Lower Balonne Scoping Study Environment Theme · Defining the environmental water requirements for...

Lower Balonne Scoping Study Environment Theme

January 2006

Lyn Smith, MDFRC Wodonga

Dr Daryl Nielsen, MDFRC Wodonga

Janey Adams, Griffith University

Dr. Cassie James, Griffith University

Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre

PO Box 991

Wodonga, VIC 3689

An MDFRC consultancy report for Western Catchment Management Authority & Queensland Murray Darling Committee PO Box 1840 DUBBO NSW 2830

Lower Balonne Scoping Study – Environment Report

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Environment Review of the Lower Balonne Floodplain

A report prepared for the Western Catchment Management Authority and Queensland Murray Darling Committee by Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

For further information contact:

Lyn Smith and Daryl Nielsen

Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre

PO Box 991, Wodonga, Vic, 3689.

Ph 02 60582300

Fax 02 60597531

Email: [email protected] & [email protected]

November 2005

Disclaimer – The Murray-Darling Basin Commission and CSIRO Land and Water (Trustee and Centre Agent) as joint venture partners in the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre do not guarantee that this publication is without error of any kind, nor do they guarantee the information contained in this report will be appropriate in all instances and therefore, to the extent permitted by law, they exclude all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to, all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation arising directly or indirectly from using this report (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it.


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project was funded by the Australian Government National Landcare Program

The authors would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of the project team, including Darren Baldwin and Ben Gawne. This report also would not have been possible without the support and expertise of the staff of the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Lower Balonne system extends from St George in Queensland to the Barwon River in northern NSW. The Lower Balonne system begins as a single channel of the Balonne River downstream of Beardmore Dam at St George in Queensland and extends to the Barwon River in New South Wales. Water is pumped from the rivers and distributary channels of the Lower Balonne during flood periods and flood overflows are diverted to storage for crop irrigation, mainly cotton. (Cullen et al. 2003). Consequently, modification of the natural flow regimes are likely to impact on the ecological communities of the rivers, floodplains and wetlands of the Lower Balonne system (McCosker 1996).

The Queensland Water Resource (Condamine Balonne) Plan 2004 includes a strategy for event-based management to deliver flows to the Lower Balonne floodplain, especially to ensure that adequate flows reach the Ramsar-listed Narran Lake Nature Reserve to meet Australia’s international obligations under the Ramsar Convention. The Water Resource Plan proposes requires a compreshensive review five years after commencement, which must assess the effectiveness of the plan’s performance indicators, including event-based management rules, in delivering the desired outcomes of the plan. This Scoping Study is intended to assist in addressing the water needs of the Lower Balonne Floodplain as well as providing input to the upcoming five-year review.

Cullen et al. (2003) identified important ecological assets in the Lower Balonne that need to be managed in terms of water resource planning. These assets are “the biota of the rivers, distributary channels and wetlands of the Lower Balonne, the internationally recognised Narran Lakes, the National Parks of the Culgoa floodplain, and the Darling River itself”. This review excludes examining the knowledge concerning the Narran Lakes as this has previously been reviewed by Thoms et al. (2003) and is currently under an extensive ecosystem study; and the Darling River itself, which is outside the scope of this brief.

The floodplains of the Lower Balonne comprise a complex mosaic of vegetation communities. These include important native grassland, shrubland and woodland communities of riparian and floodplain habitats, with the floodplains of the Culgoa, Birrie and Narran rivers supporting the largest area of native grasslands in New South Wales (Dick, 1993). The plant communities in the Lower Balonne are reliant on intermittent flooding for recruitment and survival. Compared with River Red Gums, little data is available on the water requirements of key floodplain vegetation species found on the Lower Balonne floodplain, such as Coolibah, Black Box and Lignum, although the latter is a component of the Narran Lakes Project (Narran Lakes Newsletters http://mooki.canberra.edu.au/narran ).

Vertebrate fauna surveys of the Coolibah floodplains of the Birrie and Culgoa (NSW reaches) record 19 species of native mammal, 112 birds, 23 reptiles and 6 frogs, while the trees themselves supply a habitat and refuge for a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles (Dick and Andrew 1993). The aquatic invertebrate and fish communities throughout the lowland catchment of the Darling River are considered threatened (NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994). One aquatic invertebrate, four fish and four water bird that have been listed under either federal (EPBC) or NSW legislation as threatened, vulnerable or endangered are recorded within the Lower Balonne system.

A large amount of data about the Lower Balonne floodplain has been collected, although some of it is not readily accessible. It also varies widely in both temporal and spatial scales, as well as in quality and purpose of collection. These factors make it difficult to compare and relate the different sets of data in order to draw conclusions about the ecological condition of the Lower Balonne floodplain.


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There are some different conclusions drawn by the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to the WAMP, the Cullen report, and subsequent research regarding the ecological condition of the Lower Balonne system. The TAP report suggests that the biotic communities, particularly fish and invertebrates are moderately degraded in the lower sections of the Balonne systems and indicate that modification of the natural flow regime is a potential cause. The Cullen Report (Cullen et al. 2003) suggests that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that these communities are currently degraded to any extent but have not yet felt the impact of water resource development that occurred in the 1990’s.

However, it is clear that flow dependent assets may suffer from the impacts of water resource development. Therefore it is recommended that:

1. All ecological assessments must take on a whole of catchment approach, therefore including the NSW portion of the Lower Balonne system;

2. The NSW portion of the Lower Balonne system must be assessed with the same rigour as QLD portion in terms of the number of sites monitored;

3. There should be an overarching continuity of the ecological assets assessed, even if it is to be divided amongst available expertise of various agencies i.e. riparian vegetation, macrophytes, fish, macroinvertebrates, water birds, frogs, turtles; and

4. Rigorous re-analysis of the annual monitoring data by SKM and EM in terms of indicators used and statistical significances of between-site variations.

Defining the environmental water requirements for the Lower Balonne is difficult due to the absence of published scientific work (Cullen et al. 2003) and there is limited specific knowledge of the water requirements of most flood dependent ecosystems and biota. To effectively manage flood dependent ecosystems, we need knowledge of:

1. How flooding and drying influence habitat availability

2. How flooding and drying influence the movement and dispersal of biota (fish, invertebrates, plants) within floodplain ecosystems

3. How flooding and drying trigger recruitment for a suite of biota (i.e. germination of plants)

4. What is the role of flooding and drying in maintaining biodiversity

5. How connectivity between riverine and floodplain environments influences carbon and nutrients dynamics

6. What extent of floodplain needs to be inundated to support viable riparian communities

7. What extent of wetland needs to be inundated to conserve “X” amount of biodiversity

8. What is the cost to the community as a consequence of lost productivity of flood plain ecosystems

9. What are the commence to flow values for flood-dependent wetlands

In light of the considerable knowledge gaps and the lengthy time lag before the impacts of changes become apparent, it is critically important that the Precautionary Principle should be followed. There are many contradictions in the interpretation of the limited data available for the Lower Balonne system, with no direct link able to be made between modification to the hydrology due water extraction and water storages and possible degradation of the biotic communities. However both the TAP Report (QLD DNR 2000) and the Cullen Report (Cullen et al. 2003) both stress that if the current level of water extraction continues, in all likelihood there will be substantial impacts on the biota of the channels and floodplains that comprise the Lower


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Balonne system. It needs to be acknowledged that there will be a considerable time lag between changes in water extraction and biological responses and the impact of current water extraction may not be detectable for many years due to the inherent natural variation in flows (QLD DNR 2000; Cullen et al. 2003).

Research and monitoring recommendations Recommendation 1 A joint taskforce of Qld and NSW natural resource agencies develop a cohesive monitoring program following the approach suggested by Scholz et al. (2005) in designing monitoring programs (Appendix 4).

This program would require the full support of state agencies and community groups and developed within an adaptive management framework with clearly stated objectives and testable hypotheses. The monitoring program would eventually be able to describe the current condition and give an assessment of the biodiversity, abundance and community composition of instream and floodplain biota. The information gained from such surveys can then be used by managers to determine the extent of floodplain that needs to be inundated to preserve a proportion of the associated biodiversity (i.e. surveys might indicate that 20% of the floodplain area needs to be inundated for three months to preserve 90% of the current biodiversity).

Recommendation 2

A detail investigation is carried out to determine the watering requirements for Coolibah and Lignum plant communities.

This investigation should use a combination of tradition plant survey methods combined with measurements of changes in plant vigour (or health) using remote sensing techniques.

Recommendation 3

A detailed investigation on the rates of sedimentation within the Lower Balonne under different flow regimes be undertaken.

There is little knowledge of what the critical ecological processes in riverine and floodplain habitats are or how changes to the flooding regime may affect primary productivity and the exchange of material between components. Over the forthcoming years, the floodplain and riverine environments will experience a range of flood frequencies and intensities in response to increased water extraction and changing climatic conditions.

Recommendation 4

A detailed investigation be undertaken of the role of connectivity between the river channels of the Lower Balonne and associated floodplains and wetlands and three critical metabolic functions (primary production, nutrient cycling and decomposition).

The study would examine the response of each component to inundation to determine the role of floods in influencing ecosystem function and provide an estimate of the extent of variation in flooding response along the river continuum. The project would focus its attention on the spatial and temporal patterns of primary production and the movement of organic matter, particularly nitrogen and carbon between the floodplain and main channel. The conversion of organic matter into invertebrate biomass is a critical metabolic function that provides food for the majority of fish, frogs and water birds and provides a supplementary food source for many terrestrial reptiles, birds and mammals. While our knowledge of the community structure of invertebrates in lowland rivers has improved over the last 20 years, our knowledge of the factors that control the abundance and productivity of these communities remains rudimentary in most floodplain


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systems. This is despite the fact that it is the rate at which invertebrate biomass is produced that determines the systems capacity to support populations of fish and birds.

Recommendation 5 A detailed investigation be undertaken that examines the productivity of invertebrates across a range of habitats and determines the key drivers. This will allow predictions to be made of invertebrate productivity in both space and time.

Further comparisons will enable the importance of differing sources of carbon and how carbon is transferred within food webs to be elucidated using established methods of carbon stable isotopes as well as examining microbial carbon processing in relation to invertebrate groups and associated microbial communities.

Recommendation 6

Determine the status of the fish communities within the Lower Balonne by collecting abundance and presence/absence data. Particular emphasis should be placed on whether adequate recruitment of new individuals is occurring or whether populations are in decline.

Determine key habitats for both fish and birds, and determine their patterns of movement within the Lower Balonne system. Fish and birds are frequently used as indicators of riverine and wetland health. However, our understanding of fish habitat requirements is inadequate if we are to allocate flows to ensure a sustainable fish community in the Lower Balonne system. While our knowledge base for birds is better, there remain significant knowledge gaps concerning the habitat requirements of birds during inter-flood periods. These knowledge gaps are significant for managers trying to allocate flows for the creation of habitat, both within the main channel and for floodplains. Factors that may influence the colonisation of habitat include the availability of colonists, their dispersal ability and their response to environmental cues.

Recommendation 7

Development of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) capable of fine scale vertical resolution across key areas of the Lower Balonne that can be used to predict which wetlands and what areas of the floodplain will be flooded given a specific flow. This information will be important in managing where flows go on the floodplain and predicting the extent of wetland/floodplain inundation.


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Table of Contents

1. BACKGROUND................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THIS SCOPING STUDY.............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 BACKGROUND/CONTEXT OF LOWER BALONNE FLOODPLAIN..................................................................... 1 1.3 BROAD PROFILE OF THE IMPACTS OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT UPON THE ENVIRONMENT............. 2 1.4 THE QUEENSLAND WATER PLANNING PROCESS .......................................................................................... 2 1.5 THE VALUE OF THIS SCOPING STUDY TO THE PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................... 5 1.6 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................................ 5

2. SCOPING STUDY METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 KNOWLEDGE CAPTURE............................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 SITE TOUR .................................................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 7

3. IDENTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS ................................................................................................ 7 3.1 FLOW-DEPENDENT ASSETS ......................................................................................................................... 7

3.1.1 River channels and floodplain of the Lower Balonne system................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Culgoa Floodplain National Park, QLD............................................................................................. 10 3.1.3 Culgoa National Park, NSW ............................................................................................................... 11 3.1.4 Narran Lakes....................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2 FLORA AND FAUNA................................................................................................................................... 12 3.2.1 Fauna .................................................................................................................................................. 14

3.3 VALUES .................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.1 Community values ............................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Intrinsic values .................................................................................................................................... 16

4. DATASETS IDENTIFIED ............................................................................................................................. 17 4.1 IN-CHANNEL DATA ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 DATA SETS OR SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION THAT COULD BE USED TO DEFINE WATER REQUIREMENTS ........ 25

4.2.1 Water requirements of floodplain vegetation ...................................................................................... 25 4.2.2 Water requirements of floodplain fauna.............................................................................................. 27 4.2.3 Waterbirds........................................................................................................................................... 28

4.3 DATA CONCERNING COMMUNITY VALUES ................................................................................................ 29 4.4 METADATA STATEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 32

5. ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ............................................ 33 5.1 ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................. 33 5.2 GENERIC ECOLOGICAL MODEL FOR THE LOWER BALONNE RIVER SYSTEM .............................................. 34 5.3 THREATENING PROCESSES........................................................................................................................ 37 5.4 IMPACTS OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT....................................................................................... 38

6. KNOWLEDGE GAPS .................................................................................................................................... 39 6.1 PROCESS FOR DEFINING ENVIRONMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS AND VALUES ................................... 39 6.2 DEFINING DATA AND INFORMATION NEEDS IN RELATION TO THE WATER RESOURCE (CONDAMINE AND BALONNE) PLAN ..................................................................................................................................................... 40

7. KNOWLEDGE EVALUATION .................................................................................................................... 43 7.1 RESEARCH AND MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 43

7.1.1 Recommendation 1 .............................................................................................................................. 43 7.1.2 Recommendation 2 .............................................................................................................................. 43 7.1.3 Recommendation 3 .............................................................................................................................. 43 7.1.4 Recommendation 4 .............................................................................................................................. 44 7.1.5 Recommendation 5 .............................................................................................................................. 44 7.1.6 Recommendation 6 .............................................................................................................................. 44 7.1.7 Recommendation 7 .............................................................................................................................. 44

8. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 46 APPENDIX 1 - PROJECT BRIEF.......................................................................................................................... 54 APPENDIX 2 – DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODPLAIN ............................................................ 59


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APPENDIX 3 – METADATA STATEMENTS...................................................................................................... 66 APPENDIX 4 – MONITORING PROGRAM DESIGN FRAMEWORK......................................................... 100

List of Figures

Figure 1. Location map of the major assets of the Lower Balonne system (DNR 2000) ...............8

Figure 2. Generic floodplain conceptual model for the Lower Balonne system...........................36

Figure 3. Location of monitoring sites in Lower Balonne System ...............................................45

Figure 4. The Lower Balonne Floodplain region. (From Thoms et al. 2002) ..............................56

Figure 5. Components of a falsification experimental protocol (based on Popper 1968)...........100

List of Tables

Table 1. Plant species and vegetation communities listed as Endangered (E) or Vulnerable (V) under federal and state legislation recorded from the Lower Balonne. (EPBC = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, NSW = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995). .......................................................................13

Table 2. Aquatic fauna listed as Endangered (E) or Vulnerable (V) under federal and state legislation that have been recorded from the Lower Balonne...............................................15

Table 3. Listed migratory water birds that may occur in the Lower Balonne system ..................16

Table 4. Data sets assessing ecological condition of the Lower Balonne floodplain ...................18

Table 5. Water requirements of dominant floodplain vegetation in the Lower Balonne Floodplain Data summarized from Craig et al. 1991, Cunningham et al. 1992, Roberts and Marston 2000, Chong and Walker 2005..............................................................................................26

Table 6. Ecological flood thresholds for Lower Balonne floodplain system based on historic flows at St George (from Sims and Thoms 2002).................................................................27

Table 7. Flood classifications derived from QNRM IQQM (1922-1995). Data from Hydrology Review of the Lower Balonne Floodplain ............................................................................27

Table 8. Preferred conditions of listed aquatic species (NSW DPI 2005ab, Allen et al. 2002, McDowall 1996). ..................................................................................................................28

Table 9. Preferred conditions of listed waterbird species .............................................................30

Table 10. Database to define water requirements of arid zone waterbirds ...................................31

Table 11. Available metadata statements......................................................................................32

Table 12. Threatening processes identified under state and federal legislation............................37

Table 13. Outline of potential biotic responses to water resource development (Bunn and Arthington 2002) ...................................................................................................................38

Table 14. Data required for performance indicators as defined in the WRP ................................41

Table 15. Proposed and in progress monitoring and research projects for the Lower Balonne Floodplain..............................................................................................................................42


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1. BACKGROUND

1.1 Purpose of this Scoping Study The Queensland Water Resource (Condamine Balonne) Plan 2004 includes a strategy for event-based management to deliver flows to the Lower Balonne floodplain, especially to ensure that adequate flows reach the Ramsar-listed Narran Lake Nature Reserve to meet Australia’s international obligations under the Ramsar Convention. The Water Resource Plan requires a comprehensive review five years after commencement, which must assess the effectiveness of the plan’s performance indicators, including the event-based management rules, in delivering the desired outcomes of the plan.

In order to effectively review the plan in the future, the Western Catchment Management Authority, the NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources, the QLD Department of Natural Resources and Mines, and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, Inc. wish to have a complete understanding of the flooding regime of the Lower Balonne region. In particular, it is noted that although the Narran Lakes are currently being comprehensively studied by the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, a lack of understanding of the broader floodplain system may increase the tensions between water users’ groups and other stakeholders of the area.

1.2 Background/Context of Lower Balonne Floodplain The Lower Balonne system extends from St George in Queensland to the Barwon River in northern NSW. Approximately 30% of the system is in Queensland (357 000ha) and 70% in NSW (1631 000 ha) (McCosker 1996). The major agricultural land uses in the region are cotton, cereal grains, sheep and cattle (SKM 2000).

The Lower Balonne system begins as a single channel of the Balonne River downstream of Beardmore Dam at St George in Queensland and extends to the Barwon River in New South Wales. At Whyenbah, a bifurcation weir controls the flow of water (during low flows) either to the Culgoa River to the west or east to the Balonne River’s (referred to as the Balonne Minor) distributary channels. The Balonne Minor branches into the Ballandool and Bokhara Rivers approximately 25km downstream of Dirranbandi, QLD. The Bokhara River branches into the Birrie River to the west and the more eastern branch remains the Bokhara River, which enters the Barwon River just west of Brewarrina. The Ballandool River then reconnects with the Bokhara River near the Qld/NSW border. The Birrie River enters into the Culgoa River approximately 12 km downstream of Collerina. The Culgoa River then meets the Barwon River where it becomes the Darling River (Natmap 1:250 000 topographic maps, 2003).

