PROSSER CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT - June 2002 Prepared for the Glamorgan Spring Bay Landcare Management Committee Funded by the Natural Heritage Trust Prepared by Rob D’Emden BEng, MEngSci, Grad Dip Env Studies GLAMORGAN ••• SPRING BAY COUNCIL TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................ V FOREWORD ........................................................................................................ 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 2 CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ...... 9 PART 1 BACKGROUND TO THE PLAN ................................................................ 16 1.1 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 16 1.2 CATCHMENT MISSION , VISION AND STRATEGIES ............................................................... 16 1.3 VALUES AND ISSUES ................................................................................................................ 17 1.4 INTENTION OF THE PLAN ....................................................................................................... 18 1.5 PRINCIPLES OF THE PLAN ....................................................................................................... 18 1.6 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER MANAGEMENT PLANS ............................................................. 19 1.7 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS ................................. 19 1.8 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................. 21 1.9 THE CATCHMENT : AREAS AND LAND USE .......................................................................... 21 1.10 GEOMORPHOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 22 1.11 RIVER HYDROLOGY ................................................................................................................ 22 1.12 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................................... 23 1.13 NATURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................. 25 1.14 CULTURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................... 27 1.14.1 The Community ......................................................................................................................... 27 1.14.2 Aboriginal Heritage and Culture .............................................................................................. 29 1.14.3 European Heritage ................................................................................................................... 30 1.15 THREATS TO THE CATCHMENT ’S NATURAL RESOURCES ................................................... 31 1.16 COMMUNITY NATURAL RESOURCE ORGANISATIONS ........................................................ 32 PART 2 NATURAL RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES .......................... 33 2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 33 2.2 METHODOLOGY OF ANALYSIS ............................................................................................... 33 2.3 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.3.1 General .......................................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.2 Geological Heritage Features ....................................................................................................... 35 2.4 GROUNDWATER ....................................................................................................................... 35 2.5 SOILS .......................................................................................................................................... 36 2.5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 36 2.5.2 Soil Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 36 2.5.3 Soil Erosion ................................................................................................................................... 38 2.5.4 Soil Salinity .................................................................................................................................... 38 2.5.5 Soil Sodicity ................................................................................................................................... 38 2.5.6 Tree Decline .................................................................................................................................. 38 Prosser Catchment Management Plan – May 2002 Page ii 2.5.7 Soil Risk Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 40 2.5.8 Soil Management ........................................................................................................................... 43 2.6 RIPARIAN LAND ....................................................................................................................... 44 2.6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 44 2.6.2 Benefits of Good Riparian Management ....................................................................................... 44 2.6.3 Riparian Land Management Practice ............................................................................................ 45 2.7 RIVER STRUCTURE (R IPARIAN GEOMORPHOLOGY ) ........................................................... 47 2.7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 47 2.7.2 Principles of River Structure Management in Alluvial Areas ........................................................ 48 2.7.3 River Structure Management Practice .......................................................................................... 50 2.8 WATER MANAGEMENT – LEGISLATION , POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ............................... 51 2.8.1 Water Management Act ................................................................................................................. 51 2.8.2 Water Management Policies and Programs .................................................................................. 52 2.8.3 Environmental Flows ..................................................................................................................... 52 2.8.4 Communication and Consultation ................................................................................................. 54 2.9 WATER QUALITY ...................................................................................................................... 55 2.9.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 55 2.9.2 Water Quality Assessment ............................................................................................................. 55 2.9.3 Defining Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 56 2.9.4 Water Quality Values ..................................................................................................................... 57 2.9.5 Processes affecting Water Quality ................................................................................................. 59 2.9.6 Water Quality Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 61 2.9.7 The Role of the Council Planning Scheme ..................................................................................... 62 2.10 WATER AVAILABILITY ............................................................................................................. 63 2.10.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 63 2.10.2 Current Agricultural Water Study............................................................................................. 63 2.10.3 Town Water Supplies ................................................................................................................ 65 2.11 BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................... 67 2.11.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 67 2.11.2 Threatened Species Protection ................................................................................................. 67 2.11.3 Threatened Species in the Catchment ....................................................................................... 69 2.11.4 Threatened Species Recovery Plans ........................................................................................