The Lowbidgee floodplain supports one of Australia’s most significant populations of Southern bell frog (Vulnerable EPBC A). Pictured from Avalon in the Nimmie-Caira zone (February 2014) Ecosystem type The Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem (ANAE) Classification Framework has been developed the best available mapping and attribute data. Wetland polygons, riverine polygons, and river centre lines were attributed with the majority coverage of each attribute without dividing them further. In the Murrumbidgee Selected Area, the ANAE database currently has good coverage of riverine habitats and some coverage of the wetlands through the mid-Murrumbidgee but very limited coverage of wetland habitats through the Lowbidgee (see Figure 1 and ). Validation of wetlands already classified in the ANAE database is proposed as in-kind with no additional cost to the M&E Plan. However, as per the standard method, “If the ecosystem is not mapped then record coordinates (GDA94) of the centre of the ecosystem and either locate compatible GIS mapping or delineate the boundary of the ecosystem using remote sensed data”. As the majority of wetlands across the Lowbidgee floodplain are currently unmapped, we proposed to classify boundaries for key wetlands as part of the M&E Plan. Short-term (one year) and long-term (five year) questions: What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to sustainable ecosystem diversity? Were ecosystems to Commonwealth environmental water was allocated sustained? Was Commonwealth environmental water delivered to a representative suite of ecosystem types? Relevant protocols for the Murrumbidgee Selected Area LTIM Project Standard Protocol: Fish (River)
Selected Area evaluation questions: Category 3 metabolism monitoring: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition? What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity? Flow types: All flow types Predictions: Primary production and respiration increase in response to pulsed delivery of Commonwealth environmental By inundating adjacent riparian habitat, pulsed environmental will increase carbon availability in-stream, shifting metabolism towards net heterotrophy Nutrient availability increases in response to pulsed delivery of Commonwealth environmental water. Category 3 Hypoxic blackwater risk and return flows metabolism monitoring (Optional monitoring as required): What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition in riverine habitats adjacent to return flows? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity in riverine habitats adjacent to return flows? What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to hypoxic blackwater risk in wetlands and riverine habitats? Flow type: Overbank (both flows and infrastructure assisted)
Hypoxic Blackwater risk and return flows (Optional component) What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition in riverine habitats adjacent to return flows? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity in riverine habitats adjacent to return flows? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to hypoxic blackwater risk in wetlands and riverine habitats? Continuous logging (10 minute intervals) of: photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), barometric pressure, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature over the release period. water samples assayed for: dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Chlorophyll-a, Nutrients (TN, TP, NOx, NH4, PO4)* , Daily spot measures of conductivity, turbidity and pH. metabolism (gross primary production, community respiration, net daily metabolism). Wetland hydrology, aquatic veg cover, fish and tadpole abundance Return Mobile series of seven sites, locations changed to wherever return flows are planned. Methods for metabolism and nutrients as per Category 1 standard methods. Chlorophyll-a assayed via a more accurate method. Wetland oxygen assayed using 12 hour deployments of dissolved oxygen loggers. Additional wetland monitoring: Continuous logging (10 minute intervals) of dissolved oxygen and temperature spanning a minimum of 12 hours (late afternoon to following morning) to capture the full range of oxygen conditions at each flooded wetland. Wetland nutrients, carbon and Chlorophyll a Short term: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native fish reproduction? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native larval fish growth? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native fish survival? Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Chlorophyll-a, Nutrients (TN, TP, NOx, NH4)* Spot measures of conductivity, turbidity, DO and pH. Wetland hydrology aquatic veg Aligned with core wetland monitoring sites 12 sites across 3 zones: Mid- Murrumbidgee, Redbank, 5 in 5 years, 4 surveys per year Processed on-site using a portable colourimeter and nutrient test kits