The waters of the Lower Balonne system include a range of permanent and ephemeral billabongs, swamps, waterholes and a maze of main channels and flood runners, some of which have been modified to ensure water for stock and irrigation supplies. The rivers are highly turbid and during floods, large amounts of sediment are trapped or deposited onto the floodplain (EA 2001). Flood events occur mainly in summer and autumn and are generally channelled floods. Due to natural rainfall variability and extensive diversion works upstream, the frequency and size of flooding is highly variable and unpredictable (NSW NPWS 2003). Heavy rainfall in Queensland can cause large quantities of water to move through the river system and inundate the channel country. The main river channels in the Lower Balonne system are very unstable, such that, small changes to the flow can result in significant changes in channel morphology. Sediment movement has increased with the increased management infrastructures in the upper catchment (Cullen et al. 2003). The channels and floodplain include federally and state listed endangered and threatened aquatic and water dependent flora and fauna, including the largest remaining and least disturbed area of contiguous coolibah woodland in the Culgoa National Park, NSW (NSW NPWS 2003) and the Ramsar-listed Narran Lakes, NSW. The Culgoa (NSW)


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Floodplain and the Lower Balonne Floodplain, QLD, have been listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands (EA 2001).

The western portion of the floodplain, including the Culgoa National Park, forms a part of the traditional lands of the Gandugari group of the Morowari people (EA 2001). The eastern floodplain is home to the Yuwaalaraay / Euahlayi / Yuwaaliyaay and the Kamilaroi/Gumilaroi peoples and locations such as the Narran Lakes have high cultural significance.

1.3 Broad profile of the impacts of water resource development upon the environment In the Lower Balonne System, “river” refers to channels that carry dry weather flows and revert to chains of ponds in dry periods, as well as the floodplains and wetlands of the system. Water is pumped from the rivers and distributary channels of the Lower Balonne during flood periods and flood overflows are diverted to storage for crop irrigation, mainly cotton. Beardmore Dam is the main water storage on the Condamine-Balonne, with numerous additional weirs and several bifurcation weirs. As a result, natural flows have been significantly modified. (Cullen et al. 2003). The majority of water storage and crop irrigation is adjacent to the Culgoa River.

The Lower Balonne system contains small portions of the Mulga and Southern Brigalow Belt bioregions, as well as the northern portion of the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion. Surveys of the Darling Plains Bioregion (Gosper 2002) showed that there is a strong correlation between the period of flood inundation and changes in vegetation types. Consequently, modification of the natural flow regimes are likely to impact on the ecological communities of the rivers, floodplains and wetlands of the Lower Balonne system (McCosker 1996).

There has been only limited monitoring of the impacts of water resource development on the riverine, floodplain and wetland biota. The majority of monitoring has been undertaken in the Queensland portion of the system.

1.4 The Queensland water planning process The Queensland water planning process has involved numerous advisory panels, reviews, consultations and responses, in an often-heated climate of conflict over water use. In the 1990s, conservationists and NSW National Parks staff began expressing concerns about the ecological impacts of irrigation development in Queensland. Graziers on both sides of the border pointed to dramatic reductions in the frequency and duration of beneficial flooding and the loss of the pastures on which their industry depends (Moles 2004).

Arising from the COAG water reform agreement 1994 where states and territories undertook to implement water allocations for priority river systems and the Murray Darling Basin Cap 1996, the Queensland Government released a Draft Water Allocation Management Plan (WAMP) in May 2000 to provide a framework for fair, efficient and ecologically sustainable water use at the river basin scale. The ecological health of the Lower Balonne region of the Condamine-Balonne River was noted as degraded by the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) that had been appointed by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources to provide advice and reference material on the environmental requirements of aquatic and riparian habitats during the preparation of the WAMP (SKM 2002b).

The WAMP met strong resistance and the accuracy of some of the science underpinning the WAMP was challenged in the courts (Anchorage v. NRM, hearing in the Land Court). In September 2002, the Queensland Government commissioned a Scientific Review Panel, headed by Professor Peter Cullen to review the scientific research that had been undertaken on the Lower Balonne system. This “Cullen Report” determined that “the rivers and wetlands of the Lower Balonne system are presently in a reasonable condition, but this condition is expected to


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deteriorate if the present capacity to extract water from the system should actually be exercised” (Cullen et al. 2003).

Following the Water Act 2000, the WAMP process was superseded by another process to develop a Water Resource Plan (WRP). Legally, a WRP must achieve certain purposes stated in the Water Act 2000, specifically to advance the sustainable management and efficient use of water. This “sustainable management” allows for “the allocation and use of water for the physical, economic and social well being of the people of Queensland and Australia within limits that can be sustained indefinitely.” The Water Resource Plan was developed in consultation with specially established Ministerial Advisory Committees from the upper and middle reaches of the Condamine-Balonne system, as well as a Community Reference Group (CRG) of floodplain landholders from Queensland and New South Wales.

The Draft WRP proposed a water bank concept for the Lower Balonne. A 10% reduction in water harvesting entitlements for a maximum of 10 days for low and medium sized flow events would be paid back by greater access to water in major events. Such an approach would increase security of supply for stock and domestic users downstream. Specific rules are proposed to maximise the success of waterbird breeding events at Narran Lakes, which would also benefit other floodplain wetlands on the Lower Balonne system. It is important to note that there is no scientific basis for the “10% reduction in water harvesting for a maximum of 10 days”. This figure is merely what the irrigation community was prepared to give up voluntarily and without compensation (Moles 2004).

When the draft WRP was released in December 2003 for public comment, it received criticism from several agencies, including the NSW Government in its “Response to the Consultation Draft Water Resource Plan (Condamine and Balonne) 2003” which concluded that the WRP was “completely unacceptable to NSW” (NSW Government 2004). The Murray Darling Basin Commission’s Independent Audit Group (2004) stated that “the draft WRP, in the view of the IAG, endeavours to maintain current economic and social outcomes without adequately addressing environmental outcomes” and that the “Precautionary Principle has not been adequately applied to protect ecological outcomes and downstream flows”. Comments were also received from environmental groups and individuals.

The finalised Water Resource Plan for the Condamine Balonne catchment, released in August 2004, makes provisions for:

• Event based flow management rules to enhance low and medium flow events in the Lower Balonne with benefits for the Narran Lakes and Culgoa floodplain.

• Continuing the moratorium on new works to take water from a watercourse pending finalisation of the Resource Operations Plan for the catchment.

• Regulation on the taking of overland flow water throughout the catchment, ensuring more water for the environment and downstream users.

• Performance indicators to ensure that decisions made under the Resource Operations Plan do not further adversely affect the amount of water available to the environment or existing water users including stock and domestic users.

• The plan specifically provides for a special five-year assessment and report (over and above the normal annual reporting required) that will enable any significant developments in scientific knowledge relating to the region to be identified and taken into account in reviewing the effectiveness of the plan.


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The National Competition Council (NCC) (2004) noted that the final Water Resource Plan “contains some significant changes from the Draft…which are documented in the consultation report published by Queensland in August 2004. In summary, the final plan:

• tightens the criteria for establishing the licensing controls designed to limit overland flow extractions in the lower Balonne,

• includes new provisions to clarify that the plan is not promoting further leveeing on the lower Balonne floodplain,

• both strengthens and simplifies the conditions for triggering reductions in water users’ access during environmentally-important medium flow events, and

• broadens the provisions for taking account of interstate interests and representations in processes relating to the implementation and review of the plan”.

The Plan was finalised after a long period of community consultation and incorporates advice from several advisory committees, reference groups, community organisations, irrigators, graziers, members of the local community, industry groups, local councils and government agencies as well as independent scientists. The Plan proposes that the volume of water authorised for diversion, on average, should not increase over that supported by current infrastructure, but provides exemptions for diversions for stock and domestic users, licence renewals, water permits for short term activities such as mineral exploration, and town water supplies.

As recommended by the Cullen Report (Cullen et al. 2003), the Water Resource Plan adopts an event-based approach to managing environmental flows. The plan contains flow rules estimated to provide 73% of the predevelopment events sufficient to fill the Ramsar-listed portion of the Narran Lakes (Clear Lake and Back Lake) only. It sets flow objectives for five flow events: low flow, summer flow, beneficial flooding flow, a one in two-year flood and a one in 10-year flood. To manage these events, extractions in the lower Balonne must be reduced by up to 10% for a specified maximum number of days (usually 5 or 10 days) so changes in flow are restricted to 66–133 per cent of the natural flow (as measured at specified nodes or reaches). The irrigators “bank” this 10%, which they can later extract from a subsequent less-critical flow, which improves the security of their water allocations.

The Plan also sets performance indicators for determining when and how much of the water bank users may take. This approach aims to ensure a minimal impact on the environment and equitable sharing of any additional water among the entitlement holders. The plan proposes arrangements for monitoring water quality, hydrology and extraction, as well as the ecosystem health indicators of the in-channel, floodplain and wetland habitats. Responsibility for monitoring is invested in water infrastructure operators, who must provide annual written reports to their chief executives.

Five years after the commencement of the plan, the Minister must prepare a report on the accuracy of hydrology, community views, the appropriateness of performance indicators, progress in research on the environmental requirements of the Culgoa floodplain and Narran Lakes, and the effectiveness of flow event management. Based on this report, the Minister can decide to initiate a formal review of the Water Resource Plan.

Because of a paucity of data, the flow management rules do not explicitly address the other three ecological assets identified by the independent scientific review, although Queensland advised that application of the ‘Narran rule’ will benefit other distributary streams. This Scoping Study is intended to assist in addressing the water needs of the Lower Balonne Floodplain as well as providing input to the upcoming five-year review.


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1.5 The value of this scoping study to the planning process The Lower Balonne Scoping Study aims to inform those responsible for decision making in the water resource management planning process of existing data and information sources that are available, or planned, to enable ecologically sound decisions to be made. This scoping study may be used as a guide for research and monitoring that will fill the gaps in knowledge, understanding and assessment of areas and assets critical to the ecological performance of the WRP.

This study will also assist Queensland to meet National Competition Policy (NCP) water reform commitments. NCC (2004) states that for the 2004 NCP assessment Queensland should show that it has completed the following points, which are incomplete to date:

• provide appropriate flow for the ecological assets (including the Narran Lakes and Culgoa National Parks), in consultation with the local community and other stakeholders

• commit to the further research recommended by the scientific review, particularly to refine the recommended environmental flow requirements.

Outcomes from a Lower Balonne Floodplain Study, in addition to the Narran Lakes Ecosystem Study, will aid in achieving the above aims as well as providing input to the review process.

1.6 Objectives This study will provide information to aid in developing objectives for important ecological assets other than the Narran Lakes, such as the Culgoa Floodplain National Park. The information required to understand the Lower Balonne Floodplain ecosystem includes the pattern, frequency and duration of floodplain inundation under predevelopment conditions, the impact of water resource development, and the wetting and drying regime required to protect the ecological integrity and hence, both ecological and agricultural productivity of the Lower Balonne floodplains.

This Lower Balonne scoping study is intended to complement the information being generated by the Narran Lakes Ecosystem Study (in progress by the CRC for Freshwater Ecology and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission). The outputs in this scoping study are:

• A list of significant flow dependent ecological assets of the Lower Balonne system

• A comprehensive listing of existing data and information sources presently available relating to:

o water requirements of flow dependent assets

o community values of flow dependent assets

o intrinsic ecological value of flow dependent assets

• Definition of the critical data and information needed to:

o define water requirements of the flow dependent assets

o monitor and assess the effectiveness of WRP performance indicators

• Recommendations for research to address knowledge gaps

• A conceptual model of wetting and drying requirements of the Lower Balonne system

• A profile of the impacts of water resource development within the Lower Balonne system

The Project Brief and Terms of Reference can be viewed Appendix 1.


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2. Scoping Study Methods

2.1 Knowledge Capture This scoping study represents a review of the literature and identification of data sets available; no research, monitoring or re-analysis of previous data sets has been undertaken. Information for this scoping study has been gathered through web based (Google, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge) and library searches (CSIRO, La Trobe University, Griffith University) of published literature and ‘grey’ literature - agency reports, legislation submissions and listings as well as community group and project newsletters. More than one hundred documents and websites are cited in the reference list and many other documents were read but deemed irrelevant either to the environmental theme or to the Lower Balonne study area. The amount of published and peer reviewed literature specific to the Lower Balonne floodplain (excluding Narran Lakes) was relatively small. Grey literature was limited to what was available in the public domain or through personal contact.

Where possible the team made contact with various agencies currently undertaking or planning to undertake monitoring/research in the study area to identify potential data sets that may be useful in monitoring the ecological condition of the Lower Balonne system. Twenty-one replies were received out of 36 requests made to the following organisations:

1. Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (now Department of Natural Resources), NSW

2. Natural Resource Management, QLD

3. Environmental Protection Agency, QLD

4. Parks and Wildlife Service, QLD

5. Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, QLD

6. Griffith University, QLD

7. Environmental Management, QLD

8. National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW

9. Western Catchment Management Authority, NSW

10. Department of Primary Industries; Fisheries, NSW

11. University of Canberra, ACT

12. Monash University, VIC

13. Mildura Lab, MDFRC, VIC

14. Department of Environment and Heritage

15. Bureau of Meteorology

16. Museum of Victoria

2.2 Site Tour On 5th and 6th September, two staff members of Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre made a familiarisation trip to Culgoa National Park, NSW and Culgoa Floodplain National Park. During the trip, staff made personal observations and spoke with two Park Rangers (NSW NPWS, QPWS) and three NSW graziers. Summaries of these observations and discussions are included in the sections describing these locations.


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2.3 Literature review The review process was organised according to each Term of Reference (TOR). Hardcopy and electronic copies of all materials reviewed have been kept at MDFRC (Wodonga). There were limitations in tackling each TOR independently, as the themes of the TORs overlap. Hence, relevant information was gathered first and assigned to a TOR later. The identification of flow dependent environmental assets of the Lower Balonne system has followed the lead of Cullen et al. (2003) with the addition of further detail in legislated threatened and noted significant species and communities. Existing data sets relevant to determining the flow requirements of these assets and the value of these assets were sourced as above, reviewed and detailed in the metadata statements. A major limitations of the process was encountered in that some of the statewide data sets identified are not specific to the Lower Balonne system and so may contain only a few or even just a single site located in the Lower Balonne floodplain.

Major limitations to definitively establishing whether water resource development has affected specific ecological assets within the Lower Balonne floodplain were encountered:

1. With the exception of estimated vegetation distributions prior to clearing, no ecological information pre-dating water resource development could be obtained for a baseline, and so ‘test’ data is compared to the neighbouring Warrego system; and

2. There have been very few sites rigorously monitored for ecological health in the New South Wales portion of the Lower Balonne system; most of the available monitoring data is concentrated in the Queensland portion of the system.

3. Identified Environmental Assets

3.1 Flow-dependent Assets Cullen et al. (2003) identified important ecological assets in the Lower Balonne that need to be managed in terms of water resource planning. These assets are “the biota of the rivers, distributary channels and wetlands of the Lower Balonne, the internationally recognised Narran Lakes, the National Parks of the Culgoa floodplain, and the Darling River itself” (Figure 1). This review excludes examining the knowledge concerning the Narran Lakes as this has previously been reviewed by Thoms et al. (2003) and is currently under an extensive ecosystem study; and the Darling River itself, which is outside the scope of this brief.

3.1.1 River channels and floodplain of the Lower Balonne system The Balonne River Floodplain (QLD084) and Culgoa River Floodplain (NSW170) are both listed in A Directory of Important Wetlands (EA 2001). A full description of each of the floodplains is in Appendix 2. For the purposes of this study, the two floodplains are considered as a single flow dependent environmental asset. The area designated as the Lower Balonne Floodplain covers the floodplain of the Balonne River and its distributaries with St George in Queensland as the northern limit and the Barwon River in NSW as the southern limit. To the west, the Lower Balonne floodplain is bordered by the Warrego River catchment and to the east by the Moonie River catchment.

The following description has been taken from the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia website (www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands). The floodplain comprises a significant aggregation of permanent and ephemeral in-channel waterholes, billabongs, and swamps of varying depths, usually less than three metres. The floodplain has a slope less than 0.5%, with meandering stream channels that split and rejoin irregularly. The soils of the floodplain are grey to brown,


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deep alluvial clays and clay loams. The average annual rainfall recorded at St. George (upstream of the floodplain) is 516 mm but the average annual rainfall for Culgoa National Park (near downstream extent of the floodplain) is 375mm per year. Floods received from the Balonne River arise from rainfall in the northern part of the Condamine-Balonne catchment. Flood frequency is highly variable, occurring from once every five years to several times a year. The depth of the flood waters vary from a few centimetres to 10m and inundation of the floodplain can last for up to four months. During floods, large amounts of sediment are trapped or deposited onto the floodplain.

Figure 1. Location map of the major assets of the Lower Balonne system (DNR 2000)

O’Brien et al. (2002) summarised physical habitat data for the Lower Balonne river channels. The channels of Birrie, Bokhara, Culgoa and Narran Rivers are relatively uniform in terms of morphology (bed slope, sinuosity), instream and riparian habitat, and are characterised by highly


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variable hydrology. Common features of the Lower Balonne river channels were: U-shaped channel forms; smooth banks with low to moderate slope; gull/anabranch and rill bank features; benches located on lower and mid section of banks; sediment bars absent or low in number; large woody debris with variable structural complexity and generally less than 10m in size; riparian vegetation was variable in distribution, 0 – 20m in height, less than 15m in width and comprised of 30 - 100% trees with 0 - 60% shrubs; vegetation overhang was less than 50% of the channel.

Summary of farm visit to Merringina on the Culgoa River between Weilmoringle and Goodooga by core project team This is a summary of the opinions of three current graziers. The graziers informed the researchers that the Culgoa River never flows continuously for more than 18 months but from 1950 to 1956, the Culgoa River ran constantly. Prior to the 1970’s (when Beardmore Dam was built), the Culgoa River flooded 1 in 10 years. Local information is that it takes five inches of local rainfall to put water in the Culgoa River, the rest infiltrates into the soil.

