Risk Description Likelihood Consequence Risk ranking Mitigation Water quality and salinity Acid sulphate soils (ASS) ASS are known to occur in Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert as well as upstream in the Murray channel and associated wetlands (Fitzpatrick et al. 2008a, 2008b, 2009). Any unforseen reduction in flow exposing these soils would present water quality management issues for these areas. Possible Moderate Medium Undertake a detailed assessment of sites suspected/known to contain ASS to quantify the level of risk and identify appropriate management strategies. If water levels are maintained within the levels proposed in this document, ASS are unlikely to constitute a major risk. Blackwater (low dissolved oxygen) Blackwater events in the Murray River generally originate in the upper catchment areas (i.e. central Murray floodplain forests), however, they have the potential to occur anywhere that organic material is mobilised from the floodplain. Blackwater events upstream may carry anoxic waters through to South Australia, and impact local ecology, or, they may be created in South Australia itself. Unlikely Moderate Low Assess likelihood of high flow volumes creating blackwater events in South Australia and adopt appropriate management strategies for high flow events (e.g. conduct watering outside of the spring-summer period where possible, ensure follow-up flows to the event will occur to flush any anoxic waters). Work with upstream environmental water managers to ensure South Australia is notified of backwater events and develop management strategies to cope with such an event (e.g. ensure follow-up flows to the event will occur to flush any anoxic waters). Blackwater events are likely to be diluted by the time flows reach the South Australian border. Salt mobilisation during high flows Salt discharge into the River Murray in South Australia Possible Major High Monitor salinity of flows upstream, and within, South Australia. Ensure appropriate management strategies are in place to manage
The University of Adelaide also undertakes an annual census of the Lower Lakes, through the TLM program. The lakes are divided into 1 km2 sections: all birds are counted on foot, using spotting scope and binoculars. Late January, early February University of Adelaide Australian Wader Studies Group: see Wainwright and Christie (2008), and references therein, for more detail on shorebirds only. North Lagoon, South Lagoon, Murray Mouth Estuary: 25 sections surveyed over two days by land and boat-based teams. Conducted annually in February Australasian Wader Studies Group Coorong Nature Tours covers fixed sites: Lake Albert & Alexandrina—23 sites (covering a range of habitats) Coorong North –10 Sites Coorong South –10 Sites Barrage Survey—14 sites. Each site is scanned in an arc radius of approximately 1.5 km. All bird species and numbers viewed are recorded. Special attention is paid to unusual birds for accurate identification (up to 30 mins). All flagged birds observed are recorded and submitted to Birds Australia, a national environmental and research group. Monthly SA MDB NRM Board, Coorong Tours Data maintained by DENR in digital database (SVY 177) Frogs Southern bell frog census of the Lower Lakes: nocturnal surveys are undertaken at sites with suitable habitat using call recognition, call playback and spotlighting techniques. Tadpole surveys undertaken using bait traps and fyke nets. Nocturnal November and December. Tadpole surveys during January and February SA MDB NRM Board
Fauna type Common name Scientific name Species habitat/ presence of species Breeding status Coorong Lower Lakes Lock 1 to Wellington EPBC Act CAMBA JAMBA RoKAMBA IUCN Red list State gov. listing Fish Black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri MM/estuary Breed • Fish Bridled gobi Acentrogobius bifrenatus Breed • • Fish Tamar goby Afurcagobius tamarensis MM/estuary, N Lagoon Breed • Fish Yelloweye mullet Aldrichetta forsteri MM/estuary, N Lagoon • Fish Agassiz’s glassfish Ambassis agassizii Historically recorded in Finniss River, not recorded since 2003/present. • e Fish Longsnout flounder Ammotretis rostratus MM/estuary, N Lagoon • Fish Short-finned eel Anguilla australis Historically recorded in Lake Alexandrina (Alex). Not recorded since 2003/present. • r Fish Bridled goby Arenigobius bifrenatus MM/estuary Breed • Fish Mulloway Argyearosomus hololepidotus MM/estuary • EN Fish Australian herring Arripis georgianus MM/estuary, N Lagoon • Fish Western Australian salmon Arripis truttaceus MM/estuary, N Lagoon • Fish Smallmouth hardyhead Atherinosoma microstoma MM/estuary, N Lagoon, S Lagoon/abundant. Breed • Fish Silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus Historically recorded in Lake Alex. Not recorded since prior to 2003/present. • VU e
