How do water levels in the river affect me? How do these low flows affect the plants and animals that live nearby?
A healthy river is a great asset and amenity in a community or region. Rivers provide recreation, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, water supply and wetlands help to assimilate nutrients and assist in stormwater managment. . They support the region’s economy by providing water and assimilating pollutants, as wells as by providing a high quality of life, an attraction for the region’s workforce. Rivers also provide educational opportunities to teach young and old alike about the natural world, and to provide the benefits of an unspoiled environment. An unhealthy river with no little or no water in it cannot provide these values, and can detract from the quality of life nearby. Low flows in the Ipswich River threaten the sustainability of the region’s water supply, and degrade its value as a recreational asset. Portions of the river are unsuitable for canoeing and kayaking during much of the summer – an important period for these activities. Lower water quality may occur because there is