The total volume of current irrigation licenses is greater than the average flow of the Culgoa River. A farmer cannot economically rely on the river. Upstream harvest for irrigation is taking the small floods out of the system. The 2005 release flowed in the Culgoa River, but not the Birrie or Bokhara Rivers. Before bifurcation at Whyenbah, the Birrie or Bokhara Rivers did not flow for many years because the Culgoa River was not full enough. Bifurcation was an effort to equalize flows for the graziers. A 2 million ML release at St George causes major inundation at ‘Merringina’. 10 000 ML per day is required to fill the river; a 15 000 ML release at St George is required to make the rivers in NSW flow. There is a three-week lag in anticipated flow at ‘Brenda Station’ after a release from St George, but this is dependent upon the state of the river at the time. A dry riverbed and bank will allow more water to infiltrate and less water to flow downstream. A one-inch rise at Brenda Station will flood 4000 acres at ‘Merringina’. In 1990, Beardmore dam almost went underwater and at this time, the river/flood height at ‘Burban Grange’ (current NSWPWS residence) was 2.18m. Four feet of sand can be deposited in a large flood event. In the late 1990’s, the NSW floodplain received higher than average rainfalls on NSW portion of floodplain.

In the last 40 years, local residents have noted the loss of species including catfish and water rats. Trees are thicker now on the plains than in the early 1900’s. Dominant grassland species change in relation to the timing and amount of rainfall and flooding, so that there is little Mitchell grass now to be found in the Mitchell grass plains. Graziers report that lignum makes good stock food and that lignum was not common prior to the 1950’s, but has since become more abundant.

Anthropogenic use of the floodplain is characterised by extensive grazing on native pasture, water storage and high intensity irrigated agriculture. Much of the floodplain area has been (and still is in Queensland) cleared for cropping. Extensive areas of Coolibah woodland have been cleared throughout its geographical range in northern NSW and southern Queensland. Rangelands can be considered the economic component of the Lower Balonne floodplain vegetation. Rangelands are defined as “lands remaining in a relatively natural state where vegetation is dominated by native pastures and shrubs and low tree-cover” (RAP 2005). They generally sustain low intensity land uses e.g. grazing, ecotourism. The vast scope of rangelands means that options for management are constrained by logistics and the availability of resources, and therefore will be more effectively managed as a natural ecosystem rather than an agricultural landscape (RAP 2005). The Western New South Wales Rangeland Assessment Program (RAP 2005) has been designed to gather annual data from across the state that can be used to inform


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land managers and land users of trends in vegetation cover, tree and shrub regeneration, species diversity, and canopy cover compared.

3.1.2 Culgoa Floodplain National Park, QLD The Culgoa Floodplain National Park is located in Queensland, 130km southwest of Dirranbandi. In 1994, former ‘Byra Station’ was declared a National Park, subsequently the properties of ‘Myola’, ‘Toulby’ and others were added taking the park size to 61,900ha. The Culgoa River does not flow through the park, however the Culgoa floodplain extends into the eastern extremity of the park with approximately 20 000 ha of the park inundated during a high flood (Cullen et al. 2003). Flooding can also occur from Nebine Creek, which is a part of the Warrego River system; approximately 5000 ha would be inundated during a high flood (A. Coward, QPWS Ranger, pers. com.).

Summary of observations and conversation with QPWS ranger during the field trip to the Culgoa Floodplain National Park (CFNP) by core project team.

Mungallala Creek, Wallam Creek and Nebine Creek run into CFNP from the Warrego River catchment. Artesian springs, protected under state legislation as a threatened community, are the only permanent water in CFNP. Nebine Creek becomes a chain of pools during dry periods and was completely dry during the drought. CFNP is more affected by floodwaters from the Warrego catchment than the floodwaters of the Culgoa River. In 2003, an environmental flow was released from St George but no flows reached ‘Brenda Station’, on the CFNP border. The 2004 floodwaters did not reach CFNP; that is, water remained in the channel. From a visitor’s perspective, CFNP appears much more degraded than Culgoa Floodplain National Park. Much of CFNP has been chained (clear felled), and chain clearing is still occurring on neighbouring properties. There are areas of 10-15 year regrowth, but a lack of tall trees is evident. Coolibah trees are not regenerating, and saplings of other trees such as Black Box, Gidgee and Brigalow are not evident. A large number of feral goats were seen during this trip and private contractors are engaged in removing them.

The following description is taken from the online Visitor Information (QPWS 2004) and the Plan of Management (QNPWS 1998). The Culgoa Floodplain National Park is situated on alluvial floodplains where the deposits are composed of very deep brown to grey alluvial clays. The floodplains are scattered with clay pans formed from periods of inundation. The Park protects diverse habitats, being “situated where the Mulga Lands meet a section of the Brigalow Belt known as the Darling River Plains” (QPWS 2004). The Mulga (Acacia aneura) lands are found on the low ridges that separate the Culgoa floodplain from the Warrego-Paroo catchment. The alluvial floodplains are dominated by Coolibah and Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) communities with Never-fail Grass (Eragrostis setifolia) as the significant understorey species. Further away from the river, the woodlands on the lower slopes of the plains are dominated by Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) and Gidgee (Acacia cambagei).

Whilst the Culgoa Floodplain National Park is a low use park, with less than 200 campers and day visitors per annum, most are keen birdwatchers who come in response to the abundant and diverse bird community that the park protects (A. Coward, QPWS Ranger, pers. com.). The diversity of the relatively small area of intact native vegetation within the park is significant in an agricultural landscape where clearing of native vegetation for agriculture is an ongoing process. The local indigenous community has an historical archaeological association with the park and maintains an active interest in park management. “A major management direction will be to ensure that environmental flows reach the floodplains of the park. This is particularly


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important as the water storage areas upstream of the park are large enough to restrict small and medium flood events further downstream” (QPWS 1998).

3.1.3 Culgoa National Park, NSW The Culgoa National Park is located in New South Wales, 100km northwest of Brewarrina. The following description is taken from the Culgoa National Park Plan of Management (NSW NPWS 2003). In April 1996, with a major addition in 1998, an area of 22,430ha was reserved to protect a section of the Culgoa River, threatened plant and animal species, floodplains, woodlands and grassland communities representative of riverine habitats and floodplains of north western NSW. The park was formed from the former pastoral leases of ‘Byerawering’, ‘Cawwell’ and ‘Burban Grange’. The Culgoa National Park lies within a major alluvial fan that forms the Culgoa floodplain, which extends for 120km in NSW and averages 65km in width. The park contains approximately 20km of the floodplain. Burrawerda Lagoon, which receives influxes of water from the Culgoa River during floods, crosses the northern eastern park boundary. Culgoa River flows are intermittent, rising from rainfall in the northern part of the Condamine-Balonne catchment. Other intermittent channel flows in the park are Nebine, Burban and Pickerherry Creeks.

Summary of observations and conversation with NSW NPWS ranger during the field trip to the Culgoa National Park (CNP) by core project team.

As the Culgoa River actually runs through the CNP (almost midline), this park will benefit from floodwaters from the Culgoa catchment before the CFNP does. The Culgoa River was low in height with a slight flow of very turbid water. A higher watermark that was still wet indicated that the river had recently been approximately one metre higher. The NSWPWS ranger indicated that the river had been completely dry early in 2005, even dry enough to drive across, before reasonable rains were received in June 2005.

Clay pans form naturally from inundations, but it is not know whether grazing pressures enlarge them. CNP has not had past chain clearing; consequently, there are a greater number of older trees, but no obvious tree regeneration. Herbaceous regeneration is evident in depressions and at only two of the river sites visited, one of which contained many weeds. Lignum is not regenerating or re-shooting in the riparian zones. Further out on the floodplains, especially in depressions and small channels, there is evidence of lignum re-shooting but no regeneration. More regeneration of herbaceous species was evident at downstream sites but still not the lignum. There were very few snags in the channel considering the amount of overhanging trees. As the Culgoa River flows southwest to the park boundary, the channel shape becomes steeper and deeper. The trees in the channel appear older and healthier with river red gums appearing. More snags were evident at downstream sites, but were relatively few compared with other rivers in this region.

From a visitor’s perspective, there is more drought recovery of herbaceous species in depressions on the floodplain than in the channel or riparian areas, especially lignum. This is probably a response to the rain in June 2005. CNP appears to have a greater percentage of mature trees available for regeneration but again no saplings of coolibah, black box, gidgee, brigalow were evident in the areas visited.

The soils of Culgoa National Park are dominated by grey cracking clays associated with the rivers, flood runners and throughout the floodplain where Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) and coolibah woodlands dominate. More sandy textured soils are found on the higher areas of the floodplain that are less frequently inundated, particularly west of the Culgoa River, where


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Black Box woodlands dominate. Significantly, the park contains the largest and least disturbed area of contiguous Coolibah woodland remaining in NSW as well as a population of the rare state listed Narrow-leaf Bumble (Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia). Five regionally rare plant species have also been found in Culgoa National Park; Bull Wiregrass (Aristida longicollis); Bowl Daisy (Pulchea dentex); Hairy Spurge (Phyllanthus carpentariae); Wirewood (Acacia coriacea); and Sandplain Riceflower (Pimelea penicillaris).

Culgoa National Park lies within the traditional lands of the Gandugari group of the Morowari people and remains highly significant to local indigenous people in terms of archaeological, traditional and contemporary social values (EA 2001). The NPWS has set aside an area of the park solely for use by the indigenous people to continue to collect bush foods, practice ceremonies and share traditional knowledge (T. Schmid, NPWS Park Ranger, pers. com.). The Culgoa National Park and the Culgoa Floodplain National Park adjoin at the NSW/QLD border.

3.1.4 Narran Lakes The Narran Lakes are in New South Wales, at the terminal end of the Narran River, in the eastern part of the Lower Balonne floodplain. The Narran Lakes system comprises Clear Lake, Back Lake and Narran Lake. The Narran Lakes Nature Reserve and the channelled floodplain that surrounds it are a significant part of the Lower Balonne ecosystem. Narran Lake is the largest freshwater lake in NSW, 10,0000 ha of the reserve is federally listed in the Directory of important wetlands (EA 2001), and the reserve has been listed as a Ramsar site in recognition of its significance to Australian and migratory waterbirds. Flooding of the Narran Lakes system occurs once in every two to five years and once full, Narran Lake can retain water for up to two years (Thoms et al. 2001, Narran Lakes Project website (http://freshwater.canberra.edu.au/php-bin/php.exe/Site-Narran/index.php).

The Narran River, Narran Lakes and the surrounding floodplain have not been closely examined in this study because they have already been addressed in a separate scoping study and are the current subject of a multidisciplinary research project (Thoms et al. 2001).

3.2 Flora and Fauna The floodplains of the Lower Balonne comprise a complex mosaic of vegetation communities. These include important native grassland, shrubland and woodland communities of riparian and floodplain habitats. Several species and vegetation communities found in the Lower Balonne have been identified as endangered or vulnerable under federal or state legislation (NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 2005 and Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999) (Table 1). In addition to those listed under current legislation, a number also found in the region are considered vulnerable and poorly conserved in NSW (Bensen 1989; EA 2001).

Vegetation surveys of the Lower Balonne have variously identified and mapped vegetation communities (e.g. Beadle 1948, Pedler 1974, Neldner 1984, Dick 1993, Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee 2004a and b). Recent mapping encompassing the NSW section of the Lower Balonne provides both pre clearing and existing vegetation community distributions (Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee 2004a and b). This latter data is derived from large-scale structural vegetation mapping conducted throughout the Murray-Darling Basin (Ritman 1995). Data of a similar scale are available for the Queensland section of the Lower Balonne (i.e. regional vegetation mapping of Queensland conducted by the Queensland Herbarium) although the vegetation communities distinguished are not necessarily analogous. In addition to these broader vegetation surveys, detailed studies have been undertaken in both the Culgoa National Park and the Narran Lakes system (Hunter 1999, Hunter and Earl 2002, Narran Lakes Newsletter Issue 7).


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Hydrology and geomorphology are the principle determinates of vegetation distributions on ephemeral wetlands and floodplains (Higgins et al. 1997, Capon 2003). Observations of the Lower Balonne suggest distinct flooding zones (Hunter and Earl 2002). Frequently flooded areas that remain inundated for some time include open floodplains dominated by Lignum or Lignum as an understorey with an overstorey of Coolibah while within less frequently flooded areas that do not retain water for extended periods grasslands and Black Box woodlands are found. Rarely flooded areas include those dominated by White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla) and Bimble Box (Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil).

Within the Lower Balonne, Lignum shrublands are found predominantly on the floodplains of the Narran, Bokhara and Birrie Rivers (Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee, 2004a and b). Lignum shrublands may comprise a component of the understorey vegetation (in association with tree species such as Coolibah) or grow on open floodplains with an understorey of grasses and herbs in sometimes dense thickets up to two or three metres high. They provide an important habitat and refuge for nesting water birds such as Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) and a nursery for fish (Scott 1997, Lloyd et al. 1991). The extensive Lignum communities surrounding the Ramsar-listed Narran lakes are considered of particular conservation significance and are the subject of more detailed investigations being conducted as part of the Narran Lakes Project (Narran Lakes Newsletter Issue 7).

Table 1. Plant species and vegetation communities listed as Endangered (E) or Vulnerable (V) under federal and state legislation recorded from the Lower Balonne. (EPBC = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, NSW = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995).

1Hunter 1999a, 2NSW NPWS 2003, 3NPWS Wildlife Atlas

Name Location Status Legislation

Species Lepidium monoplocoides (Winged paper cress)

Narran Reserve1 E EPBC

Goodenia macbarronii (Macbarrons Goodenia)

Narran Reserve1 V EPBC

Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia (Narrow-leafed bumble)

Culgoa National Park2 E NSW

Ipomoea diamantinensis (Desert Cow-vine profile)

Narran river floodplain3 E NSW

Communities Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) dominant and co-dominant)

Culgoa Floodplain National Park

E EPBC

Brigalow-gidgee Woodland/shrubland in the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion

Culgoa Floodplain National Park

E NSW

Coolabah-Black Box woodland of the northern riverine plains in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South bioregions

Culgoa floodplain & remnant patches found throughout the Lower Balonne

E NSW


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Within the Lower Balonne region, Coolibah – Black Box woodlands are found predominantly on the floodplains of the Culgoa River (Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee, 2004a and b) although they have been extensively cleared and modified subsequent to European settlement across the region (Dick and Andrew 1993). They are listed as an endangered community under recent amendments to the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). The Culgoa National Park protects a large (possibly the largest remaining in NSW) contiguous tract of Coolibah woodland (NSW NPWS, 2003), although there remain large areas of this community outside of current nature reserve boundaries where the biodiversity is poorly described (Freudenberger, 1998).

The Coolibah – Black Box communities are a predominantly floodplain community comprising of a diversity of tree, shrub and pasture species with an overstorey of Coolibah and/or Black Box. They are recognized as a mapping unit in various vegetation surveys of the region (e.g. Neldner 1984, Dick 1990, Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee, 2004a & b) but vary in plant species composition, particularly of the lower storey vegetation and the inclusion of other tree species such as River Red Gums. Coolibah-Black Box communities are recognized as having high conservation value. Vertebrate fauna surveys of the Coolibah floodplains of the Birrie and Culgoa (NSW reaches) record 19 species of native mammal, 112 Bird, 23 Reptiles and 6 frogs, while the trees themselves supply a habitat and refuge for a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles (Dick and Andrew 1993). Freudenberger (1998) provides detailed information regarding management issues and research needs for Coolibah woodlands in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Native grasslands are found within the Culgoa National Park and across extensive areas of the Lower Balonne floodplain (Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee, 2004, Neldner 1984). They are commonly dominated by species such as Mitchell Grass (Astrebla spp.) and Wire Grass (Aristida spp.) although they also contain a high diversity of other grass species (Benson, 1999; Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee, 2004a & b). The floodplains of the Culgoa, Birrie and Narran rivers support the largest area of native grasslands in NSW (Dick, 1993). While native grasslands are not currently listed as either federal or state threatened communities, they may be considered vulnerable as large areas have been heavily modified by clearing, grazing, alterations to flooding and fire regimes, and weed incursions.

3.2.1 Fauna The natural drainage system of the Lower Balonne provides a diversity of habitats for fauna. The aquatic invertebrate and fish communities throughout the lowland catchment of the Darling River are considered threatened (NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994). One aquatic invertebrate, four fish and four water bird that have been listed under either federal (EPBC) or NSW legislation as threatened, vulnerable or endangered are recorded within the Lower Balonne system (Table 2). The Queensland Fisheries Act (1994) provides legislation to protect the biodiversity and ecological sustainability of fish, defined to include shrimps, crayfish, crabs, smaller crustaceans, worms and snails, but it does not provide a list of key species.

While there is no single comprehensive study of amphibians and other vertebrates in the Lower Balonne system, a number of individual studies have been conducted on the Narran Reserve and, the Culgoa and Narran floodplains (e.g. Hendersen 1999, Smith 1993, Dick and Andrews 1993). These surveys have identified a number of species of conservation significance at regional, state and national level (reviewed in Thoms et al. 2002). Many of the listed species are associated with floodplain vegetation communities such as the Coolibah and Black Box woodlands, although specific habitat preferences are still largely unknown (Dick and Andrews 1993). The NSW Darling Riverine Plains (DRP) biodiversity survey (Gosper 2002) also provides databases on birds, ground and arboreal mammals, bats, reptiles and frogs. However, none of the selected survey sites is located within the Lower Balonne region.


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Kate Brandis, a PhD student with New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, is currently working with Dr. Richard Kingsford to determine the significance of wetlands such as those at Narran Lakes to colonially-nesting waterbirds. She is examining the breeding requirements of nine species, including Straw-necked Ibis, at local, regional and national scales.Sixty-five species of waterbirds have been recorded at Narran Lakes and forty-five are known to breed there (Narran Newsletter No. 6). It can be assumed that waterbirds that frequent the Narran Lakes will also frequent other wetland areas in the Lower Balonne floodplain, given sufficient area of water and cover of vegetation in the appropriate season.

Eight listed migratory waterbird species have been identified as occurring, or may occur, in the Lower Balonne system (Gosper 2002). A number of these are listed under international treaties such as the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 1981 (JAMBA) and China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 1988 (CAMBA) to which Australia is a party (DEH 2005) (Table 3).

Table 2. Aquatic fauna listed as Endangered (E) or Vulnerable (V) under federal and state legislation that have been recorded from the Lower Balonne

Group Species Status Legislation

Invertebrate river snail (Notopala sublineata) * E NSW Threatened Species

Conservation Act 1995

Fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) 1 V NSW Fisheries Management Act

1994

purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) * E NSW Fisheries Management Act

1994

olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizii) 1, E NSW Fisheries Management Act

1994

Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) 1

V Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Water birds blue-billed duck (Oxyura australis) 2 V NSW Threatened Species


freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa) 2 V NSW Threatened Species


brolga (Grus rubicunda) 2 V NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995

painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis australis) 2

E

V

NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

1Benson (2002-onwards); 2Gosper (2002);*Not reported from the Lower Balonne but are listed as part of the “Endangered aquatic ecological community in the natural drainage of the lowland catchment of the Darling River (DPI 2005).


