Literature Review/ Gap Analysis Tecticornia studies of Lake Way

September 2019 Version 1

Prepared by: Botanica Consulting PO Box 2027 Boulder WA 6432 90930024

Disclaimer This document and its contents are to be treated as confidential and are published in accordance with and subject to an agreement between Botanica Consulting (BC) and the client for whom it has been prepared and is restricted to those issues that have been raised by the client in its engagement of BC. Neither this document nor its contents may be referred to or quoted in any manner (report or other document) nor reproduced in part or whole by electronic, mechanical or chemical means, including photocopying, recording or any information storage system, without the express written approval of the client and/or BC.

This document and its contents have been prepared utilising the standard of care and skill ordinarily exercised by Environmental Scientists in the preparation of such documents. All material presented in this document is published in good faith and is believed to be accurate at the time of writing. Any person or organisation who relies on or uses the document and its contents for purposes or reasons other than those agreed by BC and the client without primarily obtaining the prior written consent of BC, does so entirely at their own risk. BC denies all liability in tort, contract or otherwise for any loss, damage or injury of any kind whatsoever (whether in negligence or otherwise) that may be endured as a consequence of relying on this document and its contents for any purpose other than that agreed with the client.

Quality Assurance An internal quality review process has been implemented to each project task undertaken by BC. Each document and its contents are carefully reviewed by core members of the Consultancy team and signed off at Director Level prior to issue to the client. Draft documents are submitted to the client for comment and acceptance prior to final production.

Document Job Number: 2019/76

Prepared by: Lauren Pick Senior Environmental Consultant Botanica Consulting

Approved by: Jim Williams Director Botanica Consulting

Contents Page No. 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Project Description ...... 1 1.2 Objectives ...... 1 2 Methodology 3 2.1 Literature Review ...... 3 2.2 Database Searches ...... 3 3 Results 4 3.1 Flora ...... 4 3.1.1 Species Accumulation...... 8 3.2 Vegetation ...... 9 4 Knowledge Gaps/ Recommendations 10 5 Bibliography 11

Tables Table 3-2: Tecticornia previously recorded at Lake Way ...... 4 Table 3-1: Summary of Tecticornia complexes at Lake Way ...... 9

Figures Figure 1-1: Lake Way Sulphate of Potash Project Layout...... 2 Figure 3-1: Tecticornia Specimens at Lake Way ...... 6 Figure 3-2: Significant Tecticornia at Lake Way ...... 7 Figure 3-3: Species accumulation curve ...... 8

Glossary Acronym Description ANCA Australian Nature Conservation Agency. BAM Act Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007, WA Government. BC Act Biodiversity and Conservation Act 2016, WA Government. Botanica Botanica Consulting. BoM Bureau of Meteorology. DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food (now DPIRD), WA Government. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (formerly DPaW), WA DBCA Government. DEC Department of Environment and Conservation (now DBCA), WA Government. DER Department of Environment Regulation (now DWER), WA Government. On-Playa Development Envelope (includes brine extraction trenches with ponds and associated pumps and pipework) Development Off-Playa Development Envelope (includes brine abstraction bores, process water Envelopes bore fields, processing plant, process water pumps and pipework and associated infrastructure) Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (formerly DMP), WA DMIRS Government DMP Department of Mines and Petroleum (now DMIRS), WA Government. Department of the Environment and Energy (formerly DSEWPaC), Australian DotEE Government. DoW Department of Water (now DWER), WA Government. DpaW Department of Parks and Wildlife (now DBCA), WA Government. DPIRD Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA Government Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (formerly OEPA, DER and DoW), DWER WA Government EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986, WA Government. Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004, WA EP Regulations Government. EPA Environmental Protection Authority, WA Government. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Australian EPBC Act Government. ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area. Ha Hectare (10,000 square metres). IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources – IUCN commonly known as the World Conservation Union. MVG Major Vegetation Groups. NVIS National Vegetation Information System. OEPA Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (now DWER), WA Government. PEC Priority Ecological Community. Project Lake Way Sulphate of Potash Project. SLP Salt Lake Potash Limited. TEC Threatened Ecological Community. WA Western Australia. WAHERB Western Australian Herbarium. WAM Western Australian Museum, WA Government. WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, WA Government.

Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

1 Introduction 1.1 Project Description The Lake Way Sulphate of Potash Project (the Project) is a semi-brownfield project to abstract and treat brines from on-lake trenches and off-lake (paleovalley) bores to produce a sulphate of potash. Lake Way is located approximately 25 km south of Wiluna, Western Australia. A map of the proposed on playa Project footprint and playa Development Envelope is provided in Figure 1-1. Infrastructure associated with the Project includes: • Evaporation ponds; • brine abstraction trenches; • paleochannel production bores; • permanent brine pumps/pipework; • access and infrastructure corridors; and • excess salt disposal areas.

Botanica Consulting (Botanica) was commissioned by Salt Lake Potash Limited to undertake a literature review/ gap analysis of the existing Tecticornia studies conducted at Lake Way.

1.2 Objectives The objectives of the literature review/ gap analysis were to: 1. Review existing Tecticornia surveys conducted at Lake Way; 2. Provide a summary of Tecticornia vegetation identified at Lake Way (including extent and distribution around Lake Way); 3. Provide a summary of significant Tecticornia identified at Lake Way (including Threatened/ Priority taxa and potentially new taxa); 4. Provide a summary of unknown Tecticornia identified at Lake Way; and 5. Determine if there are knowledge gaps from the previous survey work that may require additional field surveys.

Botanica Consulting 1 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

Figure 1-1: Lake Way Sulphate of Potash Project Layout

Botanica Consulting 2 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

2 Methodology 2.1 Literature Review A literature review was undertaken of previous Tecticornia studies conducted at Lake Way for the Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Project Public Environmental Review (EPA Assessment 1819 & 2002). Documents reviewed included: • Actis, (2012). Tecticornia review: Wiluna uranium project. Unpublished report for Toro Energy Limited. • Ecologia Environment, (2016a). Assessment of Tecticornia Communities Associated with Lake Way and Lake Maitland. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited. • Ecologia Environment, (2016b). Flora and Vegetation Consolidation and Conservation Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited. • Ecologia Environment, (2016c). Cumulative Impact Assessment. • Niche Environmental Services, (2011). Assessment of the Flora and Vegetation at the Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Project: Lake Way, Centipede and Borefield. Report prepared for Toro Energy Limited. • Outback Ecology, (2007). Lake Way and Centipede Baseline Vegetation and Flora Survey. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited. • Outback Ecology, (2010a). Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment – June 2010. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited. • Outback Ecology, (2010b). Lake Way, Centipede West Deposit and Haul Road Corridor Baseline Survey Report – November 2010. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited.

2.2 Database Searches Searches of the following databases were undertaken to identify records of Priority/ Threatened Tecticornia taxa within a 20km radius of Lake Way: • DBCA Priority/ Threatened Flora Database Search (DBCA, 2019a) • DBCA Priority/ Threatened Ecological Communities Database Search (DBCA, 2019b) • DBCA NatureMap Database (DBCA, 2019); • DotEE Protected Matters search tool (DotEE, 2019).

The NatureMap and Protected Matters Search were conducted for an area encompassing a 20km radius of the centre coordinates -26.75194 S 120.20056 E.

Botanica Consulting 3

Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

3 Results

3.1 Flora A total of 611 Tecticornia specimens have been collected at Lake Way/ Lake Maitland during previous flora surveys (Niche 2011 and Ecologia 2016) of which 28 were sterile (represents 4.6% of the total specimens). From the 611 specimens collected, a total of 29 taxa were identified at Lake Way (Error! Reference source not found. and Figure 3-1) and 23 taxa were identified at Lake Maitland. 16 of 29 taxa identified at Lake Way were considered to be significant in accordance with the EPA Environmental Factor Guideline for Flora and Vegetation (EPA, 2016) including: • two Priority Flora taxa; • five new Tecticornia taxa; • six potentially new Tecticornia taxa; and • three range extension Tecticornia taxa.

None of the new/ potentially new taxa have been formally listed as Priority Flora or Threatened Flora under the BC Act. A map showing the location of all significant Tecticornia in relation to the Lake Way Playa Development Envelope is provided in Figure 3-2.

