DOCSLIB.ORG

Sourcing Contributing Areas to River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sourcing Contributing Areas to River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Sourcing Contributing Areas to River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Alice Micenko Supervisor: A/Prof. Keith Smettem Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental), University of Western Australia Acknowledgements i Acknowledgements There are a number of people whose input and support was essential to this project. At the top of the list is my supervisor, Associate Professor Keith Smettem. Thank you Keith for imparting a small portion of your very extensive knowledge about rivers and catchment behaviour to me. I have learnt a lot from working with you this year. I must thank Robin Smith, Wayne Tyson and Christian Zammit from the Department of Environment who provided data and maps for the project. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dianne Krikke and Elizabeth Halladin for their help with locating and understanding the laboratory equipment that I needed. To my parents, family and friends: thanks for putting up with my somewhat erratic behaviour this year, and for listening to me complain about the Ellen Brook. You have been amazing. I promise I will return to normal next year! I also strongly appreciate all the help and encouragement I received from the staff and students at the Centre for Water Research. Individual thanks go to Michael Evans, Jacinta Hewett and Ross Perrigo for their input into the project and dissertation. Finally, a special thank you and congratulations go to all the final year students who worked through this year with me. I couldn’t have done it alone. The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it. – Now we can! Sourcing Contributing Areas To River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Abstract ii Abstract The total flow in a stream is variable in both space and time, and is derived from a number of different sources. In ungauged catchments, environmental indicators, also known as environmental tracers, can be used to separate the contribution to total flow made by each of these sources. In order for environmental indicators to be used for this purpose, they must display conservative or predictable behaviour and significant spatial variation throughout the study area. Australia has a large number of ungauged rural catchments and there is a need for a simple and inexpensive method of determining contributing areas in these catchments. The study site for this project, the Ellen Brook catchment, located 20km north-east of Perth, Western Australia, was chosen for the benefits that may be derived from a better understanding of streamflow generation processes in the catchment, and because it can easily be divided into discrete regions that display substantially different soil and water properties. The two catchment regions used for the purpose of this study are the Swan Coastal Plain area in the west and the Darling and Dandaragan Plateau area to the east. Examination of a range of water parameters, including pH, temperature, colour intensity, dissolved oxygen, phosphorous and electrical conductivity, was undertaken at 9 sites throughout the catchment with the aim of identifying those parameters most suitable for use as environmental indicators of water source and flow contribution. Electrical conductivity and colour intensity measured through spectrophotometry were found to be the most strongly applicable tracers within the Ellen Brook catchment. Significant water signature differences between the two regions of the catchment were observed, with high colour and low salinity on the Swan Coastal Plain and little or no colour but high salinity in streams emanating from the Darling and Dandaragan Plateaus. Electrical conductivity and colour levels in the main Ellen Brook channel immediately downstream from these two source areas indicated that between 60% and 80% of the flow at the catchment is contributed by the Swan Coastal Plain region, with the remainder being derived from the Darling and Dandaragan Plateaus. The proportional contribution by the Swan Coastal Plain region was found to increase towards the end of the winter season. This is thought to be due to a rapid response time and subsequent soil drying on the Plateaus. Sourcing Contributing Areas To River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Glossary iii Glossary Baseflow See “Old” water Conservative substance A substance that does not undergo reactions or decay in a water body, and is transported at the velocity of the water body. Contributing Areas The geographic regions of a catchment that contribute runoff to a stream. Contributing areas can vary with time (see Variable Source Area Runoff Generation). Environmental tracer Any naturally occurring substance that can be used to follow the progression of water through a catchment. Generally conservative and additive in nature. Ephemeral stream A stream that flows only after periods of significant rainfall. In south-west Western Australia, ephemeral streams flow mainly in Winter and Spring. Hortonian Runoff Generation Runoff generation that occurs when the rate of rainfall exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil. Also known as Infiltration Excess Runoff Generation. Humus Substances derived from the decomposition of plant and animal material. Contains organic carbon. Hydrograph A graph illustrating the changes in flow at one point in a stream over time. Hydrographs can depict discharge, stream height or stream velocity. Sourcing Contributing Areas To River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Glossary iv Infiltration capacity The maximum rate at which precipitation water can enter a given soil under a given set of conditions. Interflow Rapidly moving subsurface water with a travel time between those of baseflow and surface flow, derived from rainfall that infiltrates the soil but does not become part of the main groundwater body. Also known as throughflow or shallow groundwater flow. Lateritic Derived from the weathering of aluminium and iron oxides and hydroxides. Lateritic soils are typically red, yellow or brown in colour due to the presence of iron. ‘New’ Water Water that is added to a catchment during a precipitation event. ‘Old’ Water Water that exists in a catchment prior to a precipitation event. The term ‘old’ water usually refers to that part of streamflow that is derived from groundwater. Also known as pre-event water or baseflow. Overland flow Runoff generated by rainfall travelling along the surface of the