HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY

Volume 1 The River Health Strategy comprises Volume 1 and Volume 2

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY iii This booklet is copyright under the Berne Convention Copying of this report is permitted providing that the meaning is unchanged and the source is acknowledged. Published March 2007 Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority Locked Bag 2048, Goulburn NSW Australia 2580

The River Health Strategy is available as a printed publication, on CD-Rom and on the Hawkesbury Nepean CMA’s website (www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au). The CD-Rom and website contain both Volume One and Two of the Strategy in an easily accessible format where selected sections can be printed. Printed copies are available in limited numbers only.

ISBN 0 7347 5710 7

Acknowledgements The Hawkesbury Nepean River Health Strategy has been developed by the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority. The development of the Strategy would not have been possible without enormous assistance from a range of contributors including people who live and work in all areas of the catchment. Contributors included farmers, commercial and recreational fi shers, bushwalkers, environment groups, Landcare, non-government organisations, community groups, individuals, staff from Councils and state government departments. While the Strategy was an organisation-wide undertaking, the bulk of the document was developed by HNCMA Catchment Offi cers, Ruth Williams and Paul Bennett. Numerous other staff assisted with the rapid assessment and technical panels and contributed local expert knowledge. Everyone involved in the development of the Strategy share a passion for the many creeks and rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment and its environment. Some of the community members who gave their time and eff ort are profi led in the CD and website. The profi les give a taste of the valuable contribution made by many people. The Hawkesbury Nepean CMA gratefully acknowledge the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm brought to the development of the Strategy by all who were involved.

iv HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY MINISTER’S FOREWORD

Hawkesbury Nepean The protection of our natural resources is a River Health Strategy responsibility that we all share and which will only be achieved if a dialogue between all sectors of The Hawkesbury the community is sustained. The Hawkesbury- Nepean River catchment Nepean CMA has consulted widely with groups is one of the most across the catchment in developing this strategy. environmentally and socially important This includes more than 20 local councils and catchments in NSW. countless interest groups and individuals from The catchment across the catchment. These dedicated people includes the Greater breathe life into the regional model of natural Blue Mountains World resource management and without them it Heritage area which would not have been achievable. protects a huge range of flora and fauna, and is a The result is an extremely sound document which major destination for recreation and the tourism has been built upon the latest science as well industry. It provides nearly all the drinking water as reflecting the wishes and aspirations of the for the people of the greater Sydney area, and Hawkesbury-Nepean community. supports an extensive agricultural sector which supplies much of Sydney’s fresh food. It is also The NSW Government is committed to a vibrant home to a variety of mining, manufacturing and and healthy Hawkesbury-Nepean river system. processing industries. One which not just sustains livelihoods and lives, but improves the quality of life for the These many and varied activities place enormous hardworking families who enjoy its wonderful pressure on the river. Without appropriate amenity. We will continue to work with the management, the health of the catchment could community to ensure that the vision becomes the be compromised. The NSW Government has reality. This strategy will ensure that we are able to recognised this by putting into place a number of achieve this goal for the catchment well into the programs to ensure the long-term health of this future. iconic waterway. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River Health Strategy is an integral part in the puzzle which the NSW Government is constructing to protect the river system, now and into the future. An integrated response is imperative if we are to confront the wide array of complex issues our environment poses. The strategy will provide us The Hon Ian Macdonald MLC with an invaluable ‘tool’ to meet these challenges Minister for Natural Resources in an intelligent, empowered and informed manner. I congratulate the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for its hard work in developing this strategy. It will play a critical role in delivering many of the objectives of the State Plan. The NSW Government established 13 CMAs across the State in 2003 to ensure the involvement of local people in natural resource decisions. This strategy is another example of that system working.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY v vi HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY CHAIR’S FOREWORD

It my great pleasure to Development of this strategy has been a be able to present the monumental eff ort, taking the HNCMA over 18 Hawkesbury Nepean months working with stakeholders to pull all the River Health Strategy levels of knowledge and data documented in to our catchment this strategy. This strategy was undertaken at the community and request of the Minister for Natural Resources as stakeholders. It provides an additional task refl ecting the importance of a comprehensive this catchment and the need to take a whole-of- understanding of the catchment view to the river system. Since early signifi cant natural values 2006, the HNCMA has begun to implement the and challenges facing the majority of waterways strategy. in this catchment of national signifi cance. This River Health Strategy is a product of a This is the fi rst River Health Strategy of its kind in close partnership between the HNCMA and the New South Wales and it assesses 255 river reaches community. The role of our community experts and prioritises 3600 kilometres of waterways who bought their impressive local knowledge to for restoration actions. The strategy has been the task was an essential ingredient. developed with input from local communities These community and technical experts and focuses specifi cally on the Hawkesbury undertook an assessment of the economic, social Nepean catchment. and environmental values of 150 river reaches The River Health Strategy will complement the in the catchment as well as the threats to those 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan and help achieve values. Across the catchment, these values vary the natural resource targets set out in the NSW enormously and the panel process ensured we State Plan. were able to capture what is important to the local communities and experts for the main river The strategy will also help the Hawkesbury reaches. Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) identify priority areas for on ground This River Health Strategy is linked directly investment in river health to ensure we maximise to the HNCMA’s Catchment Action Plan (visit environmental outcomes. These priorities will www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au for a copy) which sets direct our River Health Program informing our direction for the next 10 years of investment. The ability to identify what works need to be done Catchment Action Plan will be reviewed annually where. The HNCMA has major projects that will and as such the actions of this strategy will be deliver many river health outcomes. The River kept current and updated. Restoration Project, for example, works across the catchment with landholders to better manage riverbanks, wetlands and in-stream habitat. The River Health Strategy will also help the HNCMA and our partners to better target investment. As with all environmental restoration programs, partnerships are key to improving the long-term John Klem health of the Hawkesbury Nepean River system. To this end, the HNCMA will be working with State government agencies, local governments, Chair Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management landholders, industry and community groups Authority to carry out the practical on ground actions identifi ed here and to ensure the investment is protected and enhanced.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment: • Supply drinking water for over 4 million people living in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains • Help generate over $1 billion annually in agriculture production (12% of all NSW’s agriculture) including much of Sydney’s fresh vegetables, fl owers and fruit. • Support a $6 million a year commercial fi shing industry • Support 43,000 recreational fi shers • Supply 80% of the sand and gravel used in Sydney’s construction industry worth an estimated $100 million a year • Attract more than 10 million visitors to the catchment each year generating over $60 million annually in tourism and recreation • Provide 23% of NSW’s electricity using water from catchment’s rivers • Supports an extensive underground coal mining industry • Help sustain the environmental values of the 1 million hectare Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Pressures on the rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment The rivers and riparian lands of the Hawkesbury Nepean are experiencing signifi cant pressure from urban and rural residential development; extraction of water for metropolitan water supply and agriculture; nutrient input from sewage treatment plants, on-site sewage systems and run-off from agricultural and urban areas; clearing of riparian lands; and altered aquatic habitats that support fewer species. The challenge exists to balance these pressures of development and to protect the environment. The fact that nearly 50% of the catchment is protected in National Parks and drinking water catchments is providing some protection for key waterways and reduces these pressures in some areas. But the symptoms of a stressed river system are obvious across the catchment. For example, the largest ever outbreak of Salvinia molesta in temperate Australia occurred on the lower Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers during the summer of 2003/04. The weed spread across an area of 347 hectares along 88 kilometres of waterways, disrupting economic activity on the river and sparking widespread community concern.

Setting goals for river health Social and economic development inevitably impacts on natural, ecologically functioning waterways. However, rivers can be ecologically healthy without being pristine. In the Hawkesbury Nepean, river management must integrate the essential economic and social values of its many rivers with strategies and programs that aim to move the condition of waterways towards ecological health. The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) has a charter to carry out on- ground actions to meet regionally defi ned state wide targets contained in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Action Plan. This River Health Strategy provides detailed recommendations and priorities to help meet the targets set in the Catchment Action Plan.

viii HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY Managing for river health Four management objectives underpin the River Health Strategy: 1. Maintain the condition of river reaches where they are in natural or near natural condition 2. Maintain and improve river reaches where they are in good condition 3. Improve the environmental condition of the remaining river reaches 4. Achieve the highest environmental and community gain for the resources invested Assessment of environmental, economic and social values of, and threats to, river reaches across the catchment provides a consistent catchment wide basis for recommending management actions and for setting indicative priorities for investment.

Improved management of riparian lands is a key focus area of the Strategy which has identifi ed that: • Management of 41 river reaches assessed in the Strategy (a total 631km and 15% of river length) will focus primarily on conservation of remnant riparian vegetation, including the development and implementation of conservation agreements to protect remnant riparian vegetation. These reaches are in relatively good condition. • Management of 83 river reaches assessed in the Strategy (a total 1384km and 34% of river length) will focus on assisted regeneration of remnant riparian vegetation and management of threats that are still acting to degrade the reaches. • Management of 48 river reaches assessed in the Strategy (a total of 696km and 17% of river length) will focus on revegetation of riparian lands. These reaches are mostly highly cleared and/or in a quite degraded condition. Management actions and spatial priorities in eight management themes inform the HNCMA’s strategy for implementation and investment in river health: • Improving the management of riparian lands • Managing severe immediate threats and severe downstream impacts • Managing important wetlands • Improving aquatic habitat condition and connectivity • Aquatic weeds management • Improving management of public recreation on riverbanks • Supporting the community to take action • Managing habitat for fl agship species

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY ix CONTENTS - Volume One

The River Health Strategy is comprised of Volume 1 and Volume 2. Volume 1 contains the background, methods and summary of 8 management themes and Volume 2 contains Appendices with more detailed descriptions of values, threats and management actions for key waterways of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment.

Minister’s Foreword v Chair’s Foreword vii Executive Summary viii List of Figures xii List of Tables xii

PPartart 1 BBackgroundackground andand ContextContext 1 1.1 The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment 7 1.2 Rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean 7 1.2.1 Condition of the Hawkesbury Nepean rivers 8 1.3 What is River Health 10 1.3.1 Ecological concepts 10 1.3.2 The vision for the rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean 11 1.3.3 Managing for river health 12 1.3.4 The role of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority 15 1.4 River Health Strategy Development 16 1.4.1 Methods 16 1.4.2 Applying the standard for quality natural resource management 25

PPartart 2 A strategystrategy forfor riverriver hhealthealth 27 2.1 Principles for management 27 2.2 Objectives for management 28 2.3 Themes for management action 30 2.4 Theme One: Improving the management of riparian lands 31 2.4.1 Introduction 31 2.4.2 River reaches 31 2.4.3 CMA actions and priorities 39 2.4.4 Link to targets 41 2.5 Theme Two: Management of severe immediate threats & severe downstream impacts 42 2.5.1 Introduction 42 2.5.2 River reaches 43 2.5.3 CMA actions and priorities 43 2.5.4 Link to targets 47

x HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.6 Theme Three: Management of wetlands 48 2.6.1 Introduction 48 2.6.2 River reaches 48 2.6.3 CMA actions and priorities 51 2.6.4 Link to targets 52 2.7 Theme Four: Management of aquatic habitat condition and connectivity 53 2.7.1 Introduction 53 2.7.2 River reaches 53 2.7.3 CMA actions and priorities 54 2.7.4 Link to targets 56 2.8 Theme Five: Management of aquatic weeds 57 2.8.1 Introduction 57 2.8.2 River reaches 58 2.8.3 CMA actions and priorities 58 2.8.4 Link to targets 59 2.9 Theme Six: Management of public recreation sites on riverbanks 61 2.9.1 Introduction 61 2.9.2 River reaches 61 2.9.3 CMA actions and priorities 63 2.9.4 Link to targets 64 2.10 Theme Seven: Supporting the community to take action 65 2.10.1 Introduction 65 2.10.2 River Reaches 66 2.10.3 CMA actions and priorities 66 2.10.4 Link to targets 67 2.11 Theme Eight: Management of habitat for fl agship species 69 2.11.1 Introduction 69 2.11.2 River reaches 71 2.11.3 CMA actions and priorities 71 2.11.4 Link to targets 71 2.12 A Special Case: The Cataract River 72

PPartart 3 IImplementationmplementation 7744 3.1 Scales of implementation 74 3.2 Nepean subcatchment case study 76

RReferenceseferences aandnd AAcronymscronyms 78

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY xi LListist ofof TTablesables

Table 1 Values and threats assessed in the Hawkesbury Nepean River Health Strategy 21 Table 2 Key Datasets and Information Sources for Environmental Asset and Threat Data 22 Table 3 River Health Strategy management themes and Catchment Action Plan targets 30 Table 4 Reach condition and riparian land management categories 32 Table 5 Management actions for riparian lands 40 Table 6 Severe immediate threat and severe downstream impact reaches-CMA action 43 Table 7 Severe immediate threat and severe downstream impact reaches for action by other agencies and organisations 46 Table 8 Important wetlands of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment 50 Table 9 Management actions for wetlands 51 Table 10 Management actions to improve aquatic habitat condition and connectivity 54 Table 11 Management actions for the control of aquatic weeds 58 Table 12 Actions for better management of public recreation sites on riverbanks 63 Table 13 Management actions to maintain and increase community capacity 66 Table 14 Pre- and post - bed cracking ratings for the Cataract River 73

LListist ofof FFiguresigures

Figure 1 Guide to the River Health Strategy 5 Figure 2 The Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment 6 Figure 3 Diagrammatic representation of the relationship of the River Health Strategy to government water planning processes 13 Figure 4 Phases in the development of the River Health Strategy 16 Figure 5 River reaches assessed in the River Health Strategy 18 Figure 6 Hawkesbury Nepean subcatchments 19 Figure 7 Level of assessment of river reaches 24 Figure 8 Composite reach condition of river reaches 34 Figure 9 Riparian lands management categories 35 Figure 10 River reaches with identifi ed severe immediate threats 44 Figure 11 River reaches identifi ed as having a severe downstream impact 45 Figure 12 Important wetlands and association within river reaches 49 Figure 13 Aquatic habitat connectivity on River Health Strategy reaches 55 Figure 14 Aquatic weed presence and severity of occurrence on river reaches 60 Figure 15 Public recreation riverbank sites on river reaches 62 Figure 16 Community environment activity in riparian lands 68 Figure 17 Flagship species associated with river reaches 70

xii HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY CONTENTS - Volume Two

PPartart 4 AAppendicesppendices

Appendix 4.1 Reaches in riparian lands management categories 1 Appendix 4.2 Subcatchment summaries and reach management actions 7 • Bargo River Sub-catchment • Berowra Creek Sub Catchment • Capertee River Sub-catchment • Cattai Creek Sub-catchment • Colo River Sub-catchment • Cowan Creek / Pittwater Sub-catchment • Erskine/Sassafras Creek Sub-catchment • Grose River Sub-catchment • Hawkesbury River Sub-catchment (freshwater) • Hawkesbury River Estuary Sub-catchment • Kowmung River Sub-catchment • Lower Coxs River Sub-catchment • Macdonald River Sub-catchment • Mangrove Creek Sub-catchment • Mid Coxs River Sub-catchment • Mooney Mooney Creek Sub-catchment • Mulwaree River Sub-catchment • Nattai River Sub-catchment • Nepean River Sub-catchment • South Creek Sub-catchment • Upper Coxs River Sub-catchment • Upper Nepean River Sub-catchment • Upper Wollondilly River Sub-catchment • Webbs Creek Sub-catchment • Werriberri Creek Sub-catchment • Wingecarribee River • Wolgan River Sub-catchment • Wollemi Creek Sub-catchment • Wollondilly River Sub-catchment

Appendix 4.3 Summary and maps of rapid reach assessment of values and threats 103 Appendix 4.4 Rapid reach assessment tools 129 Appendix 4.5 Flagship species associated with river reaches 139

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY xiii LListist ofof TTablesables

Table A1 Focus on conservation river reaches 1 Table A2 Focus on assisted regeneration river reaches 3 Table A3 Focus on revegetation river reaches 4 Table A4 Rapid reach assessment tool- asset and threat rating scales 130 Table A5 Rapid reach assessment tool - river reach rating sheet 136 Table A6. Flagship species associated with river reaches. 139

