Lake Hugh Muntz Management Plan Australian Wetlands Amanda Reichelt-Brushett
Study Area Lake Hugh Muntz is about 17 Ha in size and supports recreational activities including fishing, swimming and other organised water sports. It has high aesthetic value and is the only freshwater lake in the Gold Coast City Council area that is used for primary contact recreation.
Local use and interest in water quality
Broader Study Area Lake Hugh Muntz is about 25 years old and in a highly urbanised and well established location. It is a highly modified environment. Previously the area was extensive wetland and floodplain.
The Management Plan Gold Coast City Council is keen to ensure that Lake Hugh Muntz maintains a water quality that enables primary contact activities. Apart from Drinking Water Quality Criteria some of the most stringent water quality criteria are defined for primary contact activities. To ensure this suitable water quality we need to ensure the ecological processes function correctly.
Immediate actions III ?????? -Key stakeholder and community input
What we know • 10 years of water quality data (generally good quality). • Indications that nutrients are elevated at times. • Faecal coliforms have been elevated at times. • Blue green algae have been present at times. • pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity have been consistent.
Water quality sites
Water quality trend Secchi depth (clarity) 1996 2001 2007
Water quality trend Total nitrogen (nutrients) Qld WQG 2006 1996 2001 2007
2007 Water quality trend 2001 Qld WQG 2006 1996
Water quality trend –Ammonia ? 2007 2001 N 1996
Water quality trend Total Phosphorus (nutrients) Qld WQG 2006 1996 2007 2001
2007 Water quality trend 2006 2005 2004
Stormwater drains and catchment
Flora and Fauna A two day and one evening survey on the 9 th & 10 th of August • 2007 • Flora survey • Visual and acoustic survey of birds • Targeted survey for nocturnal mammals. • Call playbacks were undertaken for targeted species of frogs. • Searches for tracks, faecal matter, pellets and other signs of fauna • The survey was undertaken on a cool and sunny day and evening
Flora and Fauna Site investigations revealed: • 34 species of birds (+45 SH) LOCAL OBSERVATIONS • 0 reptiles OF YOURS CAN BE • 5 mammals ADDED TO OUR DATA • 1 amphibian species BASE low level of biological diversity compared to what could be an anticipated result from a higher quality natural riparian system in this locality.
FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Accipitridae Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite O Anatidae Anas rhynchotis Australasian Shoveler O Anatidae Aythya australis Hardhead O Anatidae Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck O Anhingidae Anhinga melanogaster Darter O Artamidae Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Magpie O Artamidae Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird O Artamidae Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird O Artamidae Strepera graculina Pied Currawong O Cacatuidae Cacatua roseicapilla Galah O Cacatuidae Cacatua galerita Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo O Columbidae Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon O Columbidae Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove O Corvidae Corvus orru Torresian Crow O Dicruridae Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-Lark O Dicruridae Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail O Laridae Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull O Maluridae Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-Wren O Meliphagidae Plectorhyncha lanceolata Striped Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Philemon citreogularis Little Friarbird O Meliphagidae Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Entomyzon cyanotis Blue-Faced Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Anthochaera chrysoptera Little Wattlebird O Meliphagidae Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner O Meropidae Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-Eater O Oriolidae Sphecotheres viridis Figbird O Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant O Psittacidae Platycercus adscitus Pale-Headed Rosella O Psittacidae Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus Rainbow Lorikeet O Rallidae Fulica atra Eurasian Coot O Rallidae Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen O Rallidae Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen O Sturnidae Acridotheres tristis Common Myna O Threskiornithidae Threskiornis molucca Australian White Ibis O
FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Bufonidae Bufo marinus Cane Toad O* Hylidae Litoria fallax SH Hylidae Litoria gracilenta Graceful Treefrog SH Hylidae Litoria caerulea Common Green Treefrog SH Hylidae Limnodynastes peronii Striped Marshfrog SH FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Canidae Canis lupus familiaris Dog O Felidae Felis catus Cat O Muridae Rattus rattus Black Rat SH* Muridae Mus musculus House Mouse O* Common Brushtail Phalangeridae Trichosurus vulpecula Possum SH Pteropodidae Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-Headed Flying-Fox O Pteropodidae Pteropus alecto Black Flying-Fox O
Fish in Lake Hugh Muntz • Introduced fish species have been found in Lake Hugh Muntz during DPI&F studies 2004 & 2005. • Additional surveys will be conducted in this study Common name Scientific name Status Long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii Freshwater native Freshwater catfish Tandanus tandanus Freshwater native Flathead gudgeon Philypnodon grandiceps Freshwater native Bony herring Nematalosa erebi Freshwater native River garfish Hyporhamphus ardelio Estuarine / marine Common Gerres ovatus Estuarine / marine silverbelly Sea mullet Mugil cephalus Freshwater / marine Barred grunter Amniataba percoides Introduced native Tilapia Oreochromis Noxious mossambicus Gambusia Gambusia holbrooki Noxious Info from Qld DPI & Fisheries (Peter Kind)
The Management Plan.... • THE PLAN WILL BE THE STRATEGIC GUIDE FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING REGARDING LAKE HUGH MUNTZ
To Do...The Management Plan.... • Define Environmental Values (consultation) • Review current monitoring program and make recommendations..... – Conduct water quality investigations – Understand nutrient cycling study – Define factors controlling algal blooms – Investigate sediment contamination and biogeochemistry to help d t d t i t li
The Management Plan.... • Stormwater assessment and management recommendations. – Events sampling • Develop strategies to be implemented in response to algae blooms • Finalise aquatic fauna surveys (fish) subject to approval from DPI&F THIS IS NOT LAKE HUGH MUNTZ • Develop an operation maintenance manual LETS MAKE SURE IT NEVER GETS THIS WAY
Some management strategies • For algae we need plants, or a media such as sand or gravel. • For ammonia we need an aerated media. An example is bioretention filters which can be readily incorporated into an urban setting. • For litter, leaves and debris we need a GPT, these can be pit inserts or end of pipe technology. • For nitrates and phosphates we need plants - wetlands.
Key stakeholder and community input • It is essential that we understand how YOU value Lake Hugh Muntz. • To be involved you can....... – Complete the survey to determine the environmental values (available tonight). – Volunteer to assist us in sampling water quality during a rainfall event. Full training will be provided (form). – Request to be put on a database of stakeholders for future consultation (forms). – Contact GCCC who will inform Australian Wetlands • Lake and Wetlands Management Officer • Christy Engelzakis Ph 55816722 – OPEN DISCUSSION NOW........
Key stakeholder and community input DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS
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