ground to a stream channel or other collection point. Also known as surface runoff. Palusplains Plains or flats that experience seasonal waterlogging. Runoff In a steady-state catchment, the portion of rainfall that does not undergo evapotranspiration. For the purpose of this report runoff is defined as the portion of rainfall that enters a stream through baseflow, interflow or overland flow. Saturation Excess Runoff Generation Runoff that occurs via overland flow when the soil becomes saturated so that no more rainfall can enter. Also known as the Dunne Saturation Excess Runoff Generation. Sourcing Contributing Areas To River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Glossary v Source area The physical area in which the water comprising streamflow originates. Spectrophotometry Technique whereby the light absorbance of a sample at different points on the electromagnetic spectrum is measured. Surface runoff See “Overland Flow” Variable Source Area Runoff Generation Theory The runoff generation theory that states that the areas of a catchment contributing to flow expand and contract as the extent of soil saturation changes. Water signature The distinct combination of physical and chemical properties that allow a particular water body or source to be identified. Sourcing Contributing Areas To River Flow in Ellen Brook, Western Australia, Using Environmental Indicators and Mixing Models Table of Contents vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements...........................................................................................i Abstract............................................................................................................ ii Glossary.......................................................................................................... iii 1 Introduction to the Project.........................................................................1 2 Literature Review......................................................................................3 2.1 Introduction to Runoff Pathways ................................................................. 3 2.2 Traditional hydrograph separation............................................................... 5 2.3 Use of Environmental Tracers for Hydrograph Separation.......................... 6 2.4 Principles of tracer hydrology ...................................................................... 7 2.5 Previous use of tracers................................................................................ 9 2.5.1 Typical characteristics of previous tracer studies ................................ 9 2.5.2 Success of previous tracer studies.................................................... 10 2.5.3 Use of tracers to identify changes in flow pathways.......................... 11 2.5.4 Use of tracers for spatial separation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Assessment of Wetland Invertebrate and Fish Biodiversity for the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy (Gss)
    ASSESSMENT OF WETLAND INVERTEBRATE AND FISH BIODIVERSITY FOR THE GNANGARA SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY (GSS) Bea Sommer, Pierre Horwitz and Pauline Hewitt Centre for Ecosystem Management Edith Cowan University, Joondalup WA 6027 Final Report to the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation November 2008 Assessment of wetland invertebrate and fish biodiversity for the GSS (Final Report) November 2008 This document has been commissioned/produced as part of the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy (GSS). The GSS is a State Government initiative which aims to provide a framework for a whole of government approach to address land use and water planning issues associated with the Gnangara groundwater system. For more information go to www.gnangara.water.wa.gov.au i Assessment of wetland invertebrate and fish biodiversity for the GSS (Final Report) November 2008 Executive Summary This report sought to review existing sources of information for aquatic fauna on the Gnangara Mound in order to: • provide a synthesis of the richness, endemism, rarity and habitat specificity of aquatic invertebrates in wetlands; • identify gaps in aquatic invertebrate data on the Gnangara Mound; • provide a synthesis of the status of freshwater fishes on the Gnangara Mound; • assess the management options for the conservation of wetlands and wetland invertebrates. The compilation of aquatic invertebrate taxa recorded from wetlands on both the Gnangara Mound and Jandakot Mound) between 1977 and 2003, from 18 studies of 66 wetlands, has revealed a surprisingly high richness considering the comparatively small survey area and the degree of anthropogenic alteration of the plain. The total of over 550 taxa from 176 families or higher order taxonomic levels could be at least partially attributed to sampling effort.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Land and Groundwater for Horticulture from Gingin to Augusta
    Research Library Resource management technical reports Natural resources research 1-1-1999 Coastal land and groundwater for horticulture from Gingin to Augusta Dennis Van Gool Werner Runge Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/rmtr Part of the Agriculture Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Soil Science Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Van Gool, D, and Runge, W. (1999), Coastal land and groundwater for horticulture from Gingin to Augusta. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth. Report 188. This report is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural resources research at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Resource management technical reports by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. ISSN 0729-3135 May 1999 Coastal Land and Groundwater for Horticulture from Gingin to Augusta Dennis van Gool and Werner Runge Resource Management Technical Report No. 188 LAND AND GROUNDWATER FOR HORTICULTURE Information for Readers and Contributors Scientists who wish to publish the results of their investigations have access to a large number of journals. However, for a variety of reasons the editors of most of these journals are unwilling to accept articles that are lengthy or contain information that is preliminary in nature. Nevertheless, much material of this type is of interest and value to other scientists, administrators or planners and should be published. The Resource Management Technical Report series is an avenue for the dissemination of preliminary or lengthy material relevant the management of natural resources.