LListist ofof FFiguresigures

Figure A1 Composite Reach Condition of River Reaches 5 Figure A2 Riparian Vegetation 109 Figure A3 River Condition 110 Figure A4 Geomorphic Recovery Potential 111 Figure A5 Sites of Environmental Signifi cance 112 Figure A6 Signifi cant Vegetaion Community 113 Figure A7 Swimming 114 Figure A8 Recreational Fishing 115 Figure A9 Non-Motor Boating 116 Figure A10 Motor Boating / Skiing 117 Figure A11 Scenic Quality 118 Figure A12 Irrigation Water Supply 119 Figure A13 Commercial Fishing 120 Figure A14 Tourism 121 Figure A15 Landuse 122 Figure A16 Damaging Access to Riparian Zones 123 Figure A17 Exotic Plant Species Riparian Woody Weeds 124 Figure A18 Pest Animals 125 Figure A19 Flow Regulation 126 Figure A20 Flow Modifi cation / Extraction 127

xiv HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY Stormwater Management ofbubblelicencesfor Sewage Introduction Treatment Plants Creek inSouth allowsthethree • • Upgrades ofSewage Treatment Plants whichdischarge effl • TreatmentSewage andNutrients Nepeancatchment whichaimto improve conditions. river Hawkesbury These include: Nepeanisnoexception. withinthe Hawkesbury There have undertaken beenarangeofactivities iscommittedThe NSWGovernment to maintainingandimproving healthacross river NSW, andthe Recent achievements intheHawkesbury Nepean includingmaintaining continuousimprovement for ofarrangements conservation biodiversity • ofthefuture managing growth theimpacts ofSydney through theMetropolitan Strategy and • ongoingimplementationofwater reforms includingmanaging demandfor water through the • ongoingimplementationofthenaturalresource managementreforms including theestablishment • programsThe key thatwillcomplementthisStrategy ledbytheNSWGovernment include: resource targets setoutintheNSWState Plan. broader program ofinitiatives aimedatimproving thehealthofwaterway, inlinewiththenatural landsinthecatchmentandto complementtheNSWGovernment’smanagement oftheriparian bymoreThis Strategy appropriate aimsto improve thehealthofHawkesbury-Nepean drought, lackoffl ow, inputfrom highlevels ofnutrient sewage, runoff farm system isundercontinuedpressure from inthecatchment anumberoffactors –includingtheongoing months. Nepeanriver The outbreak ofSalviniahighlighted thatthehealthoflower-Hawkesbury request wasinresponse to amajoroutbreak oftheaquaticweed Salviniamolestaintheprevious (CMA)Authority prepare Nepean. HealthStrategy andimplementaRiver for theHawkesbury This Catchment Management requested June2004theNSWGovernment In thattheHawkesbury-Nepean Rigorous implementation of the Rivers andForeshores implementation oftheRivers Rigorous Improvements 1948hasresulted Act in conservation ofthreatened speciesandtheirhabitatsoutside reserves. conservation for catchment andupdatingarrangements the withintheHawkesbury-Nepean the reserves related planninginitiatives; and urban and managing water Sydney’s catchments; drinking Metropolitan Water Plan, provision ofwater to theenvironment through plans(WSPs), water sharing strategy to monitor progress towards thosetargets; Vegetation targets for 2003andadoptionofState-wide Act theconditionofnaturalresources anda Authoritiesof Catchment (CMAs), Management endingbroadscale through clearing theNative PART 1-Background andcontext to befocused where thecostsare lowest. pollutant loadlimitfor theschemeisnotexceeded. The schemeenableseff sewagetreatment systems to adjusttheirindividualdischarges,participating provided thetotal resulting inphosphorous ina93%reduction load. loadand54%reductioninnutrient improvements health. inriver zones,better managementofriparian pollutiondischarge, erosion andsedimentation resulting in uent into the Hawkesbury Nepean, uent into theHawkesbury anderosion. orts to reduce pollution orts

Part 1 1 Background and context Water Recycling • The Metropolitan Water Plan includes the Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative, which will provide recycled water via dual reticulation to all 160,000 new homes to be built in new suburbs in Sydney's north west and south west, as well as for agriculture, industry and replicating natural river fl ows downstream from dams. The scheme will produce 27 billion litres of recycled water a year by 2015 and result in water quality improvements in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its tributaries. Weir Review • The Weir Review provided an analysis of the social, ecological and hydrological issues associated with weirs on the Nepean River. The Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum, provided suggested actions for each weir, to improve river health. The Government is now working to ensure that these modifi cations can be undertaken. Waste Minimisation Strategy • Disposal of the signifi cant volumes of Salvinia and Alligator weed harvested from the Hawkesbury is problematic. A trial program to compost the harvested materials has been undertaken in the catchment with some success. The resulting composted materials are being tested to ensure that there are no weed propagules remaining. Use of the composted materials in remediation of degraded sites in the upper catchment is being trialed. If successful the project will provide additional benefi ts for river and catchment health. Urban Sustainability Program • The Urban Sustainability Program aims to facilitate projects of signifi cant environmental benefi t to NSW, delivered by local government organisations in partnership with other government agencies, local businesses, community organisations and householders. • The objectives for the program include improvement of urban water management with particular focus on stormwater and urban runoff to achieve sustainable water quality and conservation outcomes, and improvement and protect urban bushland and creeks, urban wildlife and habitats of rare and endangered fl ora and fauna.

Managing demand and providing water for the environment This Strategy will also complement the 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan and the Greater Metropolitan Region Water Sharing Plan (WSP). The 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan is the NSW Government’s plan to secure Sydney’s water needs now and into the future, and contains a range of strategies and actions to balance supply and demand and to improve catchment and river health. The Greater Metropolitan Region WSP is being developed to share water between users and the environment of the Hawkesbury-Nepean. The Greater Metropolitan Region WSP is a part of the roll out of WSPs in each water source throughout the State. WSPs are the key component of the NSW Government’s water reform agenda. They establish formal rules through the Water Management Act 2000 to ensure that the natural environment is safeguarded and that water is shared fairly between consumptive users. The fi rst 31 WSPs that have been developed cover 80% of the State’s water use, and returned 200 gigalitres of water to the environment, assisting NSW to satisfy our obligations under the National Water Initiative (NWI). A critical component of the Greater Metropolitan Region WSP will be to support the Metropolitan Water Plan by allocating a suffi cient share of the available water to supply the people of Sydney.

2 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY objectives. Authority, NationalParks areas heritage andworld inthecatchment, andsettingwater quality Treatment Plants, SustainingtheCatchments Regional Plan, establishmentoftheSydney Catchment throughoutwater thecatchments. quality These includelicensingpollutingpremises suchasSewage Abroad rangeofprograms havehealth oftheHawkesbury-Nepean. beendeveloped to maintain ofthewater flThe quality owingfrom thesecatchments water Sydney’sto iscritical andthe drinking andtheIllawarra. Mountains water forpeople, isthesource more ofcleandrinking thanfour millionpeopleinSydney, Blue nearCooma.River area,This 16,000square whichisinhabited kilometre byapproximately 110,000 ofLithgowto thesource waterSydney’s from oftheShoalhaven catchments extend justnorth drinking Managing Sydney’s water dinking catchments and aquatichabitats. to ensure suffi health byseeking Together, theGreater Metropolitan Region andtheMetropolitan WSP Water Plan to contribute river cient water remains in the Hawkesbury-Nepean to maintain riparian to maintainriparian cient water remains intheHawkesbury-Nepean

Part 1 3 Background and context How does this Hawkesbury Nepean River Health Strategy support the NSW Government’s ongoing reforms? This Strategy: • defi nes a vision for river health; • analyses the current economic, social and environmental values of the river across the whole of the catchment, and assesses the threats to those values; and • provides a consistent analysis of river reaches and provides priorities and a guide to implementation and management actions. The Strategy has been developed to improve river health through hands-on riparian works. It aims to: • improve riparian land management and manage severe immediate threats and down stream impacts; • manage important wetlands, aquatic habitat condition and connectivity; • manage aquatic weeds; • maintain habitat for fl agship species; • improve management of public recreation on riverbanks; and • support community involvement in these processes. The structure of the Strategy is shown at Figure 1. It uses a rapid assessment methodology to assess river reaches throughout the catchment, and lists priority management actions for the assessed river reaches. It provides input into, and provides a sound basis for, the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA’s Catchment Action Plan, Investment Strategy and Annual Implementation Programs. This Strategy is a critical component of the NSW Government’s ongoing natural resource management reforms and will be instrumental in achieving the natural resource targets set out in the NSW State Plan. The Strategy will assist the Hawkesbury–Nepean CMA to identify riverine areas within the catchment that would benefi t from on-ground protection or rehabilitation activities. These activities will be funded primarily from joint NSW and Australian Government investment, but also potentially by other partners in natural resource management such as local government and industry.

Berowra Creek

Mulwaree River valley

4 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY VOLUME ONE VOLUME TWO recommended forriver reaches actions Rapid River Reach Rapid catchment andrivers Hawkesbury Nepean Hawkesbury Subcatchment summaries with Assessment Background andcontext Management Objectives Managing forRiver Health Management Themes River HealthStrategy Detailed resultsDetailed ofrapid river reach assessment economic values andthreats Environmental, socialand Ecological concepts -River Health Future Implementation River Healthstrategy Figure 1.Guideto the

Part 1 5 Background and context TThehe HHawkesburyawkesbury NepeanNepean CCatchmentatchment Fig. 2 6 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY • Support major irrigation industries withagricultural intheregion production industries valuedatmore majorirrigation than$1 Support • more aloneattracting NepeanRiver withthemainHawkesbury industry amajortourism Support • indeclared rivers ofthe ornearpristine Contain wilderness pristine Wollemi Wilderness area, the • theState's secondlargest oyster andprawn producing Support areas (although theoyster industry • Supply23%oftheState’s power bytheprovision ofwater for the Wallerawang andLower Portland • Supplyalmostallthereticulated water for the4.13millionpeopleliving inSydney from the • NepeanCatchment: oftheHawkesbury The rivers Macdonald. Wollondilly, Mulwaree, Tarlo, Wingecarribee, Nattai,Cox, Kowmung, Grose, Colo and Capertee, Nepean, Nepean catchment hasmany majorrivers, includingtheHawkesbury The Hawkesbury 11.2 Rivers oftheHawkesbury Nepean Australia's premier cave system, theJenolanCaves, ofcave withthehighestdiversity fauna inNew • 591fl signifi ora species ofconservation cance • muchoftheGreater BlueMountains World Area Heritage whichcontainsalmost10%ofthe • reserves. landincludes: This reserved agriculture, almosthalfofthecatchment isprotected and inover ofnationalparks 1millionhectares Bay. atBroken estuary Althoughmany oftheselandscapeshave beenaltered dueto development and to wetlands, system andariver thatfl owsfromRiver highlandfreshwater streams theHawkesbury to The region ofnaturallandscapes, from includes avariety rainforests to openwoodlands, grasslands Nepeanisalsoacatchment signifi ofbiological heritage andworld diversity The Hawkesbury cance. industry. andamajortourism industries breeding andturf coalmining, extensive horse inAustralia andsupports The catchment alsocontainsthelargest quarry water year. grows every drinking the healthofitsrivers. Nepeancatchment for The numberofpeoplethatdependontheHawkesbury Figure 2. Nepeanisacatchment ofnationalsignifiThe Hawkesbury cance, muchofwhich relies on from Turimetta Headlandto three Barrenjoey andextends nauticalmilesoutto seaasshownon includesthecoastalbeaches Nepeancatchment covers 21,400square It kilometres. The Hawkesbury 11.1 The Hawkesbury NepeanCatchment . . billion dollarsandthatsupplies muchofSydney’s fresh vegetables, fl owers, andfruit. than 10millionvisitsayear state’s Boyd and largest area, wilderness andtheNattai,Kanangara Yerranderie areas wilderness has beendevastated byanoutbreak ofQX diseaseinrecent years) power stationschemes for theSydney Metropolitan Area, including Gosford and Wyong ontheCentral Coast Warragamba, theUpperNepeanandMangrove Creek dams, themainwater supplyreservoirs South Wales. Australian vascularplantfl ora 2 1

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Part 1 7 Rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean 1.2.1 Condition of the Hawkesbury Nepean rivers Although there have been some gains in recent years, the health of the Hawkesbury Nepean river system continues to be under signifi cant pressure from a range of catchment impacts. Loss of natural fl ows in the rivers combined with signifi cant land use change in the catchments is contributing to the declining health and biodiversity of the rivers. Changed water and land uses have resulted in the rivers having increased levels of nutrients and toxins, and altered habitats that support fewer species of native aquatic biota. River behaviour has been signifi cantly changed by dams and weirs built during the twentieth century for water supply purposes. (Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum, 2001:12) Climatic conditions, such as drought, have exacerbated the problems of fl ows and river health. The pressures on the river are experienced diff erently in the area of the catchment above the major drinking water storages (Avon, Cataract, Cordeaux and Upper Nepean dams and Lake Burragorang), referred to as the ‘upper’ catchment, and those sections of the catchment that are downstream of these dams, referred to as the ‘lower’ catchment. In both upper and lower catchments the signifi cant areas in protected reserves and water supply catchments contribute a great deal to river health, but impacts from the remainder of the catchment are suffi cient to threaten the health of the river as a whole. Land use in the headwaters of the protected areas provides challenges to maintaining rivers in those areas in good health.

Creek bank erosion near Marulan Coxs River

In the upper catchment, the Sydney Catchment Authority’s 2003 audit indicates a range of issues contributing to signifi cant areas of the 16,000 square kilometres drinking water catchment being in poor condition. Indicators of reduced ecosystem health include: water quality that has the potential to aff ect ecosystem health, ‘low’ AusRivAs ratings in 41% of sampled locations, and poor native fi sh species diversity and high proportion of exotic fi sh above water supply dams. In the upper catchment, factors that have led to poor condition include little or no native riparian vegetation especially in the Upper Wollondilly, Upper Cox’s and Mulwaree subcatchments, extensive erosion, extraction for town water supply and irrigation and weed invasion of riparian lands, especially willows (Department of Environment and Conservation, 2003). In the lower catchment, the health of the Hawkesbury Nepean River is in decline in many areas. Signs of this include increasing frequency of toxic algal blooms, excessive growth of aquatic weeds, reduced numbers of native fi sh, contamination of oyster beds, eroded river banks and siltation. (Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum, 2001).

8 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 2002). Panelchanges inprecipitation trends Expert onEnvironmental of+5 to -15%(Independent Flows, may causeatemperatureglobal warming 0.55and1.27degreees between rise by2030,withassociated the implicationsinto strategies For andmanagementactivities. Nepean, example, intheHawkesbury management andwillposeasignifi cantissue withthe to integrateresponsibility for decision-makers inwater resourceClimate changeisanothermajorchallengewhichintroducing uncertainty issuefor theregion. asthepriority salinity overtake emerging issuesinthecatchment andinmany placeswill for agriculture landuses. andurban Acidic and sodicsoilsare isalsoasignifiSalinity cant issue inthe region andisahazard pestplantsandweeds. • recognition andprotection ofculturalheritage, and • theneedfor sustainabledevelopment • protecting thesoil • rehabilitating andsustainingnative conserving, • improving healthandaquaticbiodiversity river • system NepeanRiver aplacethat theHawkesbury making • water withtheenvironment sharing people andbetween • in thecatchment:health ofrivers onthe orindirectly directly challenges, allofwhichimpact Nepean listssignifi cantnatural resource management Card ontheHawkesbury The Australian Report Government nearPenrithNepean River vegetation andterrestrial biodiversity people cansafely swiminandenjoy Bank erosion creek andaquaticweeds onSouth

Part 1 9 Rivers of the Hawkesbury Nepean 11.3.3 WhatWhat isis RiverRiver Health?Health? 1.3.1 Ecological concepts A river or waterway is defi ned as the channel, the riparian zone including fl oodplains and fl oodplain wetlands, and the estuary. River health can be defi ned as: ‘The ability of the aquatic ecosystem to support and maintain key ecological processes and a community of organisms with a species composition, diversity, and functional organisation as comparable as possible to that of undisturbed habitats within the region’ [Schofi eld and Davies 1996 after Karr and Dudley 1981:55-68]. An ecologically healthy river will have fl ow regimes, water quality and channel characteristics such that: • in the river and riparian zone, the majority of plant and animal species are native and the presence of exotic species is not a signifi cant threat to the ecological integrity of the system; • natural ecosystem processes are maintained; • major natural habitat features are represented and are maintained over time; Healthy saltmarsh on Berowra Creek • native riparian vegetation communities exist sustainably for the majority of the river’s length; • native fi sh and other fauna can move and migrate up and down the river; • linkages between river and fl oodplain and associated wetlands are able to maintain ecological processes; • natural linkages with the sea or terminal lakes are maintained; and • associated estuaries and terminal lake systems are productive ecosystems (State of Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 2002:2).

