Rice CRC Water Quality Workshop Report

Abstract

The strategic plan of the Rice CRC includes an objective to develop systems which minimise pesticide residue levels in soils and waterways in rice based systems. During the first three years of the CRC there was only a small research effort addressing this objective, and this was identified as a deficiency in the Second Year Review of the CRC. A workshop was held on 14 June 2000 at CSIRO, Griffith to help the CRC to identify priorities for future water quality projects. The program consisted of: 1. stakeholders providing a brief overview of water quality monitoring conducted by their organisations and their major water quality issues, problems and R, D & E needs 2. researchers providing overviews of past/current research and research gaps 3. identification of priorities for the CRC to consider Stakeholders included representatives of irrigators, land and water management planners, environmentalists, and state and federal government agencies with environmental custodian responsibilities. Researchers from 6 different organisations in 3 states of Australia participated in the workshop. This report summarises the major issues, and the identified research needs and their prioritisation. The report was written by Kaye Spark, and drawn directly from the issues, research needs and priorities identified at the workshop.