    [Show full text]
  • 82452 JW.Rdo
    Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 Item 9.1.19 WSD Item 9.1.19 H PP TONKIN HS HS HWY SU PICKERING BROOK HS ROE HS TS CANNING HILLS HS HWY MARTIN HS HS SU HS GOSNELLS 5 8 KARRAGULLEN HWY RANFORD HS P SOUTHERN 9 RIVER HS 11 BROOKTON SU 3 ROAD TS 12 H ROLEYSTONE 10 ARMADALE HWY 13 HS ROAD 4 WSD ARMADALE 7 6 FORRESTDALE HS 1 ALBANY 2 ILLAWARRA WESTERN BEDFORDALE HIGHWAY WSD THOMAS ROAD OAKFORD SOUTH WSD KARRAKUP OLDBURY SU Location of the proposed amendment to the MRS for 1161/41 - Parks and Recreation Amendment City of Armadale METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME LEGEND Proposed: RESERVED LANDS ZONES PARKS AND RECREATION PUBLIC PURPOSES - URBAN Parks and Recreation Amendment 1161/41 DENOTED AS FOLLOWS : 1 R RESTRICTED PUBLIC ACCESS URBAN DEFERRED City of Armadale H HOSPITAL RAILWAYS HS HIGH SCHOOL CENTRAL CITY AREA TS TECHNICAL SCHOOL PORT INSTALLATIONS INDUSTRIAL CP CAR PARK U UNIVERSITY STATE FORESTS SPECIAL INDUSTRIAL CG COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT WATER CATCHMENTS SEC STATE ENERGY COMMISSION RURAL SU SPECIAL USES CIVIC AND CULTURAL WSD WATER AUTHORITY OF WA PRIVATE RECREATION P PRISON WATERWAYS RURAL - WATER PROTECTION ROADS : PRIMARY REGIONAL ROADS METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME BOUNDARY OTHER REGIONAL ROADS armadaleloc.fig N 26 Mar 2009 Produced by Mapping & GeoSpatial Data Branch, Department for Planning and Infrastructure Scale 1:150 000 On behalf of the Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth WA 0 4 Base information supplied by Western Australian Land Information Authority GL248-2007-2 GEOCENTRIC
    [Show full text]
  • Atic Fa and T Ralia's Sout
    Aquatic fauna refuges in Marrggaret River and the Cape to Cape region of Australia’s Mediterranean-climatic Southwestern Province Mark G. Allen1,2, Stephen J. Beatty1 and David L. Morgan1* 1. Freshwater Fish Group & Fish Health Unit, Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch 6150, Western Austrralia 2. Current address: Department of Aquattic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia, 6986, Australia * correspondence to [email protected] SUUMMARY Margaret River and the Cape to Cape region in the extreme south-western tip of Australia are located between Capee Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south and encompass all intervening catchments that drain westward to the In- dian Ocean. The region has a Mediteerranean climate and houses 13 native, obligate freshwater macrofauna species (i.e. fishes, decapod crustaceans and a bivalve mol- lusc), four of which are listed as threatened under State and/or Commonwealth leg- islation. The most imperiled species are the Margaret River Burrowing Crayfish (Engaewa pseudoreducta) and Hairy Marron (Cherax tenuimanus), both of which are endemic to the Margaret River catchment and listed as critically endangered (also by the IUCN), and Balston’s Pygmy Perch (Nannatherina balstoni) which is vulner- able. The region also houses several fishes that may represent neew, endemic taxa based on preliminary molecular evidence. Freshwater ecosystems in the region face numerous threats including global climate change, a growing huuman population, introduced species, destructive land uses, riparian degradation, waater abstraction, declinning environmental flows, instream barriers, and fire.