Prawn and squid trawling on the Hawkesbury River is the second Glenbrook Creek entering the Nepean River above Penrith largest estuarine trawl industry in NSW

10 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY Long Swamp ontheheadwaters oftheCoxs River • Everyone is working together groups, –individuals, community isworking businessandgovernment Everyone • andnaturalprocesses ofthecatchment Thebeauty are protected whileproviding for social and • valueswithinthecatchment respected, are Theculturalheritage acknowledged, maintainedand • Diverse native plantsandanimalswithproductive andprotective vegetation andsoilinecological • andgroundwater Clean,healthy -suitablefor andfor surface continuedproductivity peopleto use • to balanceenvironmental, economic andsocialvalues, includes: The visionofahealthy, productive anddiverse catchment system, andriver whichrecognises theneed 1.3.2 The visionfor therivers oftheHawkesbury Nepean ecologically healthy rivers. strategies andprograms towards for characteristics healthcanaim to river thoseof move waterways andthatitisunrealisticriver canbereturned thatrivers to to anearnaturalstate. expect However, ofthesesocialandeconomicvaluesthe to recognisesocial activity, theimportance itisimportant highly modifi essentialeconomicand Nepeanwhichsupports edcatchment suchastheHawkesbury canbeecologically functioning. orlossofriver Rivers a biodiversity healthy withoutbeingpristine. In will involve away from movingthewaterways anecologically healthy state –eitherthrough lossof managementinthechannel.and direct Many management ofriver socialandeconomicdrivers onfl andassociated impacts byhumanactivity healthisimpacted River ow, landuseinthecatchment (NSW Department ofLandand (NSW Department Water 2003:10and2003a:13). Conservation, economic needs enhanced balance and enjoy

11 Part 1 What is river health? 1.3.3 Managing for river health The health of the Hawkesbury Nepean River is the responsibility of many organisations with individual charters and responsibilities. The complexity of the institutional arrangements for managing the river and its health has long been an issue for discussion. New South Wales State Government Natural resource management in the catchment is undertaken by a number of NSW State Government agencies and corporations. Examples of those that play a major role in river health include the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Planning. Activities of these departments include, but are by no means limited to, management of: water licensing, rivers and foreshores, biodiversity and threatened species, water quality, fi sheries and fi sh habitat and the impacts of urban development, industry and agriculture. The complexity of management for river health is demonstrated by the example of water management which involves the Departments listed as well as others. The NSW Water Management Act 2000 focuses on improving the health of waterways through sustainable management of water resources and provision of water for the environment. The Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum made recommendations on these matters as they apply to the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment to the New South Wales Government in March 2004 (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, 2004). The 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan is the NSW Government’s plan to secure Sydney’s water needs in drought and for the future and contains a range of strategies and actions to balance supply and demand and to improve catchment and river health (Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, 2006). The future water sharing plan for the Sydney Region being developed under the provisions of NSW Water Management Act 2000 will provide for the establishment and implementation of formal rules for protecting environmental water i.e. water that is required to meet fundamental ecosystem needs. The water sharing plan will also provide for the sharing of water between users. The Sydney Catchment Authority is responsible for the management and protection of Sydney’s drinking water supply catchments, including assistance with upgrading sewage treatment plants in the upper catchment, and is the supplier of bulk water for metropolitan water needs. The Sustaining the Catchments Regional Plan, to be gazetted in 2006, will ensure that new development in the catchments of Sydney’s major drinking water reservoirs will not impact negatively on water quality in those reservoirs. Sydney Water Corporation is responsible for the provision of drinking water to more than four million people in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains and provision of wastewater services to the metropolitan region. This includes management of 18 major sewage treatment plants which discharge into the waterways of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment. Sydney Water is also responsible for water recycling and re-use programs. Figure 3 shows the NSW Government Water Targets and the framework for achieving river health including target setting, development of plans and strategies and implementation State-wide targets form the basis of regional targets in Catchment Action Plans developed by Catchment Management Authorities and are set by the Natural Resources Commission (NSW Natural Resources Commission, 2005a). The State Water Management Outcomes Plan (Order made under the Water Management Act 2000 in December 2002) sets the over-arching policy context, targets and strategic outcomes for the management of the State’s water sources and promotes the objects of the Act and its water management principles for 5 years from its gazettal.

12 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY

Figure 3. Diagrammatic representation of the relationship of the River Health Strategy to government water planning processes

13 Part 1 What is river health? Australian Government To help address environmental and sustainable agriculture issues across Australia, the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments have united to fund and deliver the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. The Australian Government has committed $12.9 million to the HNCMA during 2004-05 to 2006-07 to tackle its environmental and natural resource issues. These initiatives are based on partnerships and agreements with the New South Wales Government, which has matched the Australian Government investment through cash or in-kind support.

Partnerships between governments, HNCMA and landholders are producing on-ground results

Local Government Twenty one Councils across the catchment provide major local area and environmental management through a wide range of legislation, policy and programs including: • Local environment planning and development control • Implementation of the environment management provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 and other key legislation • Stormwater management • Levying and expenditure of special rates and levies for stormwater and environmental works • Management of signifi cant areas of public reserves in riparian areas • Development, promotion and support of community initiatives such as landcare and bushcare • Environmental monitoring, such as water quality monitoring and environmental reporting in State of Environment Reports • Environmental data collection such as vegetation mapping. Some Councils in the catchment also have responsibility for provision of drinking water (e.g. Gosford Wyong Water Supply Authority) and for management of sewage treatment.

14 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY improvements intheselarger issues. and for water for ensuring theenvironment. by isunderpinned actions Investment inon-ground the outcomes from thisinvestment includingpolicies andtargets for improving water quality through the HNCMA. for Government frameworks water managementare essentialfor optimising protection oftheoutcomes oftheinvestment innaturalresource managementthatisundertaken The investment includeprotection andenhancementofcommercial principles andsocialactivity, and of wetlands.the functioning remnant vegetation, catchment management,controlling aquaticandterrestrial weeds, andprotecting vegetation), protection ofendangered andonthebanks (riparian species,waterways fencing of inthe biodiversity healthbeingprotected include river The managementprinciples bynearintact • Investment principles. andbenefi principles Management ts;and • 2005). These are: andtargetsthe HNCMA for insettingpriorities HealthintheCatchment theRiver Plan Action (HNCMA, Catchment Plan. Action NepeanDraft targets containedintheHawkesbury Two willguide principles to meetregionally actions on-ground interpreted state to wide undertake The HNCMA hasacharter Authority 1.3.4 The role oftheHawkesbury NepeanCatchment Management large scalestaff sponsorship, suchas funding andin-kind for support ‘care’ e.g. activities through environment. alsoprovide Corporations provide for greater protection ofthe requirements andalsoto voluntarily management systems to meetlegislated catchment implementenvironmental inthe Many corporations private andprivateIndustry sector and restoration oftheenvironment. role for advocacy theprotection powerful peak environmental associationsplay a Streamwatch. organisations, Many community issue-specifi clobby groups and regional orstate-wide groupsCommunity play asignifi cant role inenvironmental through monitoring programs suchas to andhabitat,reduce improve stock stability andhuman damageto riverbank riverbanks. manage erosion andreduce revegetate inputsto lands waterways, sedimentandnutrient riparian onpubliclands. Signifiworking river cant healthoutcomes are achieved that: through activities There are over 100landcare lands, onprivate groups withatleastasmany bushcare working groups community, landcare andbushcare associationsinthecatchment. groups andpeaknon-government There are environmental extensive ‘care’ byindividuallandholders, beingundertaken activities Community andnon-government sector plantingdays. Corporate volunteers ataplantingday

15 Part 1 What is river health? 11.4.4 RiverRiver HealthHealth StrategyStrategy DDevelopmentevelopment 1.4.1 Methods The development of the Strategy has involved a wide variety of stakeholders: from state and local government to local river user and environment groups. This section provides a summary of the methods used, the key data and information sources informing the Strategy and the diff erent phases and processes of its development. The major phases of the strategy are shown in Figure 4.

PLANNING AND BUILDING ON EXISTING MODELS

DATA SEARCH AND NEEDS ANALYSIS

DATA COLLECTION

ESTABLISHMENT OF MANAGEMENT THEMES AND PRIORITIES COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY

ACTION PLANNING

Figure 4. Phases in the development of the River Health Strategy (adapted from the East Gippsland River Health Strategy)

16 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY Tuglow reach River –cutandfitype llchannel of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean of Streams intheHawkesbury thus for managementrecommendations: reach andsubcatchment. The Two spatialunitswere asthebasisfor selected theassessmentofcatchment’s and waterways Determining spatial units modifi NepeanCatchment withsomeimportant The methodwasadapted to theHawkesbury cations. areas ofprotecting before highquality principles Management rehabilitating more degraded areas • for reaches allowsestablishmentofpriorities Assessmentaction ofwaterway • through theidentifi to riverhealthisundertaken Anassessmentofrisk cationofenvironmental, social • reaches isbasedonriver Analysisandaction • Some ofthemajorstrengths ofthe Healthmodelinclude: River Victorian Nepeansetting.Strategy asbeingsuitablefor adaptationto theHawkesbury ofapproaches andidentifi ofavariety and weaknesses edtheapproach oftheRiver Health Victorian options available for developing aregional healthstrategy. river The HNCMA considered thestrengths The process search beganwithanextensive to identifyandexaminetherangeofmethods Planning andbuildingonexisting models subcatchments of the Hawkesbury Nepeanare showninFiguresubcatchments oftheHawkesbury 6. subcatchments whichprovide thecatchment andlongitudinalfor context thereaches. The The Strategy inFigure 5. e.g. Nepeanplusareach codee.g. ‘R5’. The tag, e.g. NepeanR5,canbeusedto locate any reach in the are shown inFigure 5.Eachreach hasaunique identifi name cationtagmadeupofthewaterway studywereCategorisation reduced to 255reaches for theStrategy. The reaches assessed intheStrategy ratings, theywere combinedinto thisway asingle reach. the400reaches In oftheGeomorphic other, potential shared recovery conditionandriver andhadthesameriver characteristics, geomorphic spatial unitsoftheStrategy, withsomemodifitworiver cations:where reaches were adjacent to each Water 2001a). Conservation, reachesThe river defi nedinthestudy were usedasthebasis for the nal fi and characteristics based ongeomorphic ‘behaviour’ (NewSouth ofLandand Wales Department are thebasisfor (State of ofNaturalResources action andEnvironment, 2002a). Department Victoria, and economicvaluesof, andthreats to, riverreaches Stressed Rivers Assessment Report for the Hawkesbury NepeanCatchment fortheHawkesbury Report Stressed Assessment Rivers

defiriverRiver nes Styles reaches bytheapplicationofa Hawkesbury River reach – partly confi reach River –partly Hawkesbury type nedchannel Geomorphic Categorisation defi nes30 hydrological TM analysis

17 Part 1 River Health Strategy developement RRiveriver rreacheseaches assessedassessed inin thethe RRiveriver HealthHealth StrategyStrategy ((adaptedadapted ffromrom tthehe GGeomorphiceomorphic CategorisationCategorisation ofof StreamsStreams inin thethe Fig. 5 HHawkesburyawkesbury NepeanNepean Catchment)Catchment)

18 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HHawkesburyawkesbury NepeanNepean ssubcatchmentsubcatchments ((adaptedadapted ffromrom tthehe SStressedtressed RRiversivers AAssessmentssessment RReporteport forfor thethe Fig. 6 HHawkesburyawkesbury NepeanNepean Catchment)Catchment)

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 19 Data search and needs analysis The Victorian Strategy is based on a state-wide river health assessment of numerous indicators which is quantifi ed in a compositeIndex of Stream Condition rating. There is no similar quantitative and comprehensive catchment wide data set for river health in the Hawkesbury Nepean. Identifi cation of existing river health assessments and/or ways of generating assessments within the time and resource constraints of the Strategy was a critical step in the process. The Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment study provided a key dataset for the Strategy with ratings on ‘river condition’ and ‘recovery potential’. These key concepts of the study are described in the text box ‘Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams … a key dataset’.

Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean …. a Key Dataset The Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment is currently the most comprehensive, catchment wide river condition assessment for the Hawkesbury Nepean and has therefore been a key dataset in the development of the River Health Strategy. It is based on an application of the River StylesTM framework developed through Macquarie University in conjunction with the former New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation. The study identifi ed the variety of river channel types (River Category) across the catchment described by their ‘behaviour’ and divided the main waterways into a series of ‘reaches’ based on these channel types. The method also assessed the condition of individual river reaches (River Condition) and the potential for them to recover following disturbance (Recovery Potential), as defi ned below. These are key concepts informing the reach assessment in the Health River Strategy: River Category Waterways have been categorised on the basis of their geomorphic character and behaviour and divided into reaches based on the category or channel type. Thirteen of these ‘River Categories’ were identifi ed in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment: headwater, gorge, confi ned, partly confi ned, bank confi ned, tidal, meandering lateral, meandering vertical, cut and fi ll, chain of ponds, fl oodout, channel wetlands, reservoirs. River Condition The assessment of river condition incorporated a range of available data on historical changes, fl oodplain linkages, sediment mobility, human disturbance and changes to river character. Based on these assessments river reaches were classifi ed into one of four condition categories: near intact, good condition, moderate condition, and degraded condition. Recovery Potential The concept of recovery potential refers to the ability of a river reach to respond to disturbance or to “bounce back” following disturbance. Reaches with a high recovery potential are generally those that have minimal impact from human modifi cations and do not require intervention for rehabilitation. River reaches with low recovery potential are generally characterised by extensively altered geomorphic conditions and poor vegetation associations. Impacts of reservoirs and weirs can also limit the recovery potential. Reaches are also often degraded as a result of poor upstream condition. For further information refer to Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment (New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation, 2001a)

20 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY threats reaches. ofriver panels were combinedto generate theassessmentofenvironmental, socialandeconomicvalues through a`rapidassessmentprocess oflocal devisedfor thepurpose. Datasetsandknowledge ‘expert’ healthassessment forriver theStrategy. oflocal addition,theknowledge In ‘expert’ panelswastapped Where available, datafrom existingandcurrent catchment wide studieswere usedasthebasisfor Table 1. HealthStrategyValues NepeanRiver andthreats assessedintheHawkesbury catchment. threats for thisStrategy, detailedin Table 1,refl ofdataandthephysical natureavailability ects ofthe specifi Nepean(adapted from the cally for theHawkesbury model). Victorian The nal list ofvaluesand fi gathered from catchment widedatasetsorgenerated byarapidassessmentprocess wasdeveloped With theassistanceofa Technical Panel alistofthevaluesof, andthreats to, healththatcouldbe river ihHrtg uoenWater –aquaticsystem quality Water –primary quality Exotic terrestrial pestanimal Heritage–European community Flow regulation Signifi Heritage–Indigenous signifi Sites ofenvironmental Town water drinking Commercial fi Macro-invertebrates Tourism Public recreation access Fish potential Scenic quality Geomorphic Recovery condition River Swimming Riverbed condition Riverbank condition categories orthreatenedRare river Wetlands ofsignifi niomna au oilVleEooi au Threats Economic Value Recreational fi Value Social vegetation Riparian Environmental Value cance cant vegetation cneMtrbaigRpra nrsrcueExotic plantspecies(riparian infrastructure Riparian Motor boating cance lghpseisFlow modifi Exotic plantspecies(aquatic Flagship species Landusevalue Non-motor boating sigIrgto ae upyChannelmodifi water supply Irrigation shing sigDamaging access to theriparian shing woody weeds) Urban landuse recreation protection zone species weeds) recreation Water –secondary quality cation /extraction cation

21 Part 1 River Health Strategy developement The datasets and information sources for environmental values and threats are shown in Table 2.

