Freshwater wetlands, an important component of lakes, rivers and creeks are composed of a variety of plants including suspended microalgae; floating plants; rushes, reeds and other emergent plants including trees. These plants provide critical habitat for a range of invertebrates and fish and provide food for in-stream communities. Freshwater wetlands play an important role in natural flood plain drainage, often acting as natural flood retention basins, buffering flood flows and regulating the discharge of freshwater into estuaries. They also play an important role in removing nutrients and improving downstream water quality and stabilise banks therefore preventing erosion;

Freshwater fish communities are typically highly habitat specific. Many species are dependent upon seasonal changes in the environment, such as floods to stimulate spawning and to recolonise distant areas. A number of species of freshwater fishes undertake seasonal migrations between fresh waters and the sea. Consequently, the construction of dams and weirs, the abstraction of water for irrigation and consumption, and the pollution of waters by nutrients and pesticides all pose significant threats to the ecological integrity of inland waterways. FRC has undertaken a range of studies focused on the description of freshwater and riparian communities; the assessment of potential impacts; and on measures to minimise and mitigate these impacts.
Examples of recent studies include:

• Evaluation of Fish Species Nominated for Import, Environment Australia.
  
  FRC Environmental was contracted by Environment Australia to review the biology and ecology of ten species of freshwater finfish nominated by the aquarium industry for importation into Australia. The review included an assessment of both the likelihood that nominated species would become established in Australian waterways, and of the ecological consequences of establishment.


• North Vam Nao Water Control Project (NVNWCP), Fisheries Baseline Study, AusAID.
  
  FRC's Dr John Thorogood was contracted by AusAID to compile and review a range of data collected by a Vietnamese research agency contracted to gather baseline data for the NVNWCP. Visiting the study area (upper Mekong Delta), Dr Thorogood gathered additional data from consultation with national and provincial agencies, and universities. FRC's report serves as a preliminary baseline from which the impacts of proposed engineering works can be better predicted and mitigating strategies developed.


• Fish Stocking, Edenbrooke Residential Estate, Urban Pacific Pty Ltd.
  
  Edenbrooke, at Seventeen Mile Rocks, is an urban development on the rehabilitated reaches of Jindalee Creek. FRC was commissioned to consider the desirability of stocking the rehabilitated creek to enhance local environmental values. This study involved determining the historical fish fauna of the creek, surveying existing waters, and providing recommendations on suitable species and stocking rates.


• Assessment of Environmental Flow Requirements for Six Mile Creek, Noosa Shire; Noosa Shire Council.
  
  A proposed increase in the rate of water abstraction from Lake McDonald, required an assessment of the environmental flow requirements for Six Mile Creek. FRC undertook the assessment through a survey of bank and instream habitat, flora and fauna; a broad-scale assessment of the stream hydrology; and the review of predicted alterations in flow.


• Finfish and Macro-invertebrate Survey of Cooroy Creek, Cooroy, Noosa Council.
  
  FRC undertook a finfish and macro-invertebrate survey of the Cooroy Six Mile Creek system. Results of the survey were used to assess impacts of the planned expansion of the Cooroy Waste Water Treatment Plant. The survey focused on the detection of possible rare and endangered species; and the use of C and N isotopes to trace the source of nutrients in both water and plant tissue. The current level of effluent-related impact was assessed and recommendations made regarding to water quality and effluent treatment.


• Ecological Survey of Bed and Bank Habitats of the Noosa River System; Noosa Council
  
  In this study the distribution, character and ecological significance of a range of aquatic and riparian habitats including: Melaleuca forest, rainforest, dry sclerophyll forest, freshwater creeks and rushlands were assessed. The survey also identified existing and potential threats to the integrity of conservationally significant habitats, and suggested management measures to ensure their protection.


• The Environmental Impacts of Raising Tinaroo Dam and constructing the Bilwon Weir (aquatic ecology), Barron River; Qld. Dept. Natural Resources.
  
  This study comprised field surveys of the aquatic flora and fauna of Lake Tinaroo and the Barron River, and the assessment of the scale and scope of potential impacts relating to the proposed raising of the dam wall and the construction of the Bilwon Weir. The study focused on the effects of altered water quality and the Barron Rivers environmental flow requirements.
• An Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Aquaculture, Sichuan and Guangdong Provinces, Peoples Republic of China: World Bank.
  
  This field study considered the environmental impacts of a range of aquaculture activities on the rivers and coastal environment of Sichuan and Guangdong Provinces in the Peoples Republic of China. Impacts related to nutrient enrichment, pathogens and reduced water quality.
• Impact Assessment of Proposed Water Abstraction from Lake Placid (lower Barron River), Cairns City Council.
  
  The proposed construction of a weir; consequent changes to the water level of Lake Placid; and abstraction of water from the stream flow necessitated an Environmental Impact Assessment. FRC assessed the status of aquatic flora and fauna within the lake, and immediately downstream of the proposed weir; considered likely impacts; and mechanisms for mitigation.
• Dayboro Sewage Plant Environmental Impact Study; Pine Rivers Shire.
  
  The project required studies relating to the freshwater aquatic fauna (fishes and invertebrates) and flora, and riparian fauna and flora of Terrors Creek, the South Pine River and the South Pine Dam, as part of an Environmental Impact Study for construction of a new sewage plant at Dayboro.