Long‐lived vegetation is a key attribute of lowland river floodplains; yet dieback is increasingly being reported globally, with prior studies identifying salinity, drought and altered flow regimes as key stressors. In the Murray–Darling Basin (Australia), many floodplain/wetland areas have management strategies that aim to maintain the condition of floodplain tree communities. Environmental water delivery is a key tool used to achieve such outcomes. Currently, one of the primary tools for determining the need for environmental water delivery is a qualitative visual assessment of tree crown condition. To advance to more quantitative assessment and understanding of tree condition, we present a suite of techniques ranging from low‐cost, rapid visual assessment of tree crown condition to laboratory analysis of components of soil condition and in situ measurement of tree physiology. The aim is to address a number of key knowledge gaps on how to use the linkages between soil water availability ↔ tree physiology ↔ tree visual condition to quantitatively inform environmental water delivery decisions to meet management objectives. We have developed a multiple‐lines‐of‐evidence management assessment framework that presents a pathway to enable managers to improve prioritisation management actions. Furthermore, increased confidence in predicted outcomes should assist water holders and floodplain managers to optimise timing and maximise the benefits of environmental watering. Application of outcomes of this research will increase the efficiency of environmental water use.

中文翻译：

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一种多证据方法，优先考虑湿地和洪泛区树木的环境浇水

长期存在的植被是低地河漫滩的关键属性。然而，全球已有越来越多的人报道了病死现象，先前的研究将盐度，干旱和流动方式的变化确定为主要压力源。在墨累-达令盆地（澳大利亚），许多洪泛区/湿地地区都有旨在维持洪泛区树木群落状况的管理策略。环境水输送是用于实现此类成果的关键工具。当前，确定对环境供水的需求的主要工具之一是对树冠状况的定性视觉评估。为了进一步定量评估和了解树木状况，我们提供了一套技术，从低成本，快速的目测树冠状况视觉评估到对土壤状况和土壤成分的实验室分析，不一而足。树木生理学的原位测量。目的是解决一些关键的知识空白，以解决如何利用土壤水供应，树木生理，树木视觉条件之间的联系来定量地告知环境水供应决策以达到管理目标的问题。我们已经开发了多证据线管理评估框架，该框架提供了一种途径，使管理人员能够改善优先级管理措施。此外，增加对预期结果的信心应有助于持水者和洪泛区管理者优化时间安排并最大程度地提高环境浇水的效益。这项研究成果的应用将提高环境用水的效率。