A Biological and Conservation Survey of the River Murray in South Australia"

.. = pp a -, _ _____-- _ `á_ ---.. ._ .. _ = s ,+. _ __. 'i_ -,. o., ßf 0 t _ a.. C! 3, i r°---.,li --.. _ a `;,,!ta, v r---_ =-}----=°---.- . = + ___ 1.°- A s , o { ---,-,,v - + G 1` Y? __ 4- \`I.. - f,1,1,. ta_ __ __ c _ t. a biologicaland conservation survey of the river murray in south australia I. Krastins Revised 1981 1974 South Australian Department of Environment and Planning THE RIVER MURRAY PLANNING STUDY "A BIOLOGICAL AND CONSERVATION SURVEY OF THE RIVER MURRAY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA" Original Report Prepared for the Director of Planning by IVARS KRASTINS JULY 1974 Revised by South Australian Department of Environment and Planning May 1981 PREFACE The original contents of this report were prepared by Ivars Krastins in 1974 for the Director of Planning, State Planning Office, South Australian Department of Environment and Conservation. That report contained a valuable inventory of the conservation status of wetlands along the River Murray in South Australia. The original report was limited by a lack of time and resources to only a rough compilation of text and diagrams, and was not easily read or reproduced. In this revision, the original report has been edited and the layout modified to conform with standard SADE presentations. The aim has been to present the information in a more readable format and to print the report formally for more ready circulation of the material. Thus current work on wetlands along the River Murray can build on the information in the original report. Peter Sullivan prepared the revised draft report for the Assessments Branch of the Department of Environment and Planning in May 1981. IMPORTANT NOTE: Only minor alterations have been made to the original manuscript. The information in this report should be used with discretion, as some facts have altered with time and many generalizations have not been substantiated. The original survey was in the nature of a preliminary investigation with follow -up studies anticipated to evaluate the initial conclusions and recommendations. Such a follow -up would involve a substantial investigation to update and confirm Krastins' findings. Much of the material in Krastins' report has been included in the Murray Valley Planning Study, published by the State Planning Authority (1978). CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. BIOLOGY OF THE STUDY AREA 2.1 Features of the Study Area 2 2.1.1 Climate 2 2.1.2 Surface Geology and Soils 3 2.2 Vegetation 4 2.2.1 Introduction 4 2.2.2 Vegetation of the River Valley 5 2.2.3 Vegetation outside the River Valley 7 2.2.4 Vegetation of the Lakes Region 8 2.3 Fauna 8 2.3.1 Introduction 8 2.3.2 Aspects of the Composition of the River Fauna 9 2.3.3 Animal Life in the Deep Water Zone 10 2.3.4 The Lagoon Environment 12 2.3.5 River and Lagoon Islands and the River Bank 13 2.3.6 The Flood Plain and Cliffs of the River Valley 14 3. INTERACTIONS ON THE RIVER MURRAY 16 3.1 Introduction 16 3.2 Excluding Man 16 3.3 Man and the River Environment 17 3.3.1 Introduction 17 3.3.2 Recreation 19 3.3.3 Weir Construction 20 3.3.4 Agriculture 21 3.3.5 Industry 23 3.3.6 Residential - Urban Use 23 3.3.7 Shacks 24 3.3.8 Other Factors The Fish of the River Murray 25 CONTENTS (Cont'd) PAGE 4. CONSERVATION OF THE RIVER ENVIRONNENT 4.1 Introduction 27 4.2 List of proposed Conservation Sites 27 4.3 Yalkuri Sanctuary 29 4.4 Waltowa Swamp 30 4.5 Narrung Narrows 31 4.6 Marnoo Swamp 32 4.7 Alexandrina Swamps 34 4.8 Mosquito and Tolderol Points 35 4.9 Pelican Lagoon Area 36 4.10 "Cooronga "Scrub 37 4.11 Finniss River Complex 38 4.12 Reedy Point 40 4.13 Murray Mouth Region 41 4.14 Tailem Bend Forest Reserve and Murtho Forest Reserve 42 4.15 Long Island 42 4.16 River Glades 43 4.17 Sunnyside Swamp 44 4.18 "Peramangk" 45 4.19 Mannum Swamps 46 4.20 Lake Carlet Area 47 4.21 Marne River Area 48 4.22 Swan Reach Lagoons 49 4.23 "Blanchetown Island" 50 4.24 Reedy Island Area 50 4.25 Wombat Rest 51 4.26 Island Reach 52 4.27 Overland Corner 53 4.28 Moorook Complex 54 4.29 Pyap Lagoon Area 55 4.30 Gurra Gurra Lakes Area 56 4.31 Pike River Area 57 4.32 Lake Woolpolool 58 4.33 Lakes Merreti and Clover 58 4.34 Chowilla 60 CONTENTS (Coned) PAGE 4.35 Additional Notes 61 4.35.1 Amalgamation of Proposed Sites 61 4.35.2Categorisation of and Proposal for Conservation Sites 63 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY 64 5.1 Vegetation 64 5.2 Fauna of the River Murray 65 5.2.1 General 65 5.2.2 Fish 65 5.2.3 Frogs 66 5.2.4 Birds 66 5.2.5 Reptiles 67 5.2.6 Mammals 67 5.3 Mangroves 67 5.4 Conservation 67 6. APPENDICES 6.1 Plant list for area between Morgan and Wongulla 6.2 Plant list for vegetation at Brookfield Wombat Reserve 6.3 Data on Fauna of the River Murray 6.3.1 Fish