environmental water contribute to native fish survival? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native fish populations? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native fish diversity? Fish SA CPUE, abundance, diversity, species richness, condition, native species biomass, size structure, SRA indices (nativeness, expectedness, recruitment index) Hydrology (River) Water quality, Water temperature Murrumbidgee River. 3 zones (Narrandera, Carrathool and Balranald reach) 21 sites spread across 3 zones (n=7 sites per zone), SRA sampling protocol. Note: Data from some Cat 1 sites in the Carrathool zone will be used for Selected Area analysis and reporting Year 1 and 5 sampling consisting of SRA protocol: Electrofishing (n=12 × 90 sec shots) Unbaited bait traps (n = 10 × min 1.5 hr soak) Methods Category 1 Standard methods will be used in zone 2 (Darlington point to Carrathool) for reporting. These methods will provide information on native fish responses to environmental water across multiple time scales. Note that we have provided a budget for the destructive sampling of periodic and equilibrium species in years one and five based on the expected level of effort required to obtain the required sample sizes and size range of species required to generate age-growth curves. This sampling will occur in addition to annual community sampling and at other locations within zone 2 (Darlington point to Carrathool) to avoid influencing annual survey results. Further, in order to improve comparability with historical data (SRA, NSW DPI) and for use in Selected Area analysis and reporting, the following additional protocols and augmentations at each site have been proposed;
Increase in native fish diversity in wetlands targeted for Commonwealth environmental watering between year 1 and 5 Increase in native fish recruitment (Young-Of-year) within and between water years Increase contribution of wetland fish recruitment to sustain riverine fish populations through fish movement from wetlands to the river during return flows Increase in distribution of native species across wetlands within the wetlands of the Murrumbidgee Selected Area LTIM Project indicator Evaluation questions Metrics Critical covariates/ data sources Sampling regime Wetland fish SA Long term: What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to native fish populations and native fish diversity? term: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to native fish community resilience and native fish survival? Species diversity and abundance of large and fish (CPUE) Population structure: size frequency Species occupancy patterns and changes in spatial distribution Community composition (proportion of native species) Demographic structure Age daily growth of young of year Hydrology (Wetland) (Cat 1) Antecedent conditions Day length temperature Water depth Connection days Microinvertebrates community composition, abundance and size structure (food availability for larval fish) quality Nutrients, carbon and Chlorophyll-a Three zones – Fixed: Mid-Murrumbidgee 4 sites: 4 (Nimmie-Caira ( 4 sites), Redbank (4 sites) 2 replicates sets of 12 mm double winged large fyke (80cm hoops) or 2 replicates 12mm mesh double winged 50cm hoop (shallow wetlands) and 2mm (double wing) fyke nets (50cm hoops) optimised methods.
Evaluation Questions Basin scale evaluation questions: Long-term (five year) questions: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird populations? (one year) and long-term (five year) questions: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird breeding? What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to waterbird chick fledging? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird survival? Selected Area evaluation questions: What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird breeding? What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird chick fledging and waterbird survival? Flow type: Overbank Predictions: increases in non-colonial waterbird breeding activity (total number of breeding species and total number of broods) following Commonwealth environmental watering Initiation of nesting activity in ibis, egret, heron and cormorant colonies as a result of watering actions targeting known colony sites Maintenance of stable water levels in colony sites using Commonwealth environmental water to support successful fledging of waterbird chicks
Maintenance of water levels in feeding habitats using Commonwealth environmental water to support successful fledging of waterbird chicks. Figure 22 Cause and effect diagram depicting the influence of flow on waterbird survival and condition. Figure 23 Cause and effect diagram depicting the influence of flow on waterbird reproduction and recruitment. Yellow boxes indicate other CEDs. LTIM Project Indicators Evaluation questions Metrics Critical covariates Survey methods Waterbird reproduction (Cat 1) Optional component What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to: - waterbird populations? - waterbird breeding? - waterbird chick fledging? - waterbird survival? Colony extent Start and end of breeding Number of nests (pairs) per vegetation type Number of in each nesting stage (eggs, early & late nestling stages) Estimate of number of nests successfully fledged and mean number of chicks Inundation extent (ha) Water depth Diversity and abundance of food resources (e.g., fish, frog, and Habitat heterogeneity Vegetation type & condition quality (DO, salinity) Total waterbird species richness (including non-colonial species) Number of predators Cat 1 methods for large ibis colonies repeat fortnightly ground surveys over a three month breeding season Continuous measurement of water depth (as per Hydrology (Wetland) standard method) Adhoc observations of waterbird diversity and predators (birds of prey, pigs, foxes, cats) Eulimbah Swamp and/or Telephone Swamp in Nimmie-Caira zone Waterbird survival and condition (Cat 1) Optional component Number of breeding events Number of active colonies Number of breeding species Number of adults of each species Waterbird reproduction (SA - Murrumbidgee Selected Area) Optional component Colony extent Start and end of breeding Number of nests (pairs) per vegetation type Number of nests in each nesting stage (eggs, early & late nestling stages) SA sites: 5 out of 5 years (Sep-Apr) Aerial reconnaissance surveys in spring and fortnightly ground surveys where required in major egret colonies using SA methods Ground surveys at start and end of breeding period for smaller colonies Multiple sites - egret, heron and cormorant colonies in
LIDAR data to support calculation of the Category 1 wetland hydrology metrics, reducing costs associated with continuous redeployment. Table Summary of sites and activities (wetlands) Zone Site Wetland nutrients, carbon & chlorophyll a Microcrustacea Wetland fish, tadpoles and frogs Vegetation diversity Waterbird diversity Waterbird breeding (Optional potential sites) Hydrology Eulimbah Telephone Avalon Swamp Nap Nap Redbank Two Bridges Swamp Mercedes Swamp Piggery Lake Wagourah Lagoon Redbank Riversleigh Flow return option Paul Coates Steam Engine Swamp wetlands Yarrada McKennas Sunshower Gooragool Table Summary of sites and activities (rivers) Zone Site Fish community Larval fish Stream metabolism nutrients, carbon & chlorophyll a Microcrustacea Narrandera Site 7 SA SA Site 8 SA Site 9 SA Site 10 SA SA
Field sampling @ wetland fish sites Process samples, analysis, transfer Fish community (river) Cat 1 Annual sampling Information transfer Fish recruitment Cat 1 sampling sample processing Information transfer Fish community (river) (SA) (Yr 1) Field sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Larval fish Cat 1 and (SA) Fortnightly collection Processing, data and analysis Information transfer Wetland fish, (SA) Field sampling Processing, data and analysis Information transfer Vegetation diversity (Cat 2) sampling Processing, data and analysis Information transfer Waterbird diversity (Cat 2) sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Synthesis, evaluation Analysis, report Reporting Monthly (year 1 written and verbal) Quarterly reports Area evaluation report Communication and engagement Verbal (monthly) (working group) Annual flow planning Newsletter Indicator Year 2 Activity Jul 15 Aug 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 Mar 16 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16 Hydrology Cat 1and SA Derive flow metrics Information transfer Stream Metabolism Cat 1 Site selection Logging DO, monthly nutrients Information transfer River nutrients, DOC, CHLa (SA) Field sampling @larval fish sites Processing, data and analysis Wetland nutrients, DOC, CHLa (SA) sampling@ wetland fish sites Processing, data and analysis Microcrustaceans (SA) Field sampling @larval fish sites Field sampling @ wetland fish sites Process samples, analysis, transfer Fish community (river) Cat 1 Annual sampling Information transfer Fish recruitment Sample processing
Cat 1 Information transfer Larval fish Cat 1 and (SA) Fortnightly collection Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Wetland Fish, frogs (SA) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Vegetation diversity (Cat 2) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Waterbird diversity (Cat 2) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Synthesis Analysis and evaluation Y1 Y1 Y1 Reporting Area evaluation report Y 1 D Y1 F Quarterly reports Verbal reporting (monthly) Communication and engagement Annual flow planning Newsletter Indicator Year 3 Activity Jul 16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Oct 16 Nov 16 Dec 16 Jan 17 Feb 17 Mar 17 Apr 17 May 17 Jun 17 Hydrology Cat 1and SA Derive flow metrics Information transfer Stream Metabolism Cat 1 Site selection Logging DO, monthly nutrients Information transfer River nutrients, DOC, CHLa Field sampling @larval fish sites Processing, data entry and analysis Wetland nutrients, DOC, CHLa (SA) sampling@ wetland fish sites Processing, data and analysis Microcrustaceans (SA) Field sampling @larval fish sites Field sampling @ wetland fish sites Process samples, analysis, transfer Fish community (river) Cat 1 Annual sampling Information transfer Fish recruitment Cat 1 Sample processing Information transfer Larval fish Cat 1 and (SA) Fortnightly collection Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Sampling
