Western District Lakes Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description
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Western District Lakes Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description Blank page i Citation Hale, J. and Butcher, R., 2011. Ecological Character Description for the Western District Lakes Ramsar site. Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Copyright © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2011. The Ecological Character Description for the Western District Lakes Ramsar site is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ This report should be attributed as ‘Ecological Character Description for the Western District Lakes Ramsar site, Commonwealth of Australia 2011’. The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Acknowledgements Halina Kobryn, Murdoch University (mapping and GIS). The steering committee was comprised of representatives of the following organisations: • Yvette Baker; Department of Sustainability and Environment • John Clarke; Parks Victoria • Frank Gleeson; Parks Victoria • Janet Holmes; Department of Sustainability and Environment • Grant Hull; Department of Sustainability and Environment • Paul Leahy; Environmental Protection Authority • Graham Mitchell; Department of Sustainability and Environment • Jim Mollison; Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities • Donna Smithyman; Corangamite Catchment Authority Introductory Notes This Ecological Character Description (ECD Publication) has been prepared in accordance with the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands (National Framework) (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008). The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) prohibits actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland unless the Commonwealth Environment Minister has approved the taking of the action, or some other provision in the EPBC Act allows the action to be taken. The information in this ECD Publication does not indicate any commitment to a particular course of action, policy position or decision. Further, it does not provide assessment of any particular action within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), nor replace the role of the Minister or his delegate in making an informed decision to approve an action. This ECD Publication is provided without prejudice to any final decision by the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia on change in ecological character in accordance with the requirements of Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Note: There may be differences in the type of information contained in this ECD publication, to those of other Ramsar wetlands. Cover photos: B Hale, J Clarke, J Mollison. ii Table of Contents Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................v List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... viii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Site details .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of purpose ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Relevant treaties, legislation and regulations ............................................................................................ 4 1.4 Method ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 2. General Description of the Western District Lakes Ramsar site ..................................................................... 8 2.1 Location ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Land tenure ................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Wetland types .......................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Ramsar criteria ......................................................................................................................................... 15 2.4.1 Criteria under which the site was designated.................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Assessment based on current Ramsar criteria ................................................................................. 16 3. Critical Components and Processes ............................................................................................................. 23 3.1 Identifying critical components and processes ........................................................................................ 23 3.2 Essential elements ................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2.1 Climate .............................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.2 Geomorphic setting ........................................................................................................................... 29 3.2.3 Water clarity and nutrients................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.4 Wetland vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 33 3.2.5 Fish .................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.2.6 Invertebrates ..................................................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Critical components and processes ......................................................................................................... 38 3.3.1 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Salinity ............................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.3 Threatened flora ................................................................................................................................ 48 3.3.4 Waterbirds ......................................................................................................................................... 48 4 Ecosystem services ........................................................................................................................................ 56 4.1 Overview of benefits and services ........................................................................................................... 56 4.2 Identifying critical ecosystem services and benefits ................................................................................ 57 4.3 Critical services ........................................................................................................................................ 58 4.3.1 Supports a diversity of wetland types ................................................................................................ 58 4.3.2 Provides physical habitat for large numbers of waterbirds ............................................................... 60 4.3.3 Priority wetland species – supports migratory birds .......................................................................... 65 4.3.4 Threatened wetland species ............................................................................................................. 67 4.4 Non-critical services ................................................................................................................................