Wetland Conservation at Esperance WA Recommendations for The
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Wetland Conservation at Esperance WA Recommendations for the Management of the Wetlands of the Mortijinup Lakes A report produced by Green Skills for the Natural Heritage Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission by Wetland project officer Kevin Hopkinson February 2001 1 Acknowledgments Green Skills and the Water and Rivers Commission would like to thank the following people for their involvement and assistance with the production of this report. Jamie Bowyer, Catchment Support Officer, Agriculture Western Australia for providing advice and initial contacts with landholders. All the landholders that permitted sites visits including Alan Paterson, Ken Crawford, Jeff Halford, David Johnson, John Sharpe, Barry Rollond, Ron Padgurskis, Elaine Campbell, Herb and Avis Montgomery. Staff from CALM Esperance, in particular Tilo Massenbauer, Lake Warden Recovery Catchment Project Manager. Support and advice from Water and Rivers Commission staff particularly Regional Manager, South Coast region Naomi Arrowsmith Support and advice from Green Skills staff including Assistant Coordinator Basil Schur and Louise Duxbury. Field work, photography and report compilation by Kevin Hopkinson. 2 Do you have any comments or feedback you would like to give? This report is intended to generate community discussion as to the most practical and effective management practices that can be incorporated into the catchment planning activities of the Mortijinup Lakes Catchment area. If you have any comments on the recommendations provided in this report, we would like to hear from you. Comments can be directed to: Kevin Hopkinson Wetland Project Officer PO Box 525 Albany WA 6330 Ph :98410114 Fax :98421204 Email : [email protected] 3 Table of Contents 1.0 Project background…………………………………………. 1 2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………. 2 3.0 Mortijinup Lake suite – Physical description……………….. 3 4.0 Geological History of the area……………………………… 4 5.0 Hydrology…………………………………………………… 5 6.0 Significance of the Mortijinup Lake Wetlands………………… 6 6.1 -Regional and national……………………………… 6 6.2 -local………………………………………………… 7 7.0 Threats-……………………………………………………… 7 7.1 Eutrophication/sedimentation ……………………… 8 7.2 Inundation/waterlogging……………………………. 8 7.3 Salinity……………………………………………… 9 7.4 Grazing by livestock………………………………… 9 7.5 Feral Animals……………………………………….. 9 7.6 Weeds ………………………………………………. 10 7.7 Other threats ………………………………………. 10 8.0 Catchment Management Recommendations………… 11 Wetland Monitoring…………………………………………. 11 Action plan for Kateup Creek……………………………….. 12 Action plan for Telegraph Rd Creek………………………… 13 9.0 Conclusion…………………………………………………… 14 References…………………………………………………… 15 4 Recommendations for the Management of the Mortijinup Lake Wetlands Esperance, South Coast region of WA. 1.0 Summary and Project Background The Water and Rivers Commission (WRC) is currently developing a regional water resources allocation plan for the Esperance ground water area. One of the components of this plan is to develop an understanding of the environmental significance of the wetlands of the area through a regional survey. During 1999, the WRC initiated a regional survey and evaluation of the wetlands of the entire South Coast Region between Walpole and Esperance. The survey for the Esperance region was conducted by Ecologia Environmental Consultants and the last draft of the report was released in November, 1999. The objectives of the report were to: • Identify regionally significant wetlands • Assign management categories and describe environmental values of these wetlands • Identify high priority wetlands and describe threatening processes and appropriate management action • Promote protection and enhancement of these wetlands. (Ecologia, 1999) The regional survey and evaluation of wetlands is part of a broader wetland conservation project being undertaken by the Water and Rivers Commission and community group Green Skills. The aim of the project is to focus on catchment areas within suites of significant or outstanding wetlands that have been identified in the survey by Ecologia (1999), and assisting those communities to develop and implement wetland management plans that integrate into existing catchment activities. The Mortijinup Lake catchment was targeted due to the wetlands of the area being: 1. Threatened or at risk, 2. Locally outstanding and nationally significant, and 3. The opportunity available to work with the community and other agencies (AgWest and CALM) to incorporate wetland management into farm and catchment planning activities. NHT funding has been secured to provide limited on ground support for wetland fencing, revegetation and strategic earthworks. The project also includes a regional wetland monitoring program and an education component aimed at raising community awareness to the values and threats to South Coast wetlands. This report documents the significant wetlands of the project area, explains the threatening processes that place these wetlands at risk of degradation, and includes management recommendations where appropriate. Details of revegetation and fencing demonstration projects established during 2000 are included, to provide an example of wetland rehabilitation for other landholders to follow (Appendix 2,4). 