Table 1: Summary of outcomes being targeted by environmental watering in the Lower Murray-Darling region BASIN-WIDE OUTCOMES (Outcomes in red link to the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy, MDBA 2014) EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR LOWER MURRAY–DARLING ASSETS IN-CHANNEL ASSETS END OF SYSTEM OFF-CHANNEL ASSETS River Murray from Euston to