Lower Warren River Action Plan 2006 Lower Warren River Action Plan 2006 Prepared for Warren Catchments Council- Southern Forests Landcare and the Manjimup Land Conservation District Committee Funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality ISBN: 978-0-9802852-1-5 How to use this river action plan How to use this river action plan This report was prepared for the Manjimup Land Conservation District Committee (LCDC) to assist landholders in the lower Warren River catchment. It is hoped that by providing this summary of lower Warren River foreshore condition and weed presence, future works in the area can be more focused on identified management priorities and issues. The action plan is separated into eight sections. A brief overview of the river action plan and key findings is given in the summary. The lower Warren River has been divided into four sections for assessment and reporting purposes. A map accompanying the summary (Figure 1, p. vii) gives an indication of these sections. This overall map relates to smaller, section-specific maps in Section 7. Section 1 provides background information on the river action plan, including aims and objectives of the study and involvement of various groups and persons. Section 2 outlines the study area, covering issues such as landscape, climate, flora and fauna, as well as Indigenous heritage values. Section 3 covers general river processes as well as water quality issues specific to the lower Warren River. Section 4 provides an overview of the methodology involved in assessing foreshore condition. Section 5 outlines management issues identified as a result of the foreshore surveys. Section 6 contains recommended management advice. Section 7 contains section-specific maps, with information concerning general site description, foreshore condition rating, fencing status, management issues and weeds. Section 8 is a summary of findings. Section 9 lists references cited within this document. Acronyms CENRM Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management (now known as the Department of Environment and Conservation) DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food WA DEC Department of Environment and Conservation DIA Department of Indigenous Affairs DoE Department of Environment (now known as the Department of Environment and Conservation) DoW Department of Water LCDC Land Conservation District Committee NHT Natural Heritage Trust NRM Natural resource management SFL Southern Forests Landcare SWCC South West Catchments Council WRC Waters and Rivers Commission Cover photo: Lower Warren River, Lee Fontanini i Acknowledgments Warren Catchments Council wishes to acknowledge the Previous river action plans developed for waterways in traditional owners of the south west region, the the south west provided guidance and direction in the Nyungar1 people. Nyungar people have a long-standing development of the Lower Warren River Action Plan and continuing association with the south west area and and these resources were extensively consulted during are recognised as the traditional owners and custodians report preparation. Additional interaction with NRM of the areas referred to in this document. officers developing river action plans was invaluable. The cooperation of landholders in undertaking The Lower Warren River Action Plan was an initiative of foreshore assessments and attending project Warren Catchments Council as part of a wider South information meetings is greatly appreciated. West Catchments Council project to develop multiple river actions plans across the south west region. The Erin Rice of the Department of Water Regional Support project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) Branch, Perth, prepared the maps used in this and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water document. Quality (NAP). These funding bodies are joint initiatives of the State and Australian Federal Governments, which are administered by the South Reference details West Catchments Council. Thanks and The recommended reference for this publication is: acknowledgments go to GeoCatch for the planning that Munro, J. (2006). Lower Warren River Action Plan. went into the current RAP method and RAP template. Manjimup Land Conservation District Committee. GeoCatch and Cape to Cape Catchments Group are further acknowledged for developing and managing the RAP project. 1Alternative spellings are recognised. ii Contents HOW TO USE THIS RIVER ACTION PLAN ............................................................................................................i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................................ii SUMMARY OF THE LOWER WARREN RIVER ACTION PLAN ............................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................5 Background .................................................................................................................................................................5 Study aims...................................................................................................................................................................5 2. STUDY AREA .........................................................................................................................................................6 The Warren River .......................................................................................................................................................6 The lower Warren River..............................................................................................................................................6 Climate ........................................................................................................................................................................6 Landforms and soils ....................................................................................................................................................7 Water quality...............................................................................................................................................................7 Flora ............................................................................................................................................................................8 Fauna...........................................................................................................................................................................8 Fish fauna ..............................................................................................................................................................8 Macroinvertebrate fauna........................................................................................................................................8 Terrestrial fauna .....................................................................................................................................................9 Cultural heritage .......................................................................................................................................................11 Aboriginal heritage ..............................................................................................................................................11 European heritage................................................................................................................................................11 Zoning .......................................................................................................................................................................12 Economic issues........................................................................................................................................................12 Existing plans and surveys........................................................................................................................................12 Future planning proposals ........................................................................................................................................12 3. RIVER ECOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................13 Habitats .....................................................................................................................................................................13 Habitat elements........................................................................................................................................................13 The catchment...........................................................................................................................................................14 4. STUDY METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................15 Community involvement ..........................................................................................................................................15 River foreshore condition assessment.......................................................................................................................15