HAWKESBURY HEALTH STRATEGY the Friends landholders. withprivate ofColo group underway management projects and25riverbank a signifi cant volume of clean waterriver. to the through There environmental isconsiderable community activity western . asitsupplies River to thehealthofHawkesbury This subcatchment important isextremely popularfor swimmingasitisoneofthecleanestwater sitesthe Colo isvery within anhourfrom River north isworld-renowned. anditsscenicbeauty the secondlongestsandstone gorge onearth The lower reach of The Colo isacatchment River withwildandscenic values. This uniquesandstone gorge isbelieved to be quality. inthe downstream impact World ofsedimentsanddecreased Area, Heritage water mainlythrough thedelivery subcatchments)River fl agriculture, owintoRiver the subcatchment whichiscausing Colo andthesesupport conditiondueto thelackofdisturbance. Capertee, intact WolganThree and majorsubcatchments (The Wollemi reaches of theriver bydeepsandstone gorges areThis subcatchment ischaracterised andthemajority innear oftheGreater BlueMountains National Park, part World Area. Heritage Colo confl River River at Lower uencewiththeHawkesbury 80%ofthissubcatchment isinPortland. Wollemi and oftheCapertee fromThe Colo subcatchment River extends to thejunction Wolgan the intheNorth Rivers

Colo River Subcatchment

23 Appendix 4.2 Subcatchment summaries Colo River riparian lands (P,E) (E,P) of incentives – provision quality (M) protect remnant riparian vegetation (P) riparian vegetation remnant protect practices in riparian lands (E) (E) restoration • Management impacts of stock on waterways (W) • adoption of sustainable land use practices Encourage in • (W) riparian vegetation of exotic Removal/replacement • management (P,W) Riparian wetland • activity Maintain existing community based environment • water values – recreational of recreational Maintenance Most of reach within National Park. Most of reach • conservation to Develop management agreements Entire reach within Wollemi within reach Entire • Management impacts of stock on waterways (W) • adoption of sustainable land management Encourage • (W) riparian vegetation of exotic Removal/replacement • management Riparian wetland • environmental Increase community capacity for • values (M) of recreational Maintenance • (W) with indigenous riparian vegetation Revegetation within National Park. reach Entire (Planning, Education, Works, Monitoring, Institutional) Monitoring, Works, Education, (Planning, under now of black willows cant invasion signifi – ongoing monitoring program active control will be required and maintenance particularly areas) in swampy damaging Arundo donax) • Damaging access • Damaging • – previously invasion High weed woody • section of reach, in lower (stock access Damaging • Blackberry, (Bamboo, invasion Highweed woody • soils acid sulfate Potential cance cance cance shing shing agship species (Diamond ed fl ed cant community based cant fauna species associated regional economy regional activity restoration environment community of Colo Friends between Trust NPWS & Environmental group, black willows removing signifi World and adjacent with this reach Heritage Area (SREP 20 Wetland) (SREP 20 wetlands) activity environment Python) economy regional • Good riparian vegetation • signifi of regional Wetlands • fi swimming recreational Popular • Popular • to contributes based tourism River • Signifi • partnership Highly successful • species – numbers of Flagship • fi recreational Popular • category Rare river (Channel • Some community based • Identifi swimming • Popular • to contributes based tourism River Reach ValuesReach Threats Reach recommendations Reach management (Near Intact mainly within reserve) Assisted Assisted Regeneration Revegetation • signifi of regional Wetland Assisted Assisted Regeneration Conservation (Near Intact within reserve) Riparian Land Management Category uence uence the gorge down down the gorge the confl to with the Colo River to junctionto with Wollemi Junction Wollemi Meroo Colo to Description Wheeney R1 Conservation Wheeney R2 of bottom From Colo R2Colo Meroo Colo From Wollangambe Wollangambe R1 Creek. Bowen Concern: of Community Creeks Colo R1Colo of Downstream Reach Name Reach Reach Management Recommendations – Colo River Subcatchment River – Colo Recommendations Reach Management

24 24 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY