Yass Valley
Atmosphere & Weather | Biodiversity | Catchments | Resources Use
Summary of updates to Yass Valley indicators for 2008/09.
Yass Valley Snapshots
These "snapshot" profiles celebrate recent environmental initiatives within this LGA.
Archive of 2008 snapshots for Yass Valley.
2009 Snapshots
1. Renewing the Health of the Yass River
2. Targeting Salinity and Water Quality in the Yass River
3. Sustainable Landscapes Restoration Project
Renewing the Health of the Yass River
Yass River
Yass Valley Council and Palerang Shire Council, along with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, have development partnerships with local Landcare Groups, including the Yass Area Landcare Network to undertake the Yass River Renewal (YR2) Project. This project will select sites to undergo restoration works along the upper, mid and lower reaches of the Yass River.
Many on-ground works have been implemented to protect the +environmental health of the river. These have involved community groups and local landholders. These on-ground works include re-establishing native vegetation, removing willow infestations, construction of fencing for grazing management and provision of alternate stock water supply, re-alignment and control of bank erosion and stream flow impediments.
To January 2009, this important project had achieved:
- the poisoning and removal of 45 kilometres of willows along the River
- the protection, establishment or enhancement of riparian vegetation along 34.6 kilometres of sensitive riparian areas
- the establishment of 15 hectares of community plantings to enhance biodiversity within the river system, and
- active erosion stabilisation along 4.2 kilometres of the river
This project was funded through the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and Landcare Australia Ltd and allows the community to work with the local authority to restore the environmental health of the Yass River. This ensures the benefits associated with healthy rivers, such as aesthetic and natural values, and abundant biodiversity, are protected for future generations.
Targeting Salinity and Water Quality in the Yass River
On ground works to enhance the river
native riparian vegetation
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, together with Yass Valley Council, are undertaking a Targeted Salinity and Water Quality Project on the Yass River. This significant project aims to encourage landholders to implement best management practices to reduce salinity and sediment entering the Murrumbidgee River. The project was funded under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
In addition to reducing in-stream sediment and salinity, the project also aims to improve:
- Water quality
- River and stream-bank condition
- Biodiversity
- Best management practice in grazing & cropping enterprises and
- Landholder knowledge of salinity and water quality
The project provides land owners with incentives to implement best management practices. Incentive payments are offered for on-ground works, such as establishing native vegetation for recharge control, fencing and sowing salt tolerant vegetation, and protecting and enhancing native riparian vegetation.
Targeted priority areas for the project include the catchments of Dick’s Creek, William's Creek, Johnny's Creek, Back Creek, Nowlands Creek, Murrumbateman Creek, Bango Creek, Nelanglo Creek and Manton Creek.
In addition, the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, held information days in May 2009 to inform landowners about a number of topics including possible on-ground works supported by the project, planning property works and timeframes, landholder management agreements, structural works to manage erosion and training opportunities in best practice salinity management.
Sustainable Landscapes Restoration Project
The Sustainable Landscapes Group learning how
to do a control burn off at Balgalal Creek, Binalong
Yass Valley Council, in association with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA), is currently undertaking the Sustainable Landscapes/Cultures River Restoration project.
Restored Riparian vegetation
along the Murrumbidgee River
Photo: Murrumbidgee CMA
The project includes employment of eight indigenous trainees to undertake natural resource management activities in several locations across Yass Valley. This includes establishing waterwise gardens in Yass, Murrumbateman and Sutton, management and revegetation of 12 hectares of native bushland in Binalong and riparian revegetation and protection of 10 hectares around the Yass Dam.
This important project will help to improve the condition of the land, water and biodiversity as well as building local peoples’ capacity to care for the environment.
