Palerang
Indicator: Riparian Conditions
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please note: Text or data highlighted in this colour represent an update to this indicator for the period 2008/09.
What the results tell us for Palerang
No quantitative information was available to assess change in riparian condition within the Palerang Council area during the current reporting period and the previous reporting period. This current reporting period has seen six threatening processes which impact on riparian condition listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Fisheries Management Act 1994.
During the previous reporting period, 19 projects were undertaken by Council, community groups and other organisations to rehabilitate riparian areas within the Council area especially willow removal. While these activities have continued through the current reporting period, and limited information is available from Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) related to projects and landholder agreements they have managed, there is no comprehensive record available.
Condition of riparian zones in the Council
The extent to which the condition of riparian vegetation and streambank disturbance across the Shire changed in the current reporting period is not known, as no comprehensive assessment of riparian condition was undertaken for the period and no other detailed Council area information was available.
A strategy for the management of willows in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment will be released in late 2009. This strategy has been developed as part of an Australian Government funded project entitled 'Refining and Implementing a Willow Management Strategy for the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment', which was proposed and administered by the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee. Included in this strategy has been the mapping of willow extent by processing satellite imagery, field surveys and observed reports (Kerruish, 2009).
Threats to riparian condition
Three processes relating to riparian condition have been listed as key threatening processes, in the State (see Table 1) by the NSW Scientific committee under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995. Fisheries Scientific Committee also listed, under the Fisheries Management Act, 1994, three key threatening processes relevant to riparian areas.
| Name of threatening process | Date of Final Determination or Gazettal |
|---|---|
| Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains & wetlands (DECC, 2008a) | Final: 31 May 2002 |
| Clearing of Native Vegetation (DECC, 2008b) | Final: 21 September 2001 |
| Human-caused climate change (DECC, 2008c) | Gazetted: 17 November 2000 |
| Removal and degradation of native riparian vegetation (DPI, 2008a) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
| Installation and operation of instream structures and other mechanisms that alter the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams (DPI, 2008b) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
| Removal of large woody debris from NSW rivers and streams (DPI, 2008c) | Final: 01 June 2005 |
The impacts of these key threatening processes on riparian conditions and waterways include (DECC 2008 a, b; DPI 2008, a, b; DPI 2005a):
- bank erosion
- loss of biological diversity
- impairment of important ecosystem services for fish and invertebrates (e.g. removal of refuges used during flooding or drought or removal of spawning sites)
- reduced nutrient filtering capacity
- increased light penetration of the water-body and loss of shade and shelter for fish
- reduced inputs of organic carbon (for example, twigs and leaves)
- changes to stream behaviour (increased and decreased flow, seasonality, frequency, duration, magnitude, timing predictability, rate of rise and fall of water levels and altering surface and subsurface water levels) and
- Exotic plants such as Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) reducing stream flow
What is being done to protect riparian zones?
Comprehensive information detailing what has been done to protect the riparian zones in the Palerang Council area during the current reporting period is unavailable.
In 2008-09 a major riparian restoration program was commenced on public land at three sites within the Palerang Council area. The Palerang Riparian Restoration Program is funded by the Australian and NSW State Governments via the Murrumbidgee CMA and is being coordinated by Palerang Council. The Program involves collaboration with a range of organisations, including NSW Department of Lands, Livestock Health and Pest Authorities, Royalla Landcare, Carwoola Landcare, Molonglo Catchment Group, Bungendore Landcare and individual landholders. Tree planting has been undertaken with the assistance of volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia and cadets from the Australian Defence Force Academy.
The three sites are located along Jerrabomberra Creek in Royalla, Molonglo River Park at Carwoola, and a short section of Turallo Creek in Bungendore. The program commenced during this reporting period with the removal of riparian weeds and planting of native plants. It is expected that the project will be completed in 2009-10 with the establishment of 10,400 new native plants. Aims of the Program include control of weeds, enhance bank stability, improve aquatic habitat, increase the area of native vegetation managed for biodiversity conservation, increase community knowledge and foster partnerships.
Bungendore Landcare also managed the planting of 500 native seedlings along a 500m section of Turallo Creek in Bungendore, with the assistance of children from Bungendore Public School and personnel from Palerang Council.
Catchment management and landcare group activities
Riparian improvement activities within the Council area managed by the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) during the reporting period included conservation agreements, indigenous vegetation protected by fencing, indigenous vegetation enhanced, revegetation, streambank and streambed stabilisation, in-stream habitat enhanced, and pest plant control (SRCMA 2006, 2007). Major programs and projects undertaken included:
- Shoalhaven and Illawarra riparian mapping project
- Shoalhaven Illawarra Riparian Partnerships Program (approx 50 landholder agreements)
- Catchment Protection Scheme (jointly with SCA) to assist landholders to control erosion (approx 20 landholder agreements)
- Araluen Creek restoration project, involving the Upper Deau Catchment Landcare Group and local landholders
Riparian improvement activities in the Palerang Council area managed by the Murrumbidgee CMA include a range of technical advice and funding of on-ground works related to river and riparian rehabilitation. Major projects include the Yass River Renewal Project, in partnership with Landcare Australia, and River Restoration Project (MCMA 2005, 2006, 2007). Specific details on projects undertaken within the Palerang Council area were not available.
References
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008a) NSW Scientific Committee—Final Determination, Alteration to the Natural Flow Regimes of Rivers, Streams, Floodplains and Wetlands—Key Threatening Process Degradation, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 14 October 2008, http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=20002
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008b) NSW Scientific Committee—Final Determination, Clearing of Native Vegetation—Key Threatening Process Declaration, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 14 October 2008-10-14 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/ClearingNativeVegKTPListing.htm
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2008a) Removal of large woody debris from NSW rivers and streams, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 10 October 2008 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/habitat/publications/threats/removal-large-woody-debris
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2008b) Degradation of native riparian vegetation along NSW water courses, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 10 October 2008 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/habitat/publications/threats/degredation-native-riparian-vegetation
Department of Primary Industries (NSW) (2005a) Fisheries Scientific Committee Recommendation—Installation and Operation of Instream Structures and Other Mechanisms that Alter Natural Flow Regimes of Rivers and Streams, NSW Department of Primary Industries, viewed 11 August 2005, http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/5284/FR21_dams.pdf
Kerruish, D (2009) Personal Communication from Douglas Kerruish (Email), Willow Project Officer, Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee, 19 August 2009
MCMA – see Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority Annual Report
Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (2005) Annual Report 2004/05
http://www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?id=45
Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (2006) Annual Report 2005/06
http://www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?id=45
Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (2007) Annual Report 2006/07
http://www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?id=45
OCE – see Office of the Commissioner for the Environment
Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (2004) Australian Capital Region State of the Environment Report 2004, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra (see Riparian Condition)
SRCMA – see Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority
Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (2006) Annual Report 2005-06
Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (2007) Annual Report 2006-07
