BARMAH FOREST SEASONAL WATERING PROPOSAL 2017- 2018 (VEWH ADDENDUM) Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018
Keith Ward & Lisa Duncan [email protected] Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Publication details
Published by: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, PO Box 1752, Shepparton 3632
© Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 2017.
Please cite this document as: GB CMA (2017). Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum). Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton.
Disclaimer:
This publication may be of assistance to you, but the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority does not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequences which may arise from you relying on information in this publication.
It should be noted that specific reference to funding levels in this strategy are for indicative purposes only. The level of Government investment in this plan is contingent on budgets and government priorities.
For further information, please contact: Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority P.O. Box 1752, Shepparton 3632 Phone: (03) 5822 7700 Website: www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
1 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Managers of Barmah-Millewa Forest have been invited by the environmental water holders to submit a single seasonal watering proposal this year instead of submitting two separate proposals for the Victorian and NSW sides of the forest. This is in recognition of the forest reserve being a single floodplain ecosystem which is best managed as a whole. Managers in Victoria and NSW work together to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes for both sides of the forest.
This document provides the additional information required by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) for all Victorian seasonal watering proposals. This document, in addition to the 2017- 18 SCBEWC Environmental Water Proposal Template jointly prepared for Barmah-Millewa Forest, forms the 2017-18 Seasonal Watering Proposal for Barmah-Millewa Forest and outlines the combined Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) priorities for the use of environmental water in the Barmah- Millewa Forest in 2017-18.
Barmah-Millewa Forest experienced significant unregulated flooding in 2016-17, inundating most of the floodplain in both Barmah and Millewa Forests for over a month and the lower regions of the floodplain for over six months. Environmental water delivery occurred to extend the duration and maintain depth on Floodplain Marsh wetlands which was concentrated mainly in Barmah Forest within the current flow constraints in the Murray River downstream of Yarrawonga (15,000 ML/d). Millewa Forest also received some of this environmental water during the period of environmental water delivery. Both forests also received additional environmental water to support waterbird breeding activity that occurred in both forests.
The overarching objective for water management at Barmah-Millewa Forest in 2017-18 is to minimise hypoxic blackwater development and to promote spring flooding with an autumn dry period on the floodplain marsh plains of Barmah-Millewa Forest, as well as achieving native fish and waterbird breeding outcomes. Additionally, as it is Millewa Forest’s turn to take unseasonal flooding events as part of the annually-alternating reciprocal arrangement, water management will attempt to minimize unseasonal flooding on Floodplain Marsh plains by instead diverting unseasonal flooding to Giant Rush dominated wetlands.
To achieve this, the broad aims of 2017-18 watering proposal for Barmah-Millewa Forest are to: Minimise hypoxic blackwater development through early season flushing. Maintain drought refuge for floodplain-specialist fish species and turtles. Enhance vegetation health of wetlands, watercourses and forest communities on the lower terraces of the floodplain, with particular emphasis on re-invigorating Floodplain Marsh species such as Moira Grass and potentially expanding its distribution on the floodplain. Promote the recovery of native fish populations in and around Barmah-Millewa Forest. Facilitate waterbird breeding success. Provide breeding and feeding habitat opportunities for floodplain fauna, such as waterbirds, fish, frogs and turtles. Minimise summer-autumn unseasonal flooding on Floodplain Marsh plains.
A range of priority water management actions have been identified by this proposal under various water resource scenarios to achieve these aims, being:
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A. Perch spawning pulses: Provide flow variability within the main river channel in mid-October through to December to encourage the spawning of native fish species, primarily Golden Perch and Silver Perch. B. Critical drought refuge: Maintain critical drought refuge areas within Barmah-Millewa waterways, without return flow connectivity to the river system C. General drought refuge: Maintain general drought refuge areas within Barmah-Millewa waterways, with return flow connectivity to the river system D. Waterbird breeding (Dry scenario): Initiate and sustain a targeted waterbird (colonial- nesting species and bitterns) breeding event in either Reed Beds swamp or Boals Deadwoods by providing cues and suitable conditions for successful breeding. E. Waterbird breeding (Moderate & Near Average scenarios): Initiate and sustain a targeted waterbird (colonial-nesting species and bitterns) breeding event in both Reed Beds swamp or Boals Deadwoods by providing cues and suitable conditions for successful breeding. F. Waterbird breeding (Wet scenario): Same as Action E but includes additional wetlands. G. Floodplain Marsh: Build on natural flow cues to enhance conditions to promote growth of Floodplain Marsh vegetation species (including Moira Grass) on treeless plains in Millewa Forest (given Millewa Forest turn under annual-alternating flood strategy with Barmah Forest). H. Summer-autumn perennial flow trial 2017-2019: Trial to determine if large bodied native fish occupy the perennially flowing habitats but exit (or attempt to exit) the seasonal habitat when flows cease. I. Autumn-winter perennial flow trial 2017-2019: Trial to determine if large bodied native fish occupy the perennially flowing habitats but exit (or attempt to exit) the seasonal habitat when flows cease. J. Translucency flows: Trial translucent regulator strategy where forest regulators will be open in winter-spring and then closed at the end of November.
The strategies are partially tiered under water resource scenarios such that higher-level floodplain inundation events can negate the need for lower floodplain watering actions.
Engagement of program partners, recreational users, environment groups, landowners, traditional owners and councils on the seasonal watering proposal planning process for 2017-18 has occurred (mainly via the BM Technical Advisory Group, BM Operations Advisory Group, and the CMA’s Wetland Advisory Group) with input and feedback sought from multiple advisory groups and through direct communication.
No major delivery or external flooding risks are foreseen with the proposed watering strategy. Flow constraints in the Murray River below Yarrawonga are in place to prevent flooding of private land access on the Bullatale Creek system in NSW. More detailed consideration of available environmental water volumes and natural triggers will be made prior to water release to ensure greatest chance of achieving target environmental outcomes. Control of feral horses from Barmah Forest from priority Floodplain Marsh wetlands is planned to be initiated by Parks Victoria throughout 2017-18. However, reaching the goals outlined in this strategy will be largely dependent upon the provision of requested flow volumes from the environmental water holders.
A summary of the planned 2016-17 environmental watering actions for Barmah Forest under the different water resource scenarios identified by this Seasonal Watering Proposal is provided in Section 6 Scenario planning and prioritisation.
3 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
CONTENTS Executive summary ...... 2 Introduction ...... 5 Engagement ...... 6 Engagement ...... 6 Shared Benefits ...... 8 Environmental Objectives and Flow Recommendations ...... 9 Seasonal Review...... 9 2016-2017 Ecological Review ...... 9 Shared benefits Review ...... 17 Current Ecological Conditions ...... 17 Flow Components Delivered ...... 19 Key Observations and Learnings ...... 22 Scenario Planning ...... 22 Scenario Planning Overview ...... 22 Climatic Outlook for 2017-2018 ...... 22 Priority Watering Actions 2017-2018 ...... 22 Scenario Planning ...... 22 Environmental Outcomes ...... 22 Shared Benefits Outcomes ...... 22 Delivery Constraints ...... 23 Increasing Knowledge ...... 24 Monitoring ...... 24 Reporting ...... 25 Knowledge Gaps and Limitations ...... 25 Risk Management ...... 27 Approval and Endorsement ...... 32 References ...... 33 AppendiX A - 2017-18 SCBEWC Environmental Water Proposal ...... 34
4 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
INTRODUCTION The 2017-18 Seasonal Watering Proposal for Barmah-Millewa Forest has been jointly prepared by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH). This document provides the additional information required by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) for all Victorian sites under section 192A of the Water Act 1989. This document in addition to the 2017-18 SCBEWC Environmental Water Proposal Template jointly prepared for Barmah-Millewa Forest forms the 2017-18 Seasonal Watering Proposal for Barmah-Millewa Forest and outlines the combined Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) priorities for the use of environmental water in the Barmah-Millewa Forest in 2017-18. This seasonal watering proposal will be used by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) to inform the development of the Seasonal Watering Plan 2017-18. The plan will outline the full scope of State- wide priorities for the use of the Water Holdings in 2017-18. This proposal will also be used to inform The Living Murray (TLM), Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) and NSW OEH environmental watering priorities.
Water Management Area locations mentioned in this report are spatially displayed in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Barmah–Millewa water management area boundaries (source: MDBA 2012)
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ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT This section of the proposal outlines the engagement that has occurred in Victoria by the Goulburn Broken CMA in the development of the seasonal watering proposal for 2017-18. NSW OEH also undertake engagement in the development of the seasonal watering proposal in NSW which is not included in the table below (Table 1).
Table 1: Barmah-Millewa Water Management Strategy and Seasonal Watering Proposal engagement within Victoria.
Who Engaged on the 2017- Engagement Engaged longer term strategies that have informed the 2017-18 seasonal watering proposal 18 seasonal watering methods proposal Environmental Water Engagement Regional Waterway Engagement Management Plans Methods strategy methods
Program Partners Goulburn Murray Formal advisory Vic Department of Direct engagement Goulburn Murray Direct engagement Water groups (Barmah- Sustainability & Water Millewa Technical Environment (now Advisory Committee) DELWP) Murray Darling Basin Murray Darling Basin Authority Authority Direct engagement Parks Victoria Department of Land, Parks Victoria Water and Planning Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation Department of NSW Office of Environment and Environment and MDBA Primary Industries Heritage (now DEWLP) Goulburn Murray Water NSW Parks and Wildlife Service CEWO
VEWH VEWH
CEWO NSW Office of Environment and Parks Victoria Heritage
Yorta Yorta Nation NSW Parks and Wildlife Aboriginal Service Corporation
Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Management Board
Recreational Users Trellys Fishing and Formal advisory Barmah Forest Direct Engagement Community Direct engagement Hunting groups (Goulburn Cattlemen’s Association reference group Broken Wetlands Working Group) Stan Vale (local resident VR Fish & former Barmah- Millewa Forum rep) Goulburn Valley Association of Angling Clubs
Australian Trout Foundation
Trellys Tackle World
Native Fish Australia
Future Fish Foundation
Environment Goulburn Murray Formal advisory Keith Stockwell (local Formal advisory Native Fish Australia Direct Engagement Groups Landcare Network groups (Goulburn resident & former groups (Barmah- Broken Wetlands Barmah-Millewa Forum Millewa Community Working Group) environment rep) Reference Group)
6 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Goulburn Valley Australian Conservation Direct engagement Environment Group Foundation (GVEG) Bird Observers Club of Turtles Australia Australia
Friends of the Earth
Goulburn Valley Environment Group
Victorian National Parks Association
Landholders N/A N/A Gordon Ball (former Formal advisory N/A N/A Barmah-Millewa Forum groups (Barmah- irrigation and Millewa Community consultation rep) Reference Group)
Louise Burge (former Direct Engagement Barmah-Millewa Forum irrigation and consultation rep)
Russell Pell (former Barmah-Millewa Forum farmer and CMA rep)
Peter Gibson (former Barmah-Millewa Forum farmer and CMA rep)
Max Baker (former Barmah-Millewa Forum landholder rep)
North-eastern Apiarists Association
Barmah Forest Cattlemen’s Association
Traditional Owners Yorta Yorta Nation Formal advisory Yorta Yorta Nation Formal advisory Yorta Yorta Direct engagement Aboriginal groups (Barmah- Aboriginal Corporation groups (Barmah- Corporation Millewa Technical Millewa Indigenous Advisory Committee) Reference Group) Taungurung Clans Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Direct engagement Direct engagement Management Board
Local Councils Moira Shire Formal advisory Shire of Campaspe Direct engagement groups (Goulburn Broken Wetlands Working Group) Mitchell Shire
Shire of Murrindindi
Moira Shire
City of Greater Shepparton
Shire of Strathbogie
Mansfield Shire
Benalla Rural City
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SHARED BENEFITS Opportunities for shared benefits associated with the proposed Barmah-Millewa Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-18 are outlined in the following table (Table 2).
Table 2: Summary of shared benefits opportunities associated with the 2017-18 Barmah-Millewa Seasonal Watering Proposal.
Who Shared benefit
Community Floodplain watering improves aesthetics through presence of water, members who go improvements to vegetation condition, increases birdwatching opportunities camping in and maintains waterways for fishing which all benefit national park users. Barmah Forest
Floodplain watering increases water level on Barmah Lake that provides more navigational options for Kingfisher Cruises rather than being confined to main river channel. Tourism Industry Media coverage of environmental watering in Barmah Forest raises the profile of the area drawing increased numbers of visitors from further afield bringing benefits to regional tourism industry and local businesses.
The improved ecological condition of the forest from use of environmental Local Community water benefits physical, mental and social well-being of local residents.
