Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program Annual Report 2013-14 1
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Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program 2013–2014 Annual Report Prepared by: Chris Davey 2014 MDFRC Publication 45/2014 Spring 2013 to spring 2013 Spring Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program Annual Report 2013-14 1 Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program: 2013-14 Annual Report Annual Report prepared for the Murray–Darling Basin Authority by The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre. Murray–Darling Basin Authority Level 4, 51 Allara Street | GPO Box 1801 Canberra City ACT 2601 Ph: (02) 6279 0100; Fax: (02) 6248 8053 This report was prepared by The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC). The aim of the MDFRC is to provide the scientific knowledge necessary for the management and sustained utilisation of the Murray-Darling Basin water resources. The MDFRC is a joint venture between La Trobe University and CSIRO. For further information contact: Paul McInerney Dr Tapas Biswas The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre Murray–Darling Basin Authority PO Box 991 PO Box 1801 Wodonga VIC 3689 Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: (02) 6024 9650; Fax: (02) 6059 7531 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.mdfrc.org.au Web: www.mdba.gov.au Enquiries: [email protected] Report Citation: Davey C (2014) Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program 2013–2014 Annual Report prepared for the Murray Darling Basin Authority by The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre, MDFRC Publication 45/2014, September, 88pp. Cover Image: Site 502 on the Mitta Mitta, downstream of Dartmouth Dam, Victoria, Australia Photographer: Chris Davey i Copyright and Disclaimer: © Murray–Darling Basin Authority for and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority logo and The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre logo, all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/au/). For the avoidance of any doubt, this licence only applies to the material set out in this document. The details of the licence are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 3.0 AU licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode). MDBA’s preference is that this publication be attributed (and any material sourced from it) using the following: Publication title: Mitta Mitta Biological Monitoring Program Report 2013-2014 Source: Licensed from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. The contents of this publication do not purport to represent the position of the Commonwealth of Australia or the MDBA in any way and are presented for the purpose of informing and stimulating discussion for improved management of Basin's natural resources. To the extent permitted by law, the copyright holders (including its employees and consultants) exclude all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this report (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Contact us Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of the document are welcome at: Director Communications Murray–Darling Basin Authority 51 Allara St Canberra ACT 2601 Email: [email protected] ii Document history and status Version Date Issued Reviewed by Approved by Revision type Draft 1/12/2014 Paul Chris Davey Scientific Review McInerney Draft 8/12/2014 Michelle Chris Davey Copy Edit Kavanagh Distribution of copies Version Quantity Issued to Draft 1 x PDF or Word Tapas Biswas - MDBA Final 1 x PDF or Word Tapas Biswas - MDBA Filename and path: U:\MDBA\291-Mitta Monitoring\Knowledge Exchange\Reports\Sept 2014\FINAL\Final rept.docx Author(s): Chris Davey Author affiliation(s): The Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre Project Manager: Paul McInerney Client: Murray–Darling Basin Authority Project Title: Long-term biological monitoring of river health in the Mitta Mitta River catchment, above and below Dartmouth Dam Document Version: Final Project Number: M/BUS/291 Contract Number: MD 2520 Finalised June 2015 Acknowledgements: I would firstly like to acknowledge the MDBA for providing the funding for this project. I would also like to acknowledge Paul McInerney for project management, field sampling and document revision; Lyn Smith, John Hawking and Michael Shackleton for quality control; John Pengelly for water sample analysis; Georgia Dwyer and Thelma Vlamis for field assistance. I would also like to thank Tom McCormack for access to private land, and Peter Liepkins (Goulburn-Murray Water) and Elaine Thomas (Parks Victoria) for their time and support. iii Contents Executive summary .......................................................................................................................................... x 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... xii SECTION 1: Spring 2013 – Autumn 2014 ........................................................................................................ xiv 1 Aims and objectives ......................................................................................................................... xiv 1.1 Project aims ............................................................................................................................................. xiv 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ xiv 2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................ xv 2.1 Study sites and descriptions .................................................................................................................... xv 2.2 Field methods .......................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3 Laboratory methods, analysis and quality assurance .............................................................................. 24 3 Results .............................................................................................................................................. 29 3.1 Discharge ................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 SEPP objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 31 3.3 Taxonomic richness ................................................................................................................................. 47 3.4 Community composition ......................................................................................................................... 48 4 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 49 4.1 Discharge ................................................................................................................................................. 49 4.2 Water quality ........................................................................................................................................... 49 4.3 Macroinvertebrates ................................................................................................................................. 49 SECTION 2: Spring 2014.................................................................................................................................. 51 1 Aims and objectives .......................................................................................................................... 51 1.1 Project aims ............................................................................................................................................. 51 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 51 2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 51 2.1 Study sites and descriptions .................................................................................................................... 51 3 Results .............................................................................................................................................. 52 3.1 Discharge ................................................................................................................................................. 52 3.2 SEPP objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 53 3.3 Taxonomic richness ................................................................................................................................. 57 3.4 Community composition ......................................................................................................................... 57 4 Discussion ........................................................................................................................................