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3.3 Values

3.3.1 Community values Community values encompass economic, social, environmental, cultural heritage and aesthetic values and values of the Lower Balonne Floodplain are widely held by the regional community. Economic values are widely recognised in the region. These values include an understanding of the floodplain soil fertility and how it is maintained by floodwaters, the on-farm income gained from opportunity cropping, and the growth of pasture vegetation in good years that increases livestock production. These economic benefits gained from beneficial flooding may be apparent for several years after a large flood.

Residents and visitors to the area attribute aesthetic, environmental and social values to the floodplain environment. Adams and Tyson (in progress) have recorded that many residents of the Narran catchment appreciate the beauty of the floodplain, specifically mentioning an affinity for the large trees in the riparian zone, native wildflowers that bloom profusely in certain environmental conditions, and the numerous species of birds that visit or inhabit the floodplain and associated wetlands. Recreational pursuits on the Lower Balonne floodplain itself (excluding river-based activities such as fishing) include pig hunting and bird watching.

The Lower Balonne floodplain also encompasses a large number of cultural heritage sites, of both Indigenous people and Europeans. Some traditional Indigenous sites are evidenced by shell middens and grinding stones, and particular places are associated with dreamtime stories.

Table 3. Listed migratory water birds that may occur in the Lower Balonne system

Species Status Legislation

cattle egret (Bubulcus (Ardeola) ibis)

JAMBA and CAMBA

Mongolian sand-dotterel / plover (Charadrius mongolus)

JAMBA and CAMBA

black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa)

JAMBA and CAMBA

fork-tailed swift (Apus pacificus)

JAMBA and CAMBA

glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

CAMBA

white-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

CAMBA

painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)

CAMBA

white-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudactus)

CAMBA

3.3.2 Intrinsic values Intrinsic value is the worth of a thing irrespective of its relationships to other things, while ‘instrumental value’ is the value a thing has in virtue of its relationships to other things. Laverty


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and Sterling (2004) write that “intrinsic value is a frequently misused term as some consider values that are not easily defined, such as aesthetic values, to be intrinsic values. However, aesthetic values are a kind of extrinsic value, because aesthetic values provide humans with a service of sorts -- our own satisfaction. Others consider a species' value to the structure and function of an ecosystem (such as an invertebrate decomposer's ability to cycle nutrients) as its intrinsic value because it does not have any obvious value to humans. However, this ecosystem value is still utilitarian value except it focuses on one organism's usefulness to another organism, rather than to humans.”

People differ in their opinions of which things have intrinsic value instead of, or in addition to, instrumental value, and the continuum of people’s views are much debated by environmental ethicists. The anthropocentric view holds that humans are the centre of the universe and that nature exists (and is used) for human benefit. The biocentric view, that life is the centre of the universe and humans are a separate but equal part of nature, holds that all species have intrinsic value and that humans are no more important than other species. Thus, everything has an equal right to exist and this right of existence confers a "right" to have one’s future survival guaranteed to an extent equal to any and all other species.

One of the primary difficulties with the concept of ‘intrinsic value’ is that a value must be conferred by a valuer. The problem is that if an entity has value due to those properties it possesses which do not refer to other objects, how can it be decided what value it does have by another entity such as a human. If such a value is assigned to different individuals, species, ecosystems, then some will inevitably be more or less “valuable” than others. The argument being proposed by some environmental ethicists (e.g. Van De Veer 1996, Varner 1998) is that attempting to conserve individuals, species, and ecosystems using the intrinsic value concept is unsupportable. We should not be asking whether we can find a reason to allow nature to exist for itself, but rather whether we can find a reason to allow humans to dominate and destroy it.

Nonetheless, intrinsic value is firmly embedded in conservation theory. The United Nations Charter for Nature (1982) encapsulates this value: "Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man, and to accord other organisms such recognition, man must be guided by a moral code of action." Information on the intrinsic value attributed to species within the Lower Balonne system may be found in the submissions for listing under conservation legislation, namely the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995), NSW Fisheries Management Act (1994) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

4. Datasets Identified

4.1 In-channel Data Data sets that were reviewed in the Cullen Report (2003) have not been re-examined. Five data sets regarding the health of the ecological assets of the Lower Balonne system have been completed since the Cullen et al. (2003) review. These are summarised in Table 4 on the following pages.


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Table 4. Data sets assessing ecological condition of the Lower Balonne floodplain

Agency Project Ecological Assets Ecological Indicators Summary

DLWC 1999

Water Quality in the Intersecting Streams 1962 -1996

water quality, algae This report summarises 32 year of data collected from an area of approximately 100 km either side of the NSW/QLD border known as the Intersecting streams, including the Balonne and Culgoa Rivers. The frequency of sampling within the Intersecting Streams was flow dependent. Nutrient concentrations, total phosphorous, nitrogen and nitrate, were at the top end of indicative ranges. Algal activity in the Intersecting Streams cannot be quantified and therefore the effects of variables which promote or limit algal growth eg nutrients and turbidity cannot be assessed. Nutrients, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and suspended solids were recommended for routine analysis

SKM 2000

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report

fish, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, water quality, riparian vegetation

riparian – SOR 1 vegetation scaling factor, disturbance rating; macrophytes - SOR 9; macroinvertebrates and fish - taxa richness, total abundance

A survey of waterway ecology funded by St George Water Harvesters Association and the Dirranbandi District Irrigators Association. Prior to sampling, a small allocation release from Beardmore Dam occurred and resulted in a 30 cm increase just below the Jack Taylor Weir but no effect below Whyenbah. Disturbance ratings for the riparian zone ranged from low to high, with disturbances generally relating to impacts of grazing, clearing, feral animals and urbanisation (one site). Water quality results were comparable with earlier data collected north of St George, within Lower Balonne and from the Paroo system. Little aquatic vegetation was recorded. The fish species complement of the Lower Balonne was very good in comparison to other Darling River tributaries in the region and the proportional representation by introduced carp was relatively low. The results from macroinvertebrate sampling varied tremendously between sites, apparently linked to the number of suitable habitats present. Faunal results showed no apparent trends of decreasing diversity over time or of increasing degradation downstream. Concluded that the results of this survey do not support the opinion that the waterways of


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the Lower Balonne are severely degraded.

DNR 2000

Condamine-Balonne WAMP Current Condition and Trend Report

fish, macroinvertebrates, physical and riparian habitat, water quality

macroinvertebrates - number of taxa and AUSRIVAS community condition score; fish - Community Condition Scores; habitat - Index of Stream Condition

The Condamine-Balonne WAMP Current Condition and Trend Report summarises other existing data sets. Summary of the AUSRIVAS Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Community Condition Scores shows number of taxa and AUSRIVAS score decreased below Whyenbah compared with those between Whyenbah and St George. Summary of Fish Community Condition Scores shows abundance of native individuals, richness of native species, proportion of native species, and observed vs. expected native species all decreased below Whyenbah compared with those between Whyenbah and St George. Evenness of all species was slightly increased below Whyenbah compared with those between Whyenbah and St George. Summary of Index of Stream Condition (ISC) Scores showed physical habitat to be variable through out the Lower Balonne. Streamside zone and water quality were consistent through out the Lower Balonne. Aquatic life was shown to be decreased below Whyenbah compared with those between Whyenbah and St George.

SKM 2001

Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report

fish, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, water quality, riparian vegetation

riparian – description; macrophytes – taxa richness, % cover; macroinvertebrates and fish - taxa richness, total abundance

Describes the condition of the waterways in terms of their habitat suitability for, and utilisation by aquatic flora and fauna and compares that with observations from the previous year’s sampling event. The river had received some low-level flows but the floodplain had received no water over the same period and sites were at various stages of drying. Water quality data showed high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in lagoons and some riverine pools, either from grazing animals or agricultural fertiliser runoff. Aquatic vegetation was low in diversity. The results of this study do not suggest a trend of aquatic habitat degradation downstream. However, the significant between site variation in the fish and macroinvertebrate communities as well as a large temporal variation at some sites suggest site-specific factors may overlay


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catchment-based factors. The river and floodplain sites displayed considerable spatial variation that did not appear to be linked to distance downstream from St George.

NR&M 2002

Ecological Assessment of Fish Communities of the Lower Balonne Section of the Condamine-Balonne River System

fish taxa richness, total abundance, univariate and multivariate indices

This assessment was a re-submission to the Scientific Review Panel, and it has since been reviewed and amended, but there is still some uncertainty over interpretation of the data (Marchant, pers com). Use of this dataset is not recommended until these issues have been resolved.

EM 2002

Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report- Survey of May 2002

fish, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, water quality

taxa richness, total abundance

The primary aim of sampling was to note the effect of these low flows on water quality, fish breeding and distribution and macroinvertebrate distribution, as 2001 sampling had shown water quality and faunal diversity deterioration as the system dried. Lack of flow and the drying out of waterholes had led to eutrophic conditions at some sites and to stratification at others. The effects of the drought were probably exacerbated by the operation of instream storages as they remove much of the small flows that may enter the system. Macrophytes were similar to previous samplings and low in diversity. Fish at test sites were noticeably smaller than fish at reference sites. Macroinvertebrates showed a range of recolonisation strengths with some downstream sites displaying increased total abundance. Much of the faunal diversity was in the small remaining areas of specialised habitat, such as microphyte beds, tree roots and the filamentous algal fringe. Author Lee Benson suggests in this report that maintaining the quality of such habitats, i.e. exclusion of grazing, is more important than aiming to maintain the volume of habitat.

CRCFE 2002

Physical Habitat Assessment of Rivers within the Lower Balonne Floodplain

morphology, instream habitat, riparian vegetation

instream habitat – structure, size; riparian vegetation – distribution, overhang, structure, dimensions

The geomorphology and habitat of rivers were assessed in order to examine the impact of current and future water resource development on the health of the floodplain. No assessment of ecological health was made. The floodplain has relatively uniform geomorphology at a large scale and has a


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distinctive set of riverine habitats compared to upstream areas of the Condamine-Balonne catchment. The general morphology, instream and riparian habitat characteristics revealed no consistent differences between or within rivers. The structural uniformity of the sites does however have implications for the interpretation of future ecological assessment. Given a similar habitat structure, similar instream biota would be expected. Therefore, any between site changes in biodiversity, community structure and relative abundances of the instream biota could then be similar attributed to alteration of flow regimes or other anthropogenic influences.

SKM 2002

Condamine Balonne water quality management plan

Water quality Increasing community concern over declining water quality, an increased number of algal blooms and the detection of pesticides in water storage sediment highlighted the need for a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) for the catchment. This study draws upon previous sediment and nutrient transport research and monitoring efforts in the Condamine-Balonne catchment to develop location and land use specific water quality management strategies. Analysis of the likely effects of proposed land use and land management changes on nutrient and sediment loads delivered to the Condamine Balonne catchment is achieved by defining nutrient export rates for various diffuse and point source land uses and attributing these values over the area and land uses in the catchment, simulating existing conditions. Outputs of the project include a quantitative, spatial model of nutrient and sediment loading across 26 sub-catchments within the Condamine-Balonne catchment. An implementation provides a concise summary of the nutrient and sediment loadings and documents the steps required for industry and community to achieve the


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desired level of water quality. This modelling process does not define sediment or nutrient contributions for setting "end of valley" targets.

NR&M 2003

The Condamine-Balonne Integrated Monitoring Pilot Project

bacteria, algae, invertebrates, fish, frogs and benthic metabolism; instream and riparian habitat

Two sampling events in the Queensland portion of Condamine-Balonne catchment of aquatic species in the river channel and associated wetlands, and recorded habitat and riparian condition. The data from this project is still being analysed, however preliminary results were presented at the Ninth International Symposium on Regulated Systems (NISORS) (2003).

EM 2003

Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report: Survey of November 2003



On behalf of Smartrivers, Benson has undertaken annual monitoring in the QLD portion of the Lower Balonne. In November 2003, the system had dried out substantially from a small flood a few months previous. A similar faunal complement to previous sampling events was surveyed but at much higher densities. Benson concluded that all components of the fish and macroinvertebrate fauna were surviving the drought and would recolonise when the drought broke. Water quality results were similar to 2001, when eutrophication and stratification was noted, indicating that the waterbodies were again in the drying cycle. There was significant impact from grazing stock and feral animals upon smaller water bodies as they dried out. Macrophytes were low in richness and abundance.

EM 2004

Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report: Survey of May 2004



In May 2004, the area was recovering from a prolonged drought, which had broken a few months previously. Recolonisation by fish and macroinvertebrates was rapid and substantial both within the river and on the floodplain. The species complement was similar to that from before the drought but the relative abundance of species changed. Author Lee Benson concluded that during times of drought the river can be stimulated by flows as low as compensation flows but expressed concern that rapidly changing water levels following


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stimulation could be detrimental to floral and faunal development. Water quality results indicated a well-mixed water column without significant algal productivity. The January flood and dam release had made the water quality uniform throughout the system, breaking any pattern from natural drying. Macrophytes were low in richness and abundance.

EM 2004

Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report: Survey of November 2004



In Nov 2004, the area had received no further flows since January. Some sites no longer held water and others were at levels as low as at the height of the drought, possibly the result of a number of natural and water extraction factors. Benson concluded fish species that “boomed” following the flood had returned to "normal” numbers, and that the flood had allowed macroinvertebrate dispersal, redistribution and breeding. Water quality results were indicative of a system in the process of drying, with conductivity and pH much higher than what was recorded in May, especially at the floodplain sites. Macrophytes were low in richness and abundance. At floodplain sites that were not disturbed by grazing animals, algae were not restricted to the edge as the shallow waters were relatively clear.

MDBC 2004

Sustainable Rivers Audit Pilot Project

fish, macroinvertebrates, riparian vegetation, physical habitat, water quality

invertebrates -taxa richness, SIGNAL score standalone, AUSRIVAS O/E; fish – 21 indicators

The areas of interest to the current study are the Condamine-Culgoa sites, which were on the main channels. Macroinvertebrate results indicated that the depositional zone of the catchment (i.e. below St George) was in a significantly modified condition compared to the source and transport zones (i.e. above St George). Fish results indicated that the depositional zone was moderately modified compared to the source and transport zone. No assessment of condition was made from water quality, riparian vegetation or physical habitat results. The study focus was on the performance of the indicators tested.


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DNR 2005

Report to the Dumaresq-Barwon Border Rivers Commission (DBBRC) on Monitoring of the Intersecting Streams 2004-2005

water quality The catchments described as the Intersecting Streams are those reaches of the Paroo, Warrego and Culgoa-Narran Rivers that are found within New South Wales. Sampling of water quality in the Intersecting Streams is conducted at each river only when that river has flow (event based sampling), in order to provide a realistic characterisation of each flow event. Salt loads were within the acceptable range, however very little data was obtained due to the limited number and duration of flow events.

NSW EPA

Sampling of the Lower Balonne in northern NSW

Unknown unknown Cullen et al (2003, p.20) note the existence of this monitoring project, but it was not referenced and to date has not been identified


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4.2 Data sets or scientific information that could be used to define water requirements

4.2.1 Water requirements of floodplain vegetation The plant communities in the Lower Balonne are reliant on intermittent flooding for recruitment and survival. Specific knowledge on water requirements for many floodplain and wetland plant species is limited. Roberts and Marston (2000) summarized current knowledge on a number of key wetland species and other information is available from a limited number of peer-reviewed publications (e.g. Craig et al. 1991). Table 5 Table 5 summarizes known information on dominant floodplain vegetation species found within the Lower Balonne. Much of the information has been collected from southern areas of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) and then inferred for the northern parts. A maintenance regime is defined as the water required by an established mature plant to survive long term (e.g. to flower and set seed). A regeneration water regime is defined as the water required for establishment of new plants (e.g. from seed or propagules) and includes initial watering and follow on conditions (Roberts et al. 2000).

Compared with River Red Gums, little data is available on the water requirements of key floodplain vegetation species such as Coolibah, Black Box and Lignum, although the latter is a component of the Narran Lakes Project (Narran Lakes Newsletters http://mooki.canberra.edu.au/narran ). One particularly point to note is the discrepancy between the black box and coolibah community distributions recorded in the Culgoa National Park (Hunter and Earl 1999) and the water requirements suggested for these species in Roberts and Marston (1998).

A number of studies have been conducted on the germination and growth of river red gums in relation to water regime (e.g. Dexter 1970, Dexter, 1978, Bren and Gibbs 1986, Bren 1987). Little data are available on the water requirements of other key floodplain vegetation species such as Coolibah, Black Box and Lignum, although the latter is a component of the Narran Lakes Project (Narran Lakes Newsletters, http://mooki.canberra.edu.au/narran ). One particularly point to note is the discrepancy between the Black Box and Coolibah community distributions recorded in the Culgoa National Park (Hunter and Earl, 2002) and the water requirements suggested for these species in Roberts and Marston (2000).

Knowledge on water requirements for other components of the flora (e.g. understorey species and species of open floodplains) is also limited. The soil seed bank comprises an important component of the plant community in ephemeral wetlands and floodplains. While many annual and perennial floodplain plants may also germinate in response to localized rainfall, flooding is important for the germination and growth of many wetland species, floodplain productivity and for spatial processes such as seed dispersal. General information relating to these aspects include publications on the composition and distribution patterns of seed banks across floodplains, seed bank persistence and longevity, and studies relating hydrological regimes to germination, growth and reproduction (e.g. Brock and Casanova 1997, Brock and Crossle 2002, Warwick and Brock 2003, Capon 2005). There are, however, few published seed bank studies directly pertaining to the Lower Balonne accept work currently being conducted as part of the Narran Lakes Project (Narran Lakes Newsletters, downloaded from http://mooki.canberra.edu.au/narran ).

At the larger or catchment scale, relating historical and current vegetation spatial distributions to hydrological regimes is a useful approach towards understanding water regime requirements of floodplain wetland vegetation. Using ground-truthed Landsat imagery, Sims and Thoms (2002) determined the inundation frequency of significant vegetation types within the Queensland section of the Lower Balonne and key ecological flow thresholds were identified (Table 6).


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Table 5. Water requirements of dominant floodplain vegetation in the Lower Balonne Floodplain Data summarized from Craig et al. 1991, Cunningham et al. 1992, Roberts and Marston 2000, Chong and Walker 2005.