Fish Murray hardyhead Craterocephalus fluviatilis Recorded at two sites in Lake Alex in Nov 2008, but were not detected in March 2009 (Wedderburn & Barnes 2009). Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • VU EN e Fish Australian anchovy Engraulis australis MM/estuary, N Lagoon Breed • Fish River black fish Gadopsis marmoratus Recorded breeding 2011 in Bremer River. Breed • • e Fish Climbing galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis Breed • • r Fish Barred galaxias Galaxias fuscus MM/estuary Breed • • EN CR Fish Common galaxias Galaxias maculatus MM/estuary Breed • Fish Mountain galaxias Galaxias olidus Recorded in Finniss River in 2003, not recorded since then/present. Breed • v Fish Pouched lamprey Geotria australis Murray estuary Historically recorded in Lake Alex. Not recorded since 2003/present. Breed • • e Fish Soldier Gymnapistes marmoratus MM/estuary • Fish Striped perch Helotes sexlineatus MM/estuary Breed • LC Fish Ogilby's weedfish Heteroclinus heptaeolus MM/estuary • Fish Sandy sprat Hyperlophus vittatus MM/estuary, N Lagoon •
Fish Western carp gudgeon Hypseleotris klunzingeri • Fish Midgley's carp gudgeon Hypseleotris sp. • Fish Hybrid carp gudgeon Hypseleotris spp. • Fish Big-bellied seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis MM/estuary • DD Fish Southern garfish Hyporhamphus melanochir MM/estuary Breed • Fish River garfish Hyporhamphus regularis MM/estuary, N Lagoon Breed • Fish Goldspot mullet Liza argentea MM/estuary Breed • Fish Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii Historically recorded in Lake Alex. Not recorded since prior to 2003/present. • VU CR v Fish Estuary perch Macquaria colonorum Murray estuary. Historically recorded in Lake Alex. Not recorded since prior to 2003/present. Breed • • Fish Murray rainbow fish Melanotaenia fluviatilis Breed • • Fish Purple-spotted gudgeon Mogurnda adspersa Recorded breeding 2011 in Paiwalla Wetlands. Breed • e Fish Short-headed lamprey Mordacia mordax Murray estuary. Historically recorded in Lake Alex. Not recorded since prior to 2003/present. Breed • • e Fish Sea mullet Mugil cephalus MM • LC Fish Southern eagle Myliobatis australis MM • LC
ray Fish Southern pygmy perch Nannoperca australis Recorded in Lake Alex in 2003, not recorded since then. Have undergone a significant reduction in distribution and abundance since early 2007 (Wedderburn & Barnes 2009)/present. Breed • e Fish Yarra pygmy perch Nannoperca obscura Recorded in Lake Alex in 2003. Have undergone a significant reduction in distribution and abundance since early 2007. Despite extensive sampling they were not detected within Lake Alex in Nov 2008 or Mar 2009 surveys, and the species is now likely extinct from the Murray-Darling basin (Wedderburn & Barnes 2009)/present. Breed • VU VU e Fish Bony bream Nematalosa erebi MM/estuary Breed • Fish Western striped grunter Pelates octolineatus MM/estuary • Fish Flat-headed gudgeon Philypnodon grandiceps Murray estuary. Recorded recently in Coorong but only under conditions of freshwater inflow. Breed • r
Bird Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa Breed • • • LC Bird Darter Anhinga melanogaster (novaehollandiae) Rarely recorded in Coorong, variable estuary/present. Marked decline-to-uncommon in Lake Alex, uncommon in Lake Albert. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • • LC r Bird Cattle egret Ardea ibis Increase then decline in estuary, not recorded in Coorong/present. Uncommon in Lake Alex, rare in Lake Albert. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/ present. • • • X X LC r Bird Intermediate egret Ardea intermedia Coorong: not recorded since 2000/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • • • LC r Bird Eastern great egret Ardea modesta Coorong: population decline to very low numbers/present. Common but variable in Lake Alex, marked decline-to-rare in Lake Albert No • • X X LC Bird Flesh-footed shearwater Ardenna carneipes • X X LC r Bird Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres Coorong: rare/present. NB Migrant • m X X X LC r 2009/present.
