Benchmarking Saline Flows in Key Rivers and Streams for Resource Condition Target Development

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Benchmarking Saline Flows in Key Rivers and Streams for Resource Condition Target Development Benchmarking saline flows in key rivers and streams for resource condition target development SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS Final 25 July 2005 Benchmarking saline flows in key rivers and streams for resource condition target development SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS Final 25 July 2005 Sinclair Knight Merz ABN 37 001 024 095 590 Orrong Road, Armadale 3143 PO Box 2500 Malvern VIC 3144 Australia Tel: +61 3 9248 3100 Fax: +61 3 9248 3400 Web: www.skmconsulting.com COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Sinclair Knight Merz constitutes an infringement of copyright. SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Study area 1 1.2 Project scope 3 1.3 Report structure 3 2. Framework for water quality monitoring 4 2.1 Consideration of monitoring program objectives 4 2.2 Consideration of study design 4 2.3 Summary 6 3. Data availability 7 3.1 Moorabool Basin 8 3.2 Barwon Basin 9 3.3 Lake Corangamite Basin 10 3.4 Otway Coast Basin 10 4. Method of site selection and data analysis 12 4.1 Selection of “key points” 12 4.2 Method of data analysis 16 5. Results 18 5.1 Moorabool Basin 18 5.2 Barwon Basin 26 5.3 Lake Corangamite Basin 33 5.4 Otway Coast Basin 40 6. Discussion 49 6.1 Monitoring of salinity target areas 49 6.2 Monitoring of “end-of-valley” type points 55 7. Conclusions 59 7.1 Recommendations for salinity target areas 59 7.2 Recommendations for “end-of-valley” type points 59 7.3 Further recommendations 59 8. References 60 Appendix A Hydrographic monitoring sites 61 Appendix B Outliers removed from spot salinity records 65 I:\WCMS\Projects\WC03289\Deliverables\D04ral_Final_Report.doc PAGE i SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS Document history and status Revision Date issued Reviewed by Approved by Date approved Revision type Draft A 24-Jun-05 B Neal R Lett 24-Jun-05 Internal draft Draft A 28-Jun-05 G Hoxley R Lett 28-Jun-05 Internal draft Draft A 30-Jun-05 R Lett 30-Jun-05 Draft for release Final 25-July-05 G Hoxley R Lett 25-July-05 Final for release Distribution of copies Revision Copy no Quantity Issued to Draft A 1 (pdf) 1 Felicia Choo (CCMA) Final 1 (pdf) 1 Felicia Choo (CCMA) Printed: 25 July 2005 Last saved: 25 July 2005 04:01 PM File name: I:\WCMS\Projects\WC03289\Deliverables\D04ral_Final_Report.doc Author: Rebecca Lett Project manager: Rebecca Lett Name of organisation: Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Benchmarking saline flows in key rivers and streams for resource condition target Name of project: development Name of document: Salinity monitoring in the Moorabool, Barwon, Lake Corangamite and Otway Basins Document version: Final Project number: WC03289 I:\WCMS\Projects\WC03289\Deliverables\D04ral_Final_Report.doc PAGE ii SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS 1. Introduction The co-ordinated management of salinity within the Corangamite area has gone through a number of stages of development. In 1992 a publication was launched, called “Restoring the Balance”, as part of a salinity initiative by the State Government. In October 2001, the Commonwealth Government and the state of Victoria entered into an agreement for the implementation of a National Action Plan (NAP) for Salinity and Water Quality and in 2002 the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority launched a Catchment Strategy for the Corangamite Region. Among the key commitments of the NAP was a plan to establish regional targets and national standards for natural resource management, particularly for salinity and water quality (Commonwealth of Australia, 2001). The Catchment Management Authorities were designated the task of coordinating the NAP at a regional level. Responsibilities included target setting, community consultation and annual reporting. Monitoring of natural assets is an integral part of the NAP. SKM has been engaged by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) to collate and analyse all available stream salinity data for the major basins in the CCMA area. The CCMA has instructed that the flow weighted historical salinity should be defined at “key points” and that data sets should be grouped by basin. “Key points” are to include an “end-of-valley” type point that can be used as a baseline to indicate the overall resource condition of the stream from a salinity point of view. From this assessment, the CCMA requires general conclusions to be drawn as to the adequacy of salinity monitoring for the purpose of defining resource condition targets (RCTs). This report documents the findings of the salinity monitoring investigation. Within the following sections the study area (Section 1.1) and project scope are defined (Section 1.2). 