Drought refuge environmental watering targets turtles that are an important species for the Yorta Yorta community.
Floodplain marsh watering improves the condition of vegetation that includes Traditional important food and medicinal plants for the Yorta Yorta community. Owners Improved health of River Red Gums from environmental watering has benefits for important aboriginal sites such as scarred trees and furthers connection to country.
Waterbird breeding environmental watering actions improve bird numbers and diversity in the forest to provide better birdwatching opportunities. Bird watching groups Floodplain marsh environmental watering provides increased foraging grounds for birds and more birdwatching opportunities.
Drought refuge environmental watering maintains water quality in regulated creeks to support native fish and provide angling opportunities.
Anglers Environmental watering restores functions such as carbon and nutrient cycling by reconnecting the floodplain with the river channel. This has benefits for native fish downstream of Barmah Forest and leads to improved angling opportunities.
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Apiarists Improved health and flowering of mature trees from environmental watering provides benefits for apiarists within the forest.
Higher water levels in the Murray River lead to improved water access for some private diverters. Irrigators Environmental releases improve water quality in the Murray River that benefits private diverters.
Diversion of flows through Barmah and Millewa Forest can assist each other with more elevated river levels than may occur had just irrigation water been Other released, as well as provides return credit flows (some allocations) that can environmental bypass the constrictions of the Barmah Choke and hence be available for water users other downstream environmental water uses (such as the lower lakes and Coorong).
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS Environmental objectives and flow recommendations for Barmah-Millewa Forest are found in the Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Management Plan (2012) and Barmah-Millewa Ecological Operating Strategy (2012).
SEASONAL REVIEW 2016-2017 ECOLOGICAL REVIEW
The 2016-2017 year was characterised by high rainfall and cool temperatures in winter/spring (Figure 2), and wide-spread over-bank flooding before a return to near-average conditions in summer.
9 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Rainfall LTA Rainfall 2016/17 Max temp LTA Max temp 2016/17
90 35
80 30 70 25
60 C) o
50 20
40 15 Rainfall (mm)
30 Temperature ( 10 20 5 10
0 0
Figure 2: Monthly rainfall totals of Echuca Aerodrome (Station 080015) in 2016/17 compared with the long-term average and monthly maximum temperatures in 2016/17 compared with the long-term average (source: BoM 2017)
Figure 3 shows a hydrograph of the Murray River downstream of Yarrawonga between the 1st July 2016 and 28th February 2017 showing the period of unregulated flooding and subsequent environmental water release. The key features of this hydrograph and of environmental watering in 2016-17 are:
Extended unregulated overbank flows from late June until mid-November peaking at 178,000 ML/d on 8th October 2016, the highest flood peak since 1993 (Figure 4), and representing approximately 17 times larger than the channel capacity of the Murray River through the forest. Environmental water was released to the forest between mid-November and late December in response to natural cues to extend the overbank flooding in the forest and maintain depth of water in wetlands and grassy open plains. Environmental water was delivered to colonial waterbird breeding sites in Barmah-Millewa Forest including Boals Deadwoods and Reed Beds Swamp between January and February until successful fledging of the colonies resulted.
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Figure 3: Hydrograph showing actual flow in the Murray River downstream of Yarrawonga vs possible releases without environmental water and modelled natural flows (source: MDBA February 2017). Difference between the blue line and the orange line therefore represent the difference in river release rates (and therefore height) from the addition of environmental flows.
Figure 4: Murray River flow downstream of Yarrawonga (= reach through Barmah-Millewa Forest) for past 111 years, showing the recent 2016 flood peak was the largest since 1993 and twelfth largest over the past 111 years.
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Figure 5 shows an output from the Barmah-Millewa hydrodynamic model at a 65,000 ML/d flow scenario which is at the upper limit of the model’s currently available outputs. Widespread flooding occurs across the floodplain even at this flow rate, which is significantly lower than that experienced in 2016-17. When compared with previous flooding over the past 19 years of records kept for the degree of flooding per water management area (as initiated by the Barmah-Millewa Forum), then this year’s flooding was the most extensive for the time (Table 3), beating 2010 by the larger flood peak in 2016 (as seen earlier from Figure 4).
Figure 5: Hydrodynamic model output showing 65,000 ML/d inundation scenario
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Table 3: Barmah-Millewa Forest flood history (past 19 years), separated by “water management area” and prioritised based on WMA flood deficiency scores (after Barmah-Millewa Forum).
Observed flooding score
Ecological outcomes/observations Shared benefit Water Management Area (details in 2016-17 synthesis report
2017 outcomes/observations
Ranking and consultant reports )
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ideal score Ideal
flood score flood
flood score # flood
Accumulated score Accumulated
Watering priority for priority Watering
Departure from ideal ideal from Departure
Ideal average annual average annual Ideal
Kynmer Creek (A) 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.3 20 24.7 -4.7 - 14 1,4,5 A,E Tongalong Creek (B) 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 1.5 27 28.5 -1.5 - 19 1,2,4,5 A,E Smiths Creek (C) 3 1 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.5 24 28.5 -4.5 - 15 1,2,4,5 D,E Yielima (D) 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.5 23 28.5 -5.5 - 11 1,4,5 A,D,E Black Sw amp (E) 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 0 3 1.6 20 30.4 -10.4 Priority 6 1 - Gulf Creek (F) 2 1 3 0 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 1.9 32 36.1 -4.1 - 16 1,2,3,4,5 A,B,D,E Boals Deadw ood (G) 2 1 2 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 1.9 31 36.1 -5.1 - 12 1,3,4 B,E
Barmah Barmah Forest sites Top Island (H1) 2 1 3 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.9 26 36.1 -10.1 Priority 8 1,3,4 A,B,E Steamer/War Plain (H2) 2 1 3 0 2 2 2 3 1 0 0 1 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2.0 36 38.0 -2.0 - 17 1,2,3,4,5 A,B,C,D,E Goose Sw amp (H3) 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 0 3 1.6 20 30.4 -10.4 Priority 7 1,3,4 E Barmah Island (H4) 2 1 3 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 2.0 27 38.0 -11.0 Priority 5 1,2,3,4,5 A,C,D,E Aratula Creek (J) 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.5 21 28.5 -7.5 - 10 1,4,5 A,E Plantation (L) 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 2.0 21 38.0 -17.0 Priority 1 1,3,4 A,E Mary Ada (M) 3 0 3 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 1 2 3 1.9 28 36.1 -8.1 - 9 1,2,3,4,5 A,D,E Edw ard River (N) 3 1 3 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 1 2 3 2.3 29 43.7 -14.7 Priority 2 1,2,3,4,5 A,B,C,D,E Tow rong Creek (P) 3 0 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 1.4 25 26.6 -1.6 - 18 1,2,3,4,5 E St Helena Sw amp (Q) 2 1 3 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 1 2 3 2.2 28 41.8 -13.8 Priority 3 1,2,3,4,5 C,D,E
Millewa Forest sites Gulpa Creek (R) 2 1 3 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 2 1 3 2.2 28 41.8 -13.8 Priority 4 1,2,3,4,5 A,B,C,D,E Moira Lake (S) 2 1 3 0 2 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2.0 33 38.0 -5.0 - 13 1,2,3,4,5 A,B,C,D,E Flood scores: # Based on the proportion of w etlands and 1 = Native vegetation impovements A = High visitor exposure Site Quality timber in each WMA and their 0 “no flooding the WMA” desirable flooding frequencies: Wetlands = 2 = Native fish benefits B = Media outcome 1 “some flooding the WMA” 10 years out of 10, SQ1 = 8 years out of 3 = Native waterbird benefits C = Improved boating 10, SQ2 = 5 years out of 10, and SQ3 = 3 2 “lot of flooding” 4 = Frog/turtle benefits D = Improved fishing years out of 10. 3 “completely flooded” 5 = Water quality benefits E = Improved birdwatching
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The environmental water delivery was successful in achieving priority watering actions under a “wet” scenario including meeting waterbird breeding and floodplain marsh requirements. Other priority watering actions were delivered with unregulated flooding including the perch spawning pulse, and built upon previous successful environmental water activities (Table 4).
Table 4: Summary of previous eight years of flooding and associated outcomes at Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Year Forest flooding
Drought conditions prevailed with flows not exceeding channel capacity. 2009-10 18 GL of environmental water was delivered for recovery and maintenance of wetland vegetation and habitat for bird breeding and foraging
No breeding of waterbirds took place this year An estimated 15% of the floodplain was inundated
Natural major flooding returned with peaks in excess of 100,000 ML/day (10 times the capacity of the Barmah Choke) occurring in September and December of 2010. Unusually, the flooding persisted for the entire year over much of the 2010-11 floodplain with significant late summer / early autumn flooding. 428 GL of environmental water was delivered to Barmah-Millewa Forest. The environmental water was delivered to maintain flows at or above channel capacity, preventing the draining of wetlands and the potential for nest abandonment by colonially nesting waterbirds, as well as maintaining ideal flood depth and duration for wetland vegetation such as Moira Grass. An estimated 90% of the floodplain was inundated
Late winter and early spring natural flood events peaking at 50,000 ML/d in August were followed by a slightly drier than forecast conditions for the remainder of spring. Following the completion of colonial waterbird breeding, wetlands were entering a desirable drying cycle, before a highly unusual March flood event re-flooded the majority of the floodplain after sharply peaking at 2011-12 57,000 ML/d downstream of Yarrawonga. A total of 425 GL of environmental water was delivered to maintain flows at or above channel capacity between natural flood peaks in spring and summer. This was to maintain water under colonially nesting waterbirds. A pulse was delivered in late November – early December for native fish spawning, An estimated 65% of the floodplain was inundated
An early winter natural flood event extended through to mid-October, briefly peaking at 53,000 ML/d in July and 41,000 ML/d in August, but was then 2012-13 followed by a drier than average conditions for the remainder of spring. The lower floodplain region experienced a desirable dry phase after largely being inundated for the previous 2.5 years, although completion of waterbird breeding required some targeted release of environmental water. 3 GL of The Living Murray environmental water was delivered to Boals Deadwoods wetland between 17 November 2012 and 14 January 2013. This
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Year Forest flooding
water successfully maintained shallow flooding beneath colonially nesting waterbirds (White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis and Royal Spoonbill). 11.8 GL of environmental water was delivered to Reed Beds Swamp in Millewa Forest. An estimated 60% of the floodplain was inundated
2013-14 Natural flood peaks occurred in July, August and September, peaking at 44,000 ML/day. The rate of flood recession in October was slowed by maintaining the river at 18,000 ML/day for two weeks at a time when levels would have otherwise dropped to only 8,000 ML/day under regulated conditions with no environmental water release. This had the added benefit of trailing a threshold concern of flooding private property in NSW. Flows were then maintained at 15,000 ML/day in the River Murray downstream of Yarrawonga until the end of November. Perch spawning was induced by causing a four day reduction in flows by 400 ML/day from Yarrawonga in mid-November inducing temporary flow variability without exceeding 15,000 ML/day maximum flow threshold. Total environmental water delivered was 371.3 GL An estimated 60% of the floodplain was inundated
2014-15 Two natural flood peaks occurred in July, briefly peaking at 20,600 ML/day and 23,600 ML/day, followed by brief periods of overbank flows in August (11,600 ML/day), November (12,100 ML/day) and January (12,300 ML/day). The rate of flood recession in late-July was rapid, although briefly slowed by the early- August fresh. The November fresh created flow variability at a time of year when Perch species are known to use increasing flows as a cue for spawning and as such no environmental water was delivered. However Golden Perch were found not to have spawned on this event. It is now understood that this event occurred too late in the season when water temperatures were too high, spawning cues will now be delivered earlier in the October/November period in future. No environmental water was released for Barmah-Millewa Forest in 2014-15. An estimated 25% of the floodplain was inundated in July/August.
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Year Forest flooding
2015-16 Low rainfall was experienced throughout much of the year meaning the areas of the floodplain that weren’t flooded stayed very dry Three small natural flood peaks occurred in early August (16,313 ML/d), early September (15,254 ML/d) and late October (13,986 ML/d) An estimated 17% of the floodplain was inundated Environmental water was released between July and September to maintain depth and duration of flooding on low-lying wetlands and grassy plains. Most of the environmental water was directed to Millewa Forest. Environmental water was also delivered to support colonial waterbird breeding in Boals Deadwoods and Reed Beds Swamp. Approximately 1,500 pairs of Australian White Ibis and Straw-necked Ibis, 220 pairs of Royal Spoonbills, 100 pairs of Eastern Great Egrets and multiple colonies of cormorants were observed breeding in Barmah-Millewa Forest. Australasian Bitterns were also heard calling throughout the forest.
