STABILITY & LOCATION OF SPECIES ON STREAM BANKS Bank reinforcement by roots requires an extensive and intermeshed network of roots. This can be achieved by a mixture of large trees, shrubs, vines and grasses. Determining the ideal width of the riparian zone for bank stability o Minimum width = 5 metres plus o Bank height plus o Rate of erosion (metres/year) x years for tree to reach maturity (E.g. 5 + 10 + (0.5 x 20) = 25 metres)

Overhanging vegetation protects the bank by reducing the energy of floodwaters

Large deep-rooted eucalypts increase bank Plants growing on the mid stability by up to 175% lower bank (e.g. weeping A reed-bed 2m wide can (Abernethy, 1999) bottlebrush) increase absorb about two-thirds stability by up 132% of wave energy generated by wash from boats (Bonham, 1980)

UPPER MIDDLE LOWER

This guide was developed for the Mary River, South East QLD ’ Aug ust 2000 Riverbank Vegetation has a major impact on bank stability, channel shape and health of the waterway. Vegetation reduces flow velocity, improves bank stability by binding bank material, filters nutrients, traps sediments, moderates water temperature fluctuations and light conditions, improves habitats for all in-stream inhabitants and enhances social amenity.

This is a small selection of native scrub plants which occur along the freshwater lower reaches of the Mary River

Top bank Middle bank Lower bank Araucaria cunninghamii - hoop Acacia aulacocarpa - brown salwood, Callistemon viminalis - weeping pine Alphitonia excelsa - soap tree bottlebrush Argyrodendron triofoliolatum - Alyxia ruscifolia - chain fruit Casuarina cunninghamii - river brown tulip oak Aphananthe philippinensis - rough- sheoak Cassia brewsteri - Leichhardt leaved elm Ficus coronata - sandpaper fig bean, laburnum Arytera species - native tamarinds Lomandra hystrix - matrush Cupaniopsis parvifolia green Canthium odoratum - shiny-leaved Lomandra longifolia - matrush leaved tamarind canthium Melaleuca linarifolia - snow in Euroschinus falcata ’ pink Castanospermum australe ’ blackbean summer poplar Commersonia bartramia - brown Syzygium australe - scrub Eucalyptus tereticornis - blue kurrajong cherry gum Cordyline species - palm lilies Waterhousia floribunda - Ficus macrophylla - Moreton Cryptocarya species - native laurels weeping lily pilly Bay fig Diospyros species - native ebonies

Flindersia australis - crows ash Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum - ivory Grevillea robusta - silky oak mahogany

Lophostemon suaveolens - Elaeocarpus obovatus - hard quandong swamp mahogany Ficus fraseri - sandpaper fig Mallotus philippensis - red Ficus racemosa - cluster fig

kamala Flindersia schottiana - bumpy ash Melia azederach - white cedar Glochidion summatranum - buttonwood

Parachidendron pruinosum - Harpullia hillii tulipwood snow wood Hymenosporum flavum - native

Pittosporum rhombifolium - frangipani diamond leaf pittosporum Jagera pseudorhus ’ foambark Polyscias elegans ’ celerywood Mallotus claoxyloides - green kamala

Pouteria pohlmaniana yellow Oplismenus aemulus - creeping beard boxwood grass

Sterculia quadrifida ’ peanut Pandorea pandorana - wonga vine tree Pavetta australiensis ’ pavetta,

Toona ciliata - red cedar Streblus brunonianus - whalebone tree Syzygium francisii - giant water gum Note: Some species occur in adjacent Tabernaemontana pandacqui - banana zones. bush

For further information call: Greening Australia Queensland (Tiaro Office), Ph: (07) 4129 2012 Department of Natural Resources Rivercare Officer, Ph: (07) 5480 6238