CEO UPDATEWelcome to the quarterly newsletterof the International RiverFoundation.It’s more than half way into 2018 andthe IRF team has been gearing up todeliver the 21st InternationalRiversymposium to be held in Sydneythis year.   Our focus on the three pillars ofEducation, Recognition andCollaboration continues to underpinour priorities and is at the core ofeverything we do. IRF has gratefullyreceived funding from the Bert andVera Thiess Foundation to continue todeliver some of our key programs,including the Bert and Vera ThiessAustralasia Riverprize, the Vera ThiessFellowship for Women and theKen Thiess Memorial Scholarship. 

We are also grateful for the generoussupport from our sponsors,including the Australian WaterPartnership, who has recentlycontributed $25,000 to our AsiaRiverprize for a Twinning grant.  Ourincredible partners enable us tocontinue to deliver our many riverrecovery projects, Twinningexchanges, and events.   IRF, together with a small group ofFounding Partners, is excited to bedriving the development of anoverarching ‘Resilient RiversBlueprint’, that will identify the keyactions that we will take to improvethe capacity of our riversand communities to recoverfrom disturbances and return to ahealthy state.  

IN THIS ISSUE21st InternationalRiversymposium Bert and Vera Thiess AustralasiaRiverprize Finalists Asia Riverprize Finalists 2017 Thiess InternationalRiverprize Winners  Emerging River ProfessionalAward Vera Thiess Fellowship Ken Thiess Scholars Sunshine Coast's River Initiative -Twinning Project

The Blueprint will utilise existing toolsand identify innovative newapproaches and technologies to builda river resilience network. Our goal isto develop a Blueprint which will beapplicable to rivers world- wide andwill inspire a global transformationfrom river recovery to river resilience. We look forward to the continuedsupport of our partners on thejourney to river resilience and toseeing you all at Riversymposium inOctober! 

Commercial Salmon Fishing, Dillingham, Alaska(Photo Credit: Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust)

Dr EVA Abal CEO

21ST INTERNATIONAL RIVERSYMPOSIUMWith only two months to go untilthe 21st InternationalRiversymposium, the IRF team hasbeen busy developing an excitingand engaging program of speakers,workshop sessions, networkingevents and study tours.   This year our event kicks off onSunday, 14 October with the firstnetworking event, a 2-hour sunsetcruise around the iconic SydneyHarbour. The formal program will run from15-17 October and includes keynoteaddresses from Professor WilliamDennison, Professor RebekahBrown, Wouter T. Lincklaen Arriënsand Professor I.R. Kihn Ni Ni Thein. We are also introducing Learn-Inspire-Transform sessions toprovide a greater emphasis on  interaction and learning anddevelopment to our program.  TheRiverexpo will run over these days,giving delegates the opportunity tomeet our keynotes, speakto exhibitors about the great workthey are doing and find out aboutprojects they are interested in fromsome of our sponsors.  

NEW STAFFTara Davis joins us from the ThiessInternational Riverprize winningWillamette river, USA. As the AlumniCoordinator, Tara has been busyreaching out to previous Riverprizewinners and finalists to establish anIRF Alumni Network, betterconnecting our Alumni and mobilisinga valuable international communityof experts. Tara has extensiveexperience in river restoration, non-profit management and fundraising, network development, collaborationand strategy development.    

On Monday evening, we will hostDiversity in Water - an eveningcocktail function celebratingdiversity in all its forms anddiscussing how equal opportunitiescan help to advance sustainableriver basin management.   The Riverprize gala dinner is also ahighlight at the conference and thisyear will be no exception. During theevening we will announce thewinners of the Australasian andAsian Riverprize, Vera ThiessFellowship for Women and theEmerging River Professional Award.   The conference finishes withdelegates able to choose one ofthree optional study tours to attend.Full details of these study tours, andthe full program are available atwww.riversymposium.com

Carla Littlejohn joined the IRF in Mayand has been working with ourpartners to manage our existingtwinning and river recovery programsand to identify new partnershipopportunities. Carla has extensiveexperience in integrated catchmentmanagement, water quality andenvironmental policy and legislation.Carla’s experience includesdeveloping and implementing policyguidance, stakeholder engagement,capacity building and cross-culturalprogram and project management.