2016-17 Above average rainfall throughout winter and spring caused near continuous overbank flows and Hume Reservoir to spill. Three large natural flood peaks occurred in early August (62,664 ML/d), late September (87,200ML/d) and early October (179,285 ML/d). An estimated 98% of the Barmah-Millewa floodplain was inundated. Environmental water was released in December 2016 to slow the rate of flood recession from the floodplain following rapid recession of the final natural flood peak, for the benefit of Moira Grass plains that had commenced flowering. Most of the environmental water was directed to Barmah Forest under the annual-alternating EWA arrangement with Millewa Forest. Environmental water was also delivered to support colonial waterbird breeding in Boals Deadwoods and Reed Beds Swamp from December through to mid- February. Excellent waterbird breeding conditions were evident in Barmah Forest this year with approximately 1,000 pair of Australian White Ibis, 1,000 pair of Straw- necked Ibis, 60 pair of Royal Spoonbill, 2 pair Yellow-billed Spoonbill, 4,000 pair of Rufous Night-heron, 100 pair of Eastern Great Egret, 20 pair Intermediate Egret, 500 Little Pied Cormorant, 300 Little Black Cormorant, 4 Great Cormorant, 2 Darter and numerous waterfowl including many hundreds of pair of Grey Teal, Black Duck and dozens of Black Swan, were observed breeding in Barmah-Millewa Forest. Australasian Bittern and Little Bittern were also heard calling within most reed-dominated wetlands throughout the forest. A variety of other wetland birds were also recorded utilising or breeding in the forest. Millewa Forest recorded similar species in similar numbers (species and numbers awaiting confirmation at the time of writing), although Straw-necked Ibis counts in particular were much larger. Moira Grass (Pseudoraphis spinescens) growth was variable, attaining lengths exceeding 4m length at most existing sites although flowering was profuse only where the grass stems were not otherwise covered in filamentous brown algae. Encouragingly, some occurrence of the species was noted from areas where it had previously disappeared, although range expansion cannot be confirmed until targeted surveys are completed.
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SHARED BENEFITS REVIEW The shared benefits of the 2016-17 natural flood event, augmented by release of environmental water, are summarised in Table 3 above. These were categorised as follows: A = High visitor exposure B = Media outcome C = Improved boating D = Improved fishing E = Improved birdwatching.
Generally sites located along the major rivers had high visitor exposure where increased flow associated with EWA management could be seen as a benefit where flooding did not prevent access. Media outcomes were generally associated with reporting of waterbird breeding events, although some blackwater reporting from the large natural flood also occurred. Improved boating was associated with increased depth only where larger waterways occurred, while increased fishing opportunities also occurred in the smaller or tighter waterways where boats could not generally access. Improved birdwatching opportunities generally existed throughout the forest given widespread flooding and the range of bird habitats benefiting from the widespread flooding.
Some return flows to the river following floodplain inundation were re-credited to some environmental water accounts. These flows were able to be reallocated to some downstream environmental water uses and/or provided additional releases to Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Some flood mitigation is also anticipated to have occurred when large natural flood peak inundated the Barmah-Millewa floodplain, which is expected to have provided a lower flood peak for some downstream townships and private land.
CURRENT ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS As summarised in Table 4 above, and to be detailed in individual TLM monitoring reports and synthesis report, the current ecological condition of Barmah-Millewa Forest is generally good. Tree condition assessments show increased canopy growth from previous flood events (MDBA 2015), and this year’s large natural flood event (the largest since 1993) is expected to have provided similar benefit to the trees. Understorey vegetation species have similarly exhibited strong growth throughout the forest, with understorey monitoring at sentinel wetland sites showing a clear increase in native wetland species growth and flowering at the expense of exotic species, many of which drowned during the floods Ward 2016, 2017). Moira Grass (Pseudorpahis spinescens) had patchy growth and flowering, growing best where not covered in filamentous brown algae and where previous strongholds of the species exist. A repeat of the seedbank work on this species is currently being undertaken.
Excellent waterbird breeding outcomes in Barmah Forest occurred this year with approximately 1,000 pair of Australian White Ibis, 1,000 pair of Straw-necked Ibis, 60 pair of Royal Spoonbill, 2 pair Yellow-billed Spoonbill, 4,000 pair of Rufous Night-heron, 100 pair of Eastern Great Egret, 20 pair Intermediate Egret, 500 Little Pied Cormorant, 300 Little Black Cormorant, 4 Great Cormorant, 2 Darter and numerous waterfowl including many hundreds of pair of Grey Teal, Black Duck and dozens of Black Swan, were observed breeding in Barmah-Millewa Forest. Australasian Bittern and
17 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Little Bittern were also heard calling within most reed-dominated wetlands throughout the forest. A variety of other wetland birds were also recorded utilising or breeding in the forest. Millewa Forest recorded similar species in similar numbers (species and numbers awaiting confirmation at the time of writing), although Straw-necked Ibis counts in particular were much larger. Environmental water releases targeting ibis and spoonbill were responsible for achieving breeding success, as without the releases to prolong flooding at the colonial breeding sites, then the large natural flood event that initiated the breeding subsided prematurely to the completion of the breeding event. Other waterbird species breeding success, particularly egret and cormorants, are also highly likely to have been much greater as a result of EWA management where wetland flooding was extended where adult and then fledged young were observed to be frequently feeding until drawdown.
Superb Parrots were also shown to have had a relatively successful breeding season (Rick Webster pers comm 08/03/2017).
Fish breeding outcomes are yet to be fully reported, although preliminary advice obtained following monitoring activities (Zeb Tonkin pers comm 20/02/2017) suggests spawning outcomes occurred from all of the usual native fish species present in the waterways of Barmah-Millewa Forest (including Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch). Encouragingly, some larval Murray Crayfish were also found in the Murray River downstream of Barmah Lake where the species had become extremely uncommon following widespread deaths caused by anoxic blackwater in late 2010. Unfortunately, but not expectantly, exotic fish species (carp, goldfish, weatherloach and Gambusia) continue to prosper.
Anecdotal observations noted good diversity and abundance of frogs throughout the forest, and turtle monitoring undertaken by a PhD student is showing strong movements and nesting activities, although fox predation on nests remains omnipresent where increased control activities are now occurring. A platypus was also recorded in a Barmah Forest wetland adjoining the Murray River this year, which is a very uncommon record.
Feral horse control in Barmah Forest is planned to be initiated in 2017-18 by Parks Victoria following Ministerial approval. The is currently high expectations that 25% of feral horses will be removed from the forest in the year, with Floodplain Marshland wetland (especially Moira Grass dominated regions) to be prioritised. Furthermore, an 11ha area of Moira Grass and nationally endangered River Swamp Wallaby Grass is also currently being fenced off from horse and pig damage at Little Rushy Swamp in Barmah Forest (due for completion May 2017).
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FLOW COMPONENTS DELIVERED The Barmah-Millewa Seasonal Watering Proposal 2016-17 (GB CMA & OEH 2016) had identified seven watering actions that were mostly hierarchical based on water resource scenarios and/or climatic triggers. Outcomes from the watering actions are outlined in Table 5.
Table 5: Outcomes from the proposed watering actions at Barmah-Millewa Forest in 2016-17.
Watering Description of watering action Outcome in 2016-17 action
A “fish wriggle” flow was implemented in late November, when otherwise managing flows Watering Provide flow variability within the main at around 15,000 ML/day, to action 1 river channel in mid-October and include an anti-pulse to create (Perch November to encourage the spawning of flow variability for fish spawning spawning native fish species, primarily Golden Perch outcomes (BM OAG pulses) and Silver Perch. teleconference 29/11/2016). Monitoring had shown Perch species to have spawned at higher rates.
Watering Not required dur to large natural action 2 flood. Maintain critical drought refuge areas (Critical within Barmah-Millewa waterways. drought refuge)
Watering Not required dur to large natural action 3 Maintain general drought refuge areas flood. (General within Barmah-Millewa waterways, with drought connectivity to the river system. refuge)
In Barmah Forest, initiate and sustain a Not required due to large natural Watering targeted waterbird (colonial-nesting flood causing waterbird breeding action 4 species and bitterns) breeding event by outcomes to be maintained as per (Waterbird providing cues and suitable conditions for Watering Action 7 outcomes. breeding – successful breeding. In broader Barmah- Dry Millewa Forest, will maintain a significant scenario) waterbird breeding event if one self- initiates.
19 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Watering Description of watering action Outcome in 2016-17 action
Watering Build on natural flow cues to enhance Greatly facilitated by a natural action 5 conditions to promote growth of flooding occurring continuously in (Floodplain Floodplain Marsh vegetation species the forest between early-July and Marsh): (including Moira Grass) on treeless plains. late-November 2016. EWA was released in Mid-November and into December to reduce the rate of natural flood subsidence and to prolong inundation of the Floodplain Marshlands to benefit flowering of Moira Grass that had commenced at the time. Good growth outcomes in Moira Grass resulted (and in other native wetland species) with long stem lengths providing for strong thatch and vegetative reproduction via rooting at the nodes following flood subsidence. Flowering was patchy and yet strong where it occurred. Good growth from the nationally endangered River Swamp Wallaby Grass (Amphibromus fluitans) also resulted (Ward 2017).
Watering In Barmah Forest, initiate and sustain a Not required due to large natural action 6 targeted waterbird (colonial-nesting flood causing waterbird breeding (Waterbird species and bitterns) breeding event by outcomes to be maintained as per breeding – providing cues and suitable conditions for Watering Action 7 outcomes Near- successful breeding. In broader Barmah- average Millewa Forest, will maintain a significant scenario): waterbird breeding event if one self- initiates.
Watering In Barmah Forest, initiate and sustain a Large natural flooding throughout action 7 targeted waterbird (colonial-nesting spring had caused widespread (Waterbird species and bitterns) breeding event by waterbird breeding from a diverse breeding – providing cues and suitable conditions for range os species throughout many Wet successful breeding. In broader Barmah- parts of the forest. Environmental scenario): Millewa Forest, will maintain a significant water management activities waterbird breeding event if one self- specifically targeted the initiates. maintenance of flood depth at a primary waterbird breeding location in Barmah Forest that would have otherwise almost certainly prematurely abandoned prior to successful chick fledging
20 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Watering Description of watering action Outcome in 2016-17 action
without EWA management to the site. Broader forest flooding during Watering Action 5 (Floodplain Marsh) also resulted in more successful breeding outcomes for a range of other waterbird species, particularly egrets and cormorants, but also for numerous ducks, swans, bitterns, crakes, rails, etc.
21 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
KEY OBSERVATIONS AND LEARNINGS Environmental water management remains a key activity to achieve waterbird breeding success. Had no EWA management occurred, then a couple of thousand ibis and hundreds of Royal Spoonbill would almost certainly had perished at the nests this year following premature subsidence of a large natural flood (expedited dur to river regulation and required regulator operation).
Barmah Forest was the only site in Victoria where Great Egret and Intermediate Egret was known to have bred this year, elevating the significance of the flooding outcomes given that both species are of threatened conservation status. The site was also a stronghold in Victoria for the breeding of Rufous Night-heron, and also of Australasian Bittern and Little Bittern.
Filamentous brown algae may have been responsible for reduced Moira Grass growth and flowering outcomes at some sites within Barmah Forest in 2016. Submerged stems of the grass were observed to be coated in the algae in warm shallow waters in summer, seemingly preventing the grass to emerge from the water surface to flower. Sheets of dried algae over extant wetland vegetation was then observed following wetland drying, which may further reduce subsequent establishment and growth of species such as Moira Grass. It is uncertain if this phenomenon was unusual in extent or what caused the observed high growth of the algae, although water phosphorus levels appeared to exceed SEPP guidelines (Hodgkins & Beischer 2017) and hence further exploration and monitoring is recommended.
SCENARIO PLANNING SCENARIO PLANNING OVERVIEW Note: This section is not required to be filled in for Icon Sites given that the detail has been provided in the SCBEWC water proposal template (provided in Appendix A of this report).
CLIMATIC OUTLOOK FOR 2017-2018
PRIORITY WATERING ACTIONS 2017-2018
SCENARIO PLANNING
ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES Put in scenario planning table here – see guidelines for details
SHARED BENEFITS OUTCOMES Insert shared benefits outcomes table for 2017-2018 – see guidelines for details
22 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
DELIVERY CONSTRAINTS There are two known delivery constraints that could influence the delivery of environmental water to the Barmah-Millewa Icon Site (Table 6). Firstly, the imposed flow constraint on the Murray River downstream of Yarrawonga currently limits releases to a maximum of 18,000 ML/d until the end of September and to 15,000 ML/d for the remainder of the year to prevent flooding of private access points across the Bullatale Creek system in NSW. In recognition of this constraint, this 2017-18 watering proposal accepts that both Barmah and Millewa Forest cannot achieve Floodplain Marsh flood inundation to required minimum depths if both forests were to be flooded during the same event, and hence instead accepts a continuation of the local “seasonal annual alternating management” agreement with Millewa Forest whereby only one of the forests can be flooded in any given event. This coming year will therefore will be Millewa Forest’s turn to attempt Floodplain Marshland flood depth and duration this year and thus can work within the current maximum water delivery constraints.
