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East Gippsland Regional Context

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East Gippsland Regional Context East Gippsland Regional Context East Gippsland REGIONAL CONTEXT Area Population 2.1 million hectares approx. 45,000 Agriculture: 17% of catchment is private land, mostly used for grazing, and some irrigated horticulture and dairy. Natural features: Snowy River National Park, Errinundra National Park, Croajingolong National Park, Coopracambra National Park, Cape Howe Marine National Park. Major waterways: Gippsland Lakes (Ramsar listed), Snowy River, Mitchell River, Tambo River, Bemm River and Sydenham Inlet. Indigenous heritage: Native Title for much of the Gippsland Region is held by the Gunaikurnai people. Traditional Owners include the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation. Source: EGCMA, 2013 Benedore River Estuary. Photo: EGCMA 88 Catchment Condition and Management Report 2017 Report Card East Gippsland REPORT CARD BIODIVERSITY Tree cover WATER Streamflow COMMUNITY Participation 100 300 East Gippsland Mitchell 90 Snowy 2013-14 7,019 80 250 Tambo Mitchell Tambo 70 200 60 Snowy 2014-15 6,483 50 150 East Gippsland 40 30 100 2015-16 3,183 20 50 10 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 0 0 Number of attendees 1988 1989 1991 1992 1995 1998 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Average annual percentage (%) tree cover for the East Gippsland Basin streamflow (%) compared to long-term average. Community participation in CMA engagement events. region 1988-2016. Source: Van Dijk and Summers, 2016 Source: Victorian Water Accounts Source: Victorian Catchment Management Authorities, 2014, 2015, 2017 0 201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420022000199819951992199119891988 %01 LAND Exposed soil WATERWAYS Stream condition COASTS Vegetation retention 60 Excellent 53 Lakes Victoria and 80 50 King Scenario 1 Good 27 40 Moderate 17 Lakes Victoria and 100 30 King Scenario 2 Poor 2 %01 %01 20 Very poor 0.4 East Gippsland Inlets 85 10 Insufficient data 0 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 20 40 60 80 100 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Stream condition % length Retention of mangroves and other coastal marsh % Percentage (%) Dryland area with 30–100% bare soils (higher risk of Index of Stream Condition 2013 summary for the East Gippsland Estimated total retention (%) of Mangroves and Other Coastal Marsh erosion) in March, 2008-16. Sources: DEDJTR, 2017a; EnSym; Guerschman et al., 2015 region. Source: DEPI, 2013b, p. 72 from pre-1750 to ~2008. Source: Sinclair and Boon, 2012 %01 %01 Catchment Condition and Management Report 2017 89 East Gippsland Assessment ASSESSMENT OF CATCHMENT CONDITION LAND COASTS The East Gippsland region has almost negligible risk of erosion from The extent of saltmarsh in Lakes Victoria and King have all been bare soils in dryland production areas over the last nine years. This influenced by the artificial opening of these systems to the Southern is largely due to relatively high average annual rainfall, varying from Ocean. Increases in salinity may have increased saltmarsh extent 600 mm to 1,000 mm across public land in the catchment. The East over and above naturally-occurring saltmarsh. Thus two scenarios Gippsland CMA reports that there is no significant evidence of poor were assessed, with Scenario 1 based on extensive pre-European condition for its soils (EGCMA, 2016). distribution, and Scenario 2 on more limited pre-European distribution (Sinclair and Boon, 2012). WATER The East Gippsland coast is protected by an extensive network of According to the last index of stream condition benchmark conducted national parks, coastal parks, marine national parks, and a marine in 2010 (DEPI, 2013b), almost three quarters (70%) of stream reaches sanctuary (EGCMA, 2016). The CMA reports that the coast is in a assessed are in excellent or good condition. A very small proportion stable condition. (2.4%) of river reaches, on the Snowy and Mitchell basins, are in poor or very poor condition, mostly due to limited vegetation width. Basin COMMUNITY streamflow was high in 2011-12 and 2014-15. Community participation has slightly declined over three years. The East Gippsland CMA reports improved condition of riparian However, the reduction in community participation is due to the CMA sites, based on their application of the works monitoring method undertaking a more targeted approach to community engagement (EGCMA, 2016). and having more one on one discussions with community members (EGCMA, 2016). BIODIVERSITY The top three community concerns about environmental health relate The East Gippsland region has widespread tree cover (85%), as to feral animals (92% of respondents), invasive weeds (77%), and approximately 83% of the region is public land held in state forests and declining numbers of native fish (57%); all considered a problem by national parks. The East Gippsland CMA assessed biodiversity in the respondents (Schirmer et al., 2016). region as remaining stable through 2015-16, with small gains in habitat enhancement (EGCMA, 2016). 90 Catchment Condition and Management Report 2017 Case Study East Gippsland CASE STUDY Enhancing soil health through better management: the Topsoils project LOCATION: East Gippsland The project has sampled soil and plant data over nearly 100,000 hectares of farming land in East Gippsland, or PARTICIPANTS: East Gippsland CMA, Department of Economic approximately 25% of total farmland in the region. This includes Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, East Gippsland information on soil type, pH, chemical elements, salinity and organic Landcare Network, Far East Victoria Landcare, Greening Australia, matter. Over 200 farmers were involved in soil sampling. Southern Farming Systems, and Snowy River Interstate Landcare Committee. Funded by the National Landcare Programme. Farmers were also asked about their soil management attitudes and practices as part of the project. The results from the OBJECTIVES: To support farmers in managing soils by identifying questionnaire, as well as soil and plant data, were used to develop soil health factors that limit production, and to work in partnership three demonstration sites and a training program for farmers. with farmers to improve soil management practices. The demonstration sites were opened to the public in 2016, in Photo: EGCMA Soil health is a key regional management priority in the East combination with workshops on assessing soil condition, and how Gippsland region. The East Gippsland CMA has adopted a regional this is affected by farm management practices. “This project combines biophysical strategic approach towards maintaining soil health, with a long-term science about soil characteristics with This project combines biophysical science about soil characteristics objective of “[Maintaining]…the productive values and stability of with social science about farmer attitudes and practices to enable social science about farmer attitudes agricultural land and soils” (EGCMA, 2013, p. 31), and short-term more targeted management practices. The project aims to provide and practices to enable more targeted objective of supporting best practice management and assessing further training and have 10,000 hectares of land under improved management practices. The project the viability of agricultural land. aims to provide further training and management practices by 2018. With this in mind, the CMAs Topsoils project is a multi-partner have 10,000 hectares of land under The CMA also hopes that there will be long-term, sustainable regional project to benchmark current soil condition, soil fertility improved management practices change in soil management by farmers in the region. The training and farming practices. by 2018.” program and demonstration site field days have generated a good understanding of the differences in soils across the region. It is not yet clear whether these extension activities have led to changes in soil management practices. Catchment Condition and Management Report 2017 91.
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