14 - 18TH OCTOBER 2018

Tara Davis

Sydney Harbour, Australia (Photo Credit: Clearview Glass Boat Cruises)

Carla Littlejohn

2018 BERT AND VERA THIESS AUSTRALASIA RIVERPRIZE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED!This years’ Bert and Vera ThiessAustralasia Riverprize finalists areWhangawehi Stream (NewZealand), Laidley Creek(Queensland) and the ParramattaRiver (NSW). Also highly commendedare the Oven and Kings River(Victoria) and Yarra River (Victoria).   The Whangawehi stream is at risk offaecal contamination from stock andsedimentation from farmland and hassuffered from a lack of riparianhabitats for bird and fish life. Under acommunity led catchmentmanagement plan, the WhangawehiCatchment Management Group(WCMG) has been helping farmersmanage pests and revegetate theriver margins, resulting in theestablishment of 160,000 native trees,60 ha of riparian margins and theretirement of 10 ha of native bushblock. Monitoring has revealed a 95%survival rate of plants, an increase inbird life and a 15% improvement inwater quality. Once nearly extinct,

The Parramatta River flows throughthe heart of one of the fastestgrowing regions in Australia. TheParramatta River Catchment Group(PRCG) launched the' Our LivingRiver' initiative in 2014, with themission to make the ParramattaRiver swimmable again. The PRCG isan alliance of local and stategovernment agencies and thecommunity and is responsible for thestrategic coordination of thecatchment. In October 2018, thegroup will launch the ParramattaRiver Masterplan, which provides amanifesto for change in the way theriver and its catchment will bemanaged into the future. TheMasterplan grasps the opportunitythat accelerated urban growth canbring to improvements in waterquality and local amenity if it is well-planned and integrated, with clearlydefined and community drivenoutcomes.  

the white bait  population is nowabundant, and the  endangered long fineel has grown to healthy populations.   Increased sediment and nutrienttransport is impacting on the health ofBrisbane River and Moreton Bay.Around 80% of sediment pollution inthe lower Brisbane River comes fromjust 20% of the catchment, mostly fromeroded streams and gullies in theLockyer Valley. A collaborativepartnership and an investment of AUD$2.4 million has transformed a 3kilometre stretch of Laidley Creek inthe Lockyer Valley. Works includedinvasive weed management, plantingnative trees and grasses, installing sixcross channel creek structures andstabilising steep heavily eroded banks.This has resulted in restoration ofvaluable farmland and improved floodresilience and the prevention of 16,000tonnes of sediment, 11 tonnes ofnitrogen and 22 tonnes of phosphorousfrom entering the creek and ultimatelyMoreton Bay. 

Parramatta River from Gladesville Bridge, Sydney, Australia. (Photo credit:  Attakorn Petcharat)

INAUGURAL ASIA RIVERPRIZE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED!The inaugural 2018 Asia Riverprizefinalists are the Pasig River(Philippines) and the Yangtze River(China). The Pasig River RehabilitationCommission (PRRC) is mandated toensure that the Pasig River systemundergoes rehabilitation in order tosupport and sustain aquatic life andresources that are conducive fortransport, recreation, and tourism. The Philippines' Pasig River wasdeclared biologically dead in the1990s due to persistent pollutioncaused by population growth andindustrial development along itsriverbanks. However PRRC’s and itspartners river restoration andmanagement efforts have effectivelybrought the  Pasig River back tolife. These efforts have includeddelivering quality projects, programs,activities, and advocacies ineasement recovery, riverbankdevelopment, waste and waterquality management, and publicawareness. 

From 2016 to 2020, support will bedirected to four key areas in the YREBdevelopment plan: (i) ecosystemrestoration, environmentalprotection, and management ofwater resources, (ii) green andinclusive industrial transformation, (iii) construction ofan integrated multimodal transportcorridor, and (iv) policy reform toincrease the connectivity andcooperation among provinces andcities. The goal is to prioritise the YREBecosystem restoration over economicdevelopment, including establishinga financial incentive mechanism toreward provinces that launch theirown eco-compensation agreementsbetween different provinces or withintheir own provinces. The implications for the introductionof such river basin reforms are longterm, with sustained impact andenvironmental improvements,particularly in the upper to middlereaches of the Yangtze River.

From 1999 to 2017, PRRC hasresettled 18,719 families living alongthe riverbanks to decent homes,dismantled 376 encroaching privatestructures, established over 37,000linear metres of environmentalpreservation areas, developed 17 of its 47 identified tributaries, divertedalmost 22,000 kilograms of solidwaste, and transformedcommunities into environmentally-responsible citizens. This hasresulted in significant water qualityimprovement, as well as therevitalization and development ofthe Pasig River system. The Yangtze river basin accountsfor 40% of China's freshwaterresources, more than 70% of thecountry’s rice production, 50% of itsgrain, more than 70% of fisheryproduction, and 40% of the China’sGDP. Asia Development Bank’s (ADB)Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB)team have facilitated significantinstitutional and policy reforms onriver and water governance in theYangtze River basin. 