Environmental Datasets Stakeholders

Riparian Vegetation Aerial photography Technical Panel

Riparian Wetlands of Signifi cance Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, Australian Government, Sydney Regional Environment Plan 20 maps Department of Planning

Sites of Environmental Signifi cance Register of National Estate Australian Government

Rare or Threatened River Categories Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Department of Natural Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment (GCS) Resources (DNR)

Riverbank Condition Riparian Channel and Environmental Inventory DNR (RCE) – Pressure Biota Habitat Study of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment (PBH)

Riverbed Condition RCE – PBH DNR

Near Intact or Good River Condition GCS DNR

River Recovery Potential GCS DNR

Fish Pressure Biota Habitat Study of the Hawkesbury DNR Nepean Catchment

Macroinvertebrate Pressure Biota Habitat Study of the Hawkesbury DNR Nepean Catchment

Signifi cant Vegetation Community P5Ma state-wide vegetation mapping DNR, Department of Environment & Conservation

Barriers to Fish DPI Weirs Inventory Database DPI (Fisheries)

Channel Modifi cation Local Expert Panel Assessment Technical Panel

Flow Extraction Stressed Rivers Assessment of the Hawkesbury DNR Nepean Catchment

Water Quality – Aquatic System Protection Surface Water Quality Assessment of DNR Hawkesbury Nepean (SWQ Assessment of HN)

Water Quality – Primary Recreation SWQ Assessment of HN DNR

Water Quality – Secondary Recreation SWQ Assessment of HN DNR

Exotic Plant Species (Woody Riparian Vegetation) Local Expert Panel Assessment Technical Panel

Exotic Plant Species (Aquatic) Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum HNRMF Report Technical Panel Local Expert Panel Assessment

Exotic Terrestrial Animal Species Local Expert Panel Assessment Technical Panel

Damaging access API & Local Expert Panel Assessment Technical Panel

Urban land use API & Surface Water Quality Assessment DNR Local Councils

Table 2. Key datasets and information sources for environmental value and threat data

22 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY summarised andgroupedsummarised bysubcatchment andpresented inAppendix4.2 Volume 2. reach.river The specifi c recommendations thathave beendeveloped river for individual reaches are valuesofreaches allowedkey the development ofasuite ofmanagement recommendations for each reaches. uponindividualriver of threats impacting This information alongwiththeidentifi cationofthe information bytherapidassessmentprocessDetailed wascollected onthe specifi cnature anddegree planning Action management. For eachmanagementtheme, thedataonvaluesandthreats for hasbeenusedtosetbroad priorities NepeanCatchment Plan, Action anditstargetsfor andactions. thecatchment, theHawkesbury Strategy presented inPart 2. They alsolinkcloselywiththenatural resource managementregional plan HNCMA’s healthactivities. river These managementthemesform Health oftheRiver thestructure The rapidassessmentresults were managementthemesfor usedas abasisfor the identifyingkey Prioritisation andestablishment of management themes database hasbeeninterrogated to produce statistics andmapsfor theStrategy. information system, ArcGIS, to create aspatialdatabaseto anddisplay store, theinformation. query This All ratingsandinformation wascollated collected into withageographic anExcel Databaseandlinked concern’.community The level ofassessmentisshowninFigure 7. ofreaches werethat themajority fullyassessedwithasmallnumber ofreaches designated as ‘creeks of reaches althoughtheywere wasalsocollected theotherreaches. notassessedinfulllike The result was values andthreats associated withtheseriver concern”community andinformation onthe of Streams identifi edinthe valuesorissuesthathadnotbeen important panels identifirivers orstreams ed with also recorded. anumberofcasesthe In information aboutvaluesandthreats was reach.individual river Additional qualitative by thepanelswere recorded for each 4.4 in Volume 2). The ratingsgenerated use ofareach ratingscale(seeAppendix inthe values andthreats andbypractice withdefifamiliarisation nitionsofthe therapidassessment,by undertake The panelmemberswere trainedto over fi intherapid reach assessmentpanels. people participated fty reaches. panelswere Seven aspecifi establishedwitheachonecovering c region ofthecatchment and reacheson socialandeconomicvaluesofindividualriver andalsofor information onthethreats to valuesandthreats.information onanumberofkey thecasefor information This wasparticularly HNCMA developed therapidassessmentprocess specifi cally ofgenerating for thepurpose required rapid assessmentofvaluesandthreats where there wereby undertaking norelevant datasets. The local staff in Table 2andalsoinvolved theestablishmentofpanelslocal ‘experts’ and community comprising phaseoftheStrategy involvedThe datacollection boththeuseofexistingdatasetssuchasthoselisted Data collection from Councils andstate agencies. government The panelsprovided muchoftheinformation . These were identifi edas “creeks of Geomorphic Categorisation

23 Part 1 River Health Strategy developement LLevelevel ooff aassessmentssessment ooff rriveriver rreacheseaches Fig. 7

24 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY the Standard are given below. Resources Commission ataminimumoffi ExamplesofhowtheStrategy complieswith ve year intervals. bytheNatural oftheHNCMAStrategy wasreviewed audit.Repeatauditswillbeundertaken aspart AuthoritiesCatchment inNSWwere Management audited againsttheStandard in2005andthe the seven componentsoftheStandard. collaboration innaturalresource managementactivities. The Strategy hasbeendeveloped inlinewith provides guidanceonachievinghighlevels oftransparency, accountability, and technical validity atalllevelsmanagement authorities ofoperations–from planningto strategy to action. The Standard the strategy were presented ofpublicmeetingsinNovember to 2005. asecondseries ina HNCMAwas reported newsletter componentsof to distributed over onethousandpeopleandkey staff technical thirty withafurther experts community by onehundred andnineteen thirty people. Over 2004. people/organisations ofpublicmeetingsinOctober andataseries The meetingswere attended localpapers, mailto direct inkey over threeto through thecatchment hundred advertising community organisations and independentscientists. The development oftheStrategy wasformally announced and federal Sydney stakeholders, government Water andenvironment peakindustry Corporation, HealthForumA River brought fi together over twenty organisationskey includinglocal, ve state Collaboration andCommunity Engagement The Strategy operates atthree scalesaccording to required outcomes: Application ofappropriate scale through asystematic panels. andtransparent rapidassessment process using localexpert have beenadhered to throughout theStrategy. to fi Newknowledge llidentifi edgapswas created and threats. Well establishedandecologically andtechnically credible management ofriver principles date catchment widedatasetsandaprocess for information gathering aboutawiderangeofvalues panelmadeupofstate technical andlocalgovernment staff An advisory Use ofbestavailable information seewww.nrc.nsw.gov.auManagement, The NSWNaturalResources Commission hasdeveloped aStandard for NaturalResource Quality 1.4.2 Applying thestandard for qualitynatural resource management provides asoundbasisfor thedevelopment ofmore plans. detailedriver identifi cation ofasuiteto address ofmanagement actions thespecifi cissuesoperatingona reach Reach scale: subcatchment plansthatintegrate andsoilmanagement. riverhealth,biodiversity Subcatchment scale: forpriorities investment. required andscopeofmanagementactions catchment andbroad widedecisionsaboutthetype Catchment scale: from local and state governments participated intherapidassessmentpanels. from localandstate participated governments Strategy The draft reaches defi have and river styles nedonthebasisof distinguishablecharacteristics consistent information across thewholecatchment provides thebasisfor subcatchment analysisofassessedreaches provides thebasisfor developing . The Standard specifi esmatters for considerationbycatchment provided adviceonup-to-

25 Part 1 River Health Strategy developement Risk management A number of risks to the completion of the strategy were identifi ed: lack of catchment wide reliable data, management of information, adequate staff resources, engagement in the process by appropriately knowledgeable community and technical participants. Reliability and consistency of reach assessments was ensured through training of panels and consistent staff management of the process. Community engagement was ensured through an open and transparent process, appropriate training, pro-active measures to inform and locate appropriate people.

Monitoring and evaluation The application of the rapid assessment process has been reviewed and tested throughout the process. The raw data from the reach assessments was provided in full to rapid assessment panel members for review and feedback. Internal staff workshops provided evaluation at various stages in the development of the Strategy. Feedback received has been incorporated.

Information management All rapid assessment raw data is stored and accessible for review and further use and the information has been transferred to an ArcGIS attribute table and maps have been created to provide a spatial representation of the rapid assessment information and also of the decisions that have been based upon it. An adaptive management approach has been a cornerstone of the Strategy, as demonstrated by: • focus on outcomes – consistent review of usefulness of tools and results from their use • integration of information from diff erent sources into decision-making • recognition of a diverse group of stakeholders and that environmental and other processes are uncertain • reliance on stakeholder participation • recognition of the need to examine economic, social and environmental values as well as biophysical issues • coordination and fl exibility to allow response to diff erent conditions, knowledge and technological advances

Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management The Strategy complies with the seven components of the NSW Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management: Use of best available information Application of appropriate scale Collaboration Community Engagement Risk management Monitoring and evaluation Information management Details available at: www.nrc.nsw.gov.au

26 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY The Strategy to targets achieve activities thebestresult possible. maximize theeff health. onriver the potentially oftheseactivities degrading impacts The HNCMA alsoseeksto The investment aimto protect principles andenhanceeconomicsocialactivity, whileminimising inputs, altered hydrology andweed andpestspeciesinvasion. ofwetlands,functioning andreducing suchasincreased andsediment catchment impacts nutrient andonthebanks, protecting banksfrom river waterways damage, protecting orenhancingthe improving health.For river example, inthe biodiversity maintainingorrecovering nearintact areThe managementprinciples basedon established ecological for principles maintainingand HealthStrategy.River andinvestmentManagement form principles thebasisofbothCatchment Plan Action andthe to theachievement oftheriverhealthtargetsmanagement activity intheplan. Nepeancatchment. river health,biodiversity, andsoillandoftheHawkesbury The Strategy directs Catchment Plan Action Nepean Draft andthisStrategy. The Catchment Plan Action setstargets for Two documentsguidetheHNCMA for itsactivities indetermining health:theHawkesbury river 22.1 Principles for management Themesfor managementaction • for Objectives management • Principles for managementandinvestment • made upof: 2providesPart thestrategic for direction theHNCMA’s for river activities healthandis . PART 2-Astrategy for river health 1

P r i ectiveness of government and community investment andcommunity ofgovernment ectiveness directed through itsprograms. n c i p l e s

f o r

m a n a g e m e n t

27 Part 2 Principles for management 22.2.2 OObjectivesbjectives forfor managementmanagement

The Strategy combines the HNCMA management and investment principles in four key management objectives: 1. Maintain the condition of reaches in natural or near natural condition 2. Maintain and improve reaches in good condition 3. Improve the environmental condition in the remaining reaches 4. Achieve the highest environmental and community gain for the resources

Tarlo River Restoration project site Wheeny Creek north-west of Windsor

Maintain the condition of reaches in natural or near natural condition Reaches in natural or near natural condition, referred to as ‘near intact’, have very high inherent ecological value and are also of high value in terms of protection and maintenance of the ecological functioning of the river system as a whole. These reaches are largely public lands conserved either in National Parks or drinking water catchments. They will require continued management from the relevant land managers to protect against degrading pressures such as high frequency bushfi re, pest plant and animal invasion, unauthorized damaging access from stock and humans, and occasionally impacts from development or other land use change. There is also a small number of near intact reaches outside these reserved lands that are a high priority for protection and HNCMA action. Being only minimally changed by human impacts, it is cost eff ective to invest eff ort and resources in managing the low level threats operating on these reaches and to advocate for protection through the planning system or conservation agreements.

28 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY other partners. order toIn protect investment works, inon-ground its investment theHNCMA with mustco-ordinate through itsCatchment Plan Action have, orare proposing, reaches. considerableinvestment incertain andthe HNCMA Industries ofPrimary ofNatural Resources,Planning, theDepartment theDepartment theSydney ofEnvironment of Catchment Authority, andConservation, Department theDepartment throughThe NSWGovernment itsMetropolitan Water bythe Plan, andprograms undertaken HNCMA. activity, investment andprotection andcommunity ofthegovernment thatismanagedbythe eff The HNCMA iscommitted to achievingthebestpossiblenaturalresource outcomes from fundsand resources invested Achieve thehighestenvironmental andcommunity gainfor the decisions madeaccordingly. potential shouldberecognisedon recovery andinvestment isessentialto optimiseoutcomes.and practices Limitations Use ofbestavailable dataandsoundmanagementprinciples but doretain thepotential for environmental improvements. These reaches willnever return to anearnaturalcondition water fl owinginthese reaches may besignifi cantlyaltered. balance, andthetiming, variability, temperature of and quantity modifi edwith radical changes to erosional anddepositional modifi orhard edbysoft engineering, channeldynamicsare vegetation iscleared,much oftheriparian banksare frequently from thenearnaturalconditionissignifi cant. For example, have thesereaches higheconomicandsocialvalue. change In fl oodplainlandsorbycatchment activities. These reaches often modifiextensively and riparian edbylanduseintheadjacent Reaches withmoderate and degraded conditionhave been remaining reaches Improve theenvironmental condition inthe eff improvements intheconditionofthesereaches ishighly dueto theirpotential to recover It function. degradation. targeted Action tofurther minorto moderate levels ofthreat willachieve substantial As withnearnaturalstreams, thesereaches require to timelyandstrategic prevent intervention inputs. may beimproved andrecovery bytributary reservoirs The conditionofthesereaches byaltered may beimpacted hydrologic conditionsfrom dams, weirs or and behaviour thatbefi tstheirsetting, and retain highecological diversity. Reaches in ‘good’ conditionare thosethathave relatively vegetation associations, intact have character Maintain andimprove reaches ingoodcondition ort thatisinvested.ort Principles includeprotection andenhancementofcommercial andsocial toective invest reaches inriver in ‘good’ condition.

29 Part 2 Objectives for management 22.3.3 TThemeshemes forfor managementmanagement aactionction The Strategy is based on eight management themes arising from the rapid assessment of the key values and threats operating on Hawkesbury Nepean river reaches. These themes represent the major groups of action for the HNCMA to improve river health. Threats that can be mitigated through HNCMA investment and partnerships form the basis of the eight key management themes. The Management Themes are: 1. Improving the management of riparian lands 2. Managing severe immediate threats and severe downstream impacts 3. Managing important wetlands 4. Improving aquatic habitat condition and connectivity 5. Aquatic weeds management 6. Improving management of public recreation on riverbanks 7. Supporting the community to take action 8. Managing habitat for fl agship species All themes have an on-ground component that can be delivered through HNCMA programs or through collaborative projects with other stakeholders. The Management Themes link closely with targets in the Hawkesbury Nepean Draft Catchment Action Plan, a ten year, regional natural resource management plan. The plan sets targets and guides management in three sections: river health, biodiversity and soil and land The Catchment Action Plan seeks to maximise the contribution that the HNCMA can make towards improving the health of the Hawkesbury Nepean. The River Health Strategy has been developed in parallel with the Catchment Action Plan. The Strategy is a key tool guiding the implementation of the river health section of the Plan through the eight management themes. Table 3 lists the eight management themes of the Strategy and shows their relationship to the targets in the Catchment Action Plan.

River Health Strategy Management Themes Catchment Action Plan Targets

Management Theme 1 Riparian lands Improving the management of riparian lands

Management Theme 2 Riparian weeds Managing severe immediate threats and severe downstream impacts Soil erosion

Management Theme 3 Wetlands Managing important wetlands

Management Theme 4 In-stream habitat Aquatic habitat condition and connectivity

Management Theme 5 Aquatic weeds Aquatic weeds management

Management Theme 6 Management of public recreation areas (riparian) Improving management of riparian lands under pressure from recreation

Management Theme 7 Incentives Supporting the community to take action Education and training

Management Theme 8 Key fauna populations Managing habitat for fl agship species

Table 3. River Health Strategy management themes and Catchment Action Plan targets

30 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.4.4 TThemeheme OOne:ne: ImprovingImproving thethe mmanagementanagement ofof riparianriparian llandsands 2.4.1 Introduction River health is greatly infl uenced by the function and health of its riparian zones or lands. Riparian lands represent the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They are an important buff er to riverside land use impacts and when functioning in a near natural way contribute directly to in-stream ecosystem diversity and health. These contributions include bank stability, ecosystem shading, and the input of appropriate levels and types of nutrients, energy and habitat by contributing material to the waterway.

