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River
Newsletter No. 39 Conservation September 2014
Society
The Second and most important or Content: Fr om the Chair urgent matter is that of Regular pieces Membership. Usually I have to go through my diary, search various reports, and check my From the Chair Pg 1. notes before writing for the newsletter. For several years now the River RCS Reserve of the Conservation Society has operated In many ways, material for this issue has Quarter Pg 2. presented itself and is extremely urgent. with a long list of around 100 AWC Report: Paruna Bird interested people. Recently, the First let me comment on the ongoing Walks Pg 3. Federal Government’s Registrar of work and projects, which are in hand. Environmental Organisations has What’s out in York? Pg 7 The transfer of the Herbarium informed the Treasurer that we need collection to Kings Park is winding up to have fifty financial members to and we are pleased to say the actual remain eligible for registration. As Feature Articles transfer went smoothly, thanks to all we currently do not have fifty concerned. Digital copies of the CARE Page 2. financial members, our charitable Collection have been placed on web standing may be challenged. The Training the Avon River: sites and are available to the public at A lesson for the next the York Community Library. All that Registrar has given us until the 30th generation Pg 4. remains to be done is the financial October to comply with the acquittal. legislation.
Coming up..... The fieldwork component of the To continue the valuable work, Tortoise DNA Study is completed and which has been carried out since the Landcare Grants 2014-15 we await the reports. I’m told that the 1990’s, I appeal to everyone, please Pg 5. correct term should be Turtle even become a financial member of the though these little characters live in our River Conservation Society. Our Conservation Council Conference Pg 5. inland waterways, but I’m using the Membership form is enclosed with common terminology. your newsletter or attached to this Aussie Backyard Bird
email. You can now make payments Count Pg 5. As reported in the last issue of the electronically by emailing the new newsletter, the Proposed Water Rat Northam to Burlong Park RCS email address to obtain bank Project this is taking shape and we Walk Trail Pg 6. details; should be in a position shortly to report [email protected] developments. RCS News Trevor. Cicely Howell has offered to take on the RCS Reserves Pg 6. responsibility for RCS Reserves . The Committee accepted her offer to take RCS Secretary Pg 6. on the duty of keeping those members acting as guardians of the reserves RCS Works trailer Pg 6. allocated to the River Conservation RCS Online! Pg 6. Society focussed on their specific River Conservation Society Newsletter No. 39 – September 2014 function.
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CARE · Bird Life Australia (Wheatbelt Branch) · Friends of the Dale River By Greg Warburton · Toodyay Friends of the River Other representatives are invited and do attend meetings such as the Department of Water, Wheatbelt NRM and indigenous representatives.
Normally, meetings are held every 2 months.
The Avon River is 280 km in length with a Geographically, the combined groups cover catchment area of over 125, 000 km 2. It s a giant around 10,000 km2, four Shires and 150 km of system by any standards and as a major tributary the Avon and Dale Rivers (excluding tributaries). of the Swan River, is of significant importance to CARE is currently focusing on issues such as not just the dwellers of the Avon River Basin, but landfill proposals for the Avon Valley, river pool to the whole state. dredging, water quality monitoring and various Just like the passionate volunteers of the RCS, development proposals. there are a suite of other dedicated volunteers Greg Warburton is the Chair Person and Wayne who have formed community groups along the Clarke the Secretary; both are good contact length of the river and throughout its catchment. people for CARE. They are committed to preserving the remaining values and services that the river provides, and in restoring and caring for the parts that have been Wayne Clarke adversely affected by landuse change. Emil: [email protected] Ph: (08) 6364 3609 While each group has a focus and a “patch”,
there are some environmental and social issues Greg Warburton that span across cadastral and political Email: [email protected] boundaries and require co-ordination to address Ph: (08) 9574 5445 with any real effectiveness. Mob: 0499499119 Enter C.A.R.E. (Conserving the Avon River Environment). CARE is an incorporated, not for RCS Reserve of the profit organization that formed in 2012 in Quarter: Dell Reserve. response to the Department of Water’s decision to discontinue the Avon Ways Committee. At a glance ... Members of the various conservation Groups along the Avon River felt it was important for a Reserve Name : Dell Conservation Reserve representative, umbrella organisation be Area : 35.2 ha maintained to act in a advocacy and advisory Location : Lot 29719 Talbot West Rd, York W.A. function. Access : via Talbot West Rd Guardians : The Boggs family. There was a strong response and presently CARE (08) 9574 2749 or (08) 9386 4790 has representatives from 7 community groups. These are: Dell Conservation Reserve is located in the Talbot Brook Catchment. It is unique in the wheatbelt · The River Conservation Society because it supports communities that rely on · Talbot Brook Land Management Association fresh, shallow groundwater – a rare habitat in the · Avon Valley Environment Society region. Many plant species (such as Melaleuca · Toodyay Naturalists’ Club preissiana ) are thriving in Dell at their Eastern- River Conservation Society Newsletter No. 39 – September 2014 Page 3 of 7 most limits. However, the downstream reaches of the creek that flows through Dell are quite degraded by salinity and heavy weed infestations. The RCS was awarded a Lotteries-West grant to install 10 monitoring bores at Dell in 2011. Our valued volunteer Michael McKeown has been collecting monthly bore readings for the last two years. These allow us to determine whether salinity is encroaching farther up the creekline and threatening healthy vegetation up-stream, and whether the fresh water tables are maintained within reach (rooting depth) of the plants that rely on it. Plate 3. Healthy paperbark stand growing over sedges at Dell Reserve in November 2012.
