.
 
Dont know that much about the ecosystem in Australia but the fresh water inflow into Galveston bay and all along the Gulf coast is a necessity for a healthy bay and the brackish water is home to many species of fish.
Cut the flow of fresh water and the Gulf coast would die.
Nah, we don't need that river junk on the coral coast.
 
Dont know that much about the ecosystem in Australia but the fresh water inflow into Galveston bay and all along the Gulf coast is a necessity for a healthy bay and the brackish water is home to many species of fish.
Cut the flow of fresh water and the Gulf coast would die.
Nah, we don't need that river junk on the coral coast.


As I suspected.....

"The reduction in river discharge to the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon may diminish coastal fisheries by reducing the supply of terrestrial organic matter to the coastal and estuarine environment."
 
A perfect example of man's impact is the Colorado River Delta. The area was once rich in fish and all sorts of other marine life. The marshes provided resting places for millions of migratory birds. They were also rich in a wide variety of wild life.

Just nothing but miles of mud flats and very little marine life.
 
A perfect example of man's impact is the Colorado River Delta. The area was once rich in fish and all sorts of other marine life. The marshes provided resting places for millions of migratory birds. They were also rich in a wide variety of wild life.

Just nothing but miles of mud flats and very little marine life.

Same with the Rio Grande ..
upload_2016-1-6_8-45-23.png
 
colorado-river-reaches-sea-640.jpg


This was the Colorado Delta River last May after a massive release of water from upriver dams. First time in decades that it actually reached the Gulf of California.
 
colorado-river-reaches-sea-640.jpg


This was the Colorado Delta River last May after a massive release of water from upriver dams. First time in decades that it actually reached the Gulf of California.
The Bradfield scheme was not to halt the rivers but to divert SOME of the water.
 

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