    [Show full text]
  • 4.4 Key Environmental Factor – Inland Waters the ESD for the Proposal Refers to the EPA Factors “Hydrological Processes” and “Inland Waters Environmental Quality”
    Bindoon Bypass Environmental Review Document | Preliminary Documentation 4.4 Key Environmental Factor – Inland Waters The ESD for the Proposal refers to the EPA factors “Hydrological Processes” and “Inland Waters Environmental Quality”. On 27 June 2018, the EPA combined these two factors into the new “Inland Waters” environmental factor. The Proponent has chosen to align the ERD with the current EPA environmental factors and present the information required by the ESD under the heading of “Inland Waters”. 4.4.1 EPA Objective To maintain the hydrological regimes and quality of groundwater and surface water so that environmental values are protected. 4.4.2 Policy and Guidance The following EPA policy and guidance have been considered during the preparation of this ERD and the supporting technical studies: • Statement of environmental principles, factors and objectives (EPA 2016a) • Environmental factor guideline – hydrological processes (EPA 2016h) • Environmental factor guideline – inland waters environmental quality (EPA 2016i) • Environmental factor guideline – inland waters (EPA 2018b). Other policy and guidance considered during the preparation of this ERD and the supporting technical studies includes: • Geomorphic wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain dataset (DBCA 2016) • Hydrogeological reporting associated with a groundwater well licence (DoW 2009) • Stormwater management manual for WA (DoW 2004) • State planning policy 2.9: water resources (WAPC 2006) • Guidelines for treatment of stormwater runoff from the road infrastructure (Austroads 2003) • Roads near sensitive water resources (DoW 2006a) • Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality (ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000) • WA environmental offsets policy (Government of WA 2011) • WA environmental offsets guidelines (Government of WA 2014a) • WA environmental offsets template (Government of WA 2014b).
    [Show full text]
  • Bennett Brook
    Tributary Foreshore Assessment: Bennett Brook Conservation and Ecosystem Management Division March 2019 Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 9219 9000 Fax: (08) 9334 0498 www.dbca.wa.gov.au © Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on behalf of the State of Western Australia March 2019 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to DBCA. This report was prepared by Alison McGilvray, Conservation and Ecosystem Management Division, DBCA. Questions regarding the use of this material should be directed to: Alison McGilvray Conservation and Ecosystem Management Division Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: 08 9278 0900 Email: [email protected] The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2019, Tributary Foreshore Assessment Report – Bennett Brook, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth. Disclaimer: DBCA does not guarantee that this document is without flaw of any kind and disclaims all liability for any errors, loss or other consequence which may arise from relying on any information depicted. This document is available in alternative formats on request. All photographs by DBCA unless otherwise acknowledged. Front cover: Simla Wetland restoration site in July 2018. Photo – Melinda McAndrew Contents Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Baseline Study of Organic Contaminants in the Swan and Canning Catchment Drainage System Using Passive Sampling Devices
    Government of Western Australia Department of Water A baseline study of organic contaminants in the Swan and Canning catchment drainage system using passive sampling devices Looking after all our water needs Water This report was prepared by the technical series Department of Water for the Report no. WST 5 Swan River Trust. December 2009Science A baseline study of organic contaminants in the Swan and Canning catchment drainage system using passive sampling devices Department of Water Water Science technical series Report No. 5 December 2009 Department of Water 168 St Georges Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000 Telephone +61 8 6364 7600 Facsimile +61 8 6364 7601 www.water.wa.gov.au © Government of Western Australia 2009 December 2009 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Water. ISSN: 1836-2869 (print) ISSN: 1836-2877 (online) ISBN: 978-1-921549-61-8 (print) ISBN: 978-1-921549-62-5 (online) Acknowledgements This project was funded by the Government of Western Australia through the Swan River Trust. This was a collaborative research project between The Department of Water and the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox). Cover photo: Swan River at the confluence of the Helena River by D. Tracey. Citation details The recommended citation for this publication is: Foulsham, G, Nice, HE, Fisher, S, Mueller, J, Bartkow, M, & Komorova, T 2009, A baseline study of organic contaminants in the Swan and Canning catchment drainage system using passive sampling devices, Water Science Technical Series Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Information for Management of the Ellen Brook, Brockman River and Upper Canning Southern Wungong Catchments