Table 3-1: Tecticornia previously recorded at Lake Way Taxon Locality Description No. Plants/ Locations

Common Taxa Common on the minor tributary and floodplains to Tecticornia calyptrata the south-west and a small salt pan in the north-east 19 plants (six locations) of Lake Way Tecticornia disarticulata On a floodplain to the west of the main lake. 20 plants (three locations) On a minor tributary in the south-west and on the Tecticornia doleiformis 3 plants (three locations) main lake bed in the north-east of the Lake Way Very common on the fringe of the main salt lake, as 103 plants (thirty-five Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens well as the minor tributaries and floodplains. locations) Common on the fringe of the main salt lake, minor Tecticornia indica subsp. tributaries and floodplains and scattered in a minor 79 plants (ten locations) leiostachya tributary in the north-east. Very common on the fringe of the main salt lake, as Tecticornia laevigata 42 plants (29 locations) well as the minor tributaries and floodplains. Common on the fringe of the main salt lake, minor 11 plants (eleven Tecticornia peltata tributaries and floodplains. locations) Tecticornia pergranulata On the floodplains to the south-west of Lake Way. 65 plants (twenty locations) On the floodplains to the south-west and on the Tecticornia pruinosa 5 plants (one location) minor tributary running north from Lake Way. Tecticornia pterygosperma Scattered on the fringe of the main salt lake, minor 33 plants (six locations) subsp. denticulata tributaries and floodplains. Tecticornia sp. Burnerbinmah Very common on the fringe of the main salt lake, as 125 plants (twenty-two (D. Edinger et al. 101) well as the minor tributaries. locations) Tecticornia sp. Dennys Crossing Very common on the fringe of the main salt lake, 483 plants (forty-seven (K.A. Shepherd & J. English KS minor tributaries and floodplains. Scattered on the locations) 552) main lake bed of the north-east of Lake Way. Recorded on the main lake bed to the south-west of Tecticornia undulata 1 plant (one record) Lake Way Priority Taxa

Tecticornia sp. Lake Way (P. Restricted to small outwash plain connected to the 2000 plants (four locations) Armstrong 05/961) P1 main salt lake.

Tecticornia sp. Sunshine Lake 116 plants (fourteen (K.A. Shepherd et al. KS 867) Recorded commonly at Lake Way locations) P1

Botanica Consulting 4 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

Taxon Locality Description No. Plants/ Locations

New Taxa Common on the edge of the main salt lake at Lake Tecticornia aff. halocnemoides 51 plants (five locations) Way and minor tributary to the south of s.l. 'large ovate seed aggregate' Millipede/Centipede. Tecticornia sp. aff. Recorded along the minor tributary of Lake Way in 1 plant (one location) Burnerbinmah (inflated fruit) the south of Millipede Tecticornia sp. aff. globulifera Very common on the edge of the main lakebed of 126 plants (ten locations) (small) Lake Way and minor tributaries. Tecticornia sp. aff. laevigata Common on the main lakebed of Lake Way and 55 plants (five locations) (non-rotated fruitlets) minor tributaries. 107 plants (twelve Tecticornia sp. aff. undulata Common on the main lakebed of Lake Way and locations) (broad articles) minor tributaries.

Potential New Taxa ?Tecticornia sp. aff. globulifera Scattered on the main lakebed of Lake Way. 126 plants (ten locations) (small) Common on the Lake Way main lakebed of the Tecticornia sp. aff. laevigata centipede and millipede deposits and on the main 5 plants (five locations) tributary that runs north from the Lake Way deposit Very common on the Lake Way main lakebed of the 27 plants (twenty-seven Tecticornia sp. aff. pruinosa Centipede/Millipede and Lake Way Deposits. Also locations) recorded on the minor tributaries of both areas. Very common on the Lake Way main lakebed of the Centipede/Millipede and Lake Way Deposits. Also 16 plants (sixteen Tecticornia sp. aff. undulata recorded on the minor tributaries of the Lake Way locations) Deposit. Common on the Lake Way main lakebed and the Tecticornia sp. halocnemoides minor tributary running north from the Lake Way 15 plants (fifteen locations) beaked seed aggregate Deposit. Recorded by Niche (2011). One location in a unknown plants (one Tecticornia sp. nov regional quadrat. No coordinates available location) Range extension Tecticornia halocnemoides Recorded at eleven locations at the Centipede and 11 plants (eleven subsp. catenulata Lake Way deposits. locations) Recorded commonly at the Centipede and Lake 11 plants (eleven Tecticornia moniliformis Way deposits on the main lakebed and minor locations) tributaries. Recorded at three locations from Lake Way on the Tecticornia tenuis 50 plants (three locations) floodplain to the south of Millipede.