The second potential constraint is the restriction of access to Barmah Island during the spring firewood collection period which could prevent delivery of priority watering Action G (Floodplain Marsh). However, Parks Victoria believe that there is insufficient firewood remaining on the island to permit continuation of firewood collection at the site into the period where forest flooding would impact on the activity. Furthermore, the intended major flooding of Millewa Forest instead of Barmah Forest this year will further reduce the risk of firewood collection at Barmah Island being impacted.
Table 6: Delivery constraints
Impact on priority watering Priority environmental site Potential constraint action
Limited to releases of 18,000 Bullatale Creek flooding of ML/d until the end of Barmah-Millewa Forest access to private land issue September and 15,000 ML/d unresolved thereafter.
Cannot deliver to Barmah Floodplain Marsh plains if Cut off access to Barmah opportunity arises and Barmah Forest Island during spring firewood firewood collection is required collection period to continue to be offered to the public.
23 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
INCREASING KNOWLEDGE MONITORING A broad range of monitoring occurs at Barmah-Millewa Forest that provides information to inform both the condition (health) and management of water at the site. Each year, The Living Murray (TLM) Initiative provides budget both for condition monitoring and intervention monitoring for the Barmah-Millewa Icon Site. Although these budgets have not yet been confirmed for the 2017-18 year, we have had verbal confirmation from TLM that similar funding levels to recent years will be made available for monitoring in Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Condition monitoring is undertaken using repeat standard measures and sites over the long-term. The primary focus of condition monitoring is to determine whether the objectives for the Barmah- Millewa Icon Site, identified in the Environmental Water Management Plan, are being met. The scope of condition monitoring is focused on fish, birds and vegetation communities as defined in the TLM Outcomes Evaluation Framework.
Condition monitoring projects which are planned to continue in 2017-18 are: • Waterbirds • Bush birds • Understory vegetation • Stand condition • Fish and crayfish
Intervention monitoring is the collective name given to compliance, risk and adaptive management monitoring and is undertaken to measure a response to a management activity. Intervention monitoring activities may differ year-to-year. A full intervention monitoring proposal for the Barmah-Millewa Icon site for 2017-18 is currently in preparation and will be provided to TLM in late- April. The general structure of the 2017-18 intervention monitoring plan is shown below. Individual projects will fit into the following categories or sub-categories:
It is anticipated that some funding from the intervention monitoring budget will go towards projects that have already been initiated in Barmah-Millewa Forest. These include:
• Remote monitoring of wetlands and waterbirds • Agency surveillance of wetlands and waterbirds • Water quality monitoring using telemetered dissolved oxygen probe
24 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
There are several other non-TLM funded research or monitoring projects that will take place in Barmah-Millewa Forest in 2017-18.
The Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research (MDB EWKR) Project will also continue in 2017-18, with Barmah-Millewa Forest being one of the four research sites selected for this project. One significant aspect of this project is radio-tracking of ibis and spoonbills when nesting in the forest. This project will provide important knowledge about where these birds feed while nesting in the forest, and where they go after fledging is complete.
The Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI), in partnership with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation (YYNAC), are undertaking research in Barmah-Millewa Forest on predation of turtle nests by foxes, impacts of fox baiting programs, survival rates of turtles, and turtle movements. This could enable us to better cater for environmental water requirements for turtles in the future.
Goulburn Broken CMA is working with Charles Sturt University to develop a project looking at the impacts of grazing on wetland vegetation. This project will involve the construction of various fences excluding different grazing animals and undertaking vegetation surveys within and outside the fences to assess impacts of grazing on important wetland vegetation.
REPORTING Outcomes of environmental water activities will be variously reported as has occurred in past years.
This includes use of the following: social media during the watering event as outcomes of interest occur (such as via the various agencies Facebook and Twitter accounts); media releases relating to specific advice or issue (with potential for print, radio and TV exposure); weekly reports to VEWH via existing template report; monthly reports to GB CMA Board; minutes associated with the Barmah-Millewa Operations Advisory Group teleconferences (usually held weekly during active water management events); occasional opportunistic articles of interest to special interest magazines (such as Birdlife Australia); involvement in other project steering committees or workshops; provision of seminars to special interest groups (such as Australian Society for Limnology, local community groups and agency staff); potentially inclusion into scientific literature where appropriate (such as reporting outcomes from a particular study or monitoring program associated with environmental water). Encouraging researcher involvement into an issue of environmental water management interest, and thereby potentially create broader exposure to other groups.
KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND LIMITATIONS A number of knowledge gaps exist where some will be targeted for investigation through existing and/or planned research and monitoring projects, or where opportunistic investigations may assist with answering. Usefulness of observational history (as a form of multiple lines of evidence or to develop hypothesis for future testing) is also recognised as being important. The following is a brief range of projects that could assist with future water management outcomes:
25 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Bird movements – particularly for colonial nesting species. This includes migration (when and where) and what cues stimulate nesting in Barmah-Millewa Forest. This could include an experiment on habitat modification within a reed-bed site to determine nesting selection preference (based on theory that the nesting colony nucleus may commence near open water in dense reed-beds that are surrounded by water or have some distance of reed-beds between the nesting site and the edge of the wetland). This is intended to be trialled at Boals Deadwoods in Barmah Forest in May 2017. The ramifications are potential habitat modification to improve nesting suitability and water management efficiency. Fish movements, spawning & recruitment – cues responsible for accessing the main river, creeks and wetlands, breeding, migration and movement response to water quality, as well as cues responsible for inducing spawning and recruitment outcomes. Frogs – species, numbers, breeding locations and cues, and recruitment outcomes. Murray Crayfish – population, movement and the impacts of blackwater events. Turtle movements – continue GPS transmitter tracking of a sample of turtles of all three species to determine movements in relation to water management and nesting locations (which also has ramifications for pest animal control programs and potential drought refuge management). Macro invertebrates – very little is known of their significance or water requirements in Barmah-Millewa Forest. Causes and significance of filamentous brown algae coating wetland plants at Barmah- Millewa Foret. Carbon cycling – importance of floodplain-riverine interaction to support riverine foodwebs (thereby potentially increasing the importance of return flow management). Erosion and sedimentation rates (main river channel and other waterways) – particular value would be obtained from re-surveying existing erosion monitoring transect sites in Barmah Forest that have previously survey data from 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2006. Rare or threatened species – undertake targeted surveys to determine location for potential water management.
26 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
RISK MANAGEMENT
The main risks associated with environmental watering are outlined in Table 7, as derived following consideration via a workshop convened by DG Consulting for the VEWH in March 2017 (Smith 2017). More specific information relating to risks at the Barmah-Millewa Icon Site are outlined in the SCBEWC water proposal (provided in Appendix A of this report).
Table 7: Risk assessment for 2017/18 watering proposals – risks applying to all systems (From Smith 2017) 1. Risk category abbreviations are: Env. – environment/sustainability; BC – business cost; Safety – People/safety/wellbeing; Rep – Political/reputation; Legal – legal consequence; Service – service delivery 2. L refers to the Likelihood of a risk occurring. Abbreviations for consequence ratings are: AC – almost certain; L – likely; P – possible; U – unlikely; R - rare 3. C refers to the Consequence if the risk occurs. Abbreviations for consequence ratings are: N – negligible; Min – minor; Mod – moderate; Maj – major; Ext – extreme
No. Risk Risk description L2 C3 Risk Mitigation actions Lead categor rating organisn. y1 for action 1 Env Specified flow rates are insufficient to achieve P Maj High Include contingency allowance in estimated CMA the intended extent of wetland inundation, watering requirements, based on previous event resulting in a failure to achieve planned data, and consider a contingency in the duration
environmental outcomes. of the event to achieve desired wetland inundation. Monitor event and adjust flows as necessary, or terminate event if it becomes clear that CMA insufficient water is available. 2 Env Inaccurate accounting and measurement results P Maj High Review accounting and measurement processes GMW in target flows not being achieved, leading to a to be used to ensure that techniques are agreed failure to achieve planned environmental and monitoring/measurement sites are outcomes operational. 3 BC Volumes delivered or released from VEWH held U Maj High Ensure that deliveries are reported progressively CMA entitlement accounts exceed volumes approved throughout the event and are monitored against for use in the event, leading to potential ordered volume.
27 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
No. Risk Risk description L2 C3 Risk Mitigation actions Lead categor rating organisn. y1 for action overdrawing of accounts and inability to deliver other planned events. 4 Env Planned maintenance of water delivery L Maj Extreme Undertake early planning and communications CMA infrastructure results in planned/specified flows with storage operator to minimise likelihood of not being achieved, leading to a failure to constraints and enable scheduling of achieve planned environmental outcomes. maintenance outside of high demand periods. 5 Env Unplanned failure of environmental delivery P Maj High Implement planned maintenance program, Asset infrastructure results in planned/specified flows together with pre-event asset inspections. owner not being achieved, leading to a failure to Communicate unplanned failures to the CMA achieve planned environmental outcomes. 6 Env High consumptive water demands lead to AC Mod High Event planning will seek to avoid peak demand CMA reduced access for environmental deliveries, periods, and events will be monitored and with the result that target flows/volumes adjusted as necessary.
cannot be achieved, impacting on Develop longer term agreements on river VEWH environmental outcomes capacity access for environmental deliveries. 7 Env High consumptive demands may lead to flows L Maj Extreme Agree and formalise acceptable seasonal flow VEWH that exceed environmental requirements and limits for river systems, with annual negotiation targets (including rates of river rise and fall), and management of release plans and monthly leading to negative environmental outcomes. reviews during the season. 8 Legal Environmental releases cause unauthorised P Maj High Development of release plans designed to avoid CMA inundation of private land, resulting in impacts overbank flows or unauthorised flooding. on landowner activities and assets. Monitoring of events and adjustment of releases GMW to avoid overbank flows.
Monitor deliveries to new locations to build an CMA understanding of flow patterns and inundation thresholds and adjust releases accordingly.
28 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
No. Risk Risk description L2 C3 Risk Mitigation actions Lead categor rating organisn. y1 for action 9 Rep Access routes into public land areas may be AC Ext Extreme Watering proposals to include Identification of Land inundated by delivery of environmental water, potential impacts, followed by. widespread mgr. leading to potential impacts on recreational communication of planned events, access opportunities for park users (e.g. access to boat closures and alternative recreational ramps, firewood collection etc.). opportunities 10 Legal Access routes into public land areas may be L Mod High Communication and advice to commercial Land inundated by delivery of environmental water, operators to alert them of environmental mgr. leading to potential economic impacts on watering, via DELWP as licensing authority. commercial operators who are unable to undertake activities (includes timber and firewood harvesting, apiarist, tourism operators). 11 Serv Del Access routes into public land areas may be AC Mod High Early planning and communications of proposed CMA inundated by delivery of environmental water, actions with land manager to minimise likelihood leading to potential impacts on land of impacts, and scheduling of maintenance works management and maintenance activities (e.g. outside of planned delivery periods. fire mgmt. works) 12 Env Environmental water deliveries result in low DO L Maj Extreme Ensure regular winter flushes of potential risk CMA levels, with adverse environmental impacts. areas to control organic build-up, and plan deliveries with consideration of high
temperature periods where appropriate. Develop monitoring and response plans and reserve contingency volumes in delivery plans for CMA dilution flows if low DO conditions emerge. 13 Env Environmental water deliveries may generate or P Maj High Include consideration of likelihood of initiating CMA mobilise BGA blooms, with adverse water BGA blooms in event planning and amend as quality and environmental impacts required to manage risk.
29 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
No. Risk Risk description L2 C3 Risk Mitigation actions Lead categor rating organisn. y1 for action Monitor events, and where issues are identified, Land mgr. activate existing BGA response processes. Regional monitoring and advice on BGA status. GMW 14 Rep Environmental water management activities AC Maj Extreme Communicate benefits of environmental water VEWH may conflict with or not compliment water management to the broader community and based recreational objectives, leading to loss of engage with recreational user peak bodies. community support for activities. Engage with local recreational user groups to CMA inform them of environmental water management activities and the underlying rationale. CMA Adjust events or actions to reduce/avoid impact where practical and environmental outcomes are Land not reduced. Manager Communicate alternate recreational VEWH opportunities. Enhance community understanding of water system operations and entitlement frameworks (water literacy).