    GROUNDWATER INFORMATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE ELLEN BROOK, BROCKMAN RIVER AND UPPER CANNING SOUTHERN WUNGONG CATCHMENTS Salinity and Land Use Impacts Series Groundwater in 3 catchments of the Swan-Canning rivers SLUI 12 GROUNDWATER INFORMATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE ELLEN BROOK, BROCKMAN RIVER AND UPPER CANNING SOUTHERN WUNGONG CATCHMENTS by R. A. Smith, R. Shams, M. G. Smith, and A. M. Waterhouse Resource Science Division Water and Rivers Commission WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION SALINITY AND LAND USE IMPACTS SERIES REPORT NO. SLUI 12 SEPTEMBER 2002 i Groundwater in 3 catchments of the Swan-Canning rivers SLUI 12 Salinity and Land Use Impacts Series Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge help and advice from; The Advisory Committee (below) to the Swan Hydrogeological Resource Base and Catchment Interpretation Project Department Representative Agriculture Western Australia Gerry Parlevliet Conservation and Land Management Rob Towers Community Peter Murray (Chair) CSIRO Dr John Adeney Edith Cowan University Dr Ray Froend Environmental Protection Authority Wes Horwood, Jane Taylor Local Government Authority Mick McCarthy, Veronica Oma Ministry for Planning David Nunn, Marie Ward, Alan Carman-Brown Swan Catchment Centre Peter Nash Swan River Trust Dr Tom Rose, Declan Morgan, Adrian Tomlinson Mr Ken Angel (Agriculture Western Australia), Mr Robert Panasiewicz (formerly Water and Rivers Commission), and Mr Syl Kubicki (formerly Water and Rivers Commission). Recommended Reference The recommended reference for this report is: SMITH, R. A., SHAMS, R., SMITH M. G., and WATERHOUSE, A. M., 2002, Groundwater information for management of the Ellen Brook, Brockman River and Upper Canning Southern Wungong catchments: Western Australia, Water and Rivers Commission, Salinity and Land Use Impacts Series Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • WESTERN SWAMP TORTOISE (Pseudemydura Umbrina) RECOVERY PLAN
    WESTERN SWAMP TORTOISE (Pseudemydura umbrina) RECOVERY PLAN Andrew A. Burbidge, Gerald Kuchling, Craig Olejnik and Lyndon Mutter for the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team 2010 Wildlife Management Program No. 50 ii WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM NO. 50 WESTERN SWAMP TORTOISE (PSEUDEMYDURA UMBRINA) RECOVERY PLAN by 1 2 2 2 Andrew A. Burbidge , Gerald Kuchling , Craig Olejnik and Lyndon Mutter for the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team 1 87 Rosedale St Floreat, WA 6014 2 Department of Environment and Conservation Swan Coastal District 5 Dundebar Rd, Wanneroo, WA 6065 2010 Department of Environment and Conservation Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia ISSN 0816-9713 Cover photo: adult male Pseudemydura umbrina at Ellen Brook Nature Reserve by Gerald Kuchling The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Recovery Plans are edited by the Species and Communities Branch Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia Telephone: +61 8 9334 0455; Facsimile +61 8 9334 0278; Email: [email protected] iii FOREWORD The Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) publishes Wildlife Management Programs to provide detailed information and management actions for the conservation of threatened species of flora and fauna or of ecological communities, as well as harvested species of flora and fauna. This Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan is the 4th edition of Wildlife Management Program No. 11, published in 1994, which in turn was based on Wildlife Management Program No. 6, published in 1990. The 2nd edition covered work from January 1998 to December 2002 and the 3rd edition covered 2003 to 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • NUTRIENT FILTER PILOT TRIAL Ellen Brook Western Australia
    NUTRIENT FILTER PILOT TRIAL Ellen Brook Western Australia A REPORT FOR THE SWAN RIVER TRUST CHEMCENTRE Project T23601 MARCH 2012 © COPYRIGHT CHEMCENTRE 2012 FURTHER INFORMATION CHEMCENTRE www.chemcentre.wa.gov.au BUILDING 500 (SOUTH), RESOURCES AND CHEMISTRY PRECINCT CORNER MANNING ROAD & TOWNSING DRIVE, BENTLEY WA 6102 COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER © This work is copyright. Apart from any use prescribed as lawful under Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Chief Executive Officer of ChemCentre. © COPYRIGHT CHEMCENTRE 2012 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Following a stakeholder workshop involving staff from the Swan River Trust, CSIRO, Government agencies, local catchment management groups and councils on 19 February 2010, it was recommended that a pilot-scale field