1.1 Study area The basins within the CCMA area are the Moorabool, Barwon, Lake Corangamite and Otway Coast. These basins are all south of the Great Dividing Range and, as such, generally drain towards Bass Strait. The Lake Corangamite Basin however constitutes a terminal system, with streams generally flowing north to south into local lakes. The Moorabool River drains an area of 2,170 km2 (Department of Water Resources Victoria, 1989), from the Wombat State Forest, near Ballan, to the Bass Strait. In its upper reaches the river is divided into two branches, called the West Branch and East Branch. At Geelong, the Moorabool River meets the Barwon River. The river is highly regulated; the major reservoirs within the Moorabool Basin are Lal Lal Reservoir, Moorabool Reservoir and Bostock Reservoir. Located within the Moorabool Basin is the Little River, which drains in a south-easterly direction, from the Brisbane Ranges to Port Phillip Bay. I:\WCMS\Projects\WC03289\Deliverables\D04ral_Final_Report.doc PAGE 1 SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS The Barwon Basin covers an area of 3,880 km2 (Department of Water Resources Victoria, 1989) and has its headlands in the Otway Ranges. The River drains to the north while, at the opposite end of the basin, the Leigh River flows south from Ballarat. The two rivers meet at Inverleigh, where the Barwon River turns east and flows towards the Bass Strait. The Barwon River is also highly regulated; the major reservoirs are the West Barwon Reservoir, Wurdee Boluc Reservoir (off- stream) and the White Swan Reservoir. The Lake Corangamite Basin covers an area of 4,190 km2 (Department of Water Resources Victoria, 1989). The basin is land-locked; the drainage system flows to a number of terminal lakes, the largest of which is Lake Corangamite. The streams within the Lake Corangamite Basin include the Woady Yaloak River, Pirron Yallock Creek, Mundy Gully Creek, the Gnarkeet Chain of Ponds, Deans Creek and Barongarook Creek. Water is transferred from the Lake Corangamite Basin into the Barwon River Basin at two points – from Black Bridge Pool to Warrambine Creek via the Woady Yaloak Diversion Channel and from Lake Colac to Birregurra Creek. The Otway Coast Basin drains the land south of the Otway Ranges and an area to the west – a total area equalling 3,900 km2. Several streams flow in a coastal direction, including the Curdies, Gellibrand and Aire Rivers. There are no major storages within the Otway Coast Basin, although there are a number of pump stations and weirs which supply water to towns, both in and outside the basin (Department of Water Resources Victoria, 1989). The principle landuses within the CCMA area are livestock grazing and dryland agriculture: Table 1-1 Landuse within the basins of the CCMA area (CCMA, 2003). Landuse Morrabool Barwon River Lake Otway Coast River Basin Basin Corangamite Basin Basin Nature conservation 4.5 2.0 12.0 14.5 Minimal user (mainly Crown land) 11.7 3.0 1.5 8.3 Forestry 3.3 9.0 2.5 22.4 Livestock grazing 39.1 42.3 38.9 26.5 Dryland agriculture 33.7 35.9 43.0 26.6 Irrigated agriculture 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.4 Built environment 7.3 6.8 1.1 0.6 Water 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.2 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 I:\WCMS\Projects\WC03289\Deliverables\D04ral_Final_Report.doc PAGE 2 SALINITY MONITORING IN THE MOORABOOL, BARWON, LAKE CORANGAMITE AND OTWAY BASINS 1.2 Project scope The objectives of the current study are: To collate and analyse all available stream salinity data for the major basins in the CCMA area; To identify "key points" within each basin for resource condition target setting; To define at each “key point” the historic flow weighted salinity; and To ascertain the suitability of the current monitoring network for the purpose of resource condition target development. For the purpose of the current study, "key points" are defined as the stream1 monitoring sites of relevance to the proposed resource condition targets for interim salinity management target locations as well as an “end-of-valley” type point for each of the landscape zones within the CCMA basins. 1.3 Report structure The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council have developed guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting (ANZECC, 2000). These guidelines are discussed in Chapter 2 of this report. In Chapter 3, salinity monitoring sites within the CCMA area are identified. Sites are listed by basin. In Chapter 4 "key points" are identified and the method for calculating flow weighted salinity is described.