15 Env Environmental water account is overdrawn, R Maj Medium Monitor ABA balances and undertake regular VEWH leading to water not being available as per communications with CMA as part of portfolio approved watering statement to complete management activities. planned actions and environmental benefits not being achieved. 16 BC Insufficient staff resources available across P Ext Extreme Convene OAG meetings to consider resourcing VEWH partner organisations to deliver all planned issues CMA
30 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
No. Risk Risk description L2 C3 Risk Mitigation actions Lead categor rating organisn. y1 for action
environmental watering actions, leading to Continue to actively prioritise actions to match cancellation or interruptions of deliveries. available resources and ensure key actions are CMA delivered. Reallocation of tasks and available funding. 17 Rep Inability to demonstrate outcomes achieved P Maj High Rationalisation and refocussing of current DELWP through environmental watering activities may monitoring programs (e.g. Wetmap) to better lead to a loss of public/political support for identifying outcomes.
activities Seek additional funds to address gaps in VEWH monitoring programs and knowledge.
Communicate the benefits of environmental CMA watering and monitoring results 18 Env Environmental deliveries create improved L Maj Extreme Study/understand life history of species and DELWP conditions for non-native species (e.g. carp, develop high level management strategies. invasive species) leading to adverse Develop and implement site specific CMA or environmental impacts. management strategies aimed at Land eradication/control of existing populations (e.g. Mgr. carp management strategy, willow removal program, water-lily spraying program, feral animal programs). (Note: This risk is still rated as high after mitigation actions.) 19 BC Volumes delivered or released exceed volumes P Maj High Ensure that deliveries are reported progressively VEWH approved for use in the event, leading to throughout the event and are monitored against potential overdrawing of accounts and inability ordered volume. to deliver other planned events
31 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
APPROVAL AND ENDORSEMENT APPROVAL
I, the authorised representative of the agency shown below, approve the Seasonal Watering Proposal for Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018.
SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE GOULBURN BROKEN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Signature of authorised representative
CHRIS NORMAN Name of authorised representative
Date: 19 APRIL 2017
STORAGE OPERATOR ENDORSEMENT
I, the authorised representative of the agency shown below, acknowledge that the priority watering actions being proposed in section 6 of the proposal are able to be delivered within existing system operations for the Goulburn Broken Catchment Wetlands system in 2016-2017., recognising that there may be additional information to endorse in relevant environmental water delivery plans and/or operating arrangements.
SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF GOULBURN-MURRAY WATER
Signature of authorised representative
Name of authorised representative
Date:
32 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
REFERENCES
Hodgkins, D. & Beischer, D. (2017). Water quality monitoring of inflows and outflows of Barmah Forest during an environmental watering event: 2016-17. Goulburn Broken Waterwatch report prepared for the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton. 35pp.
GB CMA & OEH (2016). Barmah-Millewa Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2016-2017. Prepared 14 April 2016. Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton, and NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, Moama. 29pp.
MDBA (2012) Barmah–Millewa Forest Environmental Water Management Plan. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. 64pp.
MDBA (2015) Stand Condition Assessment of Forests and Woodlands of Barmah Forest – 2015. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. 21pp.
Smith, G. (2017) Victorian Environmental Water Holder 2017 Risk Workshops - Northern Victoria (Murray, Goulburn, Broken systems). Notes from workshop held on 7 February 2017 in Tatura. DG Ref: P276. DG Consulting, Tatura. 22pp.
Ward, P.A. (2016) Monitoring understorey vegetation response to flooding in Barmah-Millewa Forest, 2016-17: Progress report – Spring 2016. Consultant progress report prepared as part of the Living Murray Condition Monitoring Program for the Barmah-Millewa Icon Site, managed by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, Moama, on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. 274pp.
Ward, P.A. (2017) Monitoring understorey vegetation response to flooding in Barmah-Millewa Forest, 2016-17: Progress report – Summer 2016-17. Consultant progress report prepared as part of the Living Murray Condition Monitoring Program for the Barmah-Millewa Icon Site, managed by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, Moama, on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. 282pp.
33 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
APPENDIX A - 2017-18 SCBEWC ENVIRONMENTAL WATER PROPOSAL
2017-18 SCBEWC Environmental Water Proposal: Barmah-Millewa Forest
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, Albury
March 2017 – Final
SITE: Barmah-Millewa Forest
Version Date of Issue Author(s) Brief description of change
1 13/2/2017 Aaron Matsinos (MDBA) Revised to improve and streamline template based on advice from SCBEWC members.
2 27/2/2017 Adam Sluggett (MDBA) V1 template approved by SCBEWC at 17 Feb 2017 meeting. Hydrographs included at Attachment B and minor changes to doc to reflect this.
3 15/03/2017 Keith Ward (GB CMA) Population of template for Barmah-Millewa Icon Site Lisa Duncan (GB CMA) Paul Childs (OEH)
34 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Stage 1: Proposed watering actions for the 2017-18 water year [Barmah-Millewa Forest]
Delivery Details Return Flow (if available) RMUF Key risks (incl environmental) associated with the watering action + Optimal suited1 mitigation measures (Y/N) Water Availability Timing & Description & objective of watering action Duration Alternate Rate Scenario Trigger Flow Vol (GL)2 Inflow (ML/d) Vol (GL) Timing Timing (if (ML/d) flexible)
Action A: Perch spawning pulses. Return Key Risks flows will Risk of not undertaking the watering action: Reduced 3,000 ML Create variability in water level in the main be spawning activity for Golden and Silver Perch and lost (likely to be channel of the Murray River to facilitate accounted opportunity to build on successful spawning of these species Stable river delivered All scenarios: spawning of native fish species, primarily at 80% if over the last number of years. Recent research indicates these levels below through Very dry – 95% Golden and Silver Perch. Up to three pulses flows are species spawn in greater numbers when there is variation in 15,000 ML/d management Opt: October Dry – 90% may be required and will be managed above river levels and temperatures of 18oC or more. with water of river 1000 ML/d 8 days – December - - N Moderate – 75% through Barmah-Millewa OAG. channel Mitigation temperature operations Near avge – 50% capacity or • No mitigation measures required. exceeding and not Wet – 25% 100% if 18oC require flows are environmental below water) channel capacity Action B: Anabranch flows to maintain Key Risks critical drought refuge Risk of fish moving from main channel of Murray River into drought refuges and trapping fish behind regulating structures. Maintain critical drought refuges within Risk of hypoxic blackwater developing – proposed flow event Barmah-Millewa Forest with is in warmer months spring/summer/autumn freshes to support Risk of not undertaking watering action is loss of critical fish and turtle populations in waterways and drought refuges within the forest and death of fish and turtles billabongs/lagoons that would be at risk of using them. drying out. During the millennium drought Risks affecting deliverability: Flows in Murray River are not permanent waterbodies within Barmah- Millewa: 0.3- sufficient to deliver water to drought refuges (depends on Millewa forest dried out causing widespread creek being targeted) deaths of turtles and fish. This 0.5 GL per Timing will topping up depend on Mitigation environmental watering action aims to An intervention monitoring project targeting fish utilising prevent this from happening again and event water levels and water drought refuges will be undertaken continue the recovery of turtle and fish 100 ML/d Very dry – 95% >3,000 ML/d AND 3-5 days quality 0 ML 0 ML N/A N If hypoxic blackwater develops it is not likely to reach main populations following the drought. (each forest) conditions river channels and will be confined to drought refuge reaches. Water quality monitoring will also be in place (risk to fish from Waterways: Barmah: within drought 0.3-0.5 GL refuges (Nov hypoxic blackwater is outweighed by certain risk if remaining Millewa: drought refuge pools dry out). Toupna Creek (river flows >3,500 per topping – April) up event Use of any river freshes will be directed to these sites to assist ML/d) via Mary Ada regulator with oxygen replenishment. Pinchgut Lagoon (river flows > 7,500) Horseshoe Lagoon (Gulpa flows > 450) Barmah: Gulf Creek (river flows >3,000 ML/d) Boals Creek (river flows >6,500 ML/d) Action C: Anabranch flows. As per Action B Millewa: 30 – 60 days As per Action B + + maintaining connectivity with main river 6 – 12 GL per (could Timing will Key Risks channels where possible. topping up involve up to depend on - Risk of hypoxic blackwater developing and reaching main river event four water levels (return channel. Dry – 90% Freshen anabranches within Barmah- deliveries of and water flows are Initiating a waterbird breeding event given that water is being Moderate – 75% 200 ML/d Millewa Forest with summer/autumn freshes >3,500 ML/d AND two weeks quality expected - - N provided to some core traditional breeding sites. Near avge – 50% (each forest) to support fish and turtle populations in duration or conditions however Mitigation Wet – 25% waterways and billabongs/lagoons through: Barmah: 6 – up to two within drought are not Water quality monitoring and adaptive management of flow Improved water quality, increased refuge 12 GL per deliveries of refuges (Nov measured) event (Evaluate based on inflow rates into creeks and wetlands. habitat, improved food resources and to topping up one month – April) If blackwater occurs and is increasing in severity/the DO is remove accumulated leaf litter from creeks event duration continuing to fall, flows could either be ceased through the forest
1 RMUF suitable = flexibility in timing of delivery, not essential but would provide good outcomes under the right conditions or additional water from RMUF could be used to substitute regulated flows 2 A large proportion of the volume required in moderate, near-average and wet water availability scenarios is expected to be provided by unregulated flows i.e. the volume indicated does not equal volume of environmental water required
35 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
and wetlands and return carbon back to the depending or maintained to flush and dilute blackwater from the forest into main river channels. on need. the river if the river flows were deemed to be adequate to dilute This will be the risk further downstream). Flows into the forest will be contained within managed Reduce or stop water delivery to sites where waterbird breeding channel capacity of creeks maintaining a through commences to prevent full nesting , subject to an assessment of drying phase within River Red Gum forest Barmah- water availability and alignment with Actions D, E and F. areas on the floodplain. Millewa OAG) Waterways: Millewa: Toupna Creek (river flows >3,500 ML/d) via Mary Ada regulator Pinchgut Lagoon (river flows > 7,500) Horseshoe Lagoon (Gulpa flows > 450) Barmah: Sandspit Creek (river flows >9,000 ML/d) Gulf Creek (river flows >3,000 ML/d) Punt Paddock Lagoon (river flows >8,000 ML/d) Big Woodcutter Creek (river flows >7,500 ML/d Boals Creek (river flows >6,500 ML/d) Island Creek (river flows >7,500 ML/d)
Action D: Waterbird breeding (dry) Key Risks Waterbird breeding colony does not establish. Initiate and sustain a waterbird breeding Insufficient environmental water volumes available to achieve event by providing cues and suitable planned environmental outcomes. conditions for successful breeding. Lack of flooding in spring to maintain health of reed bed Waterbirds were known to breed most years Reed Beds: habitat suitable for future nesting. in Barmah-Millewa Forest prior to river >400 ML/d A severe or protracted heatwave reducing water levels to regulation, the frequency and magnitude of (350 ML/d is cause nest abandonment or directly killing young birds. waterbird breeding events has now declined the base Mitigation significantly. The CEWO funded Murray- summer flow Cease environmental watering event if a colony has not Darling Basin EWKR Waterbird Theme in the Gulpa formed by mid-November (with the preceding short flood research project is underway using Barmah- Creek). A expected to maintain the health of the wetland’s rush Millewa Forest as one of two Basin study hydrograph Opt: Sept – vegetation given soil moisture recharge and shallow ponding >5,500 ML/d sites, with the project only able to continue has been Feb at this site). (Reed Beds Millewa: 11 – to use the Barmah Forest site if waterbirds developed as (Weather Swamp) 25 GL Confirm sufficient environmental water availability prior to breed there. The site remains valuable to the a guide to dependent. If commencing event. project as data on return nesting and site manage flows colony hasn’t Dry – 90% OR OR 4.5 months - - - N Direct any river freshes/rain-rejection events into Boals selection is required. This project will add into Reed established by Deadwoods to assist with maintaining health of reed beds as value to future water management strategies Beds Swamp mid- >6,500 ML/d Barmah: 16 suitable nesting substrate in future years (in conjunction with by directing the need for water timing, (via Gulpa November this (Boals GL Millewa Forest manager’s given 2017-18 is Millewa Forest turn duration and depth. This watering event will Creek event will not Deadwoods) to take the bulk of rain-rejection events, which is usually also help maintain health of reed beds Regulator) to progress) partially shared anyway). required for nesting and improved feeding maintain the Explore potential to increase daily delivery rate into Boals habitat for crakes, rails and bitterns that are waterbird Deadwoods wetland is a severe or protracted heatwave is known to use these wetlands. rookeries. forecast (but noting that a previous problem experienced in