Bird Hardhead Aythya australis Breed • • • LC Bird Musk duck Biziura lobata Coorong: variable but at times common/present. Lower Lakes: rare Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • • LC r Bird Australasian bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus Coorong: not recorded recently/present. Lower Lakes: rare ? • • EN v Bird Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata Coorong: very common but recent marked decline/present. NB Migrant • m X X X LC Bird Sanderling Calidris alba Coorong: variable population from common to absent/present. NB Migrant • m X X X LC r Bird red knot Calidris canutus Coorong: not present in most years/present. NB Migrant • m X X X LC Bird Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Coorong: marked decline/present. Decline 2004–2009 in Lake Alex, increase in Lake Albert in same period/present. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC Bird Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos Coorong: rare not recorded since 2000/present. • • m X X LC r Bird Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis Coorong: large population but recent large decline/present. Trend variable but common in Lake Alex, marked increase in Lake Albert • • m X X X LC 2009/present.
Bird Long-toed stint Calidris subminuta Rare in estuary/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded 2003–2009/present. • • m X X X LC r Bird Great knot Calidris tenuirostris Coorong: generally uncommon/present. • m X X X VU r Bird Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae Coorong: population variable/present. Marked decline-to-uncommon in Lake Alex, rare in Lake Albert 2003 to 2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • • • m LC r Bird Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus • • • m LC Bird Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultii Coorong: not recorded recently/present. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • • m X X X LC r Bird Lesser sand plover Charadrius mongolus Coorong: rare/present. • m X X X LC r Bird Red-capped plover Charadrius ruficapillus • • • LC Bird Australian wood duck Chenonetta jubata Breed • • • LC Bird Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybridus • • • LC
Bird Banded stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Coorong: recent large population increases/present. Marked decline-to-uncommon in Lake Alex, rare in Lake Albert 2003 to 2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • • LC v Bird Black swan Cygnus atratus Breed • • • LC Bird Little egret Egretta garzetta Coorong: uncommon/present. Lower Lakes: rare 2003–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed: Lake Alex • • • LC r Bird White-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae Breed • • • LC Bird Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops Breed • • • LC Bird Red-kneed dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus Breed • • • LC Bird Latham's snipe Gallinago hardwickii Lower Lakes: not recorded 2003–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • • • m X X X r Bird Brolga Grus rubicunda Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • LC r Bird Sooty oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus Coorong: uncommon, population established in early 1980s/present. Breed • LC Bird Pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris Coorong: stable/present. Breed • LC r Bird White-bellied Haliaeetus Breed • • X LC e
leucogaster Bird Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus Breed • • • m LC Bird Caspian tern Hydroprogne (Sterna) caspia Marked decline in estuary, and habitat in Coorong is variable. Marked decline 2003–2009 in both lakes. Rare Breed • • X LC Bird Pacific gull Larus pacificus • • • LC Bird Lewin's rail Lewinia pectoralis Coorong: rare/present. Lower Lakes: rarely recorded in Lake Alex, not recorded in Lake Albert 2003–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • LC v Bird Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica Coorong: recent population increases/present. Lower Lakes: rarely recorded 2003 to NB Migrant • • m X X X LC r Bird Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa Coorong: population variable/present. Rarely recorded in Lower Lakes 2003–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. NB Migrant • • • m X X X NT r Bird Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus • • • LC Bird Little pied cormorant Microcarbo (Phalacrocorax) melanoleucos Breed • • • LC
Bird Orange-bellied parrot Neophema chrysogaster Coorong: recent marked decline to very low numbers/present. Rarely recorded 2003–2009. Recent marked decline evident (Ehmke et al. 2009)/present. NB Migrant • • CR X CR e Bird Eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis Coorong: population variable/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded NB Migrant • • m X X X VU v Bird Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Coorong: historically common but now rare/present. Not recorded 2003–2009/present. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC r Bird Nankeen night heron Nycticorax caledonicus Breed • • • LC Bird Blue-billed duck Oxyura australis Coorong: rarely recorded/present. Lower Lakes: rare 2003–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. NB Migrant • • • NT r Bird Eastern osprey Pandion cristatus Lower Lakes: present. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. • m LC e Bird Australian pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus Breed • • • Bird Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Breed • • • LC Bird Black-faced cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens • LC