Pasig River, Philippines (Photo credit: PRRC)

FINALISTS OF THE 2018 EMERGING RIVER PROFESSIONALS AWARD 

During the last two years, she hasmapped diffuse pollution risk toprioritise ecological infrastructureprotection in the uMngeni Catchment,South Africa, which aimed to verifyand validate the existing lawful wateruse in KwaZulu.   Ms Julie Francis (Australia) has adegree in science, a masters ofagricultural science and completedthe International Water Centre’s 9-month leadership program in 2016.Julie specialises in both collaborationand sustainable cities and has workedin a variety of Victorian state andlocal government roles.She wasseconded to Melbourne Water in late2016 to lead a collaboration oforganisations working to transform 

The ERPA was established by IRF torecognise and foster early careerriver professionals who havedemonstrated innovation,excellence and leadership in river,basin, or river-dependentcommunity management. This yearERPA is generously sponsored byOceanaGold Corporation.   The following ERPA finalists havebeen selected for demonstratingexceptional and measurableachievements in rivers, basins orriver-dependent communities   Ms Nantale Nsibirwa (South Africa)is currently completing a Masterof  Science in Hydrology at theUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal and ashort-term internship with theUnited Nations (UN) Environmentagency.

The San Antonio River Authority(SARA) has been managing point-source pollution issues effectively inits 10,000 square-kilometre basinsince the late 1980s, leading to thereturn of healthy aquatic and riparianhabitat. SARA was created in 1937 and hasbuilt many successful partnershipswith federal, state and local partners,communities and stakeholder groups.SARA's $384 million San Antonio RiverImprovements Project (SARIP)included flood management,amenities, ecosystem restoration andrecreational improvements to over 13miles of the San Antonio River.  

the Moonee  Ponds Creek into aniconic waterway for Melbourne. Mr Jose Fernandez (Peru) gained adegree in Forestry Engineering in2015. He began lecturing toundergraduate students about theapplication of geographicinformation systems before takingon the position of EnvironmentalSpecialist for the Water Fund forLima and Callao (AQUAFONDO). He iscurrently responsible for themanagement and conservation ofwater resources and has beeninvolved in a project to develop anintegrated water managementsystem in the local peasantcommunity of San Pedro de Casta,Lima Peru.  

WINNER OF THE 2017 THIESS INTERNATIONAL RIVERPRIZE- SAN ANTONIO RIVER, TEXAS USA

“THE SAN ANTONIO RIVERTELLS A COMPELLING STORY

OF HOW COLLABORATIVEEFFORTS CAN RESULT IN A

DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT INRIVERINE HEALTH WHILEPROVIDING FOR ROBUST

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,” – STEVEN SCHAUER.

SARA was also responsible for thefamous 15-mile San Antonio RiverWalk - a world-leading example ofinspiring urban park design andprosperous riverfront developmentthat connects over 2000 acres ofpublic park land and attracts over11.5 million visitors annually,pumping $3.1 billion into the localeconomy. 

San Antonio River, Texas, USA. (Photo credit:San Antonio River Authority)

KEN THIESS SCHOLARS COMPLETE FINAL PROJECTS Rej Bungabong and Camaria Holderrecently graduated with a Master ofIntegrated Water Management afterbeing awarded the Ken ThiessMemorial Scholarship in 2017. To complete the course, scholars arerequired to undertake a final projectof their choice. Rej completed adownstream impact assessment ofconstructed check dams in the UpperMarikina River Basin ProtectedLandscape in the Philippines, where 

he applied his learnings from hismasters to identify lapses in theincorporation of essential IntegratedWater Resource Management (IWRM)elements and providedrecommendations to ensure a balancein socioeconomic and ecologicalsustainability in the project study site.  Camaria undertook a placement withGrenada’s Ministry of Agriculture,where she investigated theeffectiveness of community-based 

adaptation interventions implemented in three localcommunities affected by limitedsupplies of water for both domesticuse and agriculture irrigation. Herfindings emphasised the highlycomplex nature of climate changeadaptation, and highlighted that long-term sustainability hinged on the levelto which local stakeholders wereengaged as agents of change.