study was required to determine the effectiveness of Neutralised Used Acid (NUA) blended with other materials at a field scale to inform the feasibility of an end of catchment treatment system. Two blends, containing either 25% or 40% NUA with granular activated carbon (GAC), calcined magnesia (MgO) and coarse river sand were recommended based on earlier laboratory trials conducted by CSIRO (Wendling et al, 2009a, Wendling et al, 2009b). An initial pilot trial was established at the Bingham Road Creek (Figure 1) in winter/spring 2010, however design issues resulted in insufficient data collected to inform the feasibility study (Douglas et al, 2011). The report from the pilot trial recommended a second pilot trial, with modified design, be established to provide ‘proof of concept’ for an end of catchment treatment system. Information gained from the second pilot trial will be used to inform the feasibility study to ultimately influence a decision framework as to the cost and viability of using an end of catchment treatment system to remove nutrients from the Ellen Brook.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment
    Bulletin No. 4498 ISSN 1326-415X June 2001 Sustainable Land Management in the Ellen Brook Catchment Developed and compiled by Kylie Banfield ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Several people contributed to the preparation of this manual: • Ken Angell (Agriculture Western Australia) • Damian Crilly (Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group) • Chris Ferreira (Landcare Solutions) • Mike Grasby (Mike Grasby Consulting) • Garry Heady (Heady Enterprises) • Jason Hick (BSD Consultants) • Ashley Prout (BSD Consultants) Thanks also go to Gerry Parlevliet from Agriculture Western Australia and members of the Ellen Brook Integrated Catchment Group for reviewing and commenting on this publication. © Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture 2001 IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER In relying on or using this document or any advice or information expressly or impliedly contained within it, you accept all risks and responsibility for loss, injury, damages, costs and other consequences of any kind whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly to you or any other person from your doing so. It is for you to obtain your own advice and conduct your own investigations and assessments of any proposals that you may be considering in light of your own circumstances. Further, the State of Western Australia, the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture, the Agriculture Protection Board, the authors, the publisher and their officers, employees and agents: • do not warrant the accuracy, currency, reliability or correctness of this document or any advice or information expressly or impliedly contained within it; and • exclude all liability of any kind whatsoever to any person arising directly or indirectly from reliance on or the use of this document or any advice or information expressly or impliedly contained within it by you or any other person.
    [Show full text]
  • Aquatic Macrofauna of Ellen Brook and the Brockman River: Fresh Water Refuges in a Salinised Catchment
    AQUATIC MACROFAUNA OF ELLEN BROOK AND THE BROCKMAN RIVER: FRESH WATER REFUGES IN A SALINISED CATCHMENT Report to SJ Beatty, DL Morgan, M Klunzinger and AJ Lymbery Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research Murdoch University March 2010 AQUATIC MACROFAUNA OF ELLEN BROOK AND THE BROCKMAN RIVER AQUATIC MACROFAUNA OF ELLEN BROOK AND THE BROCKMAN RIVER: FRESH WATER REFUGES IN A SALINISED CATCHMENT Report to Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group Authors: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY SJ Beatty, DL Morgan, LOTTERYWEST. WE WOULD LIKE TO M Klunzinger & AJ Lymbery THANK AMY SALMON AT Centre for Fish & Fisheries CHITTERING LANDCARE FOR CO‐ Research, Murdoch University ORDINATING THE PROJECT. THANKS March 2010 TO THE ELLEN BROCKMAN INTEGRATED CATCHMENT GROUP , THE SWAN RIVER TRUST AND THE MANY LANDHOLDERS IN THESE CATCHMENTS THAT PROVIDED ACCESS TO SITES. Frontispiece: Western Mud Minnow in Lennard Brook; a critical habitat for the species. 2 AQUATIC MACROFAUNA OF ELLEN BROOK AND THE BROCKMAN RIVER Summary The South West Coast Drainage Division houses a highly endemic assemblage of aquatic fauna. For example, the region’s freshwater fish (80% endemic) and crayfish (100% endemic) endemicity is unsurpassed within the continent. However, this fauna has been severely impacted by habitat change and introduced aquatic species. Understanding the distribution and population viability of these aquatic organisms allows for the development and implementation of effective river action plans that can utilise these organisms as long‐term bioindicators of ecosystem health, but can also aid in the recognition of fauna that is in need of special protection. The Brockman River and Ellen Brook are both major tributaries of the Swan River.
    [Show full text]