Recommended publications
  • Action Statement No.134
    Action statement No.134 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Yarra Pygmy Perch Nannoperca obscura © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Cover photo: Tarmo Raadik Compiled by: Daniel Stoessel ISBN: 978-1-74146-670-6 (pdf) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186, email [email protected], or via the National Relay Service on 133 677, email www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au Action Statement No. 134 Yarra Pygmy Perch Nannoperca obscura Description The Yarra Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca obscura) fragmented and characterised by moderate levels is a small perch-like member of the family of genetic differentiation between sites, implying Percichthyidae that attains a total length of 75 mm poor dispersal ability (Hammer et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Area
    Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network Trend Analysis Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Area Produced for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment by Sinclair Knight Merz Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network Trend Analysis Corangamite Catchment Management Authority Area Other reports in this series: Victorian Statewide Summary East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Area Glenelg Catchment Management Authority Area Goulburn Catchment Management Authority Area Mallee Catchment Management Authority Area North Central Catchment Management Authority Area North East Catchment Management Authority Area Port Phillip Catchment Management Authority Area West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Area Wimmera Catchment Management Authority Area Prepared by W.E. Smith and R.J. Nathan Sinclair Knight Merz Executive Summary The Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network (VWQMN) consists of around 280 stations located throughout Victoria. A range of water quality indicators are measured at these sites and data has been measured for up to 25 years at approximately monthly intervals. While this data set represents a substantial body of information, to date there has been no systematic and consistent analysis of the data that provides an assessment of the temporal and spatial variation of the indicators. Such analysis can provide valuable information regarding the impacts of past management practices on catchment processes, the impact of land management practices and interventions, and the likely direction of future water quality changes. The scope of this report is to present the nature and significance of time trends in water quality data recorded at VWQMN sites within the region controlled by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. Only stations with records greater than ten years were used, and the indicators considered were pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorus and total nitrogen.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of a SWAT Model in the Yarra River Catchment
    20th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Adelaide, Australia, 1–6 December 2013 www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2013 Development of a SWAT model in the Yarra River catchment S.K. Dasa, A.W.M. Nga and B.J.C. Pereraa a College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne 14428, Australia Email: [email protected] Abstract: The degradation of river water quality in Victorian agricultural catchments is of concern. Physics-based models are useful analysis tools to understand diffuse pollution and find solutions through best management practices. However, because of high data requirements and processing, use of these models is limited in many data-poor catchments; for example the Australian catchments where water quality and land use management data are very sparse. Recently, with the advent of computationally efficient computers and GIS software, physics-based models are increasingly being called upon in data-poor regions. SWAT is a promising model for long-term continuous simulations in predominantly agricultural catchments. Limited application of SWAT has been found in Australia for modeling hydrology only. Adoption of SWAT as a tool for predicting land use change impacts on water quality in the Yarra River catchment, Victoria (Australia) is currently being considered. The objective of this paper is to evaluate hydrological behaviour of SWAT model in the agricultural part of the Yarra River catchment for 1990-2008 periods. The SWAT model requires the following data: digital elevation model (DEM), land use, soil, land use management and daily climate data for driving the model, and streamflow and water quality data for calibrating the model.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Index to Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management, Nos. 1