Plate 4. Salt affected flooded gums and infestation of Plate 1. Dell Conservation Reserve, York WA. sharp sedge in the creek at Dell reserve November 2012. AWC Report: Paruna Sanctuary Bird Walks
Local bird expert Simon Cherriman will lead a tour of Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary in the Avon Valley. Simon will guide you through several habitats, tuning you in to the surrounding bird calls and discussing the rich biodiversity of the region. Places strictly limited so book now!
Saturday 25th of October 6:00pm – 8:30pm Saturday 22nd of November
Plate 2. Guy and Astrid Boggs undertaking vegetation 6:15pm – 8:45pm surveys in a small stand of Jarrah at Dell Reserve in November 2012. Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary Avon Road Entrance Gidgegannup Cost: $20 pp / Ages 10+
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For bookings and information call (08) 9572 3169 With most of the students enrolled in the or email [email protected]. Masters of Environmental Science and Masters of Hydrogeology programs, the aim of the course is to introduce the students to a hands-on Training the Avon River: A experience and to build their field skills. lesson for the next generation. Students spoke to Dr Guys Boggs and Leigh generation. Whisson from Wheatbelt NRM in Northam about By Nik Callow catchment and natural resource management and walked along the river to Burlong Pool. They The River Training Scheme (RTS) was an searched for evidence of changes in the river over engineering solution employed from 1957-1972 the last few decades by comparing historical to mitigate flooding along the Avon River. The aerial photos of the area from 1961 to the scheme was undertaken from near Cobbler’s Pool present state. This is part of the work that a in Toodyay to Brookton and involved clearing Masters student Hannah Groves is completing for river channels of obstacles (braided beds, her Masters research thesis, looking at mapping vegetation and debris) to allow water to rapidly changes in the Avon River form archival aerial move through the system. The accelerated flow photography. From the imagery, it is apparent in the river has had many consequences for the there are some quite significant changes in the morphology and ecology of the river, including river character over this period and her results the sedimentation of river pools. are close to being ready.
Since the RTS, river pool restoration has been a focus of the Wheatbelt NRM (former ACC) and the DoW and the RCS own efforts at Gwambygine pool in particular are testament to the desire of our community to see the pools regain some of their former function and beauty.
This scenario presents an important teaching tool for the next generation of environmental managers. Assistant Professor Nik Callow from UWA has recently taken 18 students enrolled in “Catchment and River Processes” (part of the UWA Masters programs) on a tour of the Avon River.