This approach depends upon the availability of vegetation distribution data, and may be limited by differences in resolution and accuracy of available data (both vegetation and hydrologic) and classification differences between vegetation communities where more than one data set is required to encompass the entire region. Relationships between vegetation distributions and water regimes may also be confounded by the effects of other land uses (e.g. vegetation clearing and grazing). Such an approach does not necessarily elucidate which aspects of the water regime are the most critical (Roberts et al. 2000). Further issues and data requirements for assessing water requirements for floodplain wetland vegetation are discussed in detail by Roberts et al (2000).

These classifications are similar to those in the Hydrology Review of the Lower Balonne Floodplain, which classifies border floods into five categories; major, large, medium, small and minor (Table 7).

Maintenance Comments on regeneration

species Flood frequency (years)

Flood duration (months)

coolibah

(Eucalyptus coolabah) 1 in 10 – 20 unknown

Heavy summer rainfall or shallow flooding is probable

black box

(Eucalyptus largiflorens) 1 in 3 - 5 2 – 4

A flood length that saturates the soil and recedes slowly is probable

river red gum

(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

1 in 1 - 3 4 -7

A large spring –summer flood followed by good winter-spring rainfall or winter-spring pulses

lignum

(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)

1 in 3 – 10 6 – 12

Produces large numbers of seeds but seeds are shortly lived and regeneration appears to depend upon vegetative growth

brigalow

(Acacia harpophylla) unknown unknown

unknown

gidgee

(Acacia cambagei) unknown unknown

Recruitment events observed in response to rainfall in south-western Queensland in October and November


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Table 6. Ecological flood thresholds for Lower Balonne floodplain system based on historic flows at St George (from Sims and Thoms 2002).

Avg. return interval (years)

Flow Threshold (ML/D)

Ecological relevance

1.6 25,000 Water begins to moves out of the main channel and into the secondary channel network of the floodplain, i.e. floodplain inundation begins.

3 45,000 Three of the main floodplain vegetation communities (coolibah open woodlands, lignum and riparian Forests) have at least 50% of their total area wetted.

3.6 60,000 The majority of the main flow paths across the floodplain are full. This area includes the large stands of coolibah open woodlands, riparian forests and lignum communities on the floodplain

4 70,000 Four of the main vegetation communities have at least 40% of their total area wetted and another 3 vegetation communities have at least 15-20% of their total area wetted. At this flow, at least 40% of the total floodplain is inundated.

8 120,000 Approximately 70% of the total floodplain area between St George and the QLD/NSW border is inundated at this flow level and further increases in flow result in proportionally larger increases in the depth of flow across the floodplain rather than floodplain area inundated.

Table 7. Flood classifications derived from QNRM IQQM (1922-1995). Data from Hydrology Review of the Lower Balonne Floodplain

Classification

Peak

(ML/D)

Inundation Area (Ha)

Pre-development

(Number)

Post-development

(Number)

Minor >25,000 105,000 27 12

Small >50,000 324,000 15 7

Medium >75,000 459,000 10 6

Large >100,000 659,000 6 3

Major >120,000 946,000 4 2

Total 62 30

4.2.2 Water requirements of floodplain fauna The influences of flow regime on aquatic communities are complex. Cited influences of flow regimes on fish include flooding cues for breeding and migration. Literature emphasises the importance of synchronization between flood events and other influences such as temperature and photoperiod.


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Flows determine availability and complexity of suitable in-stream and floodplain habitats and how these habitats connect in time and space. Understanding water requirements of fauna requires knowledge of species life cycles, and knowledge of habitat use and how it relates to the different stages of species life cycles. Table 8 gives a brief summary of habitat preferences for listed aquatic species. Currently however, insufficient research exists to define fish and river flow interactions (Graham and Harris 2004).While floodplains are acknowledged as important for fish ecology, how fish use the floodplain is largely unknown. In a recent scoping report, Graham and Harris (2004) conclude that there is no current evidence to suggest fish within the Murray-Darling Basin depend on floodplain habitats for spawning and disparate evidence concerning the importance of flooding as a cue to initiate breeding.

Table 8. Preferred conditions of listed aquatic species (NSW DPI 2005ab, Allen et al. 2002, McDowall 1996).

Species Habitat preferences

river snail (Notopala sublineata) flowing rivers, less turbid waters, snags

purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) slow flowing or still waters, aquatic vegetation, snags, rocks

Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)

flowing rivers, deep water, snags, undercut banks, overhanging vegetation

olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizii)

slow flowing or still waters, overhanging vegetation, aquatic plants, snags

silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

fast flowing open waters, instream vegetation, snags, bank stability

4.2.3 Waterbirds

“In Australia, we still lack fundamental knowledge on the broad scale movement of most waterbirds, including an explicit understanding of the scale at which individual species interact with their habitats and the triggers for movement” (Roshier et al. 2002). Researchers have sought to improve this knowledge with aerial and on-ground surveys of waterbirds and wetlands across eastern Australia (Kingsford and Auld 2005, Kingsford et al. 2004, Roshier et al. 2002, Hutchinson 1996). Table 9 lists known habitat and breeding requirements for waterbirds listed under legislation that have been recorded within the Lower Balonne system.

The ephemeral nature of wetlands in arid zones requires that waterbirds move frequently to find new feeding and breeding habitats (Roshier et al. 2002). This mobility means that the presence or absence of a waterbird species from a particular location does not necessarily indicate that it is in poor condition (Baldwin et al. 2005) but simply indicates the presence or absence of a particular environmental condition at that point in time (e.g. the presence of water in a wetland). Waterbirds in arid zones are known to seek drought refuge in constricted remaining wetland areas and then respond to heavy rainfall by moving away (often within months) into newly flooded areas, even when the drought refuge sites are remote from the re-flooded wetland areas (Hutchinson 1996). Some functional groups of waterbirds (e.g. dabbling ducks) may respond directly to an increase in food resources following inundation and then leave once the initial pulse of productivity has slowed (Roshier et al. 2002). Studying the response of waterbirds to flooding in catchments of northwestern NSW, Roshier et al. (2002) noted that the abundance of


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most functional groups of waterbirds responded (positively and negatively) to changes in wetland area (+-100 000 ha) rather than the absolute areas of the wetland. Whilst the mean abundance of waterbirds was significantly greater on large (1200 ha+) wetlands compared to small wetlands (<120 ha), the trend was not consistent as the abundance on mid-sized wetlands (120-1200ha) was lower than on small wetlands. Such responses to flows need to be determined specifically for the Lower Balonne waterbird populations as the correlations between flooding and waterbird species vary between even neighbouring catchments and local abundances are highly variable in both flooding and drying periods (Roshier et al. 2002). Kingsford and Auld (2005) noted that the timing of environmental flows and flooding is critical for colonial waterbirds (e.g. cattle egret, glossy ibis). The flows need to occur in late winter and spring to allow sufficient time for birds to build up their food reserves for breeding, and floods need to be of sufficient duration to conclude a breeding event as a sudden drop in water height will cause the parents to abandon the nest and chicks.

One database has been identified, (Garnett and Crowley 2000), as potentially useful in defining the water requirements of water birds species of the Lower Balonne system. The Action Plan for Australian Birds (Garnett and Crowley 2000) provides a national overview of the conservation status and threats to all birds in Australia. The action plan lists key habitats or areas of particular importance for bird conservation, threatened species, the processes that threaten birds and the areas where these processes are a problem in order to recommend conservation priorities including research and management actions. The action plan website (http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/birds2000/) lists 32 taxa as Critically Endangered, 41 as Endangered, 82 as Vulnerable and 81 as Near Threatened as at 30 June, 2000. Recovery outlines are presented for all these Threatened taxa and taxon summaries are provided for Extinct or Near Threatened taxa.

Scott (1997) also describes known relationships between waterbird ecology and river flows in the Murray Darling Basin, much of which is directly applicable to the Lower Balonne system.

A number of databases (Table 10) have been identified as potentially useful in defining the water requirements of arid zone waterbird species by correlating wetland and waterbird maps of abundances and distributions over time.

4.3 Data concerning community values Two sources of information were identified as useful for determining the community values of the flow dependent environmental assets on the Lower Balonne floodplain:

1. Smartrivers website - Smartrivers is an industry group from the St. George – Dirranbandi area. Its website provides personal comments from members in a section called “meet the people of the Lower Balonne and find out what the river means to them” (http://www.smartrivers.com/people.htm accessed 9 Nov. 05).

2. Inland Rivers Network website – The Inland Rivers Network is “a coalition of environment groups and individuals committed to conserving the biological diversity, natural functioning and health of the inland rivers, wetlands and groundwaters of the Murray-Darling Basin in southeast Australia. Together with local and regional environmental groups, IRN seeks to promote a greater understanding of the threats to inland rivers from poor land and water management” (http://nccnsw.org.au/member/wetlands accessed 9 Nov. 05).


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Table 9. Preferred conditions of listed waterbird species

Species Functional group3

Habitat preferences Breeding conditions

cattle egret (Bubulcus/Ardeola ibis)

grazing waterfowl

Grasslands, marshes not open waters1

October to March, bushy trees, bushes, reed beds close to water1

3 month lag from flow to breeding no discernible relationship to flow2

black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa)

small wader

Shallow muddy waters (<10cm), mudflats 4

not in Australia

glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

large wader

Shallow water, mudflats5 3 month lag from flow (200 000ML) to breeding2

Nest in bushes or trees near water5

blue-billed duck (Oxyura australis)

deep-water forager

Deepwater in permanent wetlands and swamps, dense aquatic vegetation6

Dense vegetation (lignum) 6

freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa)

dabbling duck

Open waters, dense aquatic vegetation7

Wet wetlands with dense vegetation7

Brolga (Grus rubicunda)

large wader

Roost in deep freshwater marshes and permanent open water next to dryland areas7

Late autumn and winter, islands in shallow her dominated or sedge dominates freshwater marshes7

Australian painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis australis)

small wader

Ephemeral shallow wetlands, dense aquatic vegetation8

Wet wetlands with dense vegetation8

1McKilligan 2005, 2Kingsford and Auld 2005, 3Roshier et al. 2002, 4NSW NPWS 1999, 5DLWC 2000, 6REEC 2002, 7DSE 2005, 8BA 2005


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Table 10. Datasets to define water requirements of arid zone waterbirds

Authors Area Dates

Kingsford et al. 1994 eastern Australia 1993

Hutchinson 1996 Murray Darling basin 1994 onwards

Roshier et al. 2002 Paroo, Cobham, Bulloo, Warrego, Eyre catchments 1987-1993

Kingsford et al. 2004 Desert Uplands, lower Cooper Creek, Paroo overflow, Menindee Lakes, Euston Lakes, Murray Tributary

1983-2001

Kingsford and Auld 2005 Macquarie Marshes 1986-2001

Garnett and Crowley 2000 “Action Plan Australian Birds 2000” various

Kingsford et al. 2003 “The Distribution of Wetlands in NSW” 1984-2001

Four data sets were identified as useful for determining the value of the flow dependent environmental assets to the community of the Lower Balonne Floodplain.

1. Lower Balonne Integrated Floodplain Resources Study (Mottell 1996) - This study was instigated by the Culgoa-Balonne Minor Water Users Association due to a “perceived change occurring to the frequency and volumes of beneficial inundation and riparian flows in the Lower Balonne system”. The study collated natural resource data from existing texts, references, maps and hydrological data including landholder records. Total community participation and ownership of the project was the goal. Community attitudes and perceptions were canvassed through a one to one confidential interview basis. The Lower Balonne floodplain was identified as a rangeland area of immense seasonal variability, in a semi arid area that receives beneficial flooding. In 1996, the financial benefit of large floods was conservatively estimated at $143 067 on average to each landholder over three years. The community view was that since 1980’s water from the river had become less reliable due to siltation of the river channel and high flow events had become less reliable due an increase in the number of water storages within the upper catchment. The community were of the opinion that irrigation was threatening the traditional grazing industry on the floodplain

2. Condamine-Balonne Indigenous Report (DNR 1999) - The primary aim of the Condamine-Balonne Indigenous Report was to provide a basis for determining the issues, concerns and historical links with the Condamine-Balonne Basin for the indigenous peoples of the basin. The main issues identified were lack of consultation with indigenous groups, alteration of natural flows, deteriorating water quality and inappropriate land management. The information was used to inform the Community Reference Panel as a part of the consideration of Draft WAMP scenarios.

3. Narran Lakes Oral History Project. (Adams and Tyson in progress) - The Narran Lakes Oral History Project aims to document people’s memories of the Narran River and Narran Lakes. This research project is part of a larger project being undertaken by the CRCFE and the Murray Darling Basin Commission to examine the ecosystem response to flow variability in the Narran Lakes. Many participants have contributed opinions regarding the Lower Balonne floodplains.


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4. Water Information Systems for the Environment (NSW NPWS in progress) - Water Information Systems for the Environment (WISE) is “a collection of databases, each containing comprehensive bibliographies of water information connected to different parts of a specific catchment”. The collection also includes recorded interviews with landholders and residents of the catchment, who talk about the river’s importance to them. Information for the Condamine-Balonne catchment is not yet available on the WISE website and is not expected to be completed until the end of 2005 (Sharon Ryall pers. com.).

4.4 Metadata Statements Twenty six metadata statements of completed data sets relevant to the environmental theme of this study have been compiled in the format provided by the Client (Table 11). Statements were created and stored in a Microsoft Access database using a Metadata Entry Tool (MET) developed as part of the Queensland Spatial Information Infrastructure (QSIIS) by Queensland Department of treasury (QDT). These metadata statements can be viewed in Appendix 3.

Table 11. Available metadata statements

Category Metadata Statement Statement Number

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report 2000 ANZVI7777900001

Environmental Assessment Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report 2001 ANZVI7777900002

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report – Survey of May 2002 ANZVI7777900003

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report – Survey of November 2003 ANZVI7777900004

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report – Survey of May 2004 ANZVI7777900005

Lower Balonne Environmental Condition Report – Survey of November 2004 ANZVI7777900006

Water Quality in the Intersecting Streams: 1962-1999 ANZVI7777900007

Report to the Dumaresq-Barwon Borders Rivers Commission (DBBRC) on Monitoring of the Intersecting Streams 2004-2005

ANZVI7777900008

Condamine-Balonne WAMP Current Condition and Trend Report ANZVI7777900010

Sustainable Rivers Audit – Pilot Audit Technical Reports and Supporting Information ANZVI7777900011

Ecological Assessment of Fish Communities of the Lower Balonne Section of the Condamine-Balonne River System (Southwestern Qld and Northwestern NSW)

ANZVI7777900013

Condamine-Balonne Water Quality Management Plan ANZVI7777900016


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Category Metadata Statement Statement Number

Environmental Survey

Physical Habitat Assessment of Rivers within the Lower Balonne Floodplain ANZVI7777900009

Darling Riverine Plains Biodiversity Survey – Technical Report ANZVI7777900012

Rangeland Assessment Program: Western New South Wales 1989-2004 ANZVI7777900017

A Vertebrate Fauna Survey of the Culgoa and Birrie River Floodplains in NSW 1990-1992 ANZVI7777900018

The Distribution of Wetlands in New South Wales ANZVI7777900019

An Aerial Survey of Wetland Birds in Eastern Australia- October 1993

Waterbirds on Wetlands

Aerial survey of waterbirds on wetlands as a measure of river and floodplain health

Environmental Management

Imposed hydrological stability on lakes in arid Australia and effects on waterbirds

Waterbird breeding and environmental flow management in the Macquarie Marshes , arid Australia

Responses of waterbirds to flooding in arid region of Australia and implications for conservation

The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000

Community values Condamine-Balonne Indigenous Report ANZVI7777900014

Lower Balonne Integrated Floodplain Resources Study ANZVI7777900015

5. Ecological Impacts of Water Resources Development

5.1 Analysis There are some different conclusions drawn by the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to the WAMP, the Cullen report, and subsequent research regarding the ecological condition of the Lower Balonne system. The TAP report suggests that the biotic communities, particularly fish and invertebrates are moderately degraded in the lower sections of the Balonne systems and indicate that modification of the natural flow regime is a potential cause. The Cullen report suggests that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that these communities are currently degraded to any extent but have not yet felt the impact of water resource development that occurred in the 1990’s. Both reports strongly state that precaution should be taken when assessing this data because detectable changes as a consequence of flow modification may not be observable for many years.


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1. All ecological assessments must take on a whole of catchment approach, therefore including the NSW portion of the Lower Balonne system

2. The NSW portion of the Lower Balonne system must be assessed with the same rigour as QLD portion in terms of the number of sites monitored

3. There should be an overarching continuity of the ecological assets assessed, even if it is to be divided amongst available expertise of various agencies i.e. riparian vegetation, macrophytes, fish, macroinvertebrates, water birds, frogs, turtles

4. Rigorous re-analysis of the annual monitoring data by SKM/EM in terms of indicators used and statistical significances of between site variations

A report by Prentice and Walker (SKM 2002) does however indicate that water quality has deteriorated within the Condamine Balonne catchment over a number of years, which has corresponded to an increasing number of algal blooms and increasing concentrations of pesticides within the sediment. These changes are linked to changes in land management practices, including grazing and cropping, that are contributing significantly to these increased loads.

5.2 Generic Ecological model for the Lower Balonne River system Hydrology Hydrology is one of the primary drivers of the ecology of lowland rivers. The alteration of flows significantly influences the quality and quantity of water available for both in-stream and floodplain habitats and the biota that depend upon them. Within the Condamine-Balonne river system the abstraction water for agricultural demands has reduced the frequency of all (large, moderate and low) flow events (Sheldon et al. 2000) and the projections are that for the Culgoa Rivers there will be a reduction of 24% of the medium natural stimulated flows (Cullen et al 2003). Such losses of flow events will impinge on the physical and biological components of the river channel and their associated floodplain, riparian and wetland communities as has been occurring in other systems such as the River Murray (Cullen et al 2003).

Increased channel complexity

Flow variability influences the complexity of in-stream habitats within lowland rivers (Thoms and Sheldon 2000). Typically, lowland rivers within Australia are complex consisting and characterised by series of flat surfaces commonly termed “benches” within the channel; the more variable the natural hydrology the greater the number of benches within a system (Thoms and Sheldon 1997). Along with woody debris, these benches provide the habitat complexity for many in-stream biota.

Reduced sediment and nutrient transport The construction of impoundments not only reduces flows but also prevents sediment derived from upstream sources from being deposited within the channel on benches and on the floodplain during high flows. The result is that channels become not only more stable and channel form less complex but the channel becomes more incised (Thoms and Sheldon 2000). Sediment carried down the river channel also contains sources of carbon and nutrients. Organic carbon and nutrients are important to sustaining the diversity of biota found within lowland rivers and associated floodplains (Robertson et al. 1999)

Increased channel stability also affects the formation of new floodplain habitats, in turn reducing the heterogeneity of the floodplain-riverine environment.


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Reduced Connectivity A reduction in the frequency of flow events such as has occurred within the Lower Balonne system (Sheldon et al. 2000). Reduced periods of connectivity between the river, its floodplain and associated wetlands will reduce the frequency and duration of the connectivity consequently many floodplain habitats become dryer for longer periods. Many floodplain habitats and biota are reliant on floodwaters transporting nutrients, depositing sediments and organic carbon and facilitating exchange of material (including biota) between the river and floodplain (Kingsford 2000).

The linkages and movement of material between the river and floodplain is important to the well-being of the system, however, these linkages and the consequences of breaking these linkages have not been fully researched and their impacts are not understood.

What is known is that many floodplain communities are reliant on periodic inundation. In particular, riparian floodplain forests and associated species such as Coolabah, Red Gum and Lignum are flood dependant. In many cases, however, the wetting requirements are unknown. In the lower Murray region the loss of the periodic inundation of the floodplain has resulted in a loss of vigour of the associated Red Gum forests and large areas of these forests have become severely degraded (Kingsford 2000). Such degradation will potentially occur to the Coolibah and Lignum forests on the Lower Balonne floodplain.

Loss of floodplain heterogeneity The number and type of wetlands and their position on the floodplain dictates the frequency and duration of flooding. A decrease in the frequency and duration of wetting and drying events in conjunction with a reduction in the formation of floodplain water bodies will result in a loss of heterogeneity within the landscape. The more complex the landscape, the more diverse will be the associated biotic community (Brock and Jarman 2000).

Loss of floodplain and wetland diversity A heterogeneous riverine and floodplain environment supports diverse and abundant floodplain and wetland communities. For example, surveys of invertebrates and aquatic plants with wetlands across floodplains have shown that many plants and invertebrates are endemic to single wetlands (Shiel et al 1998; Brock et al 2003). Before decisions are made on how much floodplain and associated wetlands are going to be preserved by management interventions in the future, there is a need to know what is the current diversity and its distribution with the landscape.

Overgrazing

Although the impact of terrestrial animals by grazing is outside the brief of this review, it cannot be entirely ignored. Overgrazing will impact substantially on the ecology of the floodplain particularly on the recruitment and establishment of the coolabah and lignum forest. Studies have shown that grazing by introduced animals reduces the density of trees by impacting on seedlings and saplings (Smith and Smith 1990; Robertson and Rowlings 2000) and subsequent reductions in the quality and quantity of the riparian habitat will influence the diversity of amphibians, invertebrates and woodland birds (Robertson and Rowlings 2000).

Ecological Integrity

Degradation of the environmental assets and a corresponding loss of biological assets will combine to reduce the integrity of these systems. Substantial changes to flows will reduce the successful recruitment of bird, fish and vegetation. Such losses are not restricted to wetland birds directly reliant on flooding to breed but also on terrestrial birds and other animals that rely on the riparian vegetation for habitat, refuge and food (Robertson and Rowling 2002).


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Social and economic value In addition to their ecological value, floodplains have both economic and social values. Floodplains are by nature very fertile and highly productive agricultural areas and are therefore of substantial economic value to both the local and national communities.

These environments also have social values through recreational usage such as for fishing and bird watching both of which will be impinged on once the integrity of the system is lost.

A generic floodplain model (Figure 2) is suggested that can be used to assist in the development of monitoring and research programs.

Loss of environmental flows

Reduced height, duration, discharge & frequency of flooding

Increased channel stability

Reduced connectivity between river & floodplain

Formation of floodplain waterbodies reduced

Loss of floodplain heterogeneity

Ecological integrity reduced

Reduced sediment & nutrient transport

Loss of floodplain & wetland biodiversity

Decreased frequency of wetting & drying events

Overgrazing

Reduced social and economic value Figure 2. Generic floodplain conceptual model for the Lower Balonne system


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5.3 Threatening Processes A threatening process is defined as “a process that threatens, or that may threaten, the survival or evolutionary development of a species, population or ecological community” (NSW DPI 2005). Once a process is listed, a threat abatement plan is prepared to identify actions needed to abate or eliminate the adverse effects upon threatened biodiversity (NSW DPI 2005). Nine processes have been identified under NSW, Queensland and federal (EPBC) legislation as threatening to ecological communities that occur within the Lower Balonne system (Table 12).

Table 12. Threatening processes identified under state and federal legislation

Process Impact Legislation Potential area of impact

Instream Alteration to the natural flow regimes or rivers and stream and their floodplains and wetlands

NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995

Downstream of Beardmore Dam

The installation and operation of instream structures and other mechanisms that alter natural flow regimes of rivers and streams

NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994

Downstream of Beardmore Dam

Removal of large woody debris


Create an obstruction to flow

Queensland Water Act 20001

Floodplain Competition and land degradation by feral goats


Culgoa floodplain national park (QLD) and Culgoa national park (NSW)

Land clearance Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Areas bordering Culgoa floodplain national park (QLD)

Predation, habitat degradation from feral pigs


Culgoa floodplain national park (QLD) and Culgoa national park (NSW)

Degradation of native riparian vegetation along NSW water courses


Clearing of native riparian vegetation

Queensland Water Act 20001

Areas bordering Culgoa floodplain national park (QLD)

1 Activities listed under the Queensland Water Act 2000 are allowable after obtaining a permit for work.


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Various other state and federal legislations have been investigated and found to contain general statements regarding protection of ecosystems, water dependent habitats and protected species but do not add to the lists of species, communities or threatening processes already identified.

5.4 Impacts of Water Resource Development Bunn and Arthington (2002) identify four basic principles of ecological consequences of altered flow regimes resulting from water resource development. These are:

1. Flow is a major determinant of physical habitat in streams, which in turn is a major determinant of biotic composition.

2. Aquatic species have life history strategies that directly correspond to natural flow regimes.

3. Maintenance of natural patterns of longitudinal and lateral connectivity is essential to the viability of populations of many riverine species.

4. The invasion and success of introduced and exotic species in rivers is facilitated by the alteration of flow regimes

Table 13 outlines the potential biotic responses to water resource development in general.

Table 13. Outline of potential biotic responses to water resource development (Bunn and Arthington 2002)

Biotic responses to altered flow regimes in relation to flow induced changes in habitat

Increased Stability of base flow and reduction of flow variability

Excessive growths of aquatic macrophytes

Proliferation of nuisance larval blackflies

Reduction in fish populations

Increased standing crop and reduced diversity of macroinvertebrates

Conversion of lotic habitat to lentic Decline of populations of riverine crayfish and snails

Elimination of salmonids and pelagic spawning fishes and dominance of generalist fish species

Loss of fishes adapted to turbid river habitats

Loss of fishes due to inundation of spawning grounds

Life history responses to altered flow regimes

Rates of water level fluctuation Aquatic macrophyte growth rates and seedling survival

Timing of spates Reduced survivorship of larval atyid shrimps following early summer-spates

Stable low flows required for spawning


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and recruitment of riverine fish

Reduced seasonality Reduced synchrony of breeding in gammarid shrimps

Timing of rising flows Loss of cues for fish spawning and migration

Short-term fluctuations in flows Adverse effect on species of stoneflies with long larval development times(autumn/winter)

Modified temperature regimes below dams Delayed spawning in fish Disrupted insect emergence patterns Reduced benthic standing crop

Elimination of temperature-specific species of fish

Biotic responses to loss of longitudinal or lateral connectivity

Water abstraction Reduction in migrating shrimp larvae

Presence of in-stream barriers Increased predation on juvenile migrating shrimp

Loss of migratory fish species

Reduced frequency, duration and area of inundation of floodplain wetlands

Reduced spawning areas and/or recruitment success of lowland river fish

Decline in waterbird species richness and abundance

Decline in wetland vegetation

Biotic responses to altered flow regimes in relation to invasion and success of exotic and introduced species

Loss of wet-dry cycles and increased stability of water levels

Reduced growth and survival of native aquatic macrophytes and increased invasion of exotics

Reduced flow variability and increased seasonal stability

Favour populations of exotic fish species (carp, mosquitofish)

Conversion of lotic to lentic habitat Proliferation of exotic fish species

6. Knowledge Gaps

6.1 Process for defining Environmental Water Requirements and Values Defining the environmental water requirements for the Lower Balonne is difficult due to the absence of published scientific work (Cullen et al. 2003) and there is limited specific knowledge of the water requirements of most flood dependent ecosystems and biota. Knowledge gaps have been previously identified for fish (Graham and Harris 2004) and for floodplain vegetation (Freudenberger 1998). Similar knowledge gaps can be identified for other groups.

To effectively manage flood dependent ecosystems, we need knowledge of:


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1. How flooding and drying influence habitat availability

2. How flooding and drying influence the movement and dispersal of biota (fish, invertebrates, plants) within floodplain ecosystems

3. How flooding and drying trigger recruitment for a suite of biota (i.e. germination of plants)

4. What is the role of flooding and drying in maintaining biodiversity

5. How connectivity between riverine and floodplain environments influences carbon and nutrients dynamics

6. What extent of floodplain needs to be inundated to support viable riparian communities

7. What extent of wetland needs to be inundated to conserve “X” amount of biodiversity

8. What is the cost to the community as a consequence of lost productivity of flood plain ecosystems

9. What are the commence to flow values for flood-dependent wetlands

In light of the considerable knowledge gaps and the lengthy time lag before the impacts of changes become apparent, it is critically important that the Precautionary Principle should be followed. There are many contradictions in the interpretation of the limited data available for the Lower Balonne system, with no direct link able to be made between modification to the hydrology due water extraction and water storages and possible degradation of the biotic communities. However both the TAP Report (QLD DNR 2000) and the Cullen Report (Cullen et al. 2003) both stress that if the current level of water extraction is to continue there will in all likelihood be substantial impacts on the biota of the channels and floodplains that comprise the Lower Balonne system. It needs to be acknowledged that there will be a considerable time lag between changes in water extraction and biological responses. The impact of current water extraction may not be detectable for many years due to the inherent natural variation in flows (QLD DNR 2000; Cullen et al. 2003)

Cullen et al (2003) stress that “experiences elsewhere have shown that it is technically and politically much more difficult to restore degraded systems than to prevent degradation in the first place. We therefore urge a conservative approach with immediate action to provide the required wetting regime with ongoing monitoring and assessment” .

6.2 Defining data and information needs in relation to the Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan One of the purposes of the Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan (WRP) is “to provide a framework for reversing, where practicable, degradation that has occurred in natural ecosystems, including, for example, stressed rivers" (Qld Gov. 2005). The WRP states a suite of aims for maintenance, improvement, reduction and monitoring for which data is needed (Table 14).

Eight projects, proposed or in progress, have been identified that may provide the required data and information when completed (Table 15). However, it is worth noting that the majority of sampling sites are within Queensland and very few occur within NSW (Figure 3).


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Table 14. Data required for performance indicators as defined in the WRP WRP aims Data/information needed

Maintenance Riverine habitats especially pool habitats

Spatial and temporal assessment of instream habitat

Natural abundance and species richness of native plants and animals

Monitoring of instream and floodplain biota for biodiversity, abundance and community composition

Active river forming processes including sediment transport processes

Physical assessment of lower reaches of floodplain especially NSW

Existing flow paths to allow ecological processes to take place

Temporal monitoring of instream biota especially community structure

Water quality levels acceptable to support natural ecological processes

Water quality monitoring for ecological health and monitoring of instream biodiversity, abundance and community composition

Water utilisation practices consistent with Murray Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy

Salinity monitoring and monitoring of instream and floodplain biota for biodiversity, abundance and community composition

Improvement Flows especially low and medium flows, that mimic the natural variability of the river system

Assessment of instream and floodplain biota for biodiversity, abundance and community composition

Real time management of individual flow events

Flow data

Reduction Impact of water infrastructure on natural flow regimes

Temporal monitoring of instream biota and floodplain vegetation

Natural ecosystem monitoring for flow and event management

Riverine habitats especially waterholes, lakes, stream beds

Spatial assessment of instream habitat and monitoring of temporal and spatial changes in instream biota for biodiversity, abundance and community composition

Upper and in channel riparian zones

Spatial assessment of riparian and floodplain vegetation and temporal monitoring of regeneration

Floodplains wetlands Physical assessment of wetland areas and temporal and spatial monitoring biota especially water bird community composition and structure


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Table 15. Proposed and in progress monitoring and research projects for the Lower Balonne Floodplain

Status Agency Project State Section of data relative to study

Ecological Assets

In progress

DIPNR NSW

River Health Index Pilot Study

NSW Culgoa and Bokhara Rivers

Macroinvertebrates Riparian vegetation Physical habitat Water quality

Murray Darling Basin Commission

Sustainable Rivers Audit

NSW & Qld

Condamine-Culgoa (inc wetlands and ephemeral streams)

Fish Macroinvertebrates Riparian vegetation Physical habitat Water quality

EM Pty Ltd Lower Balonne Ecological Condition Report

Qld Lower Balonne channels and floodplains

Fish Macroinvertebrates Macrophytes Water quality

planned Natural Resources & Mines

Ecological Monitoring for Condamine-Balonne WRP

Qld Sites yet to be identified

Sites yet to be identified

Natural Resources & Mines

Condamine-Balonne Integrated Monitoring Project

Qld Channels and floodplain below Whyenbah

Macroinvertebrates Macrophytes Fish Frogs Turtles Riparian and instream habitats Water quality

In progress

CRC for Freshwater Ecology

Narran Lakes NSW Narran lakes Fish community Invertebrates Phytoplankton Primary productivity Seed bank Vegetation Water quality

Planned DIPNR NSW

National Land and Water Resources Audit

NSW Northeastern part of western catchment

Macroinvertebrates Fish Riparian vegetation Instream habitat Water quality


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7. Knowledge Evaluation

7.1 Research and monitoring recommendations Research and monitoring programs and the evaluation of these programs play an important role in both describing the current condition of the environment and in determining the impact or otherwise of any intervention (Baldwin et al. 2005). Typically, this should be done within an adaptive management framework in which the objectives and hypotheses are clearly articulated and based on a conceptual model of how the system works and responds to impacts. Results from a well-constructed monitoring program can then be used to further develop and refine a conceptual model of the systems. As found in previous scoping studies of Narran Lakes, there is a paucity of data that can be used to generate and test hypotheses (Thoms et al. 2001).

7.1.1 Recommendation 1

A joint taskforce of Qld and NSW natural resource agencies develop a cohesive monitoring program following the approach suggested by Scholz et al. (2005) in designing monitoring programs (Appendix 4).

This monitoring program would require the full support of state agencies and community groups and developed within an adaptive management framework with clearly stated objectives and testable hypotheses. It would eventually be able to describe the current condition and give an assessment of the biodiversity, abundance and community composition of instream and floodplain biota. The information gained from such surveys can then be used by managers to determine the extent of floodplain that needs to be inundated to preserve a proportion of the associated biodiversity (i.e. surveys might indicate that 20% of the floodplain area needs to be inundated for 3 months to preserve 90% of the current biodiversity). These surveys should indicate whether there are regions within the floodplain that are “hotspots” for biodiversity and consequently need to be actively managed for conservation purposes.


A detail investigation is carried out to determine the watering requirements for Coolibah and Lignum plant communities.

This investigation should use a combination of traditional plant survey methods combined with measurements of changes in plant vigour (or health) using remote sensing techniques. There is a perception that the river channels are becoming impacted by sedimentation because of reduced flows and flooding events. Increased sedimentation within the channel will impact on the movement of water within the channels, on associated biota and on the viability of riparian woodlands and on associated grasslands.

7.1.3 Recommendation 3 A detailed investigation on the rates of sedimentation within the Lower Balonne under different flow regimes be undertaken.

There is little knowledge of what the critical ecological processes in riverine and floodplain habitats are or how changes to the flooding regime may affect primary productivity and the exchange of material between components. Over the forthcoming years, the floodplain and riverine environments will experience a range of flood frequencies and intensities in response to increased water extraction and changing climatic conditions.


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7.1.4 Recommendation 4 A detailed investigation be undertaken of the role of connectivity between the river channels of the Lower Balonne and associated floodplains and wetlands and three critical metabolic functions (primary production, nutrient cycling and decomposition).

The study would examine the response of each component to inundation to determine the role of floods in influencing ecosystem function and provide an estimate of the extent of variation in flooding response along the river continuum. The project would focus its attention on the spatial and temporal patterns of primary production and the movement of organic matter, particularly nitrogen and carbon between the floodplain and main channel.

The conversion of organic matter into invertebrate biomass is a critical metabolic function that provides food for the majority of fish, frogs and water birds and provides a supplementary food source for many terrestrial reptiles, birds and mammals. While our knowledge of the community structure of invertebrates in lowland rivers has improved over the last 20 years, our knowledge of the factors that control the abundance and productivity of these communities remains rudimentary in most floodplain systems. This is despite the fact that it is the rate at which invertebrate biomass is produced that determines the systems capacity to support populations of fish and birds.


A detailed investigation be undertaken that examines the productivity of invertebrates across a range of habitats and determines the key drivers. This will allow predictions to be made of invertebrate productivity in both space and time.

Further comparisons will enable the importance of differing sources of carbon and how carbon is transferred within food webs to be elucidated using established methods of carbon stable isotopes as well as examining microbial carbon processing in relation to invertebrate groups and associated microbial communities.

7.1.6 Recommendation 6 Determine the status of the fish communities with in the Lower Balonne by collecting abundance and presence/absence data. Particular emphasis should be placed on whether adequate recruitment of new individuals is occurring or whether populations are in decline.

Determine key habitats for both fish and birds, and determine their patterns of movement within the Lower Balonne system. Fish and birds are frequently used as indicators of riverine and wetland health. However, our understanding of fish habitat requirements is inadequate if we are to allocate flows to ensure a sustainable fish community in the Lower Balonne system. While our knowledge base for birds is better, there remain significant knowledge gaps concerning the habitat requirements of birds during inter-flood periods. These knowledge gaps are significant for managers trying to allocate flows for the creation of habitat, both within the main channel and for floodplains. Factors that may influence the colonisation of habitat include the availability of colonists, their dispersal ability and their response to environmental cues.


Development of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) capable of fine scale vertical resolution across key areas of the Lower Balonne that can be used to predict which wetlands and what areas of the floodplain will be flooded given a specific flow. This information will be important in managing where flows go on the floodplain and predicting the extent of wetland/floodplain inundation.


