Hydro Tasmania manages water from 35% of Tasmania’s catchments across a range of multiple uses. In the past 10 years, two extreme weather events have resulted in very low water levels in our system. Extreme weather events have brought both record-breaking low and high rainfall events within the past twelve months. The challenges presented were most acute in yingina/Great Lake, which is home to two Federally-listed and nine State-listed threatened species. How did the low lake level events in yingina/Great Lake between 2007 and 2015 differ? What are the ecological questions that arose for water management? How did science and uncertainty interact and inform decision making? What challenges do climate change and climate variability pose for the future management of ecosystem values in this lake?
Results from qualitative, statistical and quantitative dynamical ecological modelling, research into the life history traits of resident species and data on population structure were used to inform assessments of ecological disturbance. Downscaled climate change modelling and dendrochronology research inform the context within which we will manage future challenges to this ecosystem.