VERA THIESS FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN Through the Fellowship, Marie iscollaborating with the Pasig RiverRehabilitation Commission (PRRC,Philippines) to empower women andstrengthen their role managing andrehabilitating the Pasig River. Activities have focused oncommunity involvement, gendermainstreaming, water leadership,and sustainable river/urbancommunities. Marie has also visitedsome our IRFs Riverprize Alumnni inthe USA (San Antonio River), Australia(Sunshine Coast and Bremer Rivers)and the UK (Tweed River) to learnabout their programs and obtainvaluable insight. 

The Vera Thiess Fellowship giveswomen the opportunity to gainvaluable work experience through theInternational RiverFoundation and ourpartners, with the goal of advancingwomen’s participation in water andriver management. In honour of thelate Vera Thiess, this fellowship goesnot only towards supporting a scholar,but towards continuing the importantwork of bridging the gap in women’sparticipation in river basinmanagement.   Marie Aislinn Cabriole was awardedthe second Vera Thiess Fellowship forWomen at the 20thInternational RiversymposiumConference in Brisbane in 2017.

Marie Aislinn Cabriole with the Pasig RiverRehabilitation Commission (Photo Credit:

Marie Aislinn Cabriole)

Camaria Holder with Jane and Paul Thiess (Photo Credit: International RiverFoundation)Upper Marikina River Basin ProtectedLandscape (Photo Credit: Rej Bungabong)

SUNSHINE COAST RIVERS INITIATIVE AND CAPRICORNIA CATCHMENTS TWINNING PROJECT IS BRINGING BACK THE LOCALSIn 2015, Australian Riverprizewinners, the Sunshine Coast RiversInitiative (SCRI), partnered withCapricornia Catchments Inc. todeliver the Fig Tree Creek SisterCatchment Project.   The Fig Tree Catchment, in the heartof Yeppoon, is under pressure fromincreasing urbanisation, weedinfestation, erosion and lack ofcommunity stewardship. The FigTree Creek Sister Catchment Projectaims to embrace the waterwaythrough collective communityplanning and action, building thecapacity of the Capricorn Coastregion to plan for, develop andimplement best practice measuresto protect and enhance the valuesof the waterway.  

The twinning program has yieldedseveral worthy outcomes overrecent years, including theestablishment of the Fig Tree CreekWorking Group who coordinate andpromote natural resourcemanagement activities in thecatchment, support fordevelopment of the Draft Fig TreeCreek Masterplan, the facilitation ofvarious workshops, stakeholdercampaigns and education days, andimplementation of on-groundworks. Most recently, CapricorniaCatchments commenced on-groundworks in the Figtree CreekCatchment through the project“Bringing Back the Locals”. Thisproject aims to supportresidents who have propertiesadjacent to the creek, byimplementing restoration worksincluding weed and erosionmanagement and revegetation.  

This twinning project has allowedboth groups to benefit from eachother’s knowledge and expertise insustainable river management,while improving on-groundmanagement for better waterquality and public access in thisproject area. These two groups haveworked together in building ashared understanding of thistwinning program. We at the IRF continue to supportthe partnership and look forward toseeing this project continue to growand prosper in the years to come.To hear more about the keyachievements of this and othersuccessful twinning partnerships,make sure you attend our Learn-Inspire-Transform (LIT) session“Establishing and maintainingsuccessful Riverprize twinningpartnerships” at the 21stInternational Riversymposium inOctober.  Capricorn Coast Landcare planting activity -

National Tree Day (Photo Credit: SCRI)

Fig Tree Discovery Day  (Photo Credit: SCRI)

ABOUT IRFInternational RiverFoundation champions integratedriver basin management for the restoration, protection,and resilience of the world's rivers. We celebrate,recognise, reward and inspire people andorganisations, and facilitate the sharing of crucialknowledge on the journey to river resilience.

T: +61 7 3002 9062 E: info@riverfoundation.org.au W: www.riverfoundation.org.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

RIVERSYMPOSIUM

World Water Congress & Exhibition 16-21 September | Tokyo www.worldwatercongress.org 6th Australian and New Zealand CyanobacteriaWorkshop 25-26 September | Sydney www.algae.unsw.edu.au 21st International Riversymposium 14-18 October | Sydney www.riversymposium.com 9th Global Environment Facility, InternationalWaters Conference 5-8 November | Marrakech http://inms.international/9th-gef-biennial-international-waters-conference-iwc9

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