Bird Little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Breed • • • LC Bird Pied cormorant Phalacrocorax varius Breed • • • LC Bird Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Vagrant/present NB Migrant • X X X LC Bird Ruff Philomachus pugnax Coorong: rare/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded 2003–2009/present. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC r Bird Yellow-billed spoonbill Platelea flavipes Breed • • • LC Bird Royal spoonbill Platelea regia Breed • • • LC Bird Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus Coorong: not recorded since 2002/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded since 2007, 268 recorded in Lake Alex in 2005. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed: Lake Alex • • • m X LC r Bird Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva Coorong: variable in moderate numbers/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded since 2007, 14 recorded Lake Alex in 2004/present. NB Migrant • • m X LC r Bird Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola Coorong: uncommon/present. Lower Lakes: rarely recorded in Lake Alex, not recorded in Lake Albert NB Migrant • • m X X X LC
Bird Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Variable in Coorong; marked decline in estuary/present. Lower Lakes: severe decline 2005–2009 to rare in 2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • • LC r Bird Regent parrot Polytelis anthopeplus Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • VU LC v Bird Hoary-headed grebe Popiocephalus poliocephalus Breed • • • LC Bird Purple swamphen Porphyeario porphyeario Breed • • • LC Bird Australian spotted crake Porzana fluminea Breed • • • LC Bird Spotless crake Porzana tabuensis Lower Lakes: rare Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • • LC r Bird Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Breed • • • LC Bird Australian painted snipe Rostratula australis Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • VU X EN v Bird Common tern Sterna hirundo Coorong: rarely recorded/present. Rarely recorded in Lake Alex, not recorded in Lake Albert 2003–2009/present. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC r Bird Gull-billed tern Sterna nilotica • • • m LC Bird Little tern Sternula (Sterna) albifrons Coorong: not recorded since 2000/present. Lower Lakes: not recorded Breed: Coorong Islands • • m X X X LC e
Bird Fairy tern Sternula (Sterna) nereis Coorong: population decline/present. Rarely recorded in Lake Albert, not recorded in Lake Alex 2003–2009/present. Breed • • VU e Bird Freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa Coorong: uncommon and irregular/present. Lower Lakes: marked decline 2003–2009 in both lakes. Not recorded 2007–2009. Recorded Lock 1 to Wellington/present. NB Migrant • • • LC v Bird Crested tern Thalasseus (Sterna) bergii Breed • • • m LC Bird Hooded plover Thinornis rubricollis Coorong: uncommon but stable population/present. Rarely recorded in Lake Alex, not recorded Lake Albert 2003–2009/present. Breed • • NT v Bird Australian white ibis Threskiornis molucca Breed • • • LC Bird Straw-necked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Breed • • • LC Bird Black-tailed native-hen Tribonyx (Gallinula) ventralis Breed • • • LC Bird Grey-tailed tattler Tringa brevipes Vagrant/present NB Migrant • m X X X LC r
Bird Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola Uncommon in Lake Alex then recent decline to zero, not recorded in Lake Albert 2003–2009/present. NB Migrant • LC Bird Wandering tattler Tringa incana NB Migrant • m X X X LC Bird Common greenshank Tringa nebularia Stable in Coorong, increase in estuary/present. Lower Lakes: decline 2004–2009 in Lake Alex, uncommon Lake Albert in same period/present. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC Bird Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Coorong: variable but at times common/present. Lower Lakes: uncommon, but variable in numbers recorded in Lakes Alex and Albert. NB Migrant • • m X X X LC Bird Masked lapwing Vanellus miles Breed • • LC Bird Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus Coorong: rare/present. NB Migrant • m X X X LC r Amphibian Brown toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii Breed • • NT v Amphibian Golden bell frog Litoria raniformis Breed • • VU EN v Amphibian Marbled toadlet Pseudophryne semimarmorata Breed • • LC v Reptile Long-necked tortoise Chelodina longicollis Breed • • LC Reptile Macquarie tortoise Emydura macquarii Recorded Lower Lakes and Lock 1 to Wellington/present. Breed • • LC v