Monitoring of Die Back in River Red Gum (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) Communities in the Northern & Yorke Region 2008-2014
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Monitoring of Die Back in River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) Communities in the Northern & Yorke Region 2008-2014 Update for Natural Resources Northern & Yorke October 2014 by Dr Anne Jensen Environmental Consultant Monitoring Red Gum Die-back 2014 River Red Gum Die-Back Monitoring Program 2008-2014 Natural Resources Northern & Yorke Anne E Jensen Environmental Consultant ABN 34 930 978 273 Photographs by Anne Jensen Cover photo: Most of the 2013 river red gum seedlings along the Anama Lane highway re-alignment have been sprayed by the Department of Transport, but a few located further from the roadside still survive (September 2014) ii Anne E Jensen Environmental Consultant Monitoring Red Gum Die-back 2014 Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................. 4 Brief for 2014 Monitoring Survey ........................................................................ 4 Methodology ............................................................................................... 4 Factors Influencing Growth and Health of Red Gums ............................. 6 Rainfall Data ...................................................................................................... 6 Flows Data ....................................................................................................... 10 Site Condition Results ............................................................................. 12 Previous Condition ........................................................................................... 12 Current Condition ............................................................................................. 12 Canopy Condition and Epicormic Growth ......................................................... 19 Seasonal Phenological Cycles ......................................................................... 19 Critical Lack of Regeneration ........................................................................... 22 Bushfire Impacts .............................................................................................. 23 Discussion ................................................................................................ 25 Lack of regeneration......................................................................................... 25 Lack of Monitoring of Water Sources ................................................................ 25 Proposal for Landscape Scale Revegetation – ‘20:80 Vision’ .............. 28 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 30 References ................................................................................................ 30 Appendix 1 Monitoring Site Locations ................................................................... 32 Appendix 2 Field Guidelines for Scoring Site Condition ........................................ 36 Appendix 3 New Monitoring Site Locations 2013-2014 ......................................... 37 1 Monitoring Red Gum Die-back 2014 Executive Summary The seventh monitoring survey since 2008 found continued major stress and die-back in the red gum communities of the Northern and Yorke region, with mounting concern over a critical recruitment failure due to lack of germination. There has been no mass germination of seedlings at any of more than 60 monitored locations across four catchments, and no germination has been observed while traversing more than 1200 km across the region. Monitoring of tree health indicates that there are healthy seed crops being produced regularly, in spite of the levels of stress which have been detected in different seasons (including severe insect attack in 2012 and 2013). There have also been periods with suitable soil moisture available to support germination. The primary factor inhibiting successful germination appears to be competition from dense grassy weed cover emerging at the same time as conditions are suitable for germination. As stated in previous monitoring reports, urgent intervention is needed to facilitate germination and survival of seedlings. This requires preparation of suitable seed beds by clearing weeds and creating bare soil to coincide with maximum seed rain (Nov-Dec), or by broadcasting seed onto prepared beds to coincide with useful rainfall events (>10 mm). Seed falling from trees needs to land on bare moist soil to germinate, and seedlings need to be protected from stock grazing until at least 1.2 m high. The primary cause of die-back in mature river red gums continues to be reduced water availability. The monitoring results indicate that reduced access to water sources is a very localised problem, with the level of stress across a community of trees varying widely among individual trees. This indicates local variations in the availability of water sources from fractured rock aquifers and varying transmissivity and storage capacity of soils. Conditions in 2014 have been remarkable for the flow events which have occurred in most watercourses. However, the extent and duration of flows is not known, as the existing monitoring stations are very limited, and there have been many closures in recent years. The longest data sets are from stream flow stations in the upper reaches of the Broughton and Wakefield catchments, and at the lower end of the Willochra catchment. These are insufficient to document the flow events which have occurred. Recommendations developed for the NY Lower North Group for improved water data monitoring have been repeated in this report, to obtain a minimum data set for each of these three catchments for future management. It was also recommended to the NY Lower North Group that a program of citizen science be developed to capture community knowledge and information on flow events. This program could include local information on any red gum germination events. In spite of the 2014 flows, unusually early rainfall events, and the lack of severe insect attack, the canopy condition of river red gums declined across the region compared to 2013. In addition, it is of concern that recovery growth post-bushfires has stalled, possibly due to insect attack, far below-average late winter-spring rains and competition for moisture from dense weed growth. River red gums across the Northern & Yorke region are still in a state of stress similar to 2008, varying from medium to severe in most locations. While the trees are producing seed, the seeds are not germinating successfully at the scale needed to replace aging and stressed red gum communities. The germination process does still work, but only a few isolated seedlings have been located, most at sites where they are considered to be a nuisance and are likely to be slashed or poisoned. 2 Monitoring Red Gum Die-back 2014 Actions to save river red gums fit best within actions for sustainable management of the wider landscapes, and could be incorporated into a wider project with the aim of restoring 20% of native vegetation to the general landscape. The ‘20:80 Vision for Sustainable Landscapes’ proposes a mix of 20% native vegetation corridors, buffer zones and habitat patches across a landscape with 80% agricultural use, using roadsides, water reserves, fencelines and riparian zones along watercourses. Red gums would be a key part of the watercourse vegetation, but it is also critical to re-introduce bushes and groundcovers for sustainable habitat and a full range of environmental services. As stated previously, without active intervention to promote germination and to protect minimum water sources for red gums, the Northern & Yorke region is in danger of losing its distinctive red gum landscapes in the next 30-50 years. Concerted action is needed to save red gum communities, through better water data, engagement of citizen science to record flow events and red gum germination, and development of the 20:80 vision for sustainable landscapes. The benefits of these actions will not only include improved health of red gum communities, but also sustainable management of landscapes, a full range of environmental services and adaptation to expected drier and hotter conditions due to climate change. 3 Monitoring Red Gum Die-back 2014 Background An investigation into die back in river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) populations in the Northern & Yorke region was commenced in August 2008. Concerns about the decline of river red gum health dated from 2005, when the river red gums lining the Booleroo Whim Creek north-east of Melrose deteriorated alarmingly into a state of severe stress. The initial assessment in 2008 found that local data were lacking on the status of water sources, changes in tree health and changes in secondary impacts, and this information was needed to provide feedback on the effects of management actions. Therefore, the monitoring program was established to gather important local data to monitor changes in tree condition over time and to understand the possible causes of die-back in the region. The four target catchments are Broughton, Mambray Coast, Wakefield and Willochra catchments (Figure 1) and annual surveys have been completed up to September 2014, with seven surveys completed. The data from previous surveys is incorporated into the graphs presented in this report. In addition to 7 new sites added in 2013 to link red gum die-back monitoring with the Four Catchments project,