KERANG LAKES WATER SAVINGS PROJECT INVESTIGATION LITERATURE REVIEW PREPARED FOR THE NORTHERN VICTORIA IRRIGATION RENEWAL PROJECT November 2011 Kerang Lakes Water Saving Project Investigation Literature Review DOCUMENT HISTORY AND STATUS Version Date Issued Prepared By Reviewed By Date Approved 1 8 September 2011 Michelle Maher Pat Feehan, Ross Plunkett, Emer 8 September 2011 Campbell and Andrea Joyce (Hold point 1 meeting) 2 27 September 2011 Michelle Maher Pat Feehan, Ross Plunkett, and 29 September 2011 Andrea Joyce (Hold point 2 meeting) 3 30 September 2011 Michelle Maher Handover to Andrea Joyce 3 October 2011 4 11 October 2011 Michelle Maher Amended by Andrea Joyce 11 October 2011 4 15 November 2011 Michelle Maher Amended by Andrea Joyce DISTRIBUTION Version Date Quantity Issued To 1 27 September 2011 Email Pat Feehan and Ross Plunkett 2 30 September 2011 CD NVIRP and internal handover 3 11 October 2011 Email Pat Feehan 4 15 November 2011 CD Pat Feehan DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT Printed: 15 November 2011 Last saved: 15 November 2011 12:37 PM NCCMA – 57031 – Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation Literature File name: Review September 2011 V4 Authors: Michelle Maher Name of organisation: North Central CMA Name of document: Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation Literature Review Document version: Final, Version 4 Document manager: 57031 For further information on any of the information contained within this document contact: North Central Catchment Management Authority PO Box 18 Huntly Vic 3551 T: 03 5440 1800 F: 03 5448 7148 E: [email protected] www.nccma.vic.gov.au © North Central Catchment Management Authority, 2011 Front cover photo: Middle Reedy, November 2010, Michelle Maher, North Central CMA The Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation Literature Review is a working document, compiled from the best available information. It will be subject to revision in the future as new information becomes available. This publication may be of assistance to you, but the North Central Catchment Management Authority and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind, or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on information in this publication. Please cite this document as: North Central CMA (2011). Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation: Literature Review, Prepared for the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project, North Central Catchment Management Authority, Huntly, Victoria. i Kerang Lakes Water Saving Project Investigation Literature Review Executive Summary The Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation (KLWSPI) is an important early component of the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP) Stage 2. Water savings and environmental enhancement could potentially be achieved by changing how the wetlands are connected to each other and by modifying current operational protocols. This project is focusing on the future operation of the Reedy Lakes (Reedy Lake, Middle Lake and Third Lake), Little Lake Charm and Racecourse Lake (referred to as KLWSPI wetlands). These wetlands are part of the Kerang Wetlands Ramsar site and are an integral component of the Torrumbarry Irrigation System (TIS). The KLWSPI wetlands have been operated as permanent water supply lakes since the establishment of the Torrumbarry Weir in 1923. The aim of this literature review is to document in an annotated bibliography all literature relevant to the KLWSPI. The information will be used to understand what work has been done to date, data and knowledge gaps and the likely issues associated with project implementation. These five wetlands have been subject to study and investigation for a large number of years, with earlier knowledge being built upon with later knowledge. This annotated bibliography is in chronological order, rather than alphabetical order by author in order to show how knowledge has advanced over time. Data collected is indicative of the issues of the time and there are no consistent datasets that span any substantial timeframes. In order to fully understand the impacts of any proposed changes to the watering regimes of these systems a sound understanding of existing values and threats is required. The following is a summary of some of the key information gaps that are recommended to be filled: a more comprehensive field assessment of a range of environmental values, including aquatic flora and fauna; more comprehensive monitoring of a range of water quality parameters that provides information at a temporal scale; development of rating tables to accompany accurate wetland bathymetry information; further quantification of the likely impact of groundwater on wetlands, wetland management on surrounding groundwater and any impact of constructed channels on groundwater under current and changed scenarios, particularly in light of the extended drought and recent flooding; a more comprehensive investigation of soil properties at the wetlands and soil water movement under different water levels; development of a comprehensive salt and water balance that incorporates groundwater impacts fop all wetlands; and development of a comprehensive community consultation program to enable transparency in all phases of the project and engender community support. ii Kerang Lakes Water Saving Project Investigation Literature Review Contents page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... II CONTENTS PAGE .............................................................................................................. III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... IV ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................V 1. KERANG LAKES WATER SAVINGS PROJECT .......................................................... 6 1.1 STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................ 6 1.2 LITERATURE REVIEW PURPOSE .................................................................................. 7 1.3 STRUCTURE OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................... 7 2. LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE KERANG LAKES ...................................................... 8 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES .......................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Environmental values summary .......................................................................... 15 2.2 CULTURAL HERITAGE .............................................................................................. 17 2.2.1 Cultural heritage summary ............................................................................ 18 2.3 HYDROLOGY .......................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Water balance .............................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Flood studies ................................................................................................ 21 2.3.3 Water savings .............................................................................................. 24 2.3.4 Hydrology summary ...................................................................................... 25 2.4 HYDROGEOLOGY .................................................................................................... 26 2.4.1 Hydrogeology summary ...................................................................................... 29 2.5 GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY ............................................................................ 31 2.5.1 Geology and geomorphology summary............................................................... 31 2.6.1 Salinity and water quality summary ..................................................................... 34 2.6 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ........................................................................................... 35 2.7.1 Social and economic summary ........................................................................... 36 2.7 LAND MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 37 2.8.1 Land management summary .............................................................................. 39 3 KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................... 40 4 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 44 APPENDIX A: KLWSPI WETLANDS CHARACTERISTICS ................................................ 47 APPENDIX B: FLORA AND FAUNA SPECIES LIST .......................................................... 50 APPENDIX C: KLWSPI PROJECT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................... 57 iii Kerang Lakes Water Saving Project Investigation Literature Review Acknowledgements The information contained in the Kerang Lakes Water Savings Project Investigation literature review has been sourced from a variety of reports and field inspections and from individual knowledge and expertise. The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) acknowledges the assistance of the following people in preparing this Literature Review.