summer 2016-17 with low water levels occurring during a Wetlands: Boals heatwave was as a result of water delivery into the wetland not Millewa: Reed Beds Swamp Deadwoods: being as great as initially calculated where previous flows at OR 100 ML/d the intended rate of 100ML/d were sufficient to maintain the Barmah: Boals Deadwoods desired minimum water level at the nesting sites). No fieldtrips into nesting colonies will be undertaken on extreme temperature days to avoid adult departure from nests where chicks are then exposed to full sun, and thus minimize chick deaths (as is current practice). Action E: Waterbird breeding >5,500 ML/d Millewa: 11 – Reed Beds: Opt: Sept – As per action D (moderate/near average) (Reed Beds 25 GL >400 ML/d Feb Moderate – 75% Action D with both Barmah AND Millewa Swamp) (350 ML/d is 4.5 months (Weather - - - N Near avge – 50% wetlands AND the base dependent. If AND summer flow colony hasn’t 36 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Wetlands: Barmah: 16 in the Gulpa established by Millewa: Reed Beds Swamp >6,500 ML/d GL Creek) mid- AND (Boals November this Barmah: Boals Deadwoods Deadwoods) Boals event will not Deadwoods: progress) 100 ML/d Action F: Waterbird breeding (wet) Millewa: 27.5 As per action D Action E + additional wetlands – 62.5 GL
Wetlands AND Opt: Sept – Millewa: Feb Reed Beds Swamp Barmah: 25 – Millewa: 1000 (Weather >9,000 ML/d 30 GL ML/d Saint Helena dependent. If (Murray River) Black Swamp colony hasn’t Wet – 25% >1,900 ML/d (a large AND 4.5 months - - - N Coppingers Swamp – Duck Lagoon established by (Edward proportion of Barmah: mid- River) this is Barmah: 250 Boals Deadwoods November this expected to ML/d Top Island event will not be provided Reedy Lagoon (Keyes Point/Doctors progress) Point) by unregulated flows in a wet scenario) Action G: Floodplain Marsh Key Risks 455 GL (a Operational river level is too low to deliver this event, requiring Create conditions to promote growth and large very high daily use of environmental water delivery to reach productivity and to restore seedbank of proportion of 15,000 ML/d. floodplain marsh vegetation communities on this is Mitigation open plains wetlands. Create foraging expected to Opt: Sept – Cease environmental water delivery if operational releases are Near avge – 50% grounds for birds, provide habitat for turtles be provided 5,000 ML/d 364 GL 4,000 <15,000 ML/d 3 months Nov Sept – Nov Y below 8,000 ML/d for more than four days or below 9,000 ML/d Wet – 25% and small-bodied native fish. by (maximum) (80%) ML/d Alt: Oct - Dec for more than seven days. unregulated Wetlands: flows in a Targeting Millewa Forest wetlands with near average some inundation of Barmah wetlands if river or wet flows permit. scenario)
Action H: Summer-autumn perennial flow Key Risks trial 2017-2019 Insufficient volumes of environmental water and funding not secured over the 2017-2019 study period: The study will have Trial to determine if large bodied native fish to be cancelled. As a result, native fish recovery (including (including the threatened Murray Cod and threatened iconic native fish recovery) is unlikely to occur and Trout Cod) occupy the perennially flowing native fish populations will continue to be disadvantaged by habitats but exit (or attempt to exit) the the current watering regimes and forest regulator operations. seasonal habitat when flows cease, which 120 GL Hypoxic Blackwater: Water releases are very low and unlikely occurs under the current regime. (maintain a to inundate stored organic carbon from leaf litter on the minimum of floodplain River Red Gum forest or return hypoxic blackwater Waterways: 8,000 ML/d in the river d/s to the receiving streams. There should be adequate flow in Millewa: Yarrawonga) receiving streams to dilute blackwater. Forest regulators can Toupna Creek via Pinchgut Regulator be closed to reduce forest flooding and return flows to the Gulpa Creek plus an receiving streams if required, especially if prolonged rainfall Edward River additional 12 rejection events occur. Opt: Jan – Stranding of native fish: Fish monitoring is in place. Fish Wet – 25% 8,000 ML/d GL delivered 1,000 ML/d 4 months - - - N into Toupna April researchers believe that past management of forest regulators Creek have disadvantaged native fish. The aim of the study is to (which is the develop a native fish recovery strategy for the central Murray expected River region that includes an operating strategy for BMF demand if regulators. MDBA Rover Erosion: Water releases will be below the stream bank Ops is notching level. delivering a Choke Inundation of River Red Gum forest over summer-autumn: capacity) OEH will closely monitor the area of inundation within the forest to determine extent of watering. River Red Gums can withstand flooding for up to two years before the condition of the tree deteriorates. Negative media: Critics of environmental watering and the MDB Plan may suggest this watering action is an excuse for the MDBA and CEWO to fully utilise their portfolios. The study design has been developed by an eminent fish research
37 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
scientist. The design is support by NSW DPI (Fisheries), NSW Murray Local Land Services and a prominent regional recreation fishing group (Edward-Wakool Angling Association - EWAA). OEH will develop media releases in collaboration with the MDBA, CEWO, NSW Fisheries and the EWAA. Research – ensure fisheries research programs are coordinated so that native fish responses to flows can be captured throughout the southern connected basin. This will help to develop integrated watering strategies. Action I: Autumn-winter perennial flow trial As per Action H 2017-2019
Trial to determine if large bodied native fish (including the threatened Murray Cod and Trout Cod) occupy the perennially flowing Moderate – 75% habitats but exit (or attempt to exit) the Opt: May – Near-avge – 50% seasonal habitat when flows cease, which 4,000 ML/d 120 GL 2,000 ML/d 2 months - - - N June Wet – 25% occurs under the current regime.
Waterways Millewa: Toupna Creek Edward River Gulpa Creek Action J: Translucency Flows Key Risks Diverting low flows into the forest through regulated Trial translucent regulator strategy where anabranches causes access issues at low points on roads and forest regulators are opened in winter-spring tracks and then closed at the end of November. Regulator translucency uses significantly more water than Traditionally, regulator structures have only predicted by the accounting arrangements. been opened when the Murray River Mitigation: downstream of Yarrawonga Weir is at MDBA river operations to monitor flow diversions and losses channel capacity. As a consequence, there using gauges at Yarrawonga, Barmah and Deniliquin and is significant head difference behind the regulators can be closed if deemed necessary. This can be regulators and extremely high velocity flows coordinated through the Barmah-Millewa Operations Advisory are delivered into the forest when the gates Group. are lifted, especially through the Mary Ada Parks Victoria and GB CMA to monitor road access condition and Gulf Regulators. Fish ecologists believe See water in Barmah Forest. NSW Parks and Wildlife Service to monitor these large pulses of water have been accounting road access conditions in Millewa Forest. Regulators can be detrimental to native fish recruitment, arrangements closed if river flows are still below channel capacity in the survival and dispersal. Improved regulator detailed in Murray River if significant impacts on access are experienced. operating procedures will help to ameliorate Water Liaison negative effects to native fish. However, Working modification of existing structures will also Group paper, be required to optimise native fish outcomes max 14 in the central Murray River region. This may GL/month when flows Up to 450 July - All scenarios also decrease the risk of high flows causing <10,000 ML/d 5 months - - - - unacceptable water heights at Picnic Point, are at 10,000 ML/d November as having the large regulators opened early ML/d plus up (Mary Ada, the Gulf) will mitigate some of to 12.8 GL this risk. initial loss (may be Regulators reduced if Barmah: above choke Sandspit flows Gulf (one bay only) ‘naturally’ Stewarts Kitchen occur. Bull Paddock Punt Paddock Big Woodcutter Boals Sapling Creek Island Creek
Millewa: Mary Ada (one bay only) Pinchgut Swifts Bunnydiggers 38 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Moira Creek Opitz Little Edward
39 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Stage 2: Alignment of watering actions with key objectives/BWS outcomes and inter-annual considerations
Short description of site/reach Inter-annual watering needs. Water Alignment with Basin Watering Strategy outcomes based objectives that this event availability Description of watering action will contribute to (include Describe the BWS outcome(s) that this watering action Provide a short statement (3-5 sentences) that demonstrates scenario references) most closely aligns with (see Attach. A) how this watering action aligns with the BWS Outcome(s)
Relevant BWS outcomes for Barmah-Millewa:
River flows and connectivity o Managed floodplain within constraints o Base flows E.g. The overarching objectives for Gunbower Forest that will o In-channel fresh events be contributed to by this watering event are: o Bank-full and low-floodplain (over-bank) flows o 80% of permanent and semi-permanent wetlands in a o Seasonality healthy condition. o Healthy populations of resident native fish in wetlands. Vegetation Please include long term o to maintain the current extent of forest and The watering action involves delivery of environmental water Provide a short description (2-3 sentences) of any optimal ecological objectives as stated in woodland vegetation into permanent wetlands in the lower Gunbower Forest, follow up watering actions/considerations for future years that long-term watering plans or TLM o no decline in the condition of river red gum specifically enhancing the recovery in Reedy Lagoon and is required to build upon the outcomes achieved. EWMPs, etc. o improved condition of river red gum Black Swamp. These areas hold unique and significant flora o improved recruitment of trees within river red gum and fauna values and provide critical refuge habitat during Please describe how realistic the o to maintain the current extent of non-woody drought. achievement of the desired vegetation objectives are. o increased periods of growth for communities that Furthermore, the watering action will also enable succession closely fringe or occur within the main river of small bodied fish species in forest that reside in pools and If applicable, also describe any corridors contribute to the viability of regional small fish populations. It e.g. Fill high value permanent potential ancillary social and o form extensive stands within wetlands and low- specifically targets the BWS outcome of providing annual E.g. Very dry – wetlands Reedy Lagoon and economic benefits. lying floodplains including Moira grasslands in breeding opportunities for small bodied fish. 90% Black Swamp Barmah–Millewa Forest
Waterbirds o that the number and type of waterbird species present in the Basin will not fall below current observations o a significant improvement in waterbird populations in the order of 20 to 25% over the baseline scenario, with increases in all waterbird functional groups o breeding events (the opportunities to breed rather than the magnitude of breeding per se) of colonial nesting waterbirds to increase by up to 50% compared to the baseline scenario
Fish o No loss of native species currently present within the Basin o Improved population structure of key species through regular recruitment o increased movement of key species
Action A: Perch spawning Impacted reach is the Murray River flows and connectivity The overarching objectives for Barmah Forest that will be This watering action has in recent years become ‘business as pulses. River between Yarrawonga to o In-channel fresh events contributed to by this watering event is: usual’ given that it can often be achieved without need for potentially Torrumbarry. o Seasonality o Support successful breeding and recruitment of native specific environmental water allocations (by adopting a All scenarios: Create variability in water fish species.. temporary lowering of river releases followed by a temporary Very dry – 95% level in the main channel of Achievement of the desired Fish raising or river releases by River Operations to result in a Dry – 90% the Murray River to facilitate objective is extremely high given o No loss of native species currently present within The watering action involves creating some flow small variation in river level with neutral water loss). Moderate – 75% spawning of native fish past experience. the Basin variability in the main channel of the Murray River in spring Near avge – species, primarily Golden and o Improved population structure of key species and early summer to replicate natural cues, and by inundation 50% Silver Perch. Up to three No ancillary social and economic through regular recruitment of floodplain and wetland areas to provide breeding and Wet – 25% pulses may be required and benefits during the water o increased movement of key species nursery habitat. will be managed through management activity due to it Barmah-Millewa OAG. being only a small and temporary variation in water level. Action B: Anabranch flows to Impacted reach is selected River flows and connectivity The overarching objectives for Barmah-Millewa Forest that will This watering action is only required if critical drought refuges Very dry – 95% maintain critical drought waterways within Barmah-Millewa o Lateral connectivity be contributed to by this watering event is: are threatened with drying if weather conditions are very dry refuge Forest. o Seasonality 40 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
o Support successful breeding and recruitment of native during the year. Relatively small volumes of water will be Maintain critical drought Achievement of the desired Fish fish species. required on an ‘as needed’ basis. refuges within Barmah- objective is extremely high given o No loss of native species currently present within Millewa Forest with past experience. the Basin The watering action involves maintaining critical drought spring/summer/autumn o Improved population structure of key species refuges within Barmah-Millewa Forest in freshes to support fish and No ancillary social and economic through regular recruitment spring/summer/autumn if very dry conditions occur that would turtle populations in benefits during the water threaten to desiccate such important habitat areas. This is to waterways and management activity due to it be achieved by releasing small parcels of water to refresh billabongs/lagoons that would being only a small and restricted waterholes and sections of creek beds to sustain fish during be at risk of drying out. distribution of water delivery into drought periods and to promote breeding of short-lived fish During the millennium the forest’s waterways. species. drought permanent waterbodies within Barmah- Although an indigenous NRM plan Millewa forest dried out for Barmah Forest is currently in causing widespread deaths of preparation, this watering action turtles and fish. This aligns with meeting existing environmental watering Aboriginal cultural values and action aims to prevent this expectations given that it is from happening again and intended to reflect natural cues to continue the recovery of turtle benefit native species. and fish populations following the drought.