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Figure 3. Location of monitoring sites in Lower Balonne System


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8. References Adams, J.C. and Tyson, D.R. (in progress) Narran Lakes Oral History Project. Griffith

University; Goondiwindi, Queensland.

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H., Allen, M. (2002) Filed guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum; Perth, WA.

Andrew, N.L. and Mapstone, B.D. (1987) Sampling and the description of spatial pattern in marine ecology. Oceanography and marine Biology Annual Review 25:39-90.

BA (2005) Australian Painted Snipe ON Birds Australia http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/birds/painted.html

Baldwin, D.S., Rees, G.N. Mitchell, A. M., Watson, G., Williams, J. (in review). The acute effects of salinisation on anaerobic nutrient cycling and microbial community structure in sediment from a freshwater wetland.

Baldwin, D. S., Nielsen, D. L., Bowen, P. M. and Williams, J. (2005) Recommended methods for monitoring floodplains and wetlands. MDBC publication No. 72/04. MDBC, Canberra.

Beadle, N. C. W. (1948) The vegetation and pastures of Western New South Wales. Soil Conservation Service, Sydney.

Benson, J. (1999) Setting the scene - the native vegetation of New South Wales. Native Vegetation Advisory Council.

Benson, L. (2002 onwards) Lower Balonne Aquatic Ecological Condition Report ON Smartrivers http://www.smartrivers.com

Bren, L. J. (1987) The duration of inundation in a flooding river red gum forest. Australian Forest Research 17:191-202.

Bren, L. J., and N. L. Gibbs. (1986) Relationships between flood frequency, vegetation and topography in a river red gum forest. Australian Forest Research 16:357-370.

Brock, M. A., and M. T. Casanova. (1997) Plant life at the edge of wetlands: ecological responses to wetting and drying patterns. Pages 181-192 in N. Klomp and I. Lunt, editors. Frontiers in Ecology. Elsevier, Oxford.

Brock, M. A., and K. Crossle. (2002) Seed-bank and vegetation responses to timing, duration, and frequency of flooding in temporary wetlands. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 28:1756-1761.

Brock, M.A., and Jarman, P.J. (2000) Wetland use and conservation in the agricultural environment: managing processes for the components. In: Nature Conservation 5: Nature conservation in production environments: managing the matrix, Surrey Beatty and Sons, Chipping Norton.

Brock, M.A., Nielsen, D.L., Shiel, R.J., Green, J.D., Langley, J.D. (2003) Drought and aquatic community resilience: the role of eggs and seeds in sediments of temporary wetlands. Freshwater Biology 48:1207-1218.

Bunn, S.E. and Arthington, A.H. (2002). Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environmental Management 30(4): 492-507.

Capon, S. J. (2003) Plant community responses to wetting and drying in a large arid floodplain. River Research and Applications 19:509-520.


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Capon, S. J. (2005) Flood variability and spatial variation in plant community composition and structure on a large arid floodplain. Journal of Arid Environments 60:283-302.

Chapman, M.G. and Underwood, A.J. (2000). The need for a practical scientific protocol to measure successful restoration. Wetlands (Australia) 19:28-49.

Chong, C., and K. Walker. (2005) Does lignum rely on a soil seed bank? Germination and reproductive phenology of Muehlenbeckia florulenta (Polygonaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 53:407 - 415.

Craig, A. E., K. F. Walker, and A. J. Boulton. (1991) Effects of edaphic factors and flood frequency on the abundance of Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta Meissner) (Polygonaceae) on the river Murray floodplain, South Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 39:431-443.

Cullen, P., Marchant, R. and Mein, R. (2003) Review of Science Underpinning the Assessment of Ecological Condition of the Lower Balonne System. Report to the Queensland Government.

Cunningham, G. M., W. E. Mulham, P. L. Milthorpe, and J. H. Leigh. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. Inkata Press, Sydney.

DEH (2005) Migratory Waterbirds ON Department of the Environment and Heritage http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/waterbirds/index.html

Dexter, B. D. (1970) Flooding and regeneation of river red gum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. MSc thesis. University of Melbourne.

Dexter, B. D. (1978) Silviculture of the river red gum forests of the central Murray floodplain. Royal Society of Victoria. Proceedings 90:170-191.

Dick, R. (1993) The vegetation of the Wombeira land system and the floodplains of the Culgoa, Birrie and Narran Rivers in NSW - November 1990. NSW NPWS, Hurstville.

Dick, R. and Andrew, D. (1993) A vertebrate fauna survey of the Culgoa and Birrie River floodplains in NSW: 1990 – 1992. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; Sydney, NSW.

DLWC (1999) Water Quality in the Intersecting Streams 1962-1996. CNR 97.055 Department of Land and Water Conservation, Centre for Natural Resources; Sydney, NSW.

DLWC (2000) The Birds of NSW Wetlands On Department of Land and Water Conservation website http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/wetlands/facts/paa/birds/

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Appendix 1 - PROJECT BRIEF LOWER BALONNE SCOPING STUDY

Environment Review of the Lower Balonne Floodplain [Western Catchment Management Authority and Queensland Murray Darling Committee] March 2005

________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND – LOWER BALONNE SCOPING STUDY

The Condamine-Balonne river system supports the Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara and Narran rivers and includes considerable floodplain and wetland habitat in both New South Wales and Queensland. Irrigated agriculture in the Qld part of the lower Balonne includes an estimated 1.3 million megalitres of water storage, the majority of which is related to the harvesting of river flows and floodplain diversions as periodic flow events occur. In addition, extensive areas of the Qld floodplain are used for grazing and dryland cropping. In NSW, grazing and opportunity cropping are the predominant land uses relying on beneficial flooding events. Small dams exist in NSW for improving the security of stock and domestic supply however, only limited irrigation entitlements exist. There are competing demands for the flows within the Condamine-Balonne system with differing views between irrigation and grazing stakeholders on how flow objectives should be defined and flow sharing arrangements carried out.

A Water Resource Plan (WRP) for the Condamine-Balonne river system has been developed following extensive community consultation. The final product was released in August 2004. The Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2004 incorporates, among other strategies to achieve the plans outcomes, event based management rules that provide for flow provisions to be delivered to the Lower Balonne Floodplain. It is however, unclear what long-term benefits these management strategies may have on downstream flows and the associated Lower Balonne Floodplain. Consequently, considerable concern exists especially in NSW concerning the flow provisions in the Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2004. The event based management rules do however represent a degree of management intervention, which represents a step towards the pre-development flow regime.


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A requirement of the new Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2004 is that a comprehensive review be undertaken 5 years after the commencement of the plan. The review must include information on the effectiveness and appropriateness of the plans performance indicators and event based management rules in achieving the plans outcomes. To effectively review the plan a more thorough understanding of the competing water demands and the value of water in the Lower Balonne Floodplain will need to be collated. To meet these needs the Lower Balonne Scoping Study has been commissioned to identify any existing data and information sources that are available to inform the water resource management decision making process. In addition, this Scoping Study seeks to identify data and information gaps and activities that need to be made to enable a more informed plan review as the planning cycle evolves.

This Scoping Study has been broken into three components – hydrology, environmental and socio-economic (i.e. cultural, irrigation, opportunity cropping and grazing). For the environmental and socio-economic components of this project, consultants will be engaged to gather existing knowledge, which can help define the water demand and value of water to the Lower Balonne water users. Based on this information consultants will be expected to identify existing knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for future research with respect to informing the water resource management decision making process at the WRP 5 year review.

The hydrology component of this Scoping Study will be the key to linking the three components of the Scoping Study. The hydrology consultancy will be focused on collating information that can help water resource managers gain an improved understanding of the hydrology of the Lower Balonne Floodplain. This information can then be used in making assessments regarding the impact of water resource development on key water users (both environmental and socio-economic) within the system.

AREA OF INTEREST

The focus of this study will be the Lower Balonne system, which is a sub-catchment of the Condamine-Balonne-Maranoa NAP area. The Lower Balonne system extends from Beardmore Dam at St George in the north to the junction of the Culgoa and Bokhara Rivers with the Barwon-Darling in the south. The Warrego River Catchment forms the boundary to the west and the Border Rivers Catchment is the boundary to the east (Figure 1)

SCOPE OF WORK

This project brief is one of three projects (hydrology, environmental and socio-economic) aimed at collating existing information and knowledge that could help inform water resource planning in Qld at the 5 year review period for the Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2004. This component of the project is focused on identifying existing information that can be used to define the water demand and value of water to the environment and to specific environmental assets within the Lower Balonne Floodplain. The specific tasks that must be undertaken to adequately complete this component of the Scoping Study are outlined in the Terms of Reference below.

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Data identification and collation

Identify the flow dependent environmental assets on the Lower Balonne Floodplain and the existing data sets or scientific information that could be used to define their water requirements (spatially and temporally). These assets include but are not limited to the biota of the rivers and distributary channels of the Lower Balonne Floodplain, the wetlands on the Lower Balonne Floodplain, Culgoa Floodplain National Park and Culgoa National Park. Narran Lakes are excluded from this study as they have already been covered in a separate scoping study.


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Figure 4. The Lower Balonne Floodplain region. (From Thoms et al. 2002)

Identify existing data sets or information that could be used to determine the value of the flow dependent environmental assets identified in TOR 1 to the community of the Lower Balonne Floodplain and the wider community. For example:

• community well being indicators – eg aesthetic value, emotional connection to environmental assets.

Identify existing data sets or information that could be used to determine the intrinsic value of the flow dependent environmental assets on the Lower Balonne Floodplain. For example:

• ecological value indicators;

• conservation value assessment and interpretative data;

• significant species and communities - records and profiles.

Collate detailed metadata statements (according to the template in attachment one) on data sets identified in TOR 1, 2 and 3. The metadata statements should indicate the quality and useability of the data.

Identify critical data/information needed to define the water requirements and value of water to the environment on the Lower Balonne Floodplain.


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Identify critical data/information needed to monitor and assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of the performance indicators, management strategies and event based management rules (in terms of the impact on the environment) as defined in the Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2004.

Provide recommendations for research to address the knowledge gaps identified in TOR 5 and 6. Recommended research must be aimed at informing the water resource planning process at the 5-year review period. Consequently, recommendations must be focused and should not fall outside the 5-year planning time frame.

Develop Conceptual Models Extrapolate from the knowledge and data collected, and using expert opinion, develop appropriate conceptual models regarding the wetting and drying requirements of the Lower Balonne Floodplain.

Assess the impact of water resource development (if sufficient data available)

Broadly profile the impacts that water resource development has had on the environment and on specific ecological assets within the Lower Balonne Floodplain.

Presentation to the Lower Balonne Scoping Study Project Steering Committee

Provide an oral presentation to the Lower Balonne Scoping Study Project Steering Committee regarding the project findings and recommendations.

DELIVERABLES, TIMETABLE AND BUDGET

The outcome of this project will be a detailed report, which is to include:

o a list of important flow-dependent ecological assets on the Lower Balonne Floodplain;

o a succinct compilation of metadata statements for each existing data set;

o a review of each metadata statement in respect to the useability of the data for informing the water resource planning debate;

o a summary of identified knowledge gaps;

o a summary of recommended research:

o a conceptual model of the Lower Balonne Floodplain; and

o a summary of the impact that water resource development has had on the environment and specific environmental assets on the Lower Balonne Floodplain.

Presentation provided to the Lower Balonne Scoping Study Project Steering Committee on the project findings and recommendations.

The consultant must present a final report to the Project Steering Committee by 25 November. Other key milestone dates are as follows:

Date Milestone Activity

29 May – 4 June Open tender advertised for project/project brief provided to consultants

23 June Open tender closes

30 June Assessment of consultancy bids conducted and consultants notified of assessment panels decision

6 July Contract with consultants executed


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18 July Start up meeting with consultants and Project Manager

16 September Progress report to Project Steering Committee

17 October Draft report to Project Steering Committee

28 October Comments from Project Steering Committee on draft report provided to consultants

28 November Final report to Project Steering Committee

A total budget of $30,000 is available for this project, which includes professional fees, travel and all other costs. The exception to this is the travel costs that are associated with providing the final presentation to the Lower Balonne Scoping Study Project Steering Committee. The Project Manager will cover these costs.

PROJECT COORDINATION

A Project Steering Committee (PSC) made up of representatives from the Western Catchment Management Authority, Queensland Murray Darling Committee and State and Australian Government agencies will oversee this Consultancy. A Project Manager appointed by the WCMA will undertake the day to day management of the project. Contact with the PSC should be made through the Project Manager to ensure coordinated communication between the two parties. The Project Manager will assist consultants by providing the initial contact with relevant stakeholders. Consultants will be provided with a list of relevant data/reports/information that they should consider in their review.

PROJECT MANAGER – CONTACT DETAILS

Marita Woods

DIPNR – Riverine Monitoring and Reporting Officer

PO Box 1840

DUBBO NSW 2830

pH: (02) 6883 3068 Fax: (02) 6883 3099

E-mail: [email protected]

*Cullen, P., Marchant, R. and Mein, R. (2003). Review of Science Underpinning the Assessment of Ecological Condition of the Lower Balonne System, Report to the Queensland Government.


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Appendix 2 – Detailed description of the floodplain Lower Balonne floodplain The floodplain of the Lower Balonne system comprises the Balonne River Floodplain and the Culgoa River floodplain as listed in A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (3rd edn) (EA 2001). The following descriptions have been taken from the directory website www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands

Balonne River Floodplain - QLD084

Level of importance: National - Directory

Location: 28 degrees 11' 56" S, 148 degrees 31' 20" E; the site extends for c. 50 km in a northeast-southwest direction and is up to c. 9 km wide, with its centre c. 26 km southwest of St George. The main wetland sites in the aggregation are: Lake Munya 28 degrees 06' 30" S, 148 degrees 32' 48" E; Parachute Lagoons 28 degrees 03' 42" S, 148 degrees 31' 12" E; Birch Lagoon 28 degrees 10' 42" S, 148 degrees 33' 42" E; Mooramanna Lake 28 degrees 18' 30" S, 148 degrees 26' 18" E; and the swamp at Brookdale 28 degrees 15' 00" S, 148 degrees 24' 00" E. The site falls within the Condamine-Balonne catchment (Queensland Department of Primary Industries 1993).

Biogeographic region: Darling Riverine Plains

Shire: Balonne.

Area: Actual area of wetlands is in the order of several hundred hectares spread out over a larger floodplain of c. 24 000 ha.

Elevation: 185-195 m ASL.

Other listed wetlands in same aggregation: None.

Wetland type: B1, B2, B4, B5, B10, B14

Criteria for inclusion: 1, 2, 3,

Site description: A significant aggregation of permanent and ephemeral freshwater billabongs and swamps on an inland floodplain. Despite major agricultural disturbance in recent years, the fringing and aquatic vegetation of the wetlands appears to be reasonably intact.

Physical features: Flat floodplain (slope < 0.5%) with meandering and anastomosing stream channels, large oxbows, cutoffs and swampy depressions. Quaternary alluvium and recent fine alluvium (Galloway et al.. 1974). Grey to brown, deep alluvial clays and clay loams. Average annual rainfall at St. George is 516 mm, with slight summer bias.

Hydrological features: Permanent and ephemeral freshwater billabongs and swamps of varying depths (probably < 3 m). Flooded more or less seasonally. Some of the billabongs have been dammed to increase permanence and ensure supply for stock water and irrigation. Water extraction is controlled by the Water Act 2000 subordinate legislation Water Resource (Condamine and Balonne) Plan 2003.


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Ecological features: Coolabah (Eucalyptus coolabah) open woodland is the dominant community fringing billabongs and swamps, and on the floodplain. Occasional black box (E. largiflorens) and river red gum (E. camaldulensis) also occur in this community. Perennial tussock grasses and a variety of ephemeral grasses and forbs occur in the ground layer. In several places, dense Eleocharis spp. sedge marshes form a dominant community. Open water areas support a variety of aquatic vegetation, such as Ludwigia spp., Polygonum spp. and several lilies. Large numbers of waterbirds are known to use the wetlands.

Significance: These wetlands may have been impacted by agricultural practices and have diminished natural values. These wetlands should be reconsidered as DOIWA wetlands after ground truthing and monitoring after future flood events.

Notable flora: No threatened species are known from the area. The Eleocharis spp. sedgelands are a significant community in the area, being limited in distribution and often disturbed by grazing. Black box Eucalyptus largiflorens is near the limit of its range in this area of Queensland.

Notable fauna: No threatened fauna are known from the area, however large numbers of waterbirds are known to use the wetlands in some seasons.

Other Fauna:

Social and Cultural values: The wetlands are of significant value to the local community for water based recreation (e.g. swimming and fishing). The St. George area is a popular destination for touring anglers. Some of the waterbodies are an important source of water for crop irrigation and livestock. The billabongs would have been a focal area for the Aboriginal community.

Land tenure: Mostly freehold. Two wetlands are at least partly incorporated into camping and water reserves (of Lake Munya R184 and Parachute Lagoons R185). Mostly freehold.

Current land use: Extensive grazing on native pasture, recreational fishing and water storage. Extensive grazing on native pasture, water storage, high intensity irrigated agriculture (cotton).

Disturbance or threat: Past/present: Damming of, and water harvesting from, channels and billabongs, both on site and elsewhere in the catchment, poses a significant threat to the long term viability of these wetlands. Much of the floodplain area has been cleared for cropping. Cotton production has an implied threat of chemical pollutants and excessive water usage. Grazing of the wetland areas may be causing significant disturbance to the sedge swamps. Potential: Increasing interest in cotton production in southwestern Queensland may be a significant long-term threat to guarantee of supply of water and nutrients to the wetlands in this area, as well as increasing chemical residues.

Conservation measures taken: None known.

Management authority and jurisdiction: Department of Natural Resources and Mines, landholders.

References: Galloway, R.W. et al.. (1974); Queensland Department of Primary Industries.


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(1993); Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines. (2003).

Compiler & date: Ford, G.I., 1995. Edited Miller, G.J. and Worland, J.L., 2004.

Culgoa River Floodplain - NSW170

Level of importance: National - Directory

Location: 29 degrees 07' S, 147 degrees 05' E. Culgoa National Park is located in the north west of NSW, approximately 100km north of the township of Brewarrina and 40km west of Goodooga. It is located within the Western Division of NSW.

Biogeographic region: Darling Riverine Plains.

Shire:

Area: 22986 ha.

Elevation: 120-140 m ASL.