Riparian land is also highly productive economically and highly valued socially. Riverbank and One: Theme riparian lands

fl oodplain soils are prized for agriculture and riverside land is attractive for recreation and residential of management development. As a result riparian land is frequently under pressure for development. Clearing and modifi cations associated with development have led to signifi cant degradation of riparian zones in many areas of the Hawkesbury Nepean. Threats such as clearing and degradation of native riparian vegetation, uncontrolled stock and human access, inappropriate development and weeds have transformed many of the catchment’s riparian zones from healthily functioning ecosystems to highly degraded parts of the landscape. This has contributed signifi cantly to a decline in river health. Well established, healthy native riparian vegetation is a major contributor to healthy streams and a primary goal for restoration of our rivers. Riparian land management represents the type of community-based, on-ground environmental management works that can be achieved by landholders with the assistance of the HNCMA. Other organisations also support improved management of riparian lands. For example, in the upper catchment, the Sydney Catchment Authority has signifi cant programs; in the lower catchment the state government and Greening Australia are establishing corridors along western Sydney creeks, and some local governments also have targeted riparian lands programs. Riparian land management is only one contributing action to improving river health. Investments in this activity can be threatened if the other degrading pressures are not also addressed such as action to provide for environmental fl ows and to improve water quality.

2.4.2 River reaches Riparian land management is a key focus of the Strategy and of the river restoration projects of the HNCMA. The reach assessment in the Strategy provides for three categories of riparian lands management based on the condition of the reach. All reaches assessed as part of the Strategy have been assigned to one of three categories: • Focus on conservation • Focus on assisted regeneration • Focus on revegetation Defi nition of categories of riparian land action River reaches in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment range from those in near-intact condition with little or no threats and with a high recovery potential to those that are heavily degraded, have many threats, with little or no potential for recovery and with little or no riparian vegetation cover. The current condition of reaches is the starting point for the type and level of management required to

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 31 protect or improve condition. Each river reach was assigned a composite reach condition rating based on the river condition and recovery potential rating in the Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment, and the level of riparian vegetation cover as determined by the rapid assessment panels. This resulted in eight composite ratings. Figure 8 shows eight composite river reach conditions in the catchment. The composite condition rating of the reach determines which riparian land management category it is assigned to, as shown in Table 4.

Composite reach condition Riparian land management category

Near intact condition and good condition with very high or high recovery Not assigned a category potential and inside reserves

Near intact condition, outside reserves Focus on conservation

Good condition, very high or high recovery potential

Good condition, moderate or low recovery potential Focus on assisted regeneration

Moderate condition, moderate to good vegetation cover

Degraded condition, moderate to good vegetation cover

Moderate condition, little or no vegetation cover Focus on revegetation

Degraded condition, little or no vegetation cover

Table 4: Reach condition and riparian land management categories Near intact and good condition reaches in reserved lands Reaches in near intact condition or good condition with very high or high recovery potential inside reserved lands are excluded from the three riparian lands management categories. The majority of the “near intact” reaches in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment are in reserved lands, such as those managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (mostly National Parks) or the Sydney Catchment Authority (mostly the catchment areas of dams that provide drinking water). These ‘near intact’ river reaches are extremely valuable for the environmental, economic and social well-being of the catchment and provide a critical contribution to catchment and river health. The Strategy has identifi ed 46 reaches in ‘near intact’ condition that are wholly within reserved lands. There are some threats, usually at a quite low level, that operate on these reaches, such as weed invasion and damage from human access at road crossings, camp sites and the like. Management of bushfi res is a cyclic yet resource intensive consideration. These reaches and the threats operating on them are currently managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Sydney Catchment Authority primarily for biodiversity conservation and water quality. The provision of ongoing and adequate resources for management of these areas is essential for the maintenance of the health of the waterways in the catchment but riparian lands in these reserves are not a priority for HNCMA programs. The remaining river reaches were assigned to one of the three riparian land management categories. Assigning each reach to a category of management provides the HNCMA with a mechanism to determine the type and scale of river restoration program activities required across the whole catchment. The category is called a ‘focus’ because it does not exclude the implementation of a variety of other management actions in response to identifi ed threats. For example, the focus for reaches with little or no vegetation will be broad-scale revegetation activities, but remnants of valuable native vegetation on the reach may still be targeted for conservation.

32 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY The riparian land management category assigned to each reach in the Strategy is shown in Figure 9. A full list of the river reaches in each of the riparian land management categories is provided in Appendix 4.1 in Volume 2. A detailed discussion of each of the categories follows. Theme One: Theme riparian lands management of management

Near intact reaches contribute signifi cantly to river health

Cattle grazing on stream banks can cause erosion and contribute to nutrient levels in the waterway

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 33 CCompositeomposite rreacheach conditioncondition ooff rriveriver rreacheseaches Fig. 8

34 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY RRiparianiparian llandsands mmanagementanagement ccategoriesategories Fig. 9

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 35 Riparian land management category: Focus on CONSERVATION Management of river reaches in this category will focus primarily on conservation. Management of these reaches generally requires a low level of intervention and they are primary targets for the development and implementation of conservation agreements to protect remnant riparian vegetation and geomorphology. There are 41 reaches in this category making up a total of 631 km and 15% of total river length, see Figure 9. As shown in Table 4, the river reaches in this category are in near intact condition or good condition with very high or high recovery potential and outside reserved lands. • River reaches in ‘near-intact’ condition partly or wholly outside reserved lands This group is made up of 21 ‘near intact’ river reaches that are either partly or wholly outside the reserved lands managed by either DEC or SCA. These reaches are extremely valuable for river and catchment health yet are likely to have a range of additional and higher level threats than those in reserved lands. Maintaining “near intact” reaches in their current condition is one of the highest priorities for river and catchment health. • River reaches in ‘good’ condition with high or very high recovery potential outside reserved lands River reaches identifi ed in good condition with a high recovery potential generally have suff ered little past damage and have few if any currently degrading threats. There are 18 reaches in this condition. They are typically geomorphologically stable or in a channel recovery phase and have well established native plant communities. Some level of disturbance has taken place to the Conservation of remnant riparian vegetation helps protect river health extent that they can no longer be referred to as ‘near intact, however intervention to manage the current threats will have a positive eff ect on the reach and will improve its condition. These reaches are a high priority for management due to their ability to ‘bounce back’ or recover to a near natural state with a minor level of intervention to remove threats. These reaches are therefore a good investment for management authorities as limited funds can make a real and positive diff erence to condition and river health. In addition to these 39 reaches, two more have been added to this riparian lands management category as described below. • Reaches that are a rare river channel type in good condition with high recovery potential. European settlement and associated land use change has created signifi cant, and in some cases extreme, changes to the natural functions of the variety of river channel types across the catchment. This management principle considers river channel types as similar to biotic species or communities. The diversity of these features is called geodiversity. Much like biodiversity, the diversity of river channel types should be preserved for their intrinsic value.

36 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY In the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment there are a number of river channel types that are either naturally rare in the landscape or are particularly threatened by disturbance. These include channel wetlands, meandering lateral, meandering vertical and chain of ponds channel types and combined these make up only 9% of the catchment’s waterways. Many reaches of these less common channel type are signifi cantly degraded, so any of these channel types in the catchment that are in good condition or have a high recovery potential should be targeted for protection or rehabilitation with the aim of preserving the channel type and either maintaining or improving current condition. The specifi c management actions required will be determined by the threats that are impacting the reach. These are presented in the relevant subcatchment summary in Appendix 4.2 in Volume 2. Two of the reaches assessed in the Strategy are rare or threatened river channel types that are still in good condition with a high potential for recovery. These reaches should be given special attention for preservation and / or improvement. These reaches are listed in Appendix 4.1 in Volume 2. Theme One: Theme

Riparian land management category: Focus on ASSISTED REGENERATION riparian lands management of management Management of reaches in this category will focus on assisted regeneration. These reaches have suff ered some form of disturbance either in the past or at present. This disturbance is likely to have degraded either the geomorphology of the reach (through erosion or sedimentation) or the native vegetation of the reach (through clearing of native vegetation or the invasion of weeds). The variety of threats that contribute to this damage may include stock grazing the banks of watercourses, changes to river fl ow, degradation of water quality and so on. These reaches have a lower potential for recovery than reaches targeted for conservation, either because they have been signifi cantly degraded or because the threats that have damaged them still exist.

An engineered log-jam designed for bank protection Fencing and revegetation on the Wingecarribee River

A higher level of intervention is required to improve the condition of these reaches. This intervention focuses primarily on removing or reducing the threats that are degrading the reach and in particular threats to the remnant native vegetation on the reach – hence the term ‘assisted regeneration’. Common threats include stock or human damage to riverbanks and the invasion of weeds. Management will focus on reducing these impacts through management of stock access, or other actions such as in-stream erosion control, or bush regeneration and weed control to improve the condition of the native vegetation. These reaches still have a signifi cant cover of riparian vegetation and this is an important advantage for rehabilitation. There are 83 reaches in this category making up a total of 1384km and 34% of total river length, see Figure 9.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 37 Three groups of river reaches will be targeted for assisted regeneration: • River reaches in ‘good’ condition with moderate to low recovery potential Reaches in good condition generally have both their geomorphology and their vegetation relatively intact, however the degrading threats to the reach are either still active or have changed the system to the point where signifi cant intervention is required to return the channel to its original condition. These reaches may also be aff ected by fl ow regulation. The obstruction of natural river fl ows reduces the potential of a river channel to recover its original condition. It is unlikely that these reaches will ever return to a near natural condition but improved riparian lands management will restore signifi cant ecological values lost from the system. • River reaches in moderate condition with moderate to good riparian vegetation cover These reaches have been degraded to the point that some elements of their original function and form no longer exist. The remaining moderate to good riparian vegetation provides the potential for assisted regeneration to return some of the elements of the reaches’ original condition. • River reaches in degraded condition with moderate to good riparian vegetation cover These reaches have been degraded to the point that many elements of their original function and form no longer exist. However, the remaining moderate to good riparian vegetation provides the potential for assisted regeneration to return some of the elements of the reaches’ original condition.

Riparian land management category: Focus on REVEGETATION Many of the catchments river reaches are in a highly degraded condition as a result of a long history of disturbance from activities such as clearing of vegetation, signifi cant bank modifi cation e.g. for sand mining or agriculture, signifi cant channel modifi cation e.g. through dredging or building of weirs, road crossings. These reaches are also often aff ected by changes to the natural fl ow as a result of upstream dams or weirs or extraction of water for stock, domestic use or irrigation. Visible signs of this degradation include a lack of riparian vegetation and reaches included in this category were assessed as having between 0% to 25% vegetation cover. Other visible signs of the degradation are erosion of banks and sedimentation in the channel of the waterway. These reaches generally have a lower potential for recovery and signifi cant intervention is required to improve the health of these reaches. The riparian plant communities are unlikely to naturally regenerate in these reaches so revegetation with local indigenous plants (by planting tube stock or by direct seeding) is the most viable approach to re-establishing native vegetation cover.

Highly cleared and degraded banks are ideal for revegetation

38 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY These reaches also present opportunities for the re-establishment of in-stream habitat as there is little riparian vegetation to contribute wood to the stream. This wood is very important habitat for aquatic biota and plays a crucial role in channel stability. Re-introduction of wood (in the form of snags) can help begin the process of in-stream habitat recovery. This is discussed in the section on management for aquatic habitat condition and connectivity (section 2.7). There are 48 reaches in this category making up a total of 696km and 17% of total river length, see Figure 9. Two groups of river reaches will be targeted for revegetation and restoration: • River reaches in ‘moderate’ condition with little or no riparian vegetation These reaches have been degraded to the point that some elements of their original function and form no longer exist. Re-instating riparian vegetation cover is the most eff ective way to return some Theme One: Theme

of the elements of the reaches’ original condition. riparian lands management of management • River reaches in ‘degraded’ condition with little or no riparian vegetation These reaches have been degraded to the point that most elements of their original function and form no longer exist. Re-instating riparian vegetation cover is the most eff ective way to return some of the elements of the reaches’ original condition.

2.4.3 CMA actions and priorities There are a range of actions that can be undertaken to manage riparian lands. The Strategy details the on-ground management actions that are achievable by landholders and other HNCMA partners and that address the range of threats impacting on riparian lands. These management actions can be implemented to address the related threat on any reach, regardless of the management category assigned to it (Conservation, Assisted Regeneration, and Revegetation). Table 5 lists on-ground actions that are a direct response to threats operating on riparian lands.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 39 Management Theme - Riparian Land Management

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Action Group Activity Type supporting CAP targets

Removal / replacement of • Strategic removal / replacement of exotic vegetation from riparian zone a W,P,E exotic riparian vegetation • Professional bush regeneration to encourage natural regeneration a W • Target weed control of key emerging weeds a W • Willow control along reach a W

Revegetation with • Revegetation with indigenous local provenance vegetation for bank a W indigenous riparian stability vegetation • Revegetation with indigenous vegetation for biodiversity a W • Assess potential for natural regeneration a P, M

Management of stock • Fencing of riparian zone a W impacts on waterways • Provision of off -waterway stock watering a W • Stabilise stock crossings a W • Stabilise stock watering point a W Encourage adoption • Promote educational courses in sustainable land management • E of sustainable land • Provide incentives for sustainable land management practices a P management practices in riparian lands

Channel bed and bank • Structural bank protection works a W stabilisation structures • Structural bed protection works a W • Soft engineering for erosion control a W • Re-introduce Large Woody Debris (LWD) for channel stability a W • Stabilise vehicle crossing a W • Undertake more detailed study of geomorphic processes in reach to a P establish priorities for rehabilitation Pest animal management • Implement Best Management Principle (BMP) control of pest animals • P,I,W in riparian zone

Develop conservation • Develop agreements through CMA implementation programs a P management agreements • Encourage DEC Voluntary Conservation Agreements • I,P to protect remnant riparian vegetation

Develop reach, river or • Develop River Reach Management Plan a P sub-catchment plans • Develop sub-catchment plan for critical issues a P

Promote community • Supply Community Monitoring protocols (eg. Community Rapid • I,P,M monitoring of riparian Assessment and Monitoring CRAM Manual) and associated training works

Key to action types W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 5. Management actions for riparian lands

40 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.4.4 Link to targets The works undertaken in the riparian land management theme will directly implement three draft Catchment Action Plan targets: Management target for riparian conservation. By 2016, there is an increase of 108km of river and stream banks assessed as in ‘near intact’ and ‘good’ condition and identifi ed as being high priority for management primarily for conservation. Works undertaken in reaches in the riparian land management category “Focus on Conservation” will contribute directly to this target. Management will largely entail the development and negotiation of conservation management agreements with landholders to protect remnant riparian vegetation. Management target for riparian vegetation regeneration Theme One: Theme

By 2016, there is an increase of 225 km in the length of river and stream banks undergoing assisted riparian lands regeneration in priority riparian areas for rehabilitation and connectivity, including estuarine areas of management Works undertaken in reaches identifi ed as “Focus on Assisted Regeneration” will contribute directly to this target. Management will focus on removing threats and promoting natural regeneration through activities such as bush regeneration. Management target for riparian revegetation By 2016, 600,000 plants established through revegetation on stream / river banks in reaches that are high priority for rehabilitation (including those of high priority for bank stabilisation) to reach targets in table below: Works undertaken in reaches identifi ed as “Focus on Revegetation” will contribute directly to this target. Revegetation with local native species will be a major focus of management action in these reaches, along with management of stock and weed control.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 41 22.5.5 TThemeheme Two:Two: ManagementManagement ooff ssevereevere iimmediatemmediate tthreatshreats & ssevereevere ddownstreamownstream iimpactsmpacts

2.5.1 Introduction River reaches may be under threat from processes or activities occurring either within that reach or in reaches upstream. In some cases these threats are so severe that they warrant immediate attention and become triggers for action. These reaches are identifi ed as being under severe immediate threat (SIT). Many impacts aff ecting the health of river reaches are the result of processes happening up- stream. Where these impacts are threatening high value reaches downstream the management of these degrading processes becomes a priority. The degrading reaches are identifi ed as creating severe downstream impacts (SDI). Examples may include the downstream spread of a weed or erosion causing downstream sedimentation. Reaches causing a downstream impact degrading the value of a high value reach are a priority for management.

Bed stabilisation structure to reduce river bed erosion

42 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.5.2 River reaches The rapid assessment process identifi ed reaches where the panel considered that there were either: • severe immediate threat/s operating on the reach itself, or • reach processes that were causing severe impacts to downstream reaches. Figures 10 and 11 show the reaches where these threats are operating and the nature of the threat.

2.5.3 CMA actions and priorities The threats and impacts that can be addressed by direct HNCMA on-ground action were either weed invasion or soil and land related impacts such as those associated with erosion and sedimentation or

salinity. The rapid assessment identifi ed 24 reaches with such impacts and threats, shown in Table 6. Two: Theme

Further details about these threats to the individual reaches along with suggestions for management of management can be found in the Subcatchment Management Summaries in Appendix 4.2 in Volume 2. and impacts threats

Soil and Land Issues (Erosion and Riparian Weeds Sedimentation)

Subcatchment Reach name Subcatchment Reach name

Capertee River Capertee R2 (SDI) Grose River Grose R2 (SIT) Capertee R4 (SDI) Coco Ck R3 (SDI)

Kowmung River Hollanders R1 (SDI) Macdonald River Macdonald R2 (SIT)

Macdonald River Macdonald R2 (SDI) Mid Coxs River Jenolan R1 (SIT) Jenolan R2 (SIT) Jenolan R3 (SDI) Mid Coxs R2 (SDI)

Mulwaree River Chain of Ponds R1 (SIT) Upper Coxs River Farmers R3 (SIT) Upper Coxs R3 (SIT)

Wolgan River Wolgan R2 (SDI) (SIT) Upper Wollondilly River Fenwicks / Sooley R2 (SIT) Wolgan Trib R2 (SDI)

Wollemi Creek Gibbs R1 (SDI) Mid Coxs River Jenolan R3 (SDI) Putty R2 (SDI) Mid Coxs R2 (SDI)

Wollondilly River Paddy’s R1 (SDI) Wingecarribee River Wingecarribee R2 (SDI) (SIT) Wingecarribee R3 (SIT)

Table 6. Severe immediate threat and severe downstream impact reaches for CMA action

A range of impacts relating to water quality and quantity were also identifi ed but are generally outside the scope of HNCMA activities. These are shown in Table 7. The rapid assessment identifi ed 30 reaches with these severe immediate threats.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 43 RRiveriver rreacheseaches wwithith iidentifidentifi eded ssevereevere immediateimmediate tthreatshreats Fig. 10

44 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY RRiveriver rreacheseaches identifiidentifi eded asas hhavingaving a ssevereevere ddownstreamownstream iimpactmpact Fig. 11

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 45 Other Severe Downstream Impacts (Water quality, water quantity, urbanisation impacts etc) Subcatchment Reach name Subcatchment Reach name

Berowra Creek Berowra R1 (SDI) Mooney Mooney Ck Mooney Mooney Tidal (SIT) Berowra Tidal (SIT) Calna R1 (SDI) Colah R1 (SIT) Tunks R1 (SIT)

Cattai Creek Cattai R1 (SDI) (SIT) Nepean River Nepean R2 (SDI) Cattai R2 (SDI) (SIT) Lt Cattai R2 (SIT)

Cowan/Pittwater Cockle R1 (SDI) South Creek Eastern R2 (SDI) Cowan Tidal (SIT) South R2 (SDI) (SIT) Lovers Jump R1 (SDI) Pittwater (SIT)

Hawkesbury River Hawkesbury Nepean R1 (SDI) Upper Coxs River Farmers R3 (SDI) Farmers R4 (SDI) Pipers Flat R1 (SDI) Upper Coxs R2 (SIT) Upper Coxs R3 (SDI) Upper Coxs R4 (SIT)

HN Estuary HNER2 (SIT) Upper Nepean River Cataract R2 (SDI) (SIT) HNER3 (SIT)

Mangrove Creek Mangrove Tidal (SIT) Upper Wollondilly R Upper Wollondilly R4 (SDI)

Mid Coxs River Jenolan R3 (SIT) River Lett R2 (SDI)

Table 7. Severe immediate threat and severe downstream impact reaches for action by other agencies and organisations

46 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.5.4 Link to targets Works undertaken in this management theme will contribute to a number of draft Catchment Action Plan targets: Management target for the development of subcatchment plans targeting riparian weeds By 2016, subcatchment plans are developed and implemented for priority subcatchments with actions for targeted management of priority weeds. Reach groups to be targeted as a priority for Theme Two: Two: Theme

management of riparian weeds of management • Reaches where weeds have been identifi ed as and impacts threats posing a severe immediate threat • Reaches where weeds have been identifi ed as having a severe downstream impact Management target for soil erosion By 2016, 20,000 Ha of the catchment will be protected from soil erosion as a result of repairing the catchment by soil conservation works such as fencing, gully control Severe ersoion on the Capertee River structures, revegetation and other treatments. Management target for dryland salinity By 2016, 200 Ha of saline discharge sites have been treated and/or fenced. Areas to be targeted as a priority for protection from soil erosion through fencing, gully control structures, revegetation and other treatments: • Areas in the catchment of reaches with identifi ed severe immediate threat or severe downstream impact from sedimentation or salinity

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 47 22.6.6 TThemeheme TThree:hree: MManagementanagement ooff wwetlandsetlands 2.6.1 Introduction Wetlands play a vital role in the catchment. They reduce the impacts of fl oods, absorb pollutants and provide habitat for animals and plants. Wetlands also purify water and are important for recreational activities. They form nurseries for fi sh and other freshwater and marine life and, because of this, they are critical to the catchment’s commercial and recreational fi shing industries. Many wetlands also have associated historical signifi cance with some having high cultural value. Wetlands and wetlands communities of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment are numerous and diverse. Many are listed on national, state or regional instruments, suggesting that the wetlands of the catchment are under signifi cant stress. Wetlands are subject to a wide range of pressures in the catchment such as grazing, land clearing and fi lling, and weed invasion and the HNCMA activities will assist in managing these impacts. However, natural hydrologic processes promote optimal wetland functioning, thereby preserving signifi cant wetland values. As such, the management of wetlands often revolves around hydrologic or ecological processes that are linked to hydrology. The hydrology of wetlands is complex but many in the catchment have altered hydrology from a range of factors including reduced fl ows as a result of water impoundments, water extraction, farm dams in the individual wetland subcatchments, altered hydrology associated with urban development, and groundwater extraction. An example of the complexity is the fl oodplain wetlands of the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers. These wetlands have highly complex systems of water infl ow and outfl ow, as well as signifi cantly diff erent frequencies of connectivity with the main channel (Independent Expert Panel on Environmental Flows for the Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury Nepean and Woronora Catchments, 2003).

Wetlands are a critical part of river health 2.6.2 River reaches The Rapid Reach Assessment Process used available datasets of wetland location and considered the various instruments listing wetlands of regional, state and national importance. The available information was supplemented by the assessment panels which identifi ed the presence of wetlands not listed in these instruments, but of local importance. Figure 12 shows the reaches in the catchment that have associated wetlands and their level of signifi cance. These wetlands are categorised as locally, regionally, or nationally signifi cant. Eight wetlands in the catchment are listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia with a number of wetland communities listed as threatened on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act or the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (Table 8). Fifty four of the river reaches assessed in this strategy have wetlands associated with them.

48 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY IImportantmportant wetlandswetlands aandnd aassociationssociation withinwithin rriveriver rreacheseaches Fig. 12

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 49 Wetlands listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia

Wingecarribee Swamp Wingecarribee River subcatchment, upstream of Reservoir

Lake Bathurst / The Morass Mulwaree subcatchment. Seasonal, intermittent freshwater lakes

Long Swamp /Hanging Rock Swamp Paddy’s River subcatchment

Thirlmere Lakes Unique permanent freshwater lakes.

Longneck Lagoon Seasonal freshwater lagoon on Hawkesbury River fl oodplain

Pitt Town Lagoon Seasonal freshwater lagoon on Hawkesbury River fl oodplain

Boyd Plateau Bogs Located in shallow headwater valleys on the Boyd Plateau; Include Little Dingo Swamp, Wheengee Whungee Swamps, Little Morong Bog and Roly Whalans Swamp. All in national park

Blue Mountains Sedge Swamps Peatlands, numerous small wetlands up to 35ha. in size; ecotone between the woodland and the swamps often on steep slopes 78% of Blue Mountains Sedge Swamps within Blue Mountains NP Wetland communities listed in the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (as of Dec 05)

Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Occur on sandstone; sphagnum bogs and fens occupy wetter parts; sedge and shrub Sandstone associations occur in drier parts. Some are hanging swamps, others in natural depressions or along watercourses. Include Blue Mountains swamps, Newnes plateau swamps, Paddy’s River swamps (also known as Hanging Rock, Long, Mundego and Stingray swamps) and Wingecarribee Swamp. Wetland communities listed on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (as of Dec 05)

Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp Newnes Plateau. With decreasing altitude, Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp grades into Blue Mountains sedge swamp

Coastal Saltmarsh in the Sydney Basin Estuary, downstream of Webbs Creek. Bioregion

Montane peatlands and swamps Occurs on undulating tablelands or plateaus above 400-500 m elevation on accumulated peaty or organic-mineral sediments on poorly drained fl ats in headwaters of streams

Freshwater wetlands on coastal Includes SREP 20 freshwater wetlands such as Bushells, Pitt Town, Long Neck and fl oodplains Broadwater lagoons on the Hawkesbury Floodplain.

Maroota Sands swamp forest 2 hectares on the Maroota sandmass

Castlereagh swamp woodland community

Swamp oak fl oodplain forest Regionally signifi cant wetlands

Sydney Regional Environmental Plan Number 20 – signifi cant wetlands of the Hawkesbury Nepean river valley

Table 8. Important wetlands of the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment

50 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.6.3 CMA actions and priorities HNCMA priorities for directing investment to wetlands recognise both the signifi cance and the functioning of wetlands i.e. impacts of threats not directly associated with the wetland itself. This is refl ected in the resource condition target in the draft Catchment Action Plan which aims to understand, maintain and improve the functioning of wetlands. For some wetlands, functionality will never be fully restored e.g. an estimated 40 plus of the 159 SREP 20 fl oodplain wetlands are thought to depend on high fl ows / fl ooding in the Hawkesbury Nepean river and even under an environmental fl ow regime are thought unlikely to have functioning connectivity re-established (Independent Expert Panel on Environmental Flows for the Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury Nepean and Woronora Catchments, 2003). Others are signifi cantly impacted by surface and ground water extractions and environmental fl ows. Determination of further priorities requires assessment of wetlands of state and regional signifi cance in terms of condition, impacts, and recovery potential. The HNCMA will assess risk to investment in

wetlands posed by threats that constrain functionality, where impacts can be identifi ed. of wetlands management Theme Three: Three: Theme Relevant on-ground HNCMA wetland management activities relate to the protection and rehabilitation of wetland function through activities such as fencing, weed control and revegetation and erosion control works, as detailed in Table 9 below.

Management Theme - Riparian Wetland Management

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Activity Action Type Group supporting CAP targets

Develop action plans for • Develop action plan for priority wetland a P wetlands

Removal of exotic • Willow control in fl oodplain wetlands a W wetland vegetation • Removal of exotic vegetation from fl oodplain W wetlands a

Revegetation of wetland • Revegetate areas of wetland with indigenous a W with indigenous vegetation vegetation

Management of stock • Fence fl oodplain wetlands a W and human impacts in • Provision of off -wetland stock watering W wetlands a

Wetland erosion control • Structural works to address erosion in wetlands a W works

Wetland drainage • Remove fl oodgates to reconnect wetland with river ∙ P, W, I management channel • Block wetland drainage channels ∙ P, W, I

Key to action types W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 9. Management actions for wetlands

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 51 The highest priority for HNCMA investment is those wetlands in the catchment that are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia and that are not protected by incorporation in National Parks or as part of drinking water catchments. These include Lake Bathurst / The Morass, Long Swamp on Paddy’s River, and Longneck and Pitt Town Lagoons. A model catchment plan has been prepared by the HNCMA and Department of Environment and Conservation for Longneck Lagoon and the HNCMA will assist in implementing priority actions in the catchment. Action Plans for the remaining wetlands will identify their values and threats, set a framework to prevent further degradation and highlight opportunities to improve condition. 2.6.4 Link to targets The wetlands management theme will implement three draft Catchment Action Plan targets: Management target for wetlands of national signifi cance By 2016, action plans are developed and are being progressively implemented for wetlands of National Signifi cance outside of National Parks: Management target for protection of important wetlands By 2016, there is an increase in the area of important wetlands protected or appropriately managed through arrangements that prevent damaging access and/ or disturbance. Management target for the recovery of important wetlands By 2016, there is an increase in the area of important wetlands with a recovery potential that are enhanced / rehabilitated. HNCMA on-ground actions detailed in Table 9 will contribute to achieving these two wetland targets.

Long Swamp on the upper Coxs River

52 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.7.7 TThemeheme Four:Four: MManagementanagement ofof aquaticaquatic hhabitatabitat cconditionondition aandnd cconnectivityonnectivity 2.7.1 Introduction Aquatic habitat rehabilitation has become progressively more important in NSW as the benefi ts of natural, healthy systems for native plants and animals, fi sheries resources, the control of pollution and erosion control, and recovery of threatened species are recognised. Human activities that destroy aquatic vegetation, block channels and waterways, and disturb the balance between sediment and water fl ows in rivers and estuaries all contribute to the destruction of aquatic habitat. Theme Four: Four: Theme habitat & connectivity habitat 2.7.2 River reaches of aquatic mangement The NSW Department of Primary Industries has undertaken mapping of watercourse structures posing barriers to fi sh passage in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment (in preparation). This information has been used as the basis for the development of the Map shown in Figure 13. The Map identifi es river reaches with no barriers to fi sh passage, river reaches with artifi cial barriers that potentially interfere with fi sh passage, and river reaches with at least one barrier that Fringing vegetation and good water quality supports rich aquatic life completely blocks fi sh passage. Of the river reaches covered in this River Health Strategy: • 55 of these contained no artifi cial barriers to fi sh passage. • 62 reaches contained barriers that potentially interfere with fi sh passage, and • 30 reaches contained at least one barrier that completely blocks fi sh passage. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is the key agency for aquatic habitat protection and repair and has the lead role in rehabilitating fi sh habitat and native fi sh populations in New South Wales through its Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation Program.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 53 2.7.3 CMA action and priorities In-stream habitat is improved by integrating specifi c habitat restoration works into riparian lands programs. Some examples of these works include: • re-instatement of woody debris - maintenance of existing woody debris is supported through application of statutory controls provided for in the key threatening process listing on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act, • protection of reed beds provided for under Fisheries Management Act and Native Vegetation Act, • fencing to promote regeneration of native species on banks and in the water , • appropriate catchment action to restore / protect deep pools and riffl es; an action that also requires provision for adequate fl ows and sediment management , and • protection / restoration of other key habitat identifi ed for threatened species The HNCMA’s role as a strategic partner with DPI to assist in the protection and repair of aquatic habitat is evolving and expanding. HNCMA on-ground works in riparian lands and wetlands already provide for protection and restoration of aquatic habitat. Two other key areas of work are new to the HNCMA and are the focus of this management theme: • increasing the length of river in which fi sh have free passage; • re-instating woody debris in appropriate waterways Both will rely on strategic partnerships with the DPI (Fisheries) and other key stakeholders.

Management Theme - Aquatic Habitat Condition and Connectivity Improvement

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Activity Action Type Group supporting CAP targets

Removal of barriers to • Remove fi sh barriers to restore in-stream habitat ∙ P,I,W fi sh passage connectivity

In-stream habitat • Reinstatement of large woody debris to channel a W rehabilitation • Reinstatement of pool/riffl e sequences ∙ W • Bed works to increase habitat diversity ∙ W

Key to action W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring types a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 10. Management actions to improve aquatic habitat condition and connectivity

CMA priorities 1. Assist with removal or modifi cation of high priority in-stream barriers DPI priority barriers for removal / modifi cation in the Hawkesbury Nepean will be fi nalised in 2006. These priorities will inform the cross regional Natural Heritage Trust project “Bringing Back the Fish’” which provides funding for the implementation of this action in the fi rst three years of the Catchment Action Plan. Some important considerations when prioritising barriers for removal or modifi cation include the location of the barriers in the river system (barriers at the lower end of the system are a higher priority), tidal sites, reaches in protected areas, and those in less developed catchments.

