etland Conservation in the ilson Inlet Catchment, A Management of selected suites: Assessment and Recommendations A report produced by Green Skills for South Coast Natural Resource Management by etlands Project Manager, Tim Frodsham October, 2007 etland Conservation in the ilson Inlet Catchment, A Management of selected suites: Assessment and Recommendations by etlands Project Manager, Tim Frodsham October, 2007 cover photo: Denmark River confluence with Wilson Inlet Estuary) Acknowledgements This plan was prepared by Greenskills, with the help of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, the Department of Water in Albany, South Coast Natural Resource Management SCNRM), and the assistance of the Shire of Denmark. The Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WICC) were a key stakeholder in the formulation of this plan. Membership of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee was as below: Tom, Zwartkruis, Treasurer Glen, Clode, Community Pam, Sounness, Community Bill, Sounness, Community Bill , Hollingworth, Community Basil, Schur, Community Melinda, Lyons, proxy Ron, Master, Ex-Officio Steve, May, Ex-Officio David, Rushton, proxy Greg , Bunker, Ex-Officio Craig, Carter, CPO Lynn, Heppell, NRMO Murray, Hollingworth, CPO Government stakeholders The Department of Water’s Albany branch contributed technically and logistically to this plan’s preparation. Valuable contributions were made by people within this branch, but particularly Tracy Calvert, Sherrie Randell, Ania Lorenz, David Rushton, Adam Lillicrap, Department of Agriculture and Food, DAFWA) Albany, played an important role in filling knowledge gaps in understanding acid sulfate soils around the wetlands of this catchment. Valuable catchment geomorphology information and hydrology assistance came from Ruhi Ferdowsian, regional hydrologist DAFWA, Albany). Non-Government stakeholders Justin Bellanger, of SCNRM was helpful in the structure and formulation of late drafts of this report. The Denmark Weed Action Group also conducted a separate survey for weed inventory and management for this report. Thanks goes to the DWAG for this data. Those people who collected and collated this information are: Nadine Lapthorne, Bob Fenwick, and Diane Harwood. Community stakeholders Michael Hamblin, Garth Wilson, Mark Parre, Andrew Dickinson, Robert Churches, Alan Francis, Trevor & Phyllis Barker, Wayne Bail, Vivian Hall, Norm Hill, Arthur Paterson, Daryl Drage, Dianne and Bill Bentley, Dory Landegraaft, Des Houden. Other acknowledgments: Support and funding and digital information through South Coast Natural Resource Management SCNRM), and the Federal Governments’ Natural Heritage Trust NHT) and National Action Plan NAP). Technical support and digital information from Department of Water, Landgate Department for Land Information). Aerial photography by Tim Frodsham and Craig Carter. Weed inventory of selected wetland sites by Di Harwood, Nadine Lapthorne, and Bob Fenwick. Proof reading of draft and final versions of report by Justin Bellanger, Water Facilitator, South Coast Natural Resource Management SCNRM), and by Patrick Gillespie. All other people who assisted in any manner with the production of the report including Green Skills, Department of Environment and Conservation DEC), and Department of Agriculture Staff, in Albany, and David Forrest of Ashburton Air Services. The author would especially like to thank staff at the Albany branch of the Department of Water for their very helpful assistance and provision of background material for this report. Similar thanks go to Basil Schur for his many forms of assistance. The Management Plan draws on the previous inventory for the wetlands it focuses on, and background papers, published reports and oral accounts which assist the plan. The author thanks all the contributors of these documents. o you have any comments or feedback you would like to give? This report is intended to generate community discussion as to the most effective management practices that can be incorporated into the catchment planning activities of the Wetland Systems of the Wilson Inlet Catchment. If you have any comments on the recommendations provided in this report, we would like to hear from you. Comments can be directed to: Tim Frodsham Wetlands Project Manager P.O. Box 577, Denmark W.A. 6333 Ph: 08) 98 48 3310 Email [email protected] Web www.greenskills.green.net.au Mobile: 0437 617 292 Endorsements The following agencies and groups endorse this management plan and will work cooperatively together in its implementation to ensure that these wetlands’ environmental values are protected and enhanced. Naomi Arrowsmith Regional Manager, Department of Water, Albany Kim Barrow, Denmark Shire President Alison Goode, Mayor of Albany Kevin Forbes Plantagenet Shire President John Blake Regional Manager, Resource Management Department of Agriculture John Watson Regional Manager Regional Manager Conservation and Land Management Patrick Weadon Chairman South Coast Natural Resource Management 1.0 Executive Summary The following management report provides both an inventory of current information and a snapshot appraisal of the state of 19 various wetlands in the catchment of the Wilson Inlet estuarine system, in the great southern region of Western Australia. These wetland systems are situated in various areas up to 60 km away from the Wilson Inlet. The report is intended to be viewed as part of our ongoing understanding of these wetlands, some of which have little data available. It covers: how they originated, what processes are operating within each system, the values of each wetland, and whether these values are threatened. Resource Condition Targets RCTs) are provided, along with other recommendations and future strategies for ensuring land use productivity and wetland conservation. A tabulated list of management recommendations for each wetland is also provided. Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary...............................................................................................32 2.0!!Project background and purpose ...........................................................................33 3.0 Geomorphology ....................................................................................................34 4.0 Land tenure and Use .............................................................................................34 5.0 Indigenous Significance........................................................................................34 6.0 Physical characteristics .........................................................................................34 7.0 Biological and chemical characteristics................................................................35 8.0 Threats...................................................................................................................36 9.0 Site assessments....................................................................................................37 10.0!!!Lake Saide ..........................................................................................................37 10.1.1 Location ............................................................................................................37 10.1.2 Geomorphology ................................................................................................38 10.1.4 Indigenous Significance....................................................................................38 10.1.5 Physical characteristics .....................................................................................38 10.1.6 Biological characteristics..................................................................................39 10.1.7 Chemical characteristics ...................................................................................39 10.1.8 Threats...............................................................................................................39 10.2 Blue Lake.............................................................................................................40 10.2.1 Location ............................................................................................................40 10.2.2 Geomorphology ................................................................................................40 10.2.3 Land tenure and Us ...........................................................................................40 10.2.4 Indigenous Significance....................................................................................40 10.2.5 Physical characteristics .....................................................................................40 10.2.6 Biological characteristics..................................................................................41 10.2.7 Chemical characteristics ...................................................................................41 10.2.8 Threats...............................................................................................................41 10.3 Amarillup Swamp ................................................................................................41 10.3.1 Location ............................................................................................................40 10.3.2 Geomorphology ................................................................................................41 10.3.3 Land Tenure and Use........................................................................................41 10.3.4 Indigenous Significance....................................................................................42