i Rivers Monitoring and Evaluation Plan V1.0 2020 Contents Acknowledgement to Country ................................................................................................ 1 Contributors ........................................................................................................................... 1 Abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 Background and context ........................................................................................................ 3 About the Rivers MEP ............................................................................................................. 7 Part A: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................... 18 Habitat ................................................................................................................................. 24 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 29 Engaged communities .......................................................................................................... 45 Community places ................................................................................................................ 54 Water for the environment ................................................................................................... 62 Water quality ....................................................................................................................... 69 Stormwater .......................................................................................................................... 80 PART B: KEY VALUES SURVELLIENCE MONITORING – RIVERS ............................................. 91 Using eDNA to monitor key values ....................................................................................... 97 Using Habitat Suitability Models in evaluation ................................................................... 102 Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................................................ 104 Fish .................................................................................................................................... 114 Platypus ............................................................................................................................. 124 Birds .................................................................................................................................. 136 Frogs .................................................................................................................................. 141 Vegetation .......................................................................................................................... 143 Recreation, Community Connection, Amenity ..................................................................... 147 Part C: WATERWAY CONDITIONS MONITORING – RIVERS ................................................. 151 Condition - Vegetation Quality ........................................................................................... 155 Condition - Vegetation Extent ............................................................................................ 165 ii Rivers Monitoring and Evaluation Plan V1.0 2020 Condition - Physical Form ................................................................................................... 169 Condition - Instream connectivity ...................................................................................... 174 Condition - Water for environment ..................................................................................... 177 Condition - Water Quality – environmental ........................................................................ 180 Condition - Water Quality – recreational ............................................................................ 184 Condition - Stormwater ...................................................................................................... 187 Condition- Litter ................................................................................................................. 190 Condition - Access .............................................................................................................. 191 Condition – Organised connection ...................................................................................... 193 PART D Research and Intervention Monitoring .................................................................. 195 Research and intervention monitoring ............................................................................... 195 References ......................................................................................................................... 209 Appendix 1 – Sub-catchment reference map ...................................................................... 212 Appendix 2 - Stormwater harvesting and infiltration targets for priority areas .................. 213 Appendix 3 – Location information for the macroinvertebrate monitoring sites ................. 215 Appendix 5 - Summary of contextual data sets for use in evaluation of key values and conditions .......................................................................................................................... 217 Appendix 6 - Summary of priority research areas and current projects ............................. 221 Appendix 7 - Stormwater condition targets for 2018 HWS ................................................. 226 Appendix 8 – Translation of Stormwater SCPOs for the website ........................................ 229 iii Rivers Monitoring and Evaluation Plan V1.0 2020 Acknowledgement to Country We acknowledge and respect Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities and organisations. We recognise the diversity of their cultures and the deep connections they have with the region’s lands and waters. We value partnerships with them for the health of people and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and we acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners’ obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters. Contributors The Rivers MEP has relied on a significant body of knowledge inputs from many knowledge domains in which influence waterway health. We would like to acknowledge the contribution of many Melbourne Water staff in developing the Rivers MEP. These people include Sharyn Rossrakesh, Trish Grant, Dr William Steele, Dr Belinda Lovell, Dr Rhys Coleman, Paul Rees, Leigh Smith, Penny Rogers, Shaun Corrigan, Kylie Swingler, Dan Green, Marion Urrutiaguer, Simon Pickard, Al Danger, David Reginato, Mary Catus-Wood, Yvonne Cabuang, James Frazer, Simon Catzikiris, Bronwen Hutchinson, Dan Beasley, Vaughn Grey, Andrew Grant, Elle Bartnik, Ryan Burrows, Sacha Jellinek and Tiana Preston. We also acknowledge the critical contribution that was fostered by the Melbourne Water Melbourne University Research Practice Partnership and the CAPIM (now A3P) partnership. Some of the work that is described in this document is the result of many years of research and the development of models and methods that have integrated data collected over many decades. We acknowledge the Healthy Waterway Strategy Science Panel for their considered advice throughout the development of the MERI framework and subsequent MEPs. Current Membership includes: Michelle Dickson (Chair), Dr Kay Morris, Associate Professor Chris Walsh, Dr Paul Reich, Dr Stephanie Lavau, Rohan Henry, Dr Sara Lloyd, Dr Matt Dell and Professor Ian Rutherfurd. We also acknowledge our committed service providers who supported the development of the Rivers MEP. Drafting and technical support was provided by Alluvium and Whitewater Consultancy. A number of specialist advice has been provided along the way. We would like to acknowledge the following: Dr Andrew Weeks and Josh Griffiths (cesar) (platypus), Dr Melody Serena (APC) (platypus), Dr Matt Dell (vegetation), Streamology (physical form), Professor Nick Bond, Dr Michael Shackleton, Dr David Crook and Dr Alison King (Latrobe Uni) (Fish), AECOM 2012 (birds), Hermann 2016 (birds), Dr Reid Tingley and Dr Chung- Huey Wu (Monash Uni) (eDNA sampling strategy), Dr Andrew Weeks (EnviroDNA) (eDNA sampling strategy), Bird Life Australia (Kerryn Herman, Dr Darren Quin, Chris Purnell, Andrew Silcocks, Bradley Clarke-Young) for testing and developing bird metrics, 1 Rivers Monitoring and Evaluation Plan V1.0 2020 Ecoaerial (Rob Gration) for developing call recognisers for frogs, Symbolix (Elizabeth Stark) frog model, Dr Chris Jones (ARI) and Dr David Cheal (Vegetation), Dylan Osler (Ecological Perspective) (Vegetation) - field testing and Helen Watts – evaluation expertise. Preliminary discussions with other agencies including DELWP, MAV and selected local government agencies have occurred regarding the stormwater volume performance objectives. Abbreviations and acronyms ARI Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, DELWP AVIRA Aquatic Values Identification and Risk Assessment CMA Catchment Management Authority DELWP Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning EPA Environmental Protection