54 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AAquaticquatic hhabitatabitat cconnectivityonnectivity onon RRiveriver HealthHealth SStrategytrategy rreacheseaches ((InformationInformation suppliedsupplied byby NNSWSW Fig. 13 DDepartmentepartment ooff PPrimaryrimary IIndustries).ndustries).

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 55 2. Re-instatement of large woody debris Re-introducing large woody debris (LWD) as part of river restoration programs may assist in re-establishing a diversity of aquatic habitats and reversing the decline of native fi sh populations. In the longer term, re- establishment of riparian vegetation is the best way to ensure a future source of woody debris for the streams and rivers, but in the shorter term re-introduction of LWD can have immediate benefi ts. It is very important to have clear objectives for re-introducing LWD and to plan and design the project carefully Woody debris are an important component of aquatic habitat and with good technical advice and to monitor the outcomes. In November 2001, the removal of large woody debris from NSW rivers and streams was listed as a key threatening process (KTP) under the Fisheries Management Act 1994. Removal of LWD from streams impacts on a key fi sh species in the catchment, the Macquarie Perch, which is listed as vulnerable on the Fisheries Management Act. As a general priority reaches with little or no riparian vegetation are a priority for re-instatement of LWD given there is little or no capacity for dead wood to fall from the riverbanks into the waterway. The initial focus for HNCMA action will be in the South Creek catchment through a partnership with Greening Australia’s River Recovery program, which aims to rehabilitate riparian vegetation and re- introduce woody debris and other components of in-stream habitat for the benefi t of native fi sh. The HNCMA will then identify priority reaches for this action in partnership with DPI. Re-introduction of woody debris is an evolving area of work within the HNCMA’s River Restoration Program.

2.7.4 Link to targets One management target in the draft Catchment Action Plan is specifi c to the improvement of in-stream habitat: By 2016 there is an increase in the length of in-stream habitat that is improved by appropriate in-stream works such as re-instatement of large woody debris and removal of barriers to fi sh passage in priority reaches.

The Hawkesbury Nepean catchment supports a wide variety of aquatic habitats

56 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.8.8 TThemeheme Five:Five: ManagementManagement ooff aaquaticquatic wweedseeds 2.8.1 Introduction A weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted. Aquatic weeds are weeds that are submerged, fl oating or growing on the margins of any water body. Certain conditions appear to favour the growth of aquatic weeds including elevated nutrient and reduced fl ow conditions. Aquatic weeds are generally very prolifi c, invasive and competitive and can have serious environmental, social and economic repercussions. Some of the more common aquatic weeds in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment include Salvinia

molesta, Egeria densa, Water Hyacinth and Ludwigia peruviana but there are many others that are well Five: Theme aquatic weeds aquatic established in various parts of the river system. There are also a large number of emerging weeds that of management at present are not strongly established but could pose a serious threat in the future. Examples of such aquatic weeds include Caleurpa taxifolia in the estuary and Senegal Tea in the lower catchment. It is diffi cult to determine which plant may become a weed in any one year as there are many factors at play including competition from other species, climate, river fl ow conditions, and nutrients. During the summer of 2003/04 the lower Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers experienced what has been described as the largest ever Salvinia molesta outbreak in temperate Australia. An aerial survey conducted in May 2004 indicated approximately 347 hectares of weed on the river and in major tributaries stretching along 88 kilometres of waterways. This outbreak caused major concern within the local community. It created disruption and loss of income to local industries such as tour boat operators, ski and caravan parks and commercial fi shers. A subsequent weed harvesting program reduced the weed infestation to a level where the weed can be managed through direct control measures such as spraying. The Hawkesbury River County Council is implementing a long term strategy of strategic control of Salvinia molesta with strategic advice from key stakeholders and is working towards control of outbreaks so that there is minimal impact on the social and economic values of these reaches. This aquatic weed outbreak was a major impetus for the development of a River Health Strategy for the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment. In the summer and autumn of 2005/2006 the government and community recognized the problem of another aquatic weed, Egeria densa. Tha New South Wales government has formed a multi-stakeholder scientifi c committee to examine the issues associated with the spread of the weed and to look at ways of improving the river’s water quality. The initiative includes resources to allow a harvester to remove some signifi cant areas ofEgeria densa from the river.

Mechanical weed harvestor at work Hawkesbury River carpeted in salvinia in 2004

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 57 2.8.2 River reaches No comprehensive dataset existed documenting the extent of aquatic weeds in the catchment. The rapid assessment panels were asked to identify which reaches of the catchment contain, or have contained aquatic weeds, what types, and how frequent their outbreaks were. The results of this are shown in Figure 14. Fifteen species of aquatic weeds were identifi ed by the panels as problem aquatic weeds in the catchment with six reaches prone to heavy infestations and 32 reaches experiencing occasional outbreaks.

2.8.3 CMA actions and priorities HNCMA catchment health actions all assist indirectly to reduce the conditions that favour outbreaks of aquatic weeds. However, in reaches that are heavily impacted by fl ow regulation and poor water quality, such as on the main stem of the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, the impact of this action will be minimal and direct control of major weeds is the only option, not only for environmental reasons but to mitigate economic and social costs associated with major weed outbreaks. Implementation of other major programs such as the NSW Governments’ initiative on Egeria densa, its environmental fl ows strategy and its major programs to reduce nutrient rich run off are the most eff ective way to manage the issue in the main stem. Specifi c HNCMA action will focus on emerging threats in reaches that are not impacted in a major way by fl ow regulation and nutrient run-off .

Management Theme - Management of Aquatic Weeds

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Activity Action Type Group supporting CAP targets

Water quantity / fl ow • Restore appropriate fl ows to reduce favourable conditions for ∙I management aquatic weed growth

Water quality / • Reduce nutrients entering waterways to reduce favourable ∙I nutrient management conditions for aquatic weed growth

Maintenance control • Aquatic weed harvesting maintenance program ∙ W of aquatic weeds in • Manage mobile aquatic weeds through mobilisation, booming and ∙ areas of common harvesting W outbreaks • Maintenance herbicide control of aquatic weeds ∙ • Off -river aquatic weed source treatment in subcatchment dams ∙ W

W

Aquatic weed • Establish a reporting procedure for community to report aquatic ∙ P education and weed outbreaks awareness programs • Establish an aquatic weed monitoring project ∙ M • Establish an aquatic weed education project ∙ E • Follow and implement relevant Aquatic Weed Management Plans ∙ P from Aquatic Weeds Taskforce • Support National Aquatic Weeds Taskforce to educate regarding the ∙ I sale of invasive plants in the aquarium industry • Implement Caulerpa Control Plan ∙ P

Support strategic a P, I partnerships and action for aquatic weed management

Key to action W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring types a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 11. Management actions for the control of aquatic weeds

58 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.8.4 Link to targets One management target in the draft Catchment Action Plain aims to reduce conditions that favour invasive species: By 2016, management actions to reduce the conditions that favour invasive plant species have been implemented through relevant river health and biodiversity actions. Theme Five: Five: Theme aquatic weeds aquatic management of management

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 59 AAquaticquatic wweedeed ppresenceresence aandnd severityseverity ofof occurrenceoccurrence oonn riverriver rreacheseaches Fig. 14 60 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.9.9 TThemeheme Six:Six: MManagementanagement ooff ppublicublic recreationrecreation sitessites onon riverbanksriverbanks 2.9.1 Introduction The many waterways of the Hawkesbury Nepean river system are highly valued for a range of recreational activities, from the smallest creek to the large waterway of the estuary at Broken Bay. Common recreational activities include swimming, fi shing and boating. Theme Six: Theme The recreational use of waterways management of management develops a close relationship to, and

ownership of, the waterway and its on riverbanks recreation health in local communities. Use of the waterways by out of area visitors contributes signifi cantly to local, regional and state economies. Despite the popularity of recreational activities on the waterways the catchment has surprisingly few public river access points. Furthermore, the degree of facilities provided at these points varies greatly and many of them are suff ering damage such as erosion due to poor access management.

2.9.2 River reaches The assessment panels rated each river reach on its value for swimming, recreational fi shing, canoeing, motor boating, and scenic quality. The results of these assessments appear in Figures A7-A11 in Appendix 4.3 in Volume 2. The assessment identifi ed all known public recreation river access points and rated the level and type of usage and the degree of facilities provided. These are shown in Figure 15. Further information was collected on damaging access to the riparian zone associated with human access to the public riverbank recreation sites (see Figure A16 in Appendix 4.3 in Volume 2). • 57 of the assessed river reaches (38%) were identifi ed as being used for swimming • 67 of the assessed river reaches (45%) were identifi ed as being used for recreational fi shing • 49 of the assessed river reaches (33%) do not have any public access points On numerous reaches, the level of recreation use is extremely high with the threat of the river being ‘loved to death’ and the access and associated activities contributing to environmental degradation, especially along riverbanks. For example, Pittwater is renowned as the most heavily moored waterway in the state of New South Wales. Many Hawkesbury Nepean waterways in the peri-urban areas of Sydney absorb the impact of the recreation needs of a large urban population. In rural areas, recreation impacts on waterways are frequently exacerbated by having limited areas in public ownership with relatively few sites providing to the needs of the local communities.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 61 PPublicublic recreationrecreation riverbankriverbank ssitesites oonn riverriver rreacheseaches Fig. 15 62 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.9.3 CMA actions and priorities HNCMA on-ground riparian lands actions can improve management of the environmental assets of public recreation sites on riverbanks. These are listed in detail in Table 12.

Management Theme - Maintenance of Recreational / Social Values

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Activity Action Type Group supporting CAP targets

Manage human • Construction of appropriate human access points a W impacts at public • Rehabilitate human access erosion sites a W recreation river access • Devise a vegetation management plan for localised a P, W points and along sites of disturbance associated with access points

foreshores • Ensure adequate signage, litter management, and ∙ P,I,E,W Six: Theme education of value of reach for recreational users management of management • Develop and implement a Boating Management ∙ P Plan • Enforce relevant legislation to prevent inappropriate ∙ P, I on riverbanks recreation foreshore disturbance (e.g. vegetation clearance; excavation; structures)

Maintenance of • Establish a recreational water quality monitoring ∙ M recreational values program – recreational water • Implement relevant strategies to improve water ∙ M quality quality

Key to action W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring types a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 12. Actions for better management of public recreation sites on riverbanks

Passive recreation activities in particular depend on the environmental values of the waterways being maintained. As a particular subset of riparian lands management, the HNCMA will invest in management of pressures in public recreation access areas to assist in maintaining environmental values of high use reaches. The key principle for HNCMA investment in this area will be equitable distribution to catchment communities and will be delivered to public recreation sites outside reserved lands. The HNCMA would be aiming to achieve a set of best practice management principles and design for access points, and would be seeking to establish demonstration sites with associated public awareness and Damage of a saltmarsh area in the estuary due to recreational pressures educational actions. This will most often require partnerships with local government.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 63 Priorities for reaches with high public recreation value will be determined according to social equity principles i.e. sub-regional communities will each receive assistance with managing a popular recreation site of importance to that community. Steps to be undertaken: • Identify land tenure (public, most often local government) • Identify or assist in development of an appropriate Plan of Management. In the case of local government, the HNCMA may consider sharing the cost of the development of a specifi c Plan of Management to expand on the Council’s generic Plans of Management. • HNCMA investment available to assist with best practice management of riparian lands management actions

2.9.4 Link to target One target in the draft Catchment Action Plan is specifi c to this theme: Management target for best practice for public recreation on riverbanks By 2016, 10 existing public passive recreation river access areas (one per year) (currently high pressure / low management) are managed under an endorsed management plan using current recommended / best practice riparian lands management principles with associated strategies for implementation.

64 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.10.10 TThemeheme SSeven:even: SSupportingupporting thethe ccommunityommunity toto ttakeake aactionction 2.10.1 Introduction The HNCMA recognises the critical role played by community action in achieving river health and environmental improvement through the implementation of on-ground works. Setting spatial priorities for management and action can be achieved in the strategy stage however these priorities can be meaningless if there is no supporting

community interest and activity to translate the Seven: Theme

priorities into on-ground action. Community- actioncommunity based environmental activity is the major delivery mechanism of on-ground works, especially when supported by HNCMA or other funding programs who can provide technical assistance, access to funds and on-going support to landholders and community groups.

2.10.2 River reaches The rapid assessment process identifi ed reaches where community environment activity was currently occurring, and also those reaches where there was no known community environment activity. This is shown in Figure 16. It was found that 76 of the total assessed reaches have currently active community-based environment activity occurring. This constitutes 51% of all reaches assessed. The remaining 49% of reaches have no recorded activity.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 65 2.10.3 CMA actions and priorities The HNCMA is committed to continued support to existing community action through all its programs. Community Support Offi cers are dedicated to the task and implementation program staff also provide signifi cant community support. Activities within the HNCMA programs that support ongoing action include: • Staff offi cers with responsibilities to support community throughout the sub-regions of the catchment • Provision of technical advice • Site assessment and reporting • Assistance with project planning • Provision of information about managing threats such as weeds • Funding to landholders to undertake works • Support to landcare groups with insurance, and fi rst aid equipment • Field days and training for on-ground works (often in partnership with local government, other agencies and NGOs), see Table 13. Priority reaches for maintaining and increasing community activity are those that are identifi ed as having existing community activity – incentives and other staff support is required to maintain and improve community activity in these areas, and possibly expand to address identifi ed threats. Information about threats that would be better addressed with increased community support was collected from the rapid assessment panels. Where there is no current activity the HNCMA will target these areas to encourage the development of interest and activity. Priority reaches for establishing community activity are those reaches that have been identifi ed as having none or little community activity.

Management Theme - Maintain and Increase Community Capacity

Management Action Specifi c Management Actions CMA Activity Action Type Group supporting CAP targets

Increase community • HNCMA Community Support Offi cers supported to a P capacity for deliver community capacity outcomes and foster environmental community activity restoration • Training, education, awareness and support to a increase community capacity • HNCMA Incentive Programs expand to cover reach a

Maintain existing • Provision of incentives to community to implement a P, W community based environmental activities environment activity • HNCMA Community Support Offi cers supported to a deliver community capacity outcomes and foster community activity

Key to action W: Works on ground P: Planning I: Institutional E: Education M: Monitoring types a CMA activity • Complementary activity (non CMA lead)

Table 13. Management actions to maintain and increase community capacity

66 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.10.4 Link to targets Two targets in the draft Catchment Action Plan are relevant to support for existing activity and initiatives to develop new action: Management target for incentives By 2007, appropriate incentive programs are in place to support achievement of the targets, and By 2011, these incentive programs have been evaluated and reviewed to improve their ability to meet the targets, and appropriate partnerships are in place to support achievement of the targets supporting Management target for education and Seven: Theme training actioncommunity Appropriate education and training opportunities are fostered, brokered and developed to support achievement of the targets.

Long-stem planting by Westpac staff on the Hawkesbury River at Sackville

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 67 CCommunityommunity environmentenvironment aactivityctivity inin riparianriparian llandsands Fig. 16 68 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 22.11.11 ThemeTheme EEight:ight: MManagementanagement ooff hhabitatabitat fforor fl agshipagship sspeciespecies 2.11.1 Introduction Flagship or ‘icon’ species are those considered by the community to be specially associated with a particular location or river reach. These may be individual fl ora or fauna species or whole communities. The habitat values associated with the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area have also been identifi ed by the rapid assessment process as being ‘iconic’. Flagship or ‘icon’ species of importance to community, particularly but not exclusively fauna species, are an extremely powerful trigger for developing a more general understanding of biodiversity and

the habitat needs of the species. In a number of cases specifi c environmental programs have been species agship Theme Eight: Eight: Theme initiated with their major focus being the protection on restoration of habitat for an individual ‘fl agship’ species. An example includes the Regent Honeyeater Recovery Program which carries out large scale for fl revegetation in areas of key habitat for this species in the Capertee Valley and other locations. of habitat management

Regent honeyeater project planting day in the Capertee Valley

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 69 FFlagshiplagship sspeciespecies associatedassociated wwithith riverriver rreacheseaches Fig. 17 70 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2.11.2 River reaches The rapid assessment panels contributed high quality information on this social value, providing a snapshot of the incredible diversity of species that are recognised as being ‘iconic’ to the health or identity of a river reach. Figure 17 shows the reaches that associate with one or a number of fl agship species. The rapid assessment process identifi ed: • 20 river reaches (or 13% of the total assessed reaches) with specifi c environmental programs tied to fl agship species • 103 river reaches (or 69% of the total assessed reaches) of river reaches with at least one fl agship species.

