A Guide to Managing and Restoring Wetlands in Western Australia
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A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Managing hydrology In Chapter3: Managing wetlands Version 1 A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Chapter 3: Managing wetlands Introduction to the guide Western Australia’s unique and diverse wetlands are rich in ecological and cultural values and form an integral part of the natural environment of the state. A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia (the guide) provides information about the nature of WA’s wetlands, and practical guidance on how to manage and restore them for nature conservation. The focus of the guide is natural ‘standing’ wetlands that retain conservation value. Wetlands not addressed in this guide include waterways, estuaries, tidal and artifi cial wetlands. The guide consists of multiple topics within fi ve chapters. These topics are available in PDF format free of charge from the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) website at www.dec.wa.gov.au/wetlandsguide. The guide is a DEC initiative. Topics of the guide have predominantly been prepared by the department’s Wetlands Section with input from reviewers and contributors from a wide range of fi elds and sectors. Through the guide and other initiatives, DEC seeks to assist individuals, groups and organisations to manage the state’s wetlands for nature conservation. The development of the guide has received funding from the Australian Government, the Government of Western Australia, DEC and the Department of Planning. It has received the support of the Western Australian Wetlands Coordinating Committee, the state’s peak wetland conservation policy coordinating body. For more information about the guide, including scope, purpose and target audience, please refer to the topic ‘Introduction to the guide’. DEC welcomes your feedback and suggestions on the guide. A publication feedback form is available from the DEC website at www.dec.wa.gov.au/wetlandsguide. i Managing hydrology A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Chapter 3: Managing wetlands Contents of the guide Introduction Introduction to the guide Chapter 1: Planning for wetland management Wetland management planning Funding, training and resources Chapter 2: Understanding wetlands Wetland hydrology Conditions in wetland waters Wetland ecology Wetland vegetation and fl ora Chapter 3: Managing wetlands Managing hydrology Wetland weeds Water quality Secondary salinity Phytophthora dieback Managing wetland vegetation Nuisance midges and mosquitoes Introduced and nuisance animals Livestock Chapter 4: Monitoring wetlands Monitoring wetlands Chapter 5: Protecting wetlands Roles and responsibilities Legislation and policy These topics are available in PDF format free of charge from the DEC website at www.dec.wa.gov.au/wetlandsguide. ii Managing hydrology A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Chapter 3: Managing wetlands ‘Managing hydrology’ topic Acknowledgments Authors: Justine Lawn and Anya Lam, DEC Reviewers and/contributors The following people have been consulted in the development of this topic: Christina Mykytiuk, DEC Fiona Lynn, Department of Water Tonja Boyd, Edith Cowan University (ECU) Dr Sandie McHugh, Department of Water Melissa Cundy, DEC Vanessa Moscovis, Water Corporation Glen Daniel, DEC Gavan Mullan, DEC Rowan Dawson, DEC Saskia Noorduijn, DEC Dr Matt Forbes, DEC Reneé Rowling, Department of Water Associate Professor Ray Froend, ECU Dr Margaret Smith, DEC Alisa Krasnostein, DEC Dr Eddie van Etten, ECU Dr Ryan Vogwill, DEC Dr Stephen van Leeuwen, DEC Dr Ken Atkins, DEC Dr Michael Coote, DEC The valuable contribution of each of these people, and people who have contributed their photos, is gratefully acknowledged. Symbols used in figures are courtesy of the Integration and Application Network (http:// ian.umces.edu/symbols/), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Project manager: Justine Lawn, DEC Publications management: Joanna Moore, DEC Graphic design: Stuart Ridgway, Stuart Ridgway Design Cover photo: courtesy of Prof Jenny Davis Recommended reference When referring to the guide in its entirety, the recommended reference is: Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia. When specific reference is made to this topic, the recommended reference is: Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). ‘Managing hydrology’, in A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia, Prepared by J Lawn and A Lam, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia. Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the information is only provided as a guide to management and restoration activities. DEC does not guarantee, and accepts no liability whatsoever arising from, or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained in this guide. A portion of this topic was prepared by A Lam prior to November 2009 therefore new information that may have come to light between the completion date and publication date may not have been captured in this topic. iii Managing hydrology A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Chapter 3: Managing wetlands Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 What causes altered wetland hydrology in Western Australia? .................................. 7 What effect does altered hydrology have on wetlands? ........................................... 32 Recognising the signs of altered hydrology ................................................................ 48 Understanding the potential for, and the impact of, altered hydrology .................. 52 Managing hydrology in wetlands ................................................................................ 54 Ensuring you have sound expert input ......................................................................... 55 Maintaining hydrological processes in healthy wetlands ............................................... 57 Influencing legislation, policies and plans to protect wetland hydrology ....................... 57 Influencing proposals and decisions in the planning phase - avoiding or mitigating impacts ...................................................................................................................... 61 Accepting hydrological change and managing the new conditions .............................. 63 Avoiding water rise in wetlands .................................................................................. 65 Managing water rise in wetlands ................................................................................. 66 Minimising water decline in wetlands .......................................................................... 72 Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 98 Personal communications ............................................................................................ 102 References .................................................................................................................... 103 Case studies When peat wetlands dry out: a case study of Lake Wilgarup ................................... 44 Artificial supplementation of water levels at Lake Nowergup and Lake Jandabup: a tale of two wetlands ....................................................................... 90 Installing weirs to combat the acidification of Lake Mealup, West Pinjarra ............ 94 Managing both water rise and decline: urban catchments ........................................ 95 iv Managing hydrology A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia Chapter 3: Managing wetlands h Before you begin Before embarking on management and restoration investigations and activities, you must consider and address the legal requirements, safety considerations, cultural issues and the complexity of the ecological processes which occur in wetlands to ensure that any proposed actions are legal, safe and appropriate. For more guidance, see the topic ‘Introduction to the guide’. Introduction Managing wetland hydrology is the most important consideration when managing a wetland. A wetland’s physical, chemical and biological processes are so closely tied to the natural patterns and fluxes of water that changes to these influence the nature and ecological character of a wetland. Managing a wetland’s hydrology is often likely to take the highest priority amongst all of the possible actions needed at a wetland, because it can trigger cascades of ecological impacts; causing, contributing to or amplifying the effects of many common wetland management challenges, such as loss of native plants and animals, poor water quality, weed invasion, acidification, inappropriate fire regimes, algal blooms and nuisance midge. Dealing with these problems without addressing the root cause may achieve little. For some wetland managers, all that will be required is a watching brief to make sure changes aren’t likely, while for others managing hydrology will consume most of their time. This topic outlines the causes of altered wetland hydrology in Western Australia (WA), the effects of altered hydrology, and