Botanica Consulting 5 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

Figure 3-1: Tecticornia Specimens at Lake Way

6 Botanica Consulting Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

Figure 3-2: Significant Tecticornia at Lake Way

7 Botanica Consulting Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

3.1.1 Species Accumulation EstimateS software was used to estimate species richness of Tecticornia present using the Chao2 richness estimator. For any number of samples, the estimator uses the existing pattern of species accumulation to estimate the true number of species at a site. The estimators tend to under-estimate species number when sample size is small, hence the estimated number of true species can be seen to increase with sample size. This software was also used to compute Coleman rarefaction curves estimates which were used to calculate species accumulation curves.

The Chao 2 richness estimator provided an estimated species richness of 22 species in 200 sample sites (quadrats). Species richness recorded for the 80 quadrats surveyed was 20 Tecticornia species. A species accumulation curve was created to display the rate of species accumulation. The R² value (0.95) suggests that the data “fits” the species accumulation curve shown in Figure 3-3. Botanica has determined that according to this data a sufficient number of quadrats were established in the survey area to adequately assess the species richness of Tecticornia at Lake Way.

25

R² = 0.9478 20

15

Species 10 Log. (Species)

Cumulative Cumulative species of No. 5

0 1 90 140 190 No. of sample sites

Figure 3-3: Species accumulation curve

Botanica Consulting 8 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

3.2 Vegetation Four Tecticornia complexes have been identified during existing flora/ vegetation surveys (Niche 2011 and Ecologia 2016) conducted for the Wiluna Uranium Project (Lake Way, Centipede and Millipede Deposits) at Lake Way which belong to the Tecticornia spp. sparse low mixed shrubland vegetation association.

Table 3-2: Summary of Tecticornia complexes at Lake Way Tecticornia Complex Vegetation Complex Description ID Tecticornia spp. sparse low mixed shrubland Tecticornia sp. Dennys Crossing (K.A. Shepherd & J. English KS 552) (+/-T. indica, T. sp. aff. undulata T3 (broad articles), T. sp. aff globulifera (small) and Tecticornia sp. Sunshine Lake (K.A. Shepherd et al. KS 867)) sparse low shrubland Tecticornia sp. Burnerbinmah (D. Edinger et al. 101) and Tecticornia sp. aff globulifera (small) (+/-T. indica T4 subsp. leiostachya and Tecticornia aff halocnemoides s.l. 'large ovate seed aggregate') sparse low shrubland Tecticornia spp. (Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens, Tecticornia sp. aff pruinosa, Tecticornia laevigata, T8 Tecticornia sp. aff. undulata, Tecticornia peltata and Tecticornia sp. (halocnemoides beaked seed aggregate) sparse low shrubland Acacia victoriae and Melaleuca xerophila scattered tall shrubs, over Lycium australe and Cratystylis subspinescens sparse mid shrubland, over Tecticornia spp. (Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens, Tecticornia T9 sp. aff pruinosa, Tecticornia laevigata, Tecticornia sp. aff. undulata, Tecticornia peltata and Tecticornia sp. (halocnemoides beaked seed aggregate) sparse low shrubland

Botanica Consulting 9 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

4 Knowledge Gaps/ Recommendations

The existing Tecticornia surveys, involved intensive sampling of the samphire vegetation at Lake Way, with twenty-eight 30m X 30m quadrats surveyed by Niche (2011) and eighty 3m X 3m quadrats (along ten transects) surveyed by Ecologia (2016). Over 95% of the total specimens were fully identified belonging to twenty-nine taxa at Lake Way, sixteen of which were considered to be significant (new taxa, potentially new taxa, priority flora and range extensions).

Whilst the existing survey work does not cover the entire extent of samphire vegetation surrounding Lake Way, the existing survey work has identified a high number of Tecticornia taxa and the species accumulation curve shows that the accumulation of Tecticornia species will be negligible with increased sample sites.

Current climatic conditions since Salt Lake Potash commissioned environmental studies for the Lake Way Project in January 2019 have not been favourable1 and as a result, the vast majority of Tecticornia spp. are currently sterile and unable to be sampled/ identified. This has impeded the ability to conduct additional targeted surveys of Tecticornia at Lake Way.

Given that a number of significant Tecticornia are already known to occur within the samphire vegetation fringing Lake Way and there is minimal proposed direct clearing/ impacts to samphire vegetation (no more than 50 ha), it is recommended that locations of any sterile taxa/ areas of other samphire vegetation not previously assessed are considered as potential supporting habitat for significant Tecticornia. Efforts and resources are recommended to be directed towards assessing and managing potential indirect impacts of the Project on all samphire vegetation and implementation of the Lake Way Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan 2019 rather than conducting additional targeted surveys which in the current climatic conditions are unlikely to yield any results.