    Index to Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management, Nos. 1–68 ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph program, seeks regional people for its ‘Country Viewpoint’ segment 31.19 Abbottsmith Youl, Tom, wins DEDJTR Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award – Goulburn Broken 65.17, 65.23 Aboriginal Australians see Indigenous headings Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator Cultural Insight Training Day, Benalla 66.22 role 63.14, 65.22 absentee landholders attracting to Landcare 40.12–13, 60.7 Landcare-aid, Goulburn Broken CMA 24.18 purchasing rural properties 40.12–13 Adair, Robin, New bio control for boneseed 9.13 Adams, Margaret, Miners Rest Landcare Group changes wasteland to wetland 41.21 Adams family, Lower Hopkins River properties 38.18 Adamson’s blown grass, endangered species 15.22 Adlam, Lauren, Woodend Trees for Mum, Mother’s Day event 55.18 Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) 55.4 aerial video technique, for crop and Landcare use 2.8–9 African feather grass, removal, along Glenelg River 36.17 African Landcare Network (ALN) conference, Mafikeng 56.9 African nationals, participation in Master TreeGrower course 56.17 African weed orchid, control 66.14–15 Agg, Cathie, Greenfleet – simple, ingenious and successful 28.20–21 agroforestry see farm forestry Agroforestry Expo ‘99 13.6 Agrostis adamsonii 15.22 Ainsworth, Justin and Melissa, win DPI Sustainable Farming Award – West Gippsland 47.16 Ainsworth, Melissa, Group leader, Merriman Creek Landcare Group 67.10 Ainsworth, Nigel, Herbicide advice for environmental weeds 18.8 Aire River,
    [Show full text]
  • Download the 2Nd International SWAT Conference Proceedings
    July 1-4, 2003 Bari, Italy TWRI Technical Report 266 2003 International SWAT Conference Edited by Raghavan Srinivasan Jennifer H. Jacobs Ric Jensen Sponsored by the Insituto di Ricerca sulle Acque – Water Research Institute Bari, Italy Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – National Research Council Rome, Italy Co-Sponsored by the USDA–ARS Research Laboratory Temple, Texas Blackland Research and Extension Center Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Temple, Texas Spatial Sciences Laboratory, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas July 1-4, 2003 y Bari, Italy TWRI Technical Report 266 2nd International SWAT Conference Forewordȱ ȱ ȱ Thisȱbookȱofȱproceedingsȱpresentsȱpapersȱthatȱwereȱgivenȱatȱtheȱ2ndȱ InternationalȱSWATȱConference,ȱSWATȱ2003,ȱthatȱconvenedȱinȱ2003ȱinȱBari,ȱ Italy.ȱ ȱ Theȱfocusȱofȱthisȱconferenceȱwasȱtoȱallowȱanȱinternationalȱcommunityȱ ofȱresearchersȱandȱscholarsȱtoȱdiscussȱtheȱlatestȱadvancesȱinȱtheȱuseȱofȱtheȱ SWATȱ(SoilȱWaterȱAssessmentȱTool)ȱmodelȱtoȱassessȱwaterȱqualityȱtrends.ȱ ȱ TheȱSWATȱmodelȱwasȱdevelopedȱbyȱresearchersȱJeffȱArnoldȱofȱtheȱ UnitedȱStatesȱDepartmentȱofȱAgricultureȱResearchȱServiceȱ(USDAȬARS)ȱinȱ Temple,ȱTexasȱandȱRaghavanȱSrinivasanȱatȱtheȱTexasȱAgriculturalȱExperimentȱ Stationȱ(TAES),ȱwhoȱisȱtheȱDirectorȱofȱtheȱTexasȱA&MȱUniversityȱSpatialȱ SciencesȱLaboratory.ȱ ȱ SWATȱisȱaȱcomprehensiveȱcomputerȱsimulationȱtoolȱthatȱcanȱbeȱusedȱtoȱ simulateȱtheȱeffectsȱofȱpointȱandȱnonpointȱsourceȱpollutionȱfromȱwatersheds,ȱ inȱtheȱstreams,ȱandȱrivers.ȱSWATȱisȱintegratedȱwithȱseveralȱreadilyȱavailableȱ databasesȱandȱGeographicȱInformationȱSystemsȱ(GIS).ȱ
    [Show full text]
  • A Case Study on Yarra River
    Management of Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution – A Case Study on Yarra River By Sushil Kumar Das Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Engineering and Science Victoria University, Australia August 2016 ABSTRACT The development and use of any specific model depend on the availability of data and the hydrological settings of a country. Because of data limitations (especially water quality and land management data), the water quality models developed for Australian catchments are lumped/semi-distributed conceptual models. Even within these modelling frameworks, water quality component is empirical or generation rates-based. In this context, developing an effective water quality management plan in the data-poor conditions of Australia still remains as a major challenge for water catchment managers, despite huge investment on river health improvement programs. Physics-based distributed water quality models such as SWAT are most suitable for agricultural non-point source pollution studies. However, because of high data requirement and processing, the applications of these models are limited in many data- poor catchments. In this study, relevant input data sources and analysis techniques were addressed especially for sparsely available water quality data to assemble, and to rigorously calibrate and validate the SWAT based Middle Yarra Water Quality Model (MYWQM) for the case study area - Middle Yarra Catchment (MYC) of Victoria, Australia. The regression based model LOADEST was used for estimating sediment, and nutrient observed loads from monthly water quality grab sample data. The MYWQM was then used to develop a water quality management plan for agricultural non-point source pollution in the MYC.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Victoria's Runoff Using A
    Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Victoria’s Runoff using a Hydrological Sensitivity Model Roger N. Jones and Paul J. Durack A project commissioned by the Victorian Greenhouse Unit Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment © CSIRO Australia 2005 Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Victoria’s Runoff using a Hydrological Sensitivity Model Jones, R.N. and Durack, P.J. CSIRO Atmospheric Research, Melbourne ISBN 0 643 09246 3 Acknowledgments: The Greenhouse Unit of the Government of Victoria is gratefully acknowledged for commissioning and encouraging this work. Dr Francis Chiew and Dr Walter Boughton are thanked for their work in running the SIMHYD and AWBM models for 22 catchments across Australia in the precursor to this work here. Without their efforts, this project would not have been possible. Rod Anderson, Jennifer Cane, Rae Moran and Penny Whetton are thanked for their extensive and insightful comments. The Commonwealth of Australia through the National Land Water Resources Assessment 1997–2001 are also acknowledged for the source data on catchment characteristics and the descriptions used in individual catchment entries. Climate scenarios and programming contributing to this project were undertaken by Janice Bathols and Jim Ricketts. This work has been developed from the results of numerous studies on the hydrological impacts of climate change in Australia funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the Australian Greenhouse Office, Melbourne Water, North-east Water and the Queensland Government. Collaborations with other CSIRO scientists and with the CRC for Catchment Hydrology have also been vital in carrying out this research. Address and contact details: Roger Jones CSIRO Atmospheric Research PMB 1 Aspendale Victoria 3195 Australia Ph: (+61 3) 9239 4400; Fax(+61 3) 9239 4444 Email: [email protected] Executive Summary This report provides estimated ranges of changes in mean annual runoff for all major Victorian catchments in 2030 and 2070 as a result of climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Click Here to View Asset
    VICTORIAN Summer 06 Issue 38 & C ATCHMENT MANAGEMENT WATER FEATURE Leigh River focus group Restoring farm wetlands Water weed alert Flooding Gunbower Forest LandcareS UMMER 0 6 I SSUE 3 8 contents 5 03 From the editors 05 LandLearn An innovative program that links schools and Landcare groups and gets city kids out in to the bush. 06 The history of Landcare We continue our series on 20 years of Landcare with this story on the birth of the movement by Horrie Poussard. 10 Six years of saving Flooding Creek An urban Landcare group from Sale battles to restore a degraded creek that runs through their town. 12 A river runs through it – the Leigh River Focus Group Sheep Camp participants investigate sheep Landholders from three different Landcare groups are working together to management practices. manage the difficult escarpment zone along the river they share. 14 Restoring a farm wetland 9 Farmer Jane Reid documents her efforts to restore a wetland on her property back to its original state. 16 Watch out for these water weeds Salvinia and Water Hyacinth are a danger to our rivers. They block channels, choke out other plants and restrict fishing and recreation. 18 A new life for Hopkins Falls How the Hopkins Falls Landcare Group restored Warrnambool’s mini Niagara. 20 Flooding the Gunbower Endangered water birds benefit from an environmental water delivery that mimics the natural flow of the Murray River. A Dethridge wheel for vine irrigation in Mildura. Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 Phone 0405 697 548
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL REPORT Corangamite River Health Strategy - Setting Priorities for Investment Using a Benefit Cost Analysis
    FINAL REPORT Corangamite River Health Strategy - Setting Priorities for Investment using a Benefit Cost Analysis Prepared for Corangamite Catchment Management Authority 64 Dennis Street Colac Vic 3250 19 March 2009 42443891 C:\Documents and Settings\kerry_brehaut\Desktop\Cover.doc CORANGAMITE RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY - SETTING PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENT USING A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS Project Manager: URS Australia Pty Ltd Level 6, 1 Southbank Boulevard Lucas van Raalte Southbank Senior Economist VIC 3006 Australia Tel: 61 3 8699 7500 Project Director: Fax: 61 3 8699 7550 Neil Sturgess Associate Director Prepared for Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, 19 March 2009 4J:\JOBS\42443891\Reporting\FINAL\Corangamite River Health BCA (Final Report)-18-3.doc CORANGAMITE RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY - SETTING PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENT USING A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS Table of Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................ ES-1 ES 1 Background ............................................................................................................... ES-1 ES 2 Project Objectives..................................................................................................... ES-1 ES 3 Background to benefit cost analysis ...................................................................... ES-1 ES 3.1 Benefit cost ratios ....................................................................................... ES-1 ES 4 River works programs .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Historic Western Victorian Lake Conditions in Relation to Fish Deaths
