Community Meeting 11 December 2014 Project Ecology The Coorong - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

South East Flows Restoration Project Community Meeting 11 December 2014 Project Ecology

The Coorong » Listed Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar site) » Meets 8 of 9 criteria » Cultural values » Economic values » Lies within the South East NRM Region » Restoring and maintaining health

Historical South East flows

Contemporary South East drainage system

Maintaining a healthy Coorong Coorong Health Requirements Coorong Health Requirements Coorong Health Requirements Coorong Health Requirements SEFRP SEFRP SEFRP SEFRP Barrage Flows Barrage Barrage Barrage Coorong Health Requirements SEFRP Barrage Flows Flows Flows Flows     Murray Mouth open Murray Mouth open Murray Mouth open - - - Murray Mouth open -    Water levels (entire Coorong) Water levels (entire Coorong) Water levels (entire Coorong) - - -   North Lagoon salinity North Lagoon salinity - -   South Lagoon salinity source: CSIRO modelling if salinity too high → Coorong stressed “insurance policy” 1 ML from SE = 40 ML over barrages

SEFRP Project Area Coorong South Morella Basin Lagoon Tilley Swamp watercourse Tilley Swamp Conservation Park Taratap wetlands Murrabinna and Lacepede Flats Blackford Drain outlet

en route wetlands: land management 11,290 ha total • 9,440 ha managed for conservation • – 2 Conservation Parks (Tilley Swamp, Martins Washpool) – 7 Heritage Agreements – 4 Management Agreements SEFRP opportunity to increase diversions into en route wetlands • subject to landholder perspectives

en route wetlands: values Seasonal brackish aquatic bed Lowest lying, most deeply inundated areas

en route wetlands: values Gahnia filum tussock sedgeland Intermediate elevations, shallow inundation most years

en route wetlands: values Melaleuca halmaturorum tall shrubland Wetland margins, occasional shallow inundation

en route wetlands: values Spring 2012 monitoring: • – Taratap • 8,700 waterbirds (24 species) Migratory and resident waders, waterfowl

en route wetlands: values Spring 2012 monitoring: • – Morella • 4,200 waterbirds (21 species) • 2 fish spp (4 spp known to occur)

en route wetlands: threats Terrestrialisation – shrubs invading open water areas • 2003 2008 2013 Solution: more water required •

water management infrastructure 8 existing in-channel diversion regulators - replaced • 12 existing cross-overs/unders – replaced • potential for additional – refined through detailed design •

Taratap Wetlands 27 August 2013

Taratap Wetlands 27 August 2013

Tilley Swamp watercourse 27 August 2013

Morella Basin 27 August 2013

Salinity thresholds in SE wetlands FRESH: BRACKISH: SALINE: <3000 EC 3000 – 17,000 EC 17,000 – 60,000 EC Seasonal freshwater Seasonal brackish Seasonal saline low aquatic bed aquatic bed aquatic bed

en route wetlands: SEFRP opportunity Salinity diversion thresholds: <7,500 EC Taratap wetlands • <10,000 EC Tilley Swamp Volumes: • – Taratap wetlands: c. 2,000 ML (2 GL) – Tilley Swamp Conservation Park: c. 2,000 ML (2 GL) – Tilley Swamp watercourse: 5,000 – 20,000 ML (2 GL) Diversions en route subject to landholder discussions

en route wetlands: SEFRP opportunity Blackford Drain flow and EC data 2009 - 2013 Suitable for Taratap and Tilley Swamp Suitable for Taratap and Tilley Swamp Suitable for Tilley Swamp only (7,500 Suitable for Tilley Swamp only (7,500 Suitable for Taratap and Tilley Swamp Suitable for Taratap and Tilley Swamp Suitable for Taratap and Tilley Swamp Suitable for Tilley Swamp only (7,500 Suitable for Tilley Swamp only (7,500 Suitable for Tilley Swamp only (7,500 (<7,500 EC) (<7,500 EC) – 10,000 EC) – 10,000 EC) (<7,500 EC) (<7,500 EC) (<7,500 EC) – 10,000 EC) – 10,000 EC) – 10,000 EC) Year Year Total Flow (ML) Total Flow (ML) SEFRP Divertible SEFRP Divertible Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) No. Days No. Days Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) No. Days No. Days Year Year Year Total Flow (ML) Total Flow (ML) Total Flow (ML) SEFRP Divertible SEFRP Divertible SEFRP Divertible Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) No. Days No. Days No. Days Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) Divertible Flow (ML) No. Days No. Days No. Days Flow (i.e. <800 Flow (i.e. <800 Flow (i.e. <800 Flow (i.e. <800 Flow (i.e. <800 ML/day) (ML) ML/day) (ML) ML/day) (ML) ML/day) (ML) ML/day) (ML) 2009 2009 31,617 31,617 31,617 31,617 12,788 (40%) 12,788 (40%) 28 28 10,888 (34%) 44 2009 2009 2009 31,617 31,617 31,617 31,617 31,617 12,788 (40%) 28 10,888 (34%) 44 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 28,441 28,232 14,037 (50%) 66 6,503 (23%) 97 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 19,182 19,182 6,592 (34%) 68 5,958 (31%) 113 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 18,547 18,547 2,980 (16%) 44 5,610 (30%) 63 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 39,664 37,749 18,656 (49%) 35 13,677 (36%) 110

marine environment: SEFRP benefits 27 August 2013

marine environment: SEFRP benefits Drain impact studies Seddon, S., et al . (2003). Beachport Seagrass Loss and Links with Drain M in the Wattle Range Catchment . Report prepared for Coast Protection Board, Department for Environment and Heritage and the Environment Protection Authority. SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. RD03/0190. Adelaide, South Australia, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Aquatic Sciences. Wear, R. J., et al . (2006). The impact of drain discharges on seagrass beds in the South East of South Australia . Final Report Prepared for the South East Natural Resource Consultative Committee and the South East Catchment Water Management Board. RD04/0229-3. Adelaide, South Australia, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences) and the Department of Environment and Heritage, Coast Protection Branch.

marine environment: SEFRP benefits Wear et. al : “ the inshore limit of seagrass distribution in Lacepede Bay at Kingston has receded seaward by 84 m in the past 20 years ” “… initial seagrass loss … can destabilise the area and result in further losses”

SEFRP environmental management program • Native vegetation clearance assessment – includes flora and fauna • Water quality and quantity monitoring – in Coorong – in drains – during construction – permanent stations • Wetland flora and fauna monitoring • Operations manual