Processing, data entry and analysis Vegetation diversity (Cat 2) Sampling Processing, data and analysis Information transfer Waterbird diversity (Cat 2 ) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Synthesis Analysis and evaluation Y3 Y3 Y3 Reporting Area evaluation report Draft Y3 D Y3 F Quarterly reports Verbal reporting (monthly) Communication and engagement Annual flow planning Newsletter Indicator Year 5 Activity Jul 18 Aug 18 Sep 18 Oct 18 Nov 18 Dec 18 Jan 19 Feb 19 Mar 19 Apr 19 May 19 Jun 19 Hydrology Cat 1 and SA Derive flow metrics Information transfer Stream Metabolism Cat 1 Site selection Logging DO, monthly nutrients Information transfer River nutrients, DOC, CHLa (SA) Field sampling @larval fish sites Processing, data entry and analysis Wetland nutrients, DOC, CHLa (SA) sampling@ wetland fish sites Processing, data entry and analysis Microcrustaceans (SA) Field sampling @larval fish sites Field sampling @ wetland fish sites Process samples, analysis, transfer Fish community (river) Cat 1 Annual sampling
Information transfer Fish recruitment Cat 1 Field collection Sample processing Information transfer Fish community (river) (SA) Annual sampling Processing, data and analysis Information transfer Larval fish Cat 1 and (SA) Fortnightly collection Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Wetland fish, (SA) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Vegetation diversity (Cat 2) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Waterbird diversity (Cat 2 ) Sampling Processing, data entry and analysis Information transfer Synthesis Analysis and evaluation Y4 YA Y4 Reporting Area evaluation report Y4D Y4F Quarterly reports Verbal reporting (monthly) Communication and engagement Annual flow planning Newsletter Indicator Year 6 Activity Jul 18 Aug 18 Sep 18 Oct 18 Nov 18 Dec 18 Jan 19 Feb 19 Mar 19 Apr 19 May 19 Jun 19 Reporting Area evaluation report Draft DY5 F Y5 Quarterly reports Verbal reporting (monthly) Communication and engagement Reference group,
INVOLVE Environmental managers (NSW OEH, CEWH) Environmental water delivery agency (NSW OEH, State Water, Office of Water) Riverina Local Land Services (LLS) Environmental Water Allowance Reference Groups (Murrumbidgee EWARG) Landholders and Land managers (Private and Public lands) Agricultural industry groups (e.g. Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Coleambally Irrigation Area, Rice growers Australia) government Catchment managers Aboriginal Community Real-time verbal and written information to inform adaptive management Update reports Planning teleconferences Monitoring reports Volunteer/In-kind contributions Input to Media Releases Act in accordance with the CEWO code of conduct Key Engagement activities Murrumbidgee Working Group The Murrumbidgee Working Group has existed as an informal group for a number of years, with membership formalised as part of Stage 1 for the Murrumbidgee LTIM Project with membership approved by CEWO. The working group has members from key stakeholder groups including environmental water managers and ecologists in NSW OEH (including NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service), NSW Office of Water, State Water, CEWO Delivery team members, and team members from CSU, NSW OEH. Riverina LLS, UNSW and DPI. In addition to core group members the group Chair has the capacity to call on experts to provide specific advice to assist in monitoring, water management and flow planning. The group’s primary function is to provide support and advice in relation to the strategic direction of the Murrumbidgee LTIM Project, advice and comment on annual flow planning, day to day operations of Commonwealth environmental water and adaptive management. Importantly the working group provides a forum for the
Table 13 Core project team and responsibilities Name Organisation Project Role Responsibility- evaluation and reporting Dr Skye Wassens CSU Project Leader CSU Team Leader Wetland fish, frogs Dr Andrew Hall CSU CSU team member Hydrology and ecosystem type Dr Ben Wolfenden CSU CSU team member Stream metabolism, return flows, wetland nutrients Nikki Scott CSU CSU team member Project administration and management Dr Jennifer Spencer NSW OEH NSW OEH team leader (assistant project leader) Waterbird diversity and breeding, assistant project leader Rachael Thomas NSW OEH NSW OEH team member Hydrology and ecosystem type Dr Yoshi Kobayashi NSW OEH NSW OEH team member Stream metabolism Dr Jason Thiem NSW DPI DPI Team leader Riverine Fish, larval fish and fish movement Dr Kim Jenkins UNSW UNSW team leader (assistant project leader ) Microinvertebrates, assistant project leader Dr Gilad Bino UNSW UNSW team member Data analysis, process modelling and synthesis Dr Kate Brandis UNSW UNSW team member Waterbird breeding Erin Lenon MCMA MCMA team leader Community liaison, vegetation diversity, tree canopy condition Table 14 Summary of primary responsibilities for each monitoring, evaluation and reporting of each activity outlined in the M&E Plan LTIM Project Indicators Monitoring coordination – data collection Evaluation and reporting Ecosystem Type Wolfenden/Hall Wolfenden/Hall Hydrology Cat 1 Wolfenden/Hall Hall/Thomas Stream metabolism Cat 1 and SA Wolfenden Wolfenden/Kobayashi Return flows Wolfenden Wolfenden/ Kobayashi Wetland nutrients, Wolfenden Wolfenden/ Kobayashi Microcrustaceans Jenkins Jenkins Fish community (river) Cat 1 Thiem Thiem Fish recruitment Cat 1 Thiem