Yakabindie Nickel Project Baseline Aquatic Biology and Water Quality Study of Jones Creek, including the South- west Claypan Area prepared for by Wetland Research & Management Baseline Aquatic Biology and Water Quality Study of Jones Creek, including the South-west Claypan Area Prepared for: Nickel W est, a division of BHP Billiton 191 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont, W A 6104 Ph: (61 8) 9479 0500, Fax: (61 8) 9479 0641 By: Wetland Research & Management 28 W illiam Street, Glen Forrest, W A 6071, Australia Ph (61 8) 9298 9807, Fax (61 8) 9380 1029, e-mail: awstorey@ cyllene.uwa.edu.au In Association with: Sinclair Knight Merz 9th Floor Durack Centre, 263 Adelaide Terrace, PO Box H615, Perth W A 6001, Australia Ph (61 8) 9268 4400, Fax (61 8) 9268 4488 Final Report 16/09/05 Frontispiece: (clockwise) main picture, Eucalyptus camaldulensis at confluence of northern and eastern tributaries; adult burrowing frog Cyclorana platycephala; main channel of Jones Creek at Goldfields Highway crossing (Site 2); shield shrimp Triops australiensis australiensis. ii Study Team 3anagement: Andrew W . Storey Field W ork: Andrew W . Storey & Sue Creagh Macroinvertebrate Identification: Jess Lynas Micro-invertebrate Identification: Russ J. Shiel (University of South Australia) Data analysis: Sue Creagh & Jess Lynas Report: Sue Creagh & Andrew W . Storey Acknowledgements This project was undertaken by Wetland Research & Management (W RM) on behalf of Sinclair Knight Merz for Nickel W est, a division of BHP Billiton. W RM would like to acknowledge the following UW A researchers for assistance with taxonomy; Dr Don Edward (Chironomidae), Dr Brenton Knott (Anostraca) and Martin Dziminski (frogs). The maps of the study area were provided by Sinclair Knight Merz. Jenny Yan (SKM) is thanked for constructive criticism on the draft report and for her efficient overall management of this project on behalf of SKM. W e are grateful to Doug and Lucy Brownlie (managers of Yakabindie Pastoral Lease) for access to wetlands within property boundaries. John Tomich, Kevin Shugg, Kim Brand and Leisa Turner (all Nickel W est, Mt Keith) are thanked for kindly providing assistance on-site. Finally, our thanks to Keith Berry (Nickel W est, Perth) who provided data and text on the hydrology and hydrogeology of Jones Creek. Recommened Reference Format W RM (2005). Yakabindie Nickel Project: Baseline Aquatic Biology and W ater Quality Study of Jones Creek, including the South-west Claypan. Unpublished report by W etland Research & Management to BHP Billiton. June 2005. Disclaimer This document was based on the best information available at the time of writing. W hile Wetland Research & Management (W RM) has attempted to ensure that all information contained within this document is accurate, W RM does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility to any third party for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information supplied. The views and opinions expressed within are those of W RM and do not necessarily represent Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) or BHP Billiton policy. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of BHP Billiton and W RM. iii Jones Creek Baseline Aquatic Biology & Water Quality Study CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. vi 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 STUDY AREA................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.1.1 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1.2 Hydrology........................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.3 Catchment Condition.......................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.4 Previous Aquatic Fauna and Flora Surveys....................................................................................... 11 1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................................... 11 2. METHODS ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 BIO-MONITORING IN TEMPORARY WATERS................................................................................................. 12 2.2 SITES AND SAMPLING DESIGN..................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 BACI Design....................................................................................................................................... 17 2.3 RIPARIAN CONDITION ................................................................................................................................. 17 2.4 PHYSICO-CHEMISTRY .................................................................................................................................. 18 2.5 AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES .......................................................................................................................... 19 2.5.1 Macroinvertebrate Fauna – Benthos.................................................................................................. 19 2.5.2 Micro-invertebrate Fauna - Zooplankton........................................................................................... 20 2.6 FISH FAUNA ................................................................................................................................................ 20 2.7 TADPOLES ................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.8 DATA ANALYSES......................................................................................................................................... 21 2.8.1 Univariate Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 21 2.8.2 Multivariate Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 21 2.8.3 Power Analysis and Sampling Design................................................................................................ 22 3. RESULTS & DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................... 25 3.1 CATCHMENT & RIPARIAN CONDITION ........................................................................................................ 25 3.2 PHYSICO-CHEMISTRY .................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.1 Patterns in Physico-chemical Data .................................................................................................... 33 3.3 AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE FAUNA................................................................................................................ 34 3.3.1 Taxonomy ........................................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.2 Taxa Richness..................................................................................................................................... 36 3.3.4 Multivariate Analysis Fauna .............................................................................................................. 37 3.4 AQUATIC VERTEBRATE FAUNA................................................................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Fish..................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.4.2 Frogs .................................................................................................................................................. 40 3.5 POWER ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE ABILITY OF SAMPLING DESIGN TO DETECT CHANGES .......................... 41 4. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 42 4.1 CATCHMENT CONDITION AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION ............................................................................... 42 4.2 WATER QUALITY AND METALS .................................................................................................................. 44 4.2 AQUATIC FAUNA......................................................................................................................................... 44 5. RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................................ 46 5.1 CHANNEL DIVERSION.................................................................................................................................