Plate 6. Aerial photos of Burlong Pool, “before” (1961) and “after” (2006) the RTS. Map courtesy of Nik Callow. Plate 5. UWA students listen to Dr Guy Boggs of Wheatbelt NRM at the town pool in Northam. Photo courtesy of Nik Callow. Students also visited the Yenyenning Lakes area, and were based at the UWA Future Farm at Pingelly. From there, the students began learning
River Conservation Society Newsletter No. 39 – September 2014 Page 5 of 7 about the Dale River, focussing on the Reserve The 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15 and Deep Pools. These areas have been identified are targeted towards local community groups and as critical pool refuges and the Dale River as individuals that can successfully deliver local relatively fresh and un-impacted by the RTS. natural resource management projects. Up to $5 However, there are still significant challenges in terms of managing erosion and sediment filling million is available through grants of $5000 to river pools, particularly the Reserve Pool. $20 000 (GST exclusive). Of this, up to $2.5 million is available for agriculture focussed Greg Atwell met with the students and discussed projects and up to $2.5 million is available for the challenges that the Friends of the Dale River environment focussed projects and projects are (FOTD) and other NRM groups are facing in to be completed by 30 June 2016. Applications managing the river. close 20 October 2014, 2.00pm (AEDT) Students then completed two days of field work [email protected] on the Dale River, including; surveying the river ov.au. and mapping vegetation, looking at the inflow of groundwater that maintains the river pools and Conservation Council Conference the quality and quantity of pool inflows, looking for evidence of sedimentation in the pools and The Conservation Council Conference is to be the likely sources of sediments (catchment or held on the 4th October 2014. Irene Tallentire is floodplain sediments). currently representing the RCS at these meetings, however all RCS members are welcome to attend. Students presented their preliminary research to For conference location and details please refer members of the FOTD group, and are working for to www.ccwa.org.au/events/ccwa-state- the rest of the semester on analysing field data conference-2014. Alternatively, contact Trevor and compiling a final report on their reach to Moffat on (08) 9641 6147. make conclusions about the key processes and make management suggestions. Aussie Backyard Bird Count During National Bird Week ( 20-26 October 2014 ), BirdLife Australia is encouraging every Australian to head out into their ‘backyard’, favourite outdoor space, local park, beach, forest or paddock and take part in the very first Aussie Backyard Bird Count.
Download the specially designed an Aussie Bird Count app, featuring a Field Guide with almost 400 Australian birds to help you identify what you are seeing, do your 20-minute count on the spot in your favourite patch, and submit your checklist immediately. Once the event has finished, the Plate 7. Greg Atwell addresses the UWA students on the Dale River at a pile of dredging spoil. Photo is app will still be a handy tool as a fully functional courtesy of Nik Callow. field guide. The app (Aussie Bird Count) is now freely available in app stores. For more information, contact Ass. Professor Nik Callow at the UWA School of Earth and Environment, See www.aussiebirdcount.org.au for more [email protected]. information.
Coming up....
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Northam to Burlong Park Walk Trail A voluntary secretary is required for the RCS. Persons interested should contact Trevor Moffat Free walks will be conducted by local to discuss the position and duties involved. This is environmental experts from the Avon Valley an unpaid position but has the full support of the Environment Society along the new Northam to RCS committee in carrying out secretarial duties. Burlong Park walk trail. Constructed by high school volunteers, the trail has a 2km and 5km RCS Works trailer walk option. Full excursion is 2.5 hrs, with refreshments on arrival and free bus transfer. The RCS works trailer currently housed at Guides will focus on local flora and fauna, local Karakamia is in need of a paint job. If there are history and cultural links. members out there that are skilled in spray painting and sign writing and are willing to offer their services for the painting of our trailer please Departs 9am from the Northam Visitor contact Robert Pearce on (08) 9295 1261 to Centre discuss. Thurs 2nd October and Saturday 4th RCS Online! October. The RCS has a new email address;
RCS NEWS [email protected]
RCS Reserves and the RCS website is very close to being active;
Cecily Howell has taken on the role of reserves www.RiverConservationSociety.org manager. Reserve volunteers / helpers are required to help look after these reserves. What’s out in York? Interested persons to contact Cecily to help with this worthwhile cause. See the reserve location Have you seen and/or photographed any map below to find a reserve near you. interesting flora and fauna in York recently? Send in your story to the newsletter! We spent the long weekend at Eggy and Rob Boggs property “Gravelot” in Talbot Brook and were impressed by the range of plants in flower and the amount of animal activity.
Plate 8. RCS reserve locations. RCS Secretary
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Plate 9. Top: We stumbled on this 2m long carpet python resting in sticks on a breakaway. B y the bulge in its mid-section; we’re assuming it had just had breakfast. Bottom: Our daughter Astrid examines her first spider orchid– not sure it impre ssed her much but her parents loved it. Flowering nearby were purple enamel and cowslip orchids, all under she -oak.
That’s all for this quarter! We rely on your input to make this newsletter interesting and relevant. All members are welcome to contribute. Please forward email submissions to:
Attn: Dimity Boggs Email: [email protected] Postal: P.O. Box 1316 Toodyay WA 656
River Conservation Society Newsletter No. 39 – September 2014