5 2.0 Introduction The study area for this report is located approximately 20km to the west of Esperance, on the eastern south coast of WA. (Appendix 1) Climate The area experiences a Mediterranean climate with cool wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Annual rainfall is approximately 620mm at Esperance, with 410mm at Scaddan, 50km to the north. Summer rainfall is infrequent but can be substantial as a result of summer thunderstorm activity and the remnants of tropical cyclones. Annual pan evaporation is 1600mm. Monthly pan evaporation is less than rainfall 7 months of the year (Ecologia 1999). Land Use Land use ranges from sheep grazing and cropping to cattle grazing and timber plantations closer to the coast. Pre 1995 the dominant tree species planted for timber were maritime pines (Pinus pinaster). Since the mid to late 90’s, increasing areas of the higher rainfall area have been planted to Tasmanian bluegum (Eucalyptus globulus) plantations. Report Focus The focus area of this study is the catchment of two creek lines that drain into a group of wetlands adjoining the coastal reserve. The creeks are the Kateup Creek (24km in length) and an unnamed system that is referred to as Telegraph Creek (12km) for the purposes of this report. The creeks drain into wetlands that share a range of similar characteristics and attributes. These wetlands include Mortijinup Lake, Lake Nambarup and Nambarup west swamp and were identified as being regionally significant in the regional evaluation of wetlands of the South Coast region. The evaluation classified the group as the Mortijinup Lake suite of wetlands, named after the largest lake of the group (Ecologia 1999). The Mortijinup Lake suite contains a range of wetlands that occur in CALM nature reserve. All nature reserves are vested in the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (NPNCA), and are managed on its behalf by the Department of CALM (CALM 1999). The wetlands in these reserves have been identified as important habitat for a number of waterbirds. The system is a major breeding area for the little Black Cormorant, and is the principal refuge area in the region for the threatened Freckled Duck (ANCA 1996). Management of the wetlands in the CALM reserve will depend upon a number of catchment based measures: • Immediate protection of creeks and other wetlands on private property through fencing, exclusion of stock and control of feral animals. • Establishment of a vegetated buffer along watercourses to filter surface runoff and remove sediments and nutrients. • Rehabilitation of degraded sites through revegetation with native species. • Implementation of catchment activities that will stabilise the hydrology of the catchment and restore the water balance of the wetlands such as perennial pastures and commercial timber plantations. 6 3.0 Mortijinup Lake suite-physical description Size The Mortijinup Lake Nature reserve is approximately 750ha in area, including the larger lakes Mortijinup (400ha) and Nambarup (110ha). The wetlands in the reserve form a system that is connected or linked through a series of marshes, lakes and small creeks and drains. Type The wetlands vary in size from mesoscale (approx. 500m-1000m across) to macroscale (1km-10km across), and vary between lakes (permanent water) to sumplands (seasonal). Water Quality Water in the wetlands varies from being fresh/marginal to brackish in the swamps, and brackish to saline in the lakes, depending upon the time of year and season. Despite some fresh groundwater contributions, water quality is linked very closely with the runoff from the catchment and creek lines. Algal blooms in recent years caused by nutrient enriched sediments from the catchment highlight the significance of the creek contributions to the health of the wetlands. Landscape The surrounding landscape is varied. Mortijinup lake is separated from the marsh to the east by a sand dune, and sections of the lakes, including most of Nambarup, are fringed by limestone bluffs, a feature unique to these coastal wetlands. Vegetation The surrounding buffer vegetation of the wetlands borders privately owned property to the north. At this point the reserve is narrow and is only 100m wide in some parts. The reserve is more substantial to the south where there is up to 1km of vegetation