    A REVIEW OF HISTORIC WESTERN VICTORIAN LAKE CONDITIONS IN RELATION TO FISH DEATHS Publication 1108 March 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Eel deaths occurred in waterways across Victoria from 2004 to 2006. EPA Victoria worked with responsible agencies to investigate the cause of the deaths. An information gap was identified regarding changes throughout the catchments over time. Much of this knowledge had not been documented formally and was difficult to assess. It is important to note that this report is based on a number of published accounts of the historical timeline as well as utilising personal accounts of history. Therefore there may be small discrepancies in exact dates. Anecdotal evidence and unpublished reports of the history of lakes Modewarre, Bolac and Colac indicate that, over the past 150 years, all lakes in the Western District have shown a distinct pattern of drying out during periods of extended drought. As early as 1846 the lakes showed signs of drying, which would indicate that any fish within those lakes also died due to lack of good quality water. The three lakes examined have been stocked by landholders, recreational anglers or commercial eel fishermen to hold the current stock of fish and eels. The catchments in which each lake sits have undergone changes, including culverts being developed to reduce flooding, the size of water storage reservoirs being increased and changes in agricultural practices. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EPA would like to formally acknowledge the contribution of all those who assisted with the research into the Western District lakes. Much information was held in the minds of those who visit the lakes regularly for recreation, farming and lifestyle, and it is this that has provided such broad insight into one of Victoria’s precious resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Impact Assessment – Conceptual Report Onshore Otway Basin, Victoria
    VICTORIAN GAS PROGRAM Groundwater impact assessment – Conceptual report Onshore Otway Basin, Victoria S. Torkzaban, M. Hocking, A. Gaal, S. Manamperi & C.P. Iverach Victorian Gas Program Technical Report 34 September 2020 Authorised by the Director, Geological Survey of Victoria Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions 1 Spring Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone (03) 9651 9999 © Copyright State of Victoria, 2020. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions 2020 Except for any logos, emblems, trademarks, artwork and photography this work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au. It is a condition of this Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence that you must give credit to the original author who is the State of Victoria. This document is also available in an accessible format at www.djpr.vic.gov.au Bibliographic reference TORKZABAN, S., HOCKING, M., GAAL, A., MANAMPERI, S. & IVERACH, C.P., 2020. Groundwater impact assessment - conceptual report, onshore Otway Basin, Victoria. Victorian Gas Program Technical Report 34. Geological Survey of Victoria. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. Melbourne, Victoria. 94p. ISBN 978-1-76090-385-5 (pdf/online/MS word) Geological Survey of Victoria Catalogue Record 161884 Key Words conceptual model, gas, groundwater, Otway Basin, water balance Acknowledgements The CAT3D recharge model was provided by Craig Beverly (Agriculture Victoria). Bore hydrographs were developed by Tiffany Bold, and Cassady O’Neill and Josh Grover provided gas/groundwater volumetric production calculations and potentiometric surface maps. Karsten Michael, Praveen Rachakonda and Paul Wilkes (CSIRO) provided review comments and Randal Nott (DELWP) reviewed the report.
    [Show full text]
  • National Recovery Plan for the Yarra Pygmy Perch Nannoperca Obscura
    National Recovery Plan for the Yarry Pygmy Perch Nannoperca obscura Stephen Saddlier and Michael Hammer Prepared by Stephen Saddlier (Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria) and Michael Hammer (University of Adelaide, South Australia). Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Melbourne, February 2010. © State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2010 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-74208-884-6 This is a Recovery Plan prepared under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government. This Recovery Plan has been developed with the involvement and cooperation of a range of stakeholders, but individual stakeholders have not necessarily committed to undertaking specific actions. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved. Proposed actions may be subject to modification over the life of the plan due to changes in knowledge. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. An electronic version of this document is available on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website www.environment.gov.au For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Citation: Saddlier, S, and Hammer, M.
    [Show full text]