Action C: Anabranch flows. As per Action B (above) As per Action B (above) As per Action B (above) except that the intended flow will As per Action B (above) except that greater volumes of water As per Action B + maintaining occur for longer to reconnect waterway discharge back to the will be sought to maintain through flow in the waterways. The connectivity with main river river and thereby increase the area and water quality available action is not dependent upon continual supply or repeat channels where possible. for fish, in addition to reducing accumulated leaf litter from waterings, as “anything is better than nothing” when it comes waterways and return carbon back to the main river channel. to providing some flushing flows through the forests’ Freshen anabranches within waterways. Barmah-Millewa Forest with summer/autumn freshes to support fish and turtle populations in waterways and billabongs/lagoons through: Dry – 90% Improved water quality, Moderate – 75% increased refuge habitat, Near avge – improved food resources and 50% to reduce accumulated leaf Wet – 25% litter from creeks and return carbon back to the main river channel.
Flows into the forest will be contained within channel capacity of creeks maintaining a drying phase within River Red Gum forest areas on the floodplain.
Action D: Waterbird breeding Impacted area is Reed Bed River flows and connectivity The overarching objectives for Barmah-Millewa Forest that will This watering action does require a guaranteed volume of (dry) Swamp (Millewa Forest) o Managed floodplain within constraints be contributed to by this watering event is: water in the event that no natural or rain-rejection flows occur OR o Seasonality o Provide suitable feeding and breeding habitat for a during the period when waterbirds will be breeding (October to Initiate and sustain a Boals Deadwoods (Barmah range of waterbirds, including colonial nesting species. January), as there is little point in promoting a breeding event waterbird breeding event by Forest). Waterbirds but being unable to sustain the event through to successful providing cues and suitable o that the number and type of waterbird species The watering action involves delivering water into a usual completion (including a “duty of care”). conditions for successful Achievement of the desired present in the Basin will not fall below current colonial waterbird breeding wetland in either Barmah or breeding. Waterbirds were objective is relatively high given observations Millewa Forest under a dry water resource scenario to promote known to breed most years in experience, with main doubt being o a significant improvement in waterbird populations and sustain a waterbird breeding event in spring and summer. Barmah-Millewa Forest prior size of success if occurring in in the order of 20 to 25% over the baseline Dry – 90% to river regulation, the absence of other natural cues. scenario, with increases in all waterbird functional frequency and magnitude of groups waterbird breeding events No ancillary social and economic o breeding events (the opportunities to breed rather has now declined benefits during the water than the magnitude of breeding per se) of colonial significantly. The CEWO- management activity due to it nesting waterbirds to increase by up to 50% funded Murray-Darling Basin being only a small targeted compared to the baseline scenario EWKR Waterbird Theme delivery into the selected wetland. research project is underway using Barmah-Millewa Forest A major beneficiary arising from as one of two study sites that achieving waterbird breeding is can only be proceed out if the CEWO-funded Murray-Darling 41 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
waterbirds breed. This project Basin EWKR waterbird research will add value to future water project through maintaining an management strategies. This existing study site and having watering event will also help some surety of waterbird breeding maintain health of reed beds outcomes occurring. In turn, required for nesting and refined waterbird water improved feeding habitat for management activities for crakes, rails and bitterns that Barmah-Millewa Forest can result. are known to use these wetlands. Although an indigenous NRM plan for Barmah Forest is currently in preparation, this watering action aligns with meeting existing Aboriginal cultural values and expectations given that it is intended to reflect natural cues to benefit native species.
Action E: Waterbird breeding Impacted area is Reed Beds As per Action D (above) As per Action D (above) except that a wetland in both Barmah As per Action D (above) (moderate/near average) Swamp (Millewa Forest) and Millewa Forest will be targeted for water delivery given Action D with both Barmah AND higher water resource availability. AND Millewa wetlands. Boals Deadwoods (Barmah Forest). Moderate – 75% Activities as per Action D Near avge – (above) Achievement of the desired 50% objective is extremely high given past experience.
Beneficiaries as per Action D (above). Action F: Waterbird breeding Impacted areas are: As per Action E (above) As per Action E (above) except that multiple wetlands in both As per Action E (above), although waterbird breeding events (wet) Millewa: Barmah and Millewa Forest will be targeted for water delivery are likely to have self-initiated given a wetter scenario. Action E + additional Reed Beds Swamp given even higher water resource availability and higher wetlands Saint Helena likelihood of natural flooding events occurring for at least some Black Swamp of the required period. Activities as per Action E Coppingers Swamp – Duck (above) Lagoon Barmah: Boals Deadwoods Top Island Reedy Lagoon (Keyes Point/Doctors Point)
Achievement of the desired objective is high given past experience.
Beneficiaries as per Action E (above), plus flows returning to Wet – 25% the river system after passing through Barmah-Millewa Forest wetlands, are expected to provide a benefit for riverine ecology with increased carbon and invertebrate loads, which in turn are expected to have longer-term social and economic benefits from increase angling-fish benefits (persistence/size/number). Some minor inconvenience to forest visitors may occur in some restricted regions of the forest where elevated waterway flows may reduce vehicle access during the event (which may occur anyway due to this water management activity to occur under a Wet water availability scenario where the higher rainfall
42 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
conditions tend to restrict forest access in its own right).
Action G: Floodplain Marsh Impacted areas are selected The primary aim of this water management event is for The overarching objectives for Barmah-Millewa Forest that will This watering action does require a guaranteed volume of Millewa Forest wetlands with native vegetation benefits, especially Moira Grass and be contributed to by this watering event are: water in the event that no natural or rain-rejection flows occur Create conditions to promote some inundation of Barmah associated floodplain marshland vegetation, but because o Restore the extent and distribution of healthy wetland during the period when continuous wetland flooding is growth and productivity and wetlands if river flows permit of the size of the event is likely to also have benefit to and floodplain vegetation communities. required (September to November), so as to best promote the to restore seedbank of (under the reciprocal annual flood other hydro-ecological outcomes. o Provide suitable feeding and breeding habitat for a desired outcomes of Moira Grass growth and colonisation, floodplain marsh vegetation strategy between Barmah and range of waterbirds, including colonial nesting species although unlike waterbird breeding outcomes, a shortened communities on open plains Millewa Forests given current River flows and connectivity flood event is not disastrous unlike a waterbird breeding event wetlands. Create foraging water delivery constraints). o Managed floodplain within constraints The watering action involves delivering water into a Millewa which is “all or nothing”. grounds for birds, provide o Base flows Forest floodplain marshland (as it is Millewa Forest turn to be habitat for turtles and small- Achievement of the desired o In-channel fresh events flooded under a reciprocal annual flood strategy between bodied native fish. objective is high given past o Bank-full and low-floodplain (over-bank) flows Barmah and Millewa Forests given current water delivery experience. o Seasonality constraints) to improve conditions suitable for species such as Wetlands: Moira Grass, but will also provide foraging habitat for a diverse Targeting Millewa Forest Flows returning to the river Vegetation range of waterbirds and bush birds and thus achieved other wetlands with some system after passing through o to maintain the current extent of non-woody objectives of the Icon Site. inundation of Barmah Barmah-Millewa Forest wetlands vegetation wetlands if river flows permit. are expected to provide a benefit o increased periods of growth for communities that for riverine ecology with increased closely fringe or occur within the main river carbon and invertebrate loads, corridors which in turn are expected to have o form extensive stands within wetlands and low- longer-term social and economic lying floodplains including Moira grasslands in benefits from increase angling-fish Barmah–Millewa Forest Near avge – benefits 50% (persistence/size/number). Some Waterbirds Wet – 25% minor inconvenience to forest o that the number and type of waterbird species visitors may occur in some present in the Basin will not fall below current restricted regions of the forest observations where elevated waterway flows o a significant improvement in waterbird populations may reduce vehicle access during in the order of 20 to 25% over the baseline the event (which may occur scenario, with increases in all waterbird functional anyway due to this water groups management activity to occur o breeding events (the opportunities to breed rather under a Near-Average and Wet than the magnitude of breeding per se) of colonial water availability scenarios where nesting waterbirds to increase by up to 50% the higher rainfall conditions tend compared to the baseline scenario to restrict forest access in their own right). Fish o No loss of native species currently present within Although an indigenous NRM plan the Basin for Barmah Forest is currently in o Improved population structure of key species preparation, this watering action through regular recruitment aligns with meeting existing o increased movement of key species Aboriginal cultural values and expectations given that it is intended to reflect natural cues to benefit native species.
Action H: Summer-autumn Impacted areas are selected The primary aim of this water management event is for The overarching objectives for Barmah-Millewa Forest that will This watering action seeks seasonal flooding over three years perennial flow trial 2017-2019 Toupna Creek (via Pinchgut native fish benefits, but because of the duration and be contributed to by this watering event is: as part of a research/monitoring project. However, the project Regulator), Gulpa Creek and timing of the event is likely to also have benefit to other o Support successful breeding and recruitment of native remains of benefit even if one of the year’s watering event Trial to determine if large Edward River in Millewa Forest. hydro-ecological outcomes. fish species. cannot be completely satisfied, especially as inter-annual bodied native fish (including variability in waterway flood regime is likely to occur anyway. the threatened Murray Cod Likely achievement of the desired River flows and connectivity The watering trial involves providing a perennial flow into three and Trout Cod) occupy the objective is not certain, hence o Managed floodplain within constraints major Millewa Forest waterways during summer-autumn when perennially flowing habitats experimental natural of the trail, o Base flows otherwise such flow usually falls away, and to monitor the but exit (or attempt to exit) although is expected to be of o In-channel fresh events response of large-bodied native fish to occupy and then exit the seasonal habitat when greater benefit than under current o Bank-full and low-floodplain (over-bank) flows when the flows cease. Wet – 25% flows cease, which occurs conditions where lesser flow o Seasonality under the current regime. occurs during the proposed times. Vegetation Increasing survivorship of large- o increased periods of growth for communities that bodied fish species would have closely fringe or occur within the main river direct social and economic corridors benefits from increase angling-fish existence Fish (persistence/size/number). o No loss of native species currently present within the Basin 43 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
o Improved population structure of key species through regular recruitment o increased movement of key species
Action I: Autumn-winter As per Action H (above) As per Action H (above) As per Action H (above), except that the flow trial is to occur in As per Action H (above) perennial flow trial 2017-2019 autumn-winter.
Trial to determine if large bodied native fish (including Moderate – 75% the threatened Murray Cod Near-avge – and Trout Cod) occupy the 50% perennially flowing habitats Wet – 25% but exit (or attempt to exit) the seasonal habitat when flows cease, which occurs under the current regime.
