Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Forest EEC 2010

## **Abstract** 

This dataset and its metadata statement were supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and are presented here as originally supplied:



Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Forest (LHSGIF) EEC mapping covering Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle and Wyong LGAs undertaken by Stephen Bell in 2010. He notes that the layer is incomplete because much of the LHSGIF is on private or coal land where access is restricted. Only if contracts are performed on these lands will updates occur. The layer includes various forms of LHSGIF as per the data analysis done for the Cessnock-Kurri project. VIS_ID 2319

## **Dataset History** 

There are 6 fields in the attribute table: >Map_Status - draft mapping date >Code - the current working veg community code (this will probably change to a more streamlined order for the final) >Veg_Name - the current working veg community names, some may change to make it more streamlined >LGA - the relevant LGA for each polygon >Source - where the mapping is sourced from, this project or previous projects etc >Accuracy - a 4 class system to provide information on expected accuracy. Class 1 = ground data; Class 2 = previous mapping with modifications; Class 3 = previous mapping with no modifications; Class 4 = no data (ie: predicted). Data capture progress (notes from S. Bell): Maitland LGA - there are several patches that I have not got to yet and hence mapping is based on Lisa Hills LGA mapping from 2006. Most of this area is coded as 17 (undefined) until I can work out the boundaries of the variants - they will probably mostly turn out to be variant 17a(i) in the east, but 18h in the west. Wyong LGA - I also found that the delineation of LHSGIF for much of the Wyong LGA mapping is outdated and confused, so I will need to revisit some of those patches to clarify things - in the 2002 LGA mapping, I had lumped all spotted gum - ironbark forests together, but now I need to extract those areas with affinities to LHSGIF. Much of this is completed, but there are a few patches still remaining. Cessnock LGA - Over in the west of Cessnock LGA, there is this probable new species aff fibrosa, and I have not yet determined where its habitat fits into the LHSGIF Mothership, so it is coded simply as 17 for now. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs - these are all but completed now, just a couple of small patches left to inspect. A couple of other points: - for this draft I've split up the variants as best I can, but the final cuts will need to await the full data analysis. For example, I've used Wallis Creek as the split between the 'true' LHSGIF and the Hinterland LHSGIF, as it is around here that the grass composition changes from Themeda australis/ Joycea pallida in the east to Entolasia stricta/ Aristida vagans to the west. These species seem to be driving the splits in the data analysis. Further up the valley (NW of Cessnock), Aristida ramosa/ Aristida vagans takes over from Entolasia stricta. - I've included the various forms of LHSGIF as per the data analysis done for the Cessnock-Kurri project a couple of years ago. It is possible that some of these forms will prove themselves to be more closely related to Central Hunter communities, if and when a new analysis is done to include data from the Central-Upper Hunter. I'm not sure, for example, if the form of LHSGIF in the Cessnock report where Euc moluccana is dominant in the canopy over an understorey of essentially LHSGIF species should remain as part of the EEC or not - if you take the EEC definition literally then you would say that it should be excluded because Euc fibrosa and Cor maculata are not the important canopy species. - In addition, I've also added in unit 18h from the Cessnock-Kurri project. This is the one dominated by Euc fibrosa and Cor maculata, and the latest data analyses are showing that this should be considered part of LHSGIF. I know it's now part of the Central Hunter EEC, but it is really just a dryer form of whats present in Cessnock, as the more coastal Lake Macquarie form is a wetter form of what's in Cessnock. It seems confusing, but it all makes sense when you look at rainfall patterns and the data analysis.

## **Dataset Citation** 

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2015) Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Forest EEC 2010. Bioregional Assessment Source Dataset. Viewed 13 March 2019, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/5a8f525b-d602-4120-99a3-900fc05180e7.

Tags: Hunter subregion, New South Wales, biota
Organization: Bioregional Assessment Program