Other listed wetlands in same aggregation:

Wetland type: B2, B10, B14

Criteria for inclusion: 1, 4, 5,

Site description: The wetlands of the Culgoa National Park include waterholes, billabongs and extensive floodplain, however it is the vegetation of this floodplain which is most significant. The dominant vegetation community of the Park is part of the largest and least disturbed area of contiguous Coolibah woodland remaining in NSW and in the Darling Riverine Plains biogeographic region.

Physical features: The Culgoa National Park is comprised of extensive Quaternary alluvial deposits. It lies within a major alluvial fan forming extensive floodplains intersected by the Culgoa River and numerous flood channels. The soils of Culgoa National Park are dominated by grey cracking clays throughout the floodplain, deep grey cracking clays associated with the rivers and channels and more sandy textured contrast soils on the higher areas. The Culgoa National Park lies on the Culgoa River floodplain which is 120km long and averages 65km in width. The wetland areas on the floodplain include permanent waterholes in the Culgoa River, billabongs or lagoons, incised channels and extensive shallow floodplain. Freshwater floods are received from the Condamine-Balonne River which has a catchment area of 143,900 square km, most of which lies within the state of Qld. Flood frequency is variable occurring from once every five years to several times a year. The depth of the flood waters vary from a few centimetres to 10 metres and inundation of the floodplain can last for up to four months. The annual average rainfall for Culgoa National Park is 375mm per year. It lies on the edge of the summer rainfall zone resulting in highly variable rainfall patterns. The average maximum and minimum temperatures for summer are 360 C and 210 C and for winter 180 C and 4.50 C.


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Hydrological features: The Culgoa River is highly turbid like most inland rivers. During floods, large amounts of sediment are trapped or dropped onto the floodplain performing the functions of improving water quality in the river and increasing fertility of the floodplain. It is probably also likely that the Culgoa River floodplain acts as a chemical and nutrient pollutant trap.

Ecological features: Water and in particular, the period of inundation appears to be the most significant factor affecting the distribution of vegetation communities on the Culgoa River floodplain. There are three flood zones that correlate with changes in vegetation types. They are areas that are frequently flooded and remain inundated for some time, those that are flooded regularly but do not remain inundated for extended periods and those that rarely (or never flood) and do not remain inundated for any length of time. It is not yet known how these flood zones affect vertebrate and invertebrate fauna in Culgoa National Park however, there is a strong correlation between vegetation type and fauna. The following vegetation communities and some of their significant associated fauna have been recorded in Culgoa National Park:

Significance:

Notable flora: The Coolibah woodlands are part of the largest and least disturbed contiguous Coolibah woodland in New South Wales. Extensive areas of Coolibah woodland have been cleared throughout its geographical range in northern NSW and southern Queensland and throughout its biogeographic region, the Darling Riverine Plains. The Culgoa River floodplain has a high plant species diversity when compared with other floodplains in western NSW. Overall, 240 plant species have been recorded from Culgoa National Park. Climbing Caustic Euphorbia sarcostemmoides a nationally listed ROTAP species and a vulnerable species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act, is found in Culgoa National Park in the Box-Pine woodland. It has a distribution which is restricted to highly specific and localised habitats and has been found in only one other location in NSW. Narrow-leaf Bumble Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia, a dense tree with a spreading crown, is also found in Culgoa National Park. It is listed as an endangered species in NSW and is only known from two locations in NSW. Five regionally rare species Bull Wiregrass Aristida longicollis, Bowl Daisy Pulchea dentex, Hairy Spurge Phyllanthus carpentariae, Wirewood Acacia coriacea and Sandplain Riceflower Pimelea penicillaris have been found in Culgoa National Park.

Notable fauna: Surveys of the floodplains in the Culgoa River region have recorded 237 native animal species. Of these, 37 species are either listed as threatened under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1996 or considered of conservation significance in western NSW. The species of conservation significance which are directly dependent on wetlands include Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa, Brolga Grus rubicundus, the Long-necked Tortoise Chelodina longicollis, the Broad-shelled River Turtle Chelodina expansa and the Warty Water-holding Frog Cyclorana verrucosa. Some of the native animal species listed as threatened in NSW which rely on the vegetation of the frequently flooded forests and woodlands include the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus, Greater Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis, Barking Owl Ninox connivens and the Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta. There are also several threatened species found on the Culgoa River floodplain which inhabit the woodlands but feed mainly in the grasslands and shrublands. These include the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat Saccolaimus flaviventris, Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus magnificus.

Other Fauna:


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Social and Cultural values: Culgoa National Park lies within the traditional lands of the Gandugari group of the Morowari people and remains highly significant to local Aboriginal people in terms of archaeological, traditional and contemporary social values. They retain a strong oral history of the region and attachment to this landscape. An archaeological survey of Culgoa National Park recorded many open sites and stone tool scatters along the river and margins of the floodplain and sandhills. Water sources both permanent and temporary were used extensively by aboriginal people. There are an estimated 500 - 600 scarred trees within the Park. Oral history and archaeological evidence suggest that prior to white settlement Aboriginal people in Culgoa National Park would have often utilised the riverine resources (as they still do in nearby towns). The river and floodplain would have provided fish, mussels, yabbies, birds, aquatic plants and plant foods particularly grass seeds. Hunting would have also reaped kangaroo, echidna and goanna. The post-contact history of the Park began with the first official explorer, Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1845. By 1848, pastoral runs were being set up on the Culgoa River for cattle grazing initially but sheep soon followed. Large pastoral properties were broken up into soldier settlement blocks after World War II. Culgoa National Park is formed from three pastoral properties each of which had a variety of infrastructure including homesteads, woolsheds, shearers’ quarters, stockyards and fencing. Part of the remains an early 1880?s settlement, Donavan, is found in the Park. It is important to Morowari people as a place where despite white invasion they could continue to collect bush foods, practice ceremonies and share traditional knowledge. They were also able to work on neighbouring properties returning to Dennawan to see family and friends. For Europeans, Dennawan supplied not only a source of labour but also a post office, pub, church and eventually a general store, police station and telephone exchange. It is an important part of the post-contact history of the area. Gazettal of Culgoa National Park marks another period in the utilisation of the river and floodplain. Many pastoral leases are no longer economically viable due in part to the changes that have occurred to the landscape. Conservation of this landscape is now considered a priority by the majority of people in NSW.

Land tenure: In 1996, Culgoa National Park was gazetted a National Park under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The surrounding lands are Western Lands Leases leased to private landholders for grazing purposes.

Current land use: The Culgoa National Park is reserved for nature conservation and appropriate recreation. The surrounding lands are leased primarily for grazing purposes however, the Culgoa Floodplain National Park in Queensland adjoins the Park at the northwestern boundary. Within the Condamine-Balonne catchment, there are large areas of both irrigated and dryland cropping.

Disturbance or threat: Past/present: As visitor use is low and expected to remain so, recreation and tourism will be low impact with the provision of low key facilities. It is not predicted that recreation and tourism will have any significant impact on the wetland values of the Park. Potential: No information

Conservation measures taken: The Culgoa National Park was gazetted in April 1996 with a major addition in 1998. The area covered by gazettal is 22,430 hectares. It has national park status under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act (the Act). The declaration of National Park ensures that future management will aim to minimise disturbance to natural and cultural heritage. A draft management plan for Culgoa National Park has been prepared and is awaiting public input before a final document is completed however, some of the management practices recommended such as weed control and pest animal control are already being implemented. A


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significant conservation measure currently being undertaken is the participation of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in the preparation of a Water Allocation and Management Plan (WAMP) by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources. Water management is currently the most important issue for the future of the Culgoa River floodplain. To date the WAMP process has produced a draft plan which is currently on public exhibition. Conservation measures proposed but not yet implemented: The Culgoa National Park Draft Management Plan is currently receiving community input before a final plan is completed. The final plan will then be adopted under section 81 of the Act). The draft WAMP for the Condamine-Balonne catchment is currently on public exhibit until Dec. 2000. The main conservation measures in this document which impact on the Culgoa River floodplain are the proposed development limits in the catchment. This will affect the end of basin flows as it has been predicted that without the WAMP the Culgoa River will receive only 20 percent of its natural median annual flow. With the best case scenario projected in the Plan, this will increase to 45 percent of natural median annual flow. This still raises concern for the long term future of the floodplain. A number of research projects are proposed under the draft management plan for the Park including the effects of fire on floodplain vegetation and the response of vegetation to flooding however, these will not begin until the plan of management has been adopted. Currently a vegetation survey, including the production of vegetation maps of Culgoa National Park is underway. This will be used in park planning and management and will assist in the development of recovery plans for threatened plant species found within the Park.

Management authority and jurisdiction: Territorial: Government of New South Wales. Functional: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

References: Ayers, D. 1995. Threatened Species of Western New South Wales. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service:Sydney. Barker, J., Grigg, G.C., and Tyler, M.J. 1995. A field guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Sydney Bowen , P.F. and Pressey, R.L. 1993. Localities and Habitats of Plants with Restricted Distributions in the Western Division of NSW. Occasional Paper No. 17. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Cogger, H.G. 1994. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney. Dick, R. 1993. The Vegetation of the Wombeira Land System on the Floodplains of the Culgoa, Birrie and Narran Rivers in NSW- November 1990. Occasional Paper No. 13 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Dick. R and Andrew, D. 1993. A Vertebrate Fauna Survey of the Culgoa and Birrie River Floodplains in NSW 1990-1992. Occasional Paper No. 14 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Dickman, C. R., Pressey, R. L., Lim, L. and Parnaby H. E. 1993. Mammals of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Division of NSW. Biological Conservation 65, 219-248. Ellis, M. and Wilson, P. 1992. An overview of the Vertebrate Fauna of the Brigalow Belt North-east of Bourke, NSW. Royal Zoological Society of NSW Mammal Section: Sydney. Hunter, J. T. and Earl J, 1999. Vegetation and Floristics of Culgoa National Park. Draft report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Lunney, D. Hand, S. Reed, P. and Butcher, D. 1994. The Future of the Fauna of Western New South Wales. Royal Zoological Society of NSW: Sydney. Maher, M., Norris, D., Ridge, T. and Robinson, M. 1995. The Ledknapper Spinifex: Its People, Plants and Animals. Bourke Rangelands Liason Group and Cuttagoa Catchment Landcare Group: Bourke. McCosker, R. O. 1996 An Environmental Scan of the Condamine-Balonne River System and


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Associated Floodplain. Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources. Morgan, G. and Terrey, J. 1992. Nature Conservation in Western NSW. National Parks Association of NSW Inc. Sydney. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000 Culgoa National Park Draft Plan of Management. Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources 2000. Draft Water Allocation and Management Plan (Condamine-Balonne Basin) (Draft WAMP). Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources 2000. Condamine-Balonne WAMP Environmental Flows Technical Report. Robinson, M. 1993. A field guide to frogs. Australian Museum/Reed: Sydney. Sadlier, R.A., Pressey, R.L. and Whish, G.L. 1996. Reptiles and Amphibians of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Division of New South Wales: Distributions, Habitats, and Conservation Status. Biological Conservation. Simpson, K. and N. Day. 1993. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Viking O’Neil: Melbourne. Smith, J., Ellis, M., Ayers, D., Mazzer, T., Wallace, G., Langdon, A. and Cooper, M. 1998 The Fauna of Western NSW: The Northern Floodplains Region, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Smith, P.J., Smith, J.E., Pressey, R.L. and Whish, G.L. 1995. Birds of Particular Conservation Concern in the Western Divison of New South Wales: Distributions, Habitats and Threats. Biological Conservation 69, 315-338. Strahan, R. 1995. The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney. Swan, G. 1990. Snakes and Lizards of New South Wales. Three Sisters Publications: Winmalee. Wade, T. 1992. The Brigalow Outlier: A resource Inventory of the Brigalow Vegetation Communities West of the Culgoa River. Department of Conservation and Land Mangement: Bourke.

Compiler & date: Anna Gilfillan WWF September 2000. Leonne Donnelly NPWS Nov 2000.


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Appendix 3 – Metadata Statements


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Appendix 4 – Monitoring Program Design Framework The success of any management program, and thus the ability to protect ecosystem values, depends on the implementation of an effective monitoring program. The adaptive management approach to monitoring we describe in this study is based on the premise that managed ecosystems are complex and inherently unpredictable. The adaptive approach embraces the uncertainties in system responses and attempts to structure management actions as experiments from which learning is a critical product. Central to this process is the structuring of monitoring efforts within a scientifically rigorous experimental framework in which collected data can be used iteratively to re-assess the conceptual understanding of ecosystem processes and to inform the management decision making framework (Lee and Lawrence 1986, Lee 1989, Nyberg 1999a).

The shortcomings of monitoring programs instituted in the past and the issue of how to improve program design have been the subject of much discussion (e.g. Underwood 1991, Stewart-Oaten et al. 1986, 1992, Green 1993, Finlayson 1996). In this section, we provide a synopsis of the key considerations involved in developing a generic adaptive management based monitoring program. As management issues are likely to vary both between systems and through time, this framework will form the basis for developing site-specific programs for each of the identified Icon Site wetlands.

A number of publications have outlined a sequence of steps based on the falsification experimental protocol described by Popper (1968) to achieve the best possible design for, and outcomes from, monitoring programs to detect human impacts (i.e. impacts of altered hydrological regimes) (e.g. Underwood 1996, Green 1979, Chapman and Underwood 2000, Thoms et al. 2001, Downes et al. 2002, King et al. 2003) (Figure 5). The suggested sequential steps for designing an effective monitoring program described below provided the framework used in the current study:

o Define monitoring scale, key ecological objectives and management priorities

o Define the spatial scale of management/monitoring activity, identify and prioritise ecological values that are of management concern and identify ecological objectives for each.

o Develop a conceptual model for the system in question

Figure 5. Components of a falsification experimental protocol (based on Popper 1968)

Observations

Conceptual Model

Hypothesis

Insufficient power

Accept hypothesisReject hypothesis

Sufficient power

Refine model

Sufficient power

Test hypothesis

Increase powerInsufficient power


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The main aim of this step is to synthesise available knowledge of the relationships between the various ecosystem components and to identify management actions likely to achieve desired outcomes. This process will help identify both flow and management objectives.

a) Flow objectives: the water regime most likely to achieve desired outcome for each ecological value. Roberts and Marston (2000), SKM (2002a), Jaensch (2002), and Tucker et al. (2003) all provide information on water regime requirements for many species of wetland flora and fauna.

b) Management objectives: the combination of flow and other management activities that will enable the ecological objectives to be met.

Define specific testable hypotheses Define specific testable hypotheses regarding expected changes in ecological values arising from the imposition of flow and management objectives. Not specifying testable questions reduces the ability to feed collected data back into the adaptive management process. As many of the potential responses of ecological values are likely to be driven by changes in hydrology, it is critical that an accurate assessment of hydrology (e.g. water levels) be included within the monitoring design. This will allow for the testing of two key hypotheses:

H1: that water management actions have an effect on system hydrology, and

H2: that water management actions have an effect on ecological values.

The ability to test H1 will depend on the accuracy of water level gauging and the magnitude of the hydrological change. The ability to test H2 will depend on the precision and statistical power with which key natural assets are monitored and the magnitude of the ecological change.

Select variables and indicators for measuring The generation of hypotheses based on the conceptual model will assist in the identification of key response variables. The variables chosen should be relevant to the question asked, be strongly associated with the putative impact, and be ecologically significant. Considerations in choosing variables include the availability of potential indicator groups, the potential for redundancy between variables, the mobility of individual organisms, the response times of variable or indicator groups, and the reliability of data collection (sampling and analytical methodology) (Downes et al. 2002). Indicators should either directly assess progress toward an ecological, hydrological or management objective or they should be linked to the achievement of an objective through the conceptual model. Refer to Reid and Brooks (1998) for more information on the selection of indicators and their relation to hydrological regime.

Develop a program design Collecting data to detect the presence or measure the size of an environmental impact requires careful design of the sampling program. Several experimental design options are available to test hypotheses based on the identification of changes in a response variable before and after an environmental disturbance, such as wetland drying (e.g. Underwood 1996, Downes et al. 2002). These design options vary both in their complexity and in their ability to detect change.

The incorporation of experimental controls or reference sites is favoured as it permits the elimination of potentially confounding artefacts introduced by the experimental procedure and provides the greatest statistical power to test hypotheses. Where control or reference sites can be identified, statistical designs incorporating Before, After, Control, and Impact (BACI) data should be used (Underwood 1996). Where control or reference sites are not available it will be necessary to rely on a more simple program design that compares data collected before and after implementation of the proposed water management strategy (Intervention Analysis). Unfortunately, such a design is limited by the fact that temporal variation in the selected indicators may occur independently of any changes related to the proposed water management


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action. Evidence for the impact of management actions will thus depend on the length of the period over which before and after data are collected and the frequency of interventions.

A ‘levels of evidence’ approach may be adopted to increase the confidence of conclusions generated by experimentally based monitoring. This refers to a method of analysis that requires an assessment based on a variety of different types of evidence. Typically, the relationship between management action (impact) and ecosystem response is a complicated one. There are often long time lags and usually many other a/biotic factors which act on the response variables being measured, making it difficult to separate the effects due to different causes. Downes et al. (2002) describe a number of causal criteria, such as strength of association, consistency of association (is a similar response observed elsewhere?), biological gradient (impact-response relationship) and biological plausibility, which can be examined concurrently to increase the strength of conclusions.

Optimise sampling effort and statistical power The objective of this step is to design a sampling regime that provides the most efficient (in terms of resources) and precise estimates of selected response parameters. Most importantly, consideration needs be given to the type of spatial and temporal sampling (random, stratified, systematic) and to power analysis based on considerations of spatial and temporal variation. Power analyses provide a measure of the confidence of conclusions reached for a given sampling effort. For many systems there is either no data or the data that is available does not provide insight into the spatial and/or temporal variation of the response variables within the system. An initial pilot study offers the opportunity to provide such information. Key references for power analysis and the optimisation of sampling effort include Elliott (1979), Andrew and Mapstone (1987), Green (1989), Underwood (1993, 1996), Miller et al. (1997), Thoms et al. (2001), and Keough and Quinn (2002).

Feed-back of monitoring data into the adaptive management process Integral to the adaptive management process is the periodic review of monitoring data, and its interpretation in terms of the conceptual model and management targets. From this, potential changes in management responses may be identified. Where appropriate, this review process may also involve modification of the conceptual model and subsequent hypotheses. Augmentation of the monitoring process with targeted small-scale experimentation may provide an effective means of examining, over much shorter time frames, process responses predicted by the conceptual model. It will also allow for testing of hypotheses requiring field manipulations (i.e. changes in water level) that cannot otherwise be implemented.

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