Action J: Translucency Impacted areas are waterways The primary aim of this water management trial is to The overarching objectives for Barmah-Millewa Forest that will This watering action has not been undertaken nor previously Flows influenced by operation of the attempt to recreate in part a more natural flow regime be contributed to by this watering event are: proposed, although has been considered over the past twenty following regulators: through Barmah-Millewa Forest waterways in winter- o Restore the extent and distribution of healthy wetland years and in recent years had various hydrological modelling Trial translucent regulator spring for a broad range of hydro-ecological outcomes by and floodplain vegetation communities undertaken to assess impacts on downstream water supply strategy where forest Barmah: diverting flows below river bank capacity through the o Provide suitable feeding and breeding habitat for a and losses. Water Liaison Working Group (WLWG) regulators are opened in Sandspit forest at a time when such flows are now usually range of waterbirds, including colonial nesting species acceptance has recently been obtained for water accounting if winter-spring and then closed Gulf (one bay only) prevented from entering the forest, and capturing more o Support successful breeding and recruitment of native the trial is to occur (Sarah Commens, pers. comm.). at the end of November. Stewarts Kitchen natural rates and rise and fall of inflows instead of fish species. Traditionally regulators Bull Paddock operating regulators only when a large head difference o Provide high quality feeding, breeding and nursery Adaptive management of the regulator settings is intended to structures have only been Punt Paddock occurs when the river exceeds bank capacity. habitat for native frogs, turtles and crayfish be adopted, particularly when first trialled, to avoid third party opened when the Murray Big Woodcutter impact. River d/s Yarrawonga Weir is Boals River flows and connectivity at channel capacity. As a o Managed floodplain within constraints Sapling Creek consequence, there is o Base flows Island Creek significant head difference o In-channel fresh events
behind the regulators and o Bank-full and low-floodplain (over-bank) flows Millewa: extremely high velocity flows o Seasonality are delivered into the forest Mary Ada (one bay only) when the gates are lifted, Pinchgut Vegetation especially through the Mary Swifts o to maintain the current extent of forest and Ada and Gulf Regulators. Bunnydiggers woodland vegetation Fish ecologists believe these Moira Creek o no decline in the condition of river red gum large pulses of water have Opitz o improved condition of river red gum been detrimental to native Little Edward o improved recruitment of trees within river red gum fish recruitment, survival and o to maintain the current extent of non-woody dispersal. Improved regulator Achievement of the desired vegetation All scenarios operating procedures will objective is not certain, hence o increased periods of growth for communities that help to ameliorate negative experimental natural of the trail, closely fringe or occur within the main river effects to native fish. although is expected to be of corridors However, modification of greater benefit than under current o form extensive stands within wetlands and low- existing structures will also be conditions where lesser flow lying floodplains including Moira grasslands in required to optimise native occurs during the proposed times. Barmah–Millewa Forest fish outcomes in the central Murray River region. This Flows returning to the river Waterbirds may also decrease the risk of system after passing through o that the number and type of waterbird species high flows causing Barmah-Millewa Forest wetlands present in the Basin will not fall below current unacceptable water heights are expected to provide a benefit observations at Picnic Point, as having the for riverine ecology with increased o a significant improvement in waterbird populations large regulators opened early carbon and invertebrate loads, in the order of 20 to 25% over the baseline (Mary Ada, the Gulf) will which in turn are expected to have scenario, with increases in all waterbird functional mitigate some of this risk. longer-term social and economic groups benefits from increase angling-fish o breeding events (the opportunities to breed rather benefits than the magnitude of breeding per se) of colonial (persistence/size/number). Some nesting waterbirds to increase by up to 50% minor inconvenience to forest compared to the baseline scenario visitors may occur in some restricted regions of the forest Fish where elevated waterway flows o No loss of native species currently present within may reduce vehicle access during the Basin the event. Adaptive management o Improved population structure of key species of the regulators during the event through regular recruitment o increased movement of key species 44 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum) will occur to minimise such disruption.
Although an indigenous NRM plan for Barmah Forest is currently in preparation, this watering action aligns with meeting existing Aboriginal cultural values and expectations given that it is intended to reflect natural cues to benefit native species.
45 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Stage 2: Proposals seeking water from TLM portfolio The following sections can be completed as a general description across all watering actions and all WRS (i.e. this section only needs to be completed once - and not for each watering action).
1 Monitoring: Provide general information about what monitoring will be undertaken
If required, please attach any supporting documentation or provide references.
Monitoring will be undertaken as per the Barmah-Millewa Forest Icon Site Intervention Monitoring Plan 2017-2018 (GB CMA in prep.). This is expected to include agency surveillance of water distribution, waterbird nesting surveys and water quality monitoring, as well as appointed consultant/researcher surveys of fish (and potentially waterbird) outcomes. Links to third parties not necessarily funded by TLM will also continue to occur, and is likely to involve the EWKR research/monitoring project on waterbirds and vegetation, CSU grazing trials, UNSW waterbird projects and MDFRC seedbank projects.
Condition Monitoring projects are expected to continue as per usual and hence will provide additional evaluation of water management outcomes.
2 Communication & Engagement: Provide a statement of assurance that the communication requirements for environmental watering under the Basin Plan will be met or outline how communications and engagement will be undertaken.
If required, please attach any supporting documentation or provide references.
Communications will be undertaken as per the Barmah Forest Icon Site Communications Plan 2016-2020 (GB CMA 2017). This will mostly be via informing the public of environmental water outcomes through media releases, paid articles in local newspapers, and social media. Field visits to special interest groups and media productions will be undertaken where opportunity arises.
GB CMA (2017) Barmah Forest Icon Site Communications Plan 2016-2020. Updated version prepared March 2017. Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton.
3 Basin Plan risk monitoring assurance statement. Provide an assurance statement that the management of the proposed watering would meet Basin Plan obligations for the monitoring of risks associated with environmental watering; in particular water quality targets.
Few risks are associated with environmental water management in the Barmah-Millewa wetlands as outlined in the 2017-18 seasonal watering proposal. Most of the proposed watering activities now benefit from previous successful implementation and hence experienced has been gained through previous management of risks.
Water delivery constraints have been set conservatively low to reduce the risks to third parties, predominately property owners on Bullatale Creek in NSW, with MDBA River
46 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Operations reducing EWA delivery if set maximum delivery constraints were to be exceeded by extraneous inflows from rainfall events.
Water quality issues from Barmah-Millewa Forest are largely confined to potential for Blackwater development, however the watering proposals are influencing only relatively low regions of the floodplain that have experienced recent flooding and thus the carbon store on the floodplain is anticipated to be relatively low in 2017-18.
A proactive approach to managing the proposed trial “translucent regulator strategy” will minimise any in-forest property/access impacts, and will be achieved via on-site inspections and consultation with Parks Victoria and Yorta Yorta and joint land managers.
47 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Attachment A: Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (BWS) outcomes
The Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (BWS) outcomes are described in the tables below. These are long-term outcomes to be achieved beyond 2019.
River Flows & Connectivity: Improve connections along rivers and between rivers and their floodplains
Longitudinal To keep base flows at least 60% of the natural level
a 10% overall increase in flows in the Barwon–Darling: from increased tributary contributions from the Condamine–Balonne, Border Rivers, Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie–Castlereagh catchments collectively
a 30% overall increase in flows in the River Murray: from increased tributary contributions from the Murrumbidgee, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon and Lower Darling catchments collectively
a 30 to 40% increase in flows to the Murray mouth.
Lateral a 30 to 60% increase in the frequency of freshes, bank-full and lowland floodplain flows in the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Goulburn–Broken and Condamine–Balonne catchments
a 10 to 20% increase of freshes and bank-full events in the Border Rivers, Gwydir, Namoi, Macquarie–Castlereagh, Barwon–Darling, Lachlan, Campaspe, Loddon and Wimmera catchments
current levels of connectivity maintained in the Paroo, Moonie, Nebine, Ovens and Warrego catchments.
End-of-basin the barrage flows are greater than 2000 GL/year on a three-year rolling average basis for 95% of flows the time, with a two year minimum of 600 GL at any time
the water levels in the Lower Lakes are maintained above:
sea level (0m AHD) and 0.4 metres AHD, for 95% of the time, as far as practicable, to allow for barrage releases salinity in the Coorong and Lower Lakes remains below critical thresholds for key flora and fauna including:
salinity in Lake Alexandrina is lower than 1,000 EC 95% of the time and less than 1,500 EC all the time salinity in the Coorong’s south lagoon is less than 100 grams per litre 95% of the time the Murray mouth is open 90% of the time to an average annual depth of one metre.
Water dependant vegetation: Maintain extent and improve the condition
Forests and to maintain the current extent of forest and woodland vegetation including approximately: woodlands 360,000 ha of river red gum 409,000 ha of black box 310,000 ha of coolibah no decline in the condition of river red gum, black box and coolibah across the Basin
by 2024, improved condition of river red gum in the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Lower Darling, Murray, Goulburn–Broken and Wimmera–Avoca
48 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
by 2024, improved recruitment of trees within river red gum, black box and coolibah communities—in the long term achieving a greater range of tree ages.
Shrublands Outcomes for shrubland vegetation
• maintain the current extent of extensive lignum shrubland areas within the Basin by 2024, improvement in the condition of lignum shrublands. Outcomes for non-woody vegetation:
• to maintain the current extent of non-woody vegetation • by 2024, increased periods of growth for communities that: - closely fringe or occur within the main river corridors - form extensive stands within wetlands and low-lying floodplains including Moira grasslands in Barmah–Millewa Forest; common reed and cumbungi in the Great Cumbung Swamp and Macquarie Marshes; water couch on the floodplains of the Macquarie Marshes and Gwydir Rivers; and marsh club-rush sedgelands in the Gwydir • a sustained and adequate population of Ruppia tuberosa in the south lagoon of the Coorong, including: - by 2019, R. tuberosa to occur in at least 80% of sites across at least a 50 km extent - by 2029, the seed bank to be sufficient for the population to be resilient to major disturbances.
Waterbirds: Maintain current species diversity, improve breeding success and numbers
Waterbirds that the number and type of waterbird species present in the Basin will not fall below current observations
a significant improvement in waterbird populations in the order of 20 to 25% over the baseline scenario, with increases in all waterbird functional groups
breeding events (the opportunities to breed rather than the magnitude of breeding per se) of colonial nesting waterbirds to increase by up to 50% compared to the baseline scenario
breeding abundance (nests and broods) for all of the other functional groups to increase by 30– 40% compared to the baseline scenario, especially in locations where the Basin Plan improves over- bank flows.
Fish: Maintain current species diversity, extend distributions, improve breeding success and numbers
Broad no loss of native species currently present within the Basin outcomes improved population structure of key species through regular recruitment
increased movement of key species
expanded distribution of key species and populations in the northern and southern Basin.
Short-lived restored distribution and abundance to levels recorded pre-2007 (prior to major losses caused by species extreme drought). This will require annual or biennial recruitment events depending on the species
49 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Moderate to improved population structure (i.e. a range of size/age classes for all species and stable sex ratios long-lived where relevant) in key sites. This will require annual recruitment events in at least eight out of 10 species years at 80% of key sites, with at least four of these being ‘strong’ recruitment events
a 10–15% increase of mature fish (of legal take size) for recreational target species (Murray cod and golden perch) in key populations
annual detection of species and life stages representative of the whole fish community through key fish passages; with an increase in passage of Murray cod, trout cod, golden perch, silver perch, Hyrtl’s tandan, congolli, short-headed lamprey and pouched lamprey through key fish passages to be detected in 2019–2024; compared to passage rates detected in 2014–2019.
Estuarine detection of all estuarine-dependent fish families throughout 2014–2024 species maintenance of annual population abundance (Catch Per Unit Effort – CPUE) of key estuarine prey species (sandy sprat and small-mouthed hardyhead) throughout the Coorong
detection of a broad spatial distribution of black bream and greenback flounder; with adult black bream and all life stages of greenback flounder present across >50% of the Coorong in eight out of 10 years
detection in nine out of 10 years of bi-directional seasonal movements of diadromous species through the barrages and fishways between the Lower Lakes and Coorong
increased rates of native fish passage in 2019–2024 compared to 2014–2019
improved population structure of mulloway, including spawning aggregations at the Murray mouth in six out of 10 years and recruitment in at least five out of 10 years.
Distribution of a doubling of the current (mostly restricted) distributions of key species in the northern Basin key species significant increases in the distributions of key species in the southern Basin.
50 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Attachment B: Proposed hydrograph [NB: only the Murray River flow below Yarrawonga is shown due to this site being the only one relevant to Barmah-Millewa Forest]
The hydrographs presented below are based on 2013 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) data which presents daily flow (taken as the average of the daily flow for the month). The 2016-17 observed flow and the worst case scenario (AEP of 100%) have also been included for information.
The AOP data shows a forecast of the flow that could be expected for a range of water resource scenarios (i.e. dry to very wet) before considering environmental water demands. This RMO planning data is based on the 2013 AOP (developed end of May 2013). The 2017-18 AOP data will not be available until April 2017 and the 2013 AOP is considered appropriate for the watering proposal process. This is based on the 2013 AOP having similar storage volumes in the River Murray storages to what is expected for 2017-18.
The hydrographs in the template should be deleted and replaced with the watering proposal hydrographs that describe the proposed watering actions under the range of scenarios. These will build upon the AOP scenarios. To assist with developing the proposed hydrographs, a separate excel workbook has been provided to accompany the SCBEWC 2017-18 environmental water proposal template. Hydrographs can be updated and refined between Stag1 and 2 of the planning process.
51 Barmah Forest Seasonal Watering Proposal 2017-2018 (VEWH Addendum)
Attachment C: Modelled natural hydrographs (based on 1895 to 2009 long-term average flows for the MDBA without development model run – model run 844) [NB: only the Murray River flow below Yarrawonga is shown due to this site being the only one relevant to Barmah-Millewa Forest]
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