of the River Murray 6.3.2 Frogs of the River Murray 6.3.3 Birds of the River Murray 6.3.4 Reptiles of the River Murray 6.3.5 Mammals of the River Murray LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Diagramatic Representation of Flood Plain Vegetation Figure 2 River Murray Vegetation outside River Trench Figure 3 Vegetation around Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Figure 4 Trophic Structure - Food Relationships of Animals on the River Murray Figure 5 Effects of Man on the River Murray Environment Figure 6 Location Map: Proposed Conservation Areas Note: Figures 7 to 35 show proposed conservation areas. Figure 7 Yalkuri Sanctuary Figure 8 Waltowa Swamp Figure 9 Narrung Narrows Figure 10 Marnoo Swamp Figure 11(a) Alexandrina Swamps Figure 11(b) Vegetation structure of part of Alexandrina Swamp Figure 12 Mosquito and Tolderol Points Figure 13 Pelican Lagoon Area Figure 14 "Cooronga Scrub" Figure 15 Finniss River Complex Figure 16 Reedy Point Figure 17 Murray Mouth Region Figure 18 Long Island Figure 19 River Glades Figure 20 Sunnyside Swamp Figure 21 "Permangk" Figure 22 Mannum Swamps Figure 23 Lake Carlet Area Figure 24 Marne River Area Figure 25 Swan Reach Lagoon Figure 26 Reedy Island Area Figure 27 Wombat Rest Figure 28 Island Reach Figure 29 Overland Corner Figure 30 Moorook Complex Figure 31 Pyap Lagoon Area Figure 32 Gurra Gurra Lakes Area Figure 33 Pike River Area Figure 34 Lakes Woolpolool, Merreti and Clover Figure 35 Chowilla LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Mean annual temperature of locations along the River Murray in South Australia. Table 2 Median annual rainfall of locations along the River Murray in South Australia. Table 3 Analysis of animal species composition along the River Murray in South Australia. Table 4 Summary of breeding and feeding behaviour of the major animal groups. Table 5 Sites with High Priority for Acquisition for Conservation ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ivars Krastins (1974) expressed thanks to the followingpeople for their helpful discussion, criticism and supplyof information: Mr. Peter Aitken - S.A. Museum, (mammals). Mr. Mark Barritt - Flinders University, (the genus Rattus). Mr. David Brodeur - State Planning Office, (general). Dr. Alan Butler - Adelaide University, (mangroves). Mr. John Carrick - Herbarium. Mr. Ted Collins - Tourish Bureau Mr. H.T. Condon - S.A. Museum, (birds). Mr. Laurie Delroy - National Parks & Wildlife, (general). Mr. John Douglas - S.A. Museum, (general). Mr. John Glover - S.A. Museum, (fish). Mr. Gordon Gross - S.A. Museum, (insects). Mr. Terry Houston - S.A. Museum, (reptiles). Mr. Andrew Lothian - State Planning Officer, (general). Mr. Don Pool - Department of Fisheries, (fish). Mr. Dale Roberts - Adelaide University, (frogs). Dr. Robert Shearer - Dept. Environment & Conservation, (general). Mr. Christo Stoyanoff - State Planning Office, (general). Mr. I.M. Thomas - Adelaide University, (crustaceans). Dr. Michael Tyler - Adelaide University, (frogs). Mr. Vear - Woods & Forests Dept., (general). and all interested persons and organisationswho took the trouble to research and prepare submissions concerningthe conservation of the River Murray. [NOTE: Many of the persons listed above have changedtheir employment and /or responsibilities since 1974] SUMMARY This report presents a preliminary survey of potential conservation areas along the River Murray in South Australia, while attempting to view the river system as a whole management unit. A review of the physical and biological aspects of the River is discussed with emphasis on the biological environment and its disturbances. Thirty three areas of conservation potential are identified and their conservation value discussed. It is concluded that the whole of the River Murray in South Australia should be treated as a possible conservation area.More detailed surveys of the River should be undertaken to determine more accurately the conservation value of specific areas and their management requirements. 1. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to summarise the important aspects of the biology of the River Murray in South Australia, and to select areas of land and water along the River Murray which merit conservation. The Study Area involves the whole of the River Murray in South Australia, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, and the land two kilometres either side of the 1956 flood line. In many instances this report is superficial and has had to brush over or completely ignore some important considerations. However, the production of a report such as this is considered worthwhile, since it is the only attempt to date which has considered the ecology of the lower River Murray as one unit.

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