1 Wiluna weather station (#13012) has recorded only 80mm of rain received from Jan-Jul 2019 compared to mean rainfall of 205mm over this period (BoM, 2019)

Botanica Consulting 10 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

5 Bibliography

Actis, (2012). Tecticornia review: Wiluna uranium project. Unpublished report for Toro Energy Limited. Animal Plant Mineral (2015a), Vegetation Clearing Permit Application, Matilda Gold Project, Support Information for Matilda Mine Site Native Vegetation Clearing (Purpose) Permit Application, October 2015. Animal Plant Mineral (2015b), Level One Biological Survey, Matilda Gold Project, Murchison Western Australia, November 2015. Prepared for Blackham Resources Limited. ASRIS (2014), Atlas of Australian Soils Database. Australian Soil Resource Information System Australian Government (2018), National Map. Australian Government. Bennett Environmental Consulting. (2002). Vegetation of areas impacted by construction of a causeway for exploration drilling at Lake Way Wiluna Gold. Unpublished report.

Botanica (2018), Reconnaissance Flora/Vegetation & Fauna Survey Lake Way Project Processing Facility and Pond. Unpublished report prepared for Salt Lake Potash Limited.

Botanica (2019), Reconnaissance Flora & Vegetation Assessment Lake Way SOP Demonstration Plant Project. Unpublished report prepared for Salt Lake Potash Limited Beard, J.S., (1990), Plant Life of Western Australia, Kangaroo Press Pty Ltd, NSW. Bennett Environmental Consulting. (2002). Vegetation of areas impacted by construction of a causeway for exploration drilling at Lake Way Wiluna Gold. Unpublished report. Blackwell, M. J. and Trudgen, M. E. (1980). Report on the Flora and Vegetation of the Lake Way Joint Venture Uranium Development envelope: together with an assessment of the impact of this project upon the landscape, flora and vegetation of this area and its regeneration potential. Cowan, (2001), A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Region in 2001- Murchison Region (MUR1-Eastern Murchison), Department of Conservation and Land Management. Curry, P.J., Payne, A.L., Leighton, K.A., Hennig, P. and Blood, D.A. (1994) Technical Bulletin: An inventory and condition survey of the Murchison River catchment, Western Australia (No. 84). Department of Agriculture WA. DBCA (2019), Nature Map Database search, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Available: https://naturemap.dpaw.wa.gov.au/ Accessed: 22nd April 2019

DBCA (2019a), Threatened Flora Database search results, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Results obtained January 2019.

DBCA (2019b), Threatened Flora Database search results, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Results obtained January 2019. DotEE, (2012), Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7, Department of the Environment and Energy.

DotEE (2019), Protected Matters Search Tool, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Department of the Environment and Energy Available: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protected-matters-search-tool Accessed: 22nd April 2019

Botanica Consulting 11 Lake Way Tecticornia Literature Review/ Gap Analysis

Ecologia Environment, (2016a). ‘Assessment of Tecticornia Communities Associated with Lake Way and Lake Maitland’. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited.

Ecologia Environment, (2016b). Flora and Vegetation Consolidation and Conservation Assessment.

Ecologia Environment, (2016c). Cumulative Impact Assessment. EPA, (2016a), Technical Guidance - Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment – December 2016. Environmental Protection Authority

Niche Environmental Services, (2011). ‘Assessment of the Flora and Vegetation at the Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Project: Lake Way, Centipede and Borefield’. Report prepared for Toro Energy Limited, February 2011.

Niche Environmental Services, (2014). Assessment of the flora and vegetation at the Toro Energy Wiluna Uranium Project: Millipede Development envelope. Unpublished Report for Toro Energy.

Outback Ecology, (2007). Lake Way and Centipede Baseline Vegetation and Flora Survey. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited.

Outback Ecology, 2010a. Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment – June 2010. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited.

Outback Ecology, (2010b). Lake Way, Centipede West Deposit and Haul Road Corridor baseline Survey Report – November 2010. Unpublished report prepared for Toro Energy Limited.

WAHERB, (2019), Florabase – Information on the Western Australian Flora, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Available: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/ Accessed 22nd April 2019

Botanica Consulting 12

Botanica Consulting 13