The list of identifi ed fl agship species by reach is included in Appendix 4.5 in Volume 2. species agship Theme Eight: Eight: Theme for fl

2.11.3 CMA actions and priorities of habitat management This management theme will seek to use community based information to support maintenance of signifi cant populations of fauna and fl ora in the catchment. It will also involve the development of programs based on those species that are important to local communities. Icon species important within subcatchments will be incorporated into the integrated subcatchment plans as they are developed.

2.11.4 Link to targets One management target in the draft Catchment Action Plan focuses on key fauna populations: By 2016, species and populations of fauna and fl ora that are locally important will be identifi ed through subcatchment action plans.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 71 22.12.12 A SSpecialpecial Case:Case: TheThe CataractCataract RiverRiver Subsidence as a result of long wall mining has led to signifi cant bed-cracking in the Cataract River downstream of Broughton’s Pass Weir to the confl uence with the Nepean River, called Cataract Reach 2. The impacts of the subsidence fi rst came to the public attention in 1994, when local residents reported that the Cataract River downstream of the long wall mining operations had ‘gone dry’. Large pools which in previous drought years had retained water were found to be rapidly drying up. In August 1998 a Mining Wardens hearing concluded that eighty percent of the drying of the river was the result of long wall mining, while twenty percent was due to drought and lack of water releases from Broughton’s Pass Weir. Surface water was being lost to the groundwater system through cracks in the river bed. In 1998 a study of the Cataract River found pools aff ected by long wall mining draining at a rate of 12 cm/day, signifi cantly higher than was occurring in pools in a well sealed channel unaff ected by bed cracking (DIPNR, 2003). The extent of the threat posed to a river by bed-cracking required a special approach by the rapid assessment panel to the rating of the Cataract River. It was agreed that pre- and post- bed cracking ratings of the values and threats of the Cataract River would be an appropriate way to capture the change in the river, and the potential changes in other rivers should similar impacts occur. The panel’s pre- and post-bed cracking ratings are contained in Table 14. Detailed defi nitions and rating scales are provided in Appendix 4.4 in Volume 2. The rapid assessment panel raised the issue of river bed cracking in the Bargo and Nepean river systems. The panel noted that there is existing bed cracking in sections of the Bargo River (downstream of the weir) and that there is a potential threat of river bed cracking in other rivers in the catchment as a result of the impact of subsidence from long wall mining, for example in the Nepean River. Subsidence as a result of long wall mining is listed as a key threatening process on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

72 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC THREATS

Riparian vegetation 5 Recreational 4‡1 Irrigation water 2‡1 Channel 1‡5 fi shing supply modifi cation Cracking

Wetlands of 1 Motor boating / 1 Riparian infra: 5 Exotic plant 1 - wild signifi cance water skiing gas pipeline species riparian olive, - woody privet

Rare or threatened 1 Non-motor 4‡1 Land use value 1 Exotic plant 1 river category boating species - aquatic

Riverbank 3‡1 Swimming 3‡1 Tourism 1 Exotic terrestrial 1 condition pest animals ‘3’ = PBH rating

Riverbed condition 3‡1 Scenic quality 2 Commercial 1 Damaging access 1 2.12 ‘3’ = PBH rating fi shing

River condition 5‡1 Public recreation 1 Town drinking 1 Barriers to 5 access water ecosystem River Cataract The functioning

Geomorphic 2‡1 Flagship species 3‡1 Flow regulation 5 recovery potential or species of River dependent fauna – drinking water local signifi cance species signifi cantly dams impacted

Fish 5‡1 Heritage - 3 Flow modifi cation 5 ‘5’ = PBH rating European Upper Canal System (from / extraction ‘1’ based on lack of BP Weir) fl ow & poor WQ

Macro 3‡1 Heritage - 0 WQ – Aquatic ?‡5 invertebrates Indigenous system protection ‘1’ based on lack of Low dissolved fl ow & poor WQ oxygen ‘3’ = PBH rating

Sites of 2 WQ – Primary ?‡5 environmental Upper Nepean catchment recreation signifi cance Iron bacterial growth, discoloration

Signifi cant 3 WQ – Secondary ?‡5 vegetation Warm temperate layered forest recreation community in gorge Iron bacterial growth

Table 14. Pre- and post - bed cracking ratings for the Cataract River, Reach R2

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 73 PART 3 - Implementation

33.1.1 SScalescales ooff iimplementationmplementation Catchment Scale use of Information At a catchment scale, the Strategy will help to identify high value subcatchments that are making a valuable contribution to river health. These subcatchments will generally be those with a high proportion of its river reaches in a good or near-intact condition with low recorded threats. Opportunities to make further improvements in these subcatchments or to prevent further degradation are important and thus a high priority. Some principles for identifying important subcatchments for management attention may include: • Subcatchments in mostly near intact condition with the remaining reaches requiring assisted regeneration works. • Unregulated streams and subcatchments generally have a higher potential for recovery and are therefore a more secure investment for HNCMA implementation projects. • Subcatchments above World Heritage Area are also a priority if processes are degrading the condition of the World Heritage Area below. Examples include the subcatchments of Wollemi Creek, the Capertee River and the Wolgan River, each of which is contributing sediment or weeds to the World Heritage Area below. Other catchment scale opportunities can be identifi ed such as the preservation of rare or threatened river channel types that are functioning naturally. The “Chain of Ponds” in the Upper Coxs River (Upper Coxs River subcatchment) and the “Channel Wetland” in Wheeny Creek (Colo River subcatchment) are rare examples of these river channel types in good condition with a high recovery potential, therefore presenting an important priority for management on a catchment scale.

Subcatchment scale use of information – identifying opportunities for management in a subcatchment context Subcatchments are eff ective units for environmental management. The smaller the hydrological drainage unit the easier it becomes to recognise processes occurring and to implement management to address threats in a systematic fashion. The HNCMA will be using the information in the River Health Strategy to develop subcatchment management plans to guide the activities of its on-ground river health projects. Building on the Riparian Land Management Theme of the River Health Strategy, these subcatchment plans will: • Identify opportunities for conservation, assisted regeneration and revegetation of river reaches; • Allow some prioritisation of management within subcatchments based on the strategy’s objectives of maintaining the condition of natural or near natural reaches, maintaining and improving good condition reaches, improving the environmental condition in the remaining reaches, and achieving the highest environmental and community gain for the resources invested. • Identify river reaches to be targeted by the HNCMA’s on-ground river health programs. The HNCMA will eventually be developing Integrated Subcatchment Management Action Plans which will have three major components; River Health actions (informed by the River Health Strategy and implemented by the CMA River Restoration Project), Biodiversity actions (implemented by the CMA Bushland Conservation Project), and Soil and Land actions (implemented by the Catchment Protection Scheme and Section 10 Soil Conservation Projects).

74 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY River reach scale use of information – developing management actions for river reaches Following the identifi cation of opportunities for management detailed Reach Management Plans will be developed refl ecting the riparian land management focus of the reach (i.e. focus on conservation, assisted regeneration, or revegetation), and will cover the eight management themes of the River Health Strategy. Reach Management Plans focus particularly on managing or removing the threats to individual reaches identifi ed in the Rapid Reach Assessment Process. The Strategy has made broad Reach Management Recommendations for each of the reaches (see Appendix 4.2 in Volume 2). Aerial photography interpretation, the application of local data and information, and local knowledge will build on these generic recommendations to produce the Reach Management Plans.

Property based scale use of information – developing riparian management plans for individual properties As with all community-based environmental activities willing participation of landholders is the over- riding factor in achieving on-ground outcomes. Target reaches can be selected for action however community uptake of recommendations is crucial. The HNCMA’s River Restoration Project (see Box) works with willing landholders to develop riverbank management plans. These are property based plans that Part 3 include detailed management actions addressing specifi c property based threats Implementation and processes. The information required to develop these management plans is collected on site at the property level by HNCMA River Restoration Project staff . Management Agreements are established between landholders and the HNCMA for funded projects, detailing HNCMA and landholder contributions to projects along with maintenance schedules and commitments.

The River Restoration Project – An example of Riparian Land Management The Hawkesbury Nepean River Restoration Project aims to protect and rehabilitate river and creek banks throughout the catchment. It works with landholders to develop and implement plans of management for riparian zones to protect and improve native vegetation, remove weeds, revegetate riverbanks and manage stock access through fencing and the provision of off -river stock watering. Landholders receive grants and ongoing support from the HNCMA to implement the on- ground works The Project has worked with over 450 landholders and each year extends in to new areas of the catchment. The Project works across a variety of landscapes protecting good condition rivers and rehabilitating degraded ones. Its activities in the future will be strongly infl uenced by the recommendations of the River Health Strategy.

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 75 33.2.2 NNepeanepean ssubcatchmentubcatchment ccasease sstudytudy Implementation of the management objectives and investment priorities of the Strategy will require more detailed consideration of a range of impacts on river health that are outside of the responsibilities of the HNCMA. The Nepean subcatchment case study will examine how those impacts can be considered when making investment decisions and how HNCMA programs can be best integrated with those of other stakeholders to optimise river health outcomes. The case study will focus on the Nepean River, upstream of Wallacia and examine all of the other government, local government, and community river-related activity and targets. The case study will consider and integrate responses to a range of issues including: • Stormwater • Environmental fl ows • Licensing of sewage treatment plants • On-site sewage management • Water recycling • Demand management • Water sharing plan for the Sydney Region • Licensing of water extractions, and • Weir management. The HNCMA will participate in some of these activities, but is not the lead agency. The Nepean River from below the Metropolitan Dams to the junction of the Warragamba River with the Nepean is considered an appropriate reach for the case study for a range of reasons. It contains urban and rural lands, irrigated areas, new housing development, national parks, coal mining, a sewage treatment plant, weirs, pristine areas, and popular recreational areas. The river has health problems caused by low fl ow, weir impoundments, degraded channels and nutrients. Nevertheless, it has high levels of public recreation use and access and is seen as part of the heritage of the local communities. This section of the Nepean encompasses Wollondilly and Camden local government areas, both of which have invested in river health. The HNCMA River Health Strategy has identifi ed this section of the Nepean River as a priority area for assisted regeneration of the riparian lands. The 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan includes a commitment to environmental fl ows to restore river health with the fi rst stage currently being implemented. Environmental fl ow releases from the Avon Dam in the Upper Nepean catchment are the fi rst priority in a planned future program of releases from the other Upper Nepean dams and Warragamba Dam. As part of WaterPlan21, Sydney Water is planning to upgrade the West Camden sewage treatment plant which will enable high quality treated wastewater (recycled water) from the plant to be used on farming enterprises. The future Greater Metropolitan Region Water Sharing Plan will address the challenge of sharing limited water resources and fi nding a balance for the competing demands for water in the greater Sydney region. It will consider all water user needs - the requirements of households, business, industry and agriculture - while providing water for the health of all rivers which provide water to the greater metropolitan region, including those of the Hawkesbury Nepean. All these actions combine to make this section of the river an ideal focus area for the case study.

76 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY The HNCMA will explore the potential for partnerships in undertaking the case study. The case study will be conducted in two phases. A desk-top study will identify the various programs and processes impacting on the river and the barriers to, and opportunities for, improving the return on investment. The second phase will identify changes, where possible, to policy and practices that would support greater productivity for government investment. The study will provide advice on monitoring the eff ectiveness of policies and programs within an integrated framework so that duplication and redundancy in monitoring processes are minimized. The case study will explore the benefi ts of integrating investments of the Authority with other government programs through complementary and cooperative projects. It will identify barriers to success and ways of establishing priorities and changes to programs to maximise benefi ts. The HNCMA will use the results of the study to assist in the establishment and refi nement of priorities, targets and actions for its on-ground actions. Part 3 Implementation

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 77 References

Australian Government (2004) Hawkesbury Nepean Report Card Australian Government Canberra Available online at www.nrm.gov.au/state/nsw/hawkesbury-nepean/publications/report-card/index.html Environment Australia (2001) Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia Third Edition Department of Environment and Heritage Canberra Available online at www.deh.gov.au/water/wetlands/database/ Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority (2005) Hawkesbury Nepean Draft Catchment Action Plan 2006 – 2015 Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Available online at www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/ Independent Expert Panel on Environmental Flows for the Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury Nepean and Woronora catchments (2002) Some possible implications of global warming on the Hawkesbury Nepean Report to the Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Sydney Independent Expert Panel on Environmental Flows for the Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury Nepean and Woronora catchments (2003) Regionally signifi cant wetlands and environmental fl ows. Report to the Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Sydney New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2003) Audit of the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment. Report to the Minister for the Environment NSW State Government Department of Environment and Conservation Sydney Available online at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/water/sydneycatchmentaudit.htm New South Wales Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Hawkesbury Nepean River Management Forum (2004) Water and Sydney’s Future. Balancing the values of our rivers and economy Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Sydney Available online at www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au/publications/index.shtml New South Wales Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2003) Hydrological and water quality assessment of the Cataract River; June 1999 to October 2002. Implications for the management of longwall coal mining Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Sydney Available online at www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/regions/sydney/cataractriver.html New South Wales Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2006) Water for Life 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Sydney Available online at www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation (1999) Stressed Rivers Assessment Report Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation Sydney New South Wales summary available online at www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/water/wr/pdfs/stressedrivers.pdf New South Wales Department of Land & Water Conservation (2001a) Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Department of Land & Water Conservation Sydney New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation (2001b) Surface Water Quality Assessment of the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment 1995-1999 NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation Sydney Available online at www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/water/swqa/index.html New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation (2003) Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Warragamba Catchment. Also known as the Warragamba Catchment Blueprint Department of Land and Water Conservation Sydney Available online at www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/cmb/blueprints/pdf/warragamba_blueprint.pdf New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation (2003a) Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Hawkesbury Lower Nepean Catchment. Also known as the Hawkesbury Lower Nepean Catchment Blueprint Department of Land and Water Conservation Sydney Available online at www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/cmb/blueprints/pdf/hawkesbury_lower_nepean_blueprint.pdf New South Wales Department of Urban Aff airs and Planning (1996) Signifi cant wetlands of the Hawkesbury Nepean river valley. A study prepared by P&J Smith Ecological Consultants Department of Planning Sydney

78 HAWKESBURY NEPEAN CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY New South Wales Government (2002) State Water Management Outcomes Plan New South Wales Parliament Sydney Available online at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au New South Wales Natural Resources Commission (2005) Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management Natural Resources Commission Sydney Available online at www.nrc.nsw.gov.au New South Wales Natural Resources Commission (2005a) Recommendations State-wide standard and targets Natural Resources Commission Sydney Available online at www.nrc.nsw.gov.au Rutherford, Ian D., Jerie, Kathryn & March, Nicholas (2000) A Rehabilitation Manual for Australian Streams Volume 1 Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology and Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation Canberra Available online at www.rivers.gov.au/publicat/rehabmanual.htm Schofi eld, N.J. & Davies, P.E. (1996) Measuring the health of our rivers Water May/June 1996, 39-43 as quoted on the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage River Health web site which can be viewed online at www.deh.gov.au/water/rivers/monitoring.html#defi ne State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2002) Victorian River Health Strategy Fact Sheet: Understanding River Health State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Melbourne Available online at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm and enter River Health Strategy in the site search engine State of Victoria , Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2002a) Victorian River Health Strategy State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Melbourne Available online at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm and enter River Health Strategy in the site search engine Tindall, D. et.al. (2005) Native vegetation map report series. No. 4. Version 2.2 NSW Dept of Environment and Conservation and NSW Dept of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney. West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (2004) River Health Strategy West Gippsland Catchment Public Exposure Draft March 2004 West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Traralgon Available online at http://www.wgcma.vic.gov.au/ Acronyms CAP Catchment Action Plan CMA Catchment Management Authority DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DNR Department of Natural Resources DPI Department of Primary Industries GCS Geomorphic Categorisation of Streams in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment MAT Management action target NSW New South Wales HNCMA Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority RRAP Rapid reach assessment process STP Sewerage treatment plant

HAWKESBURY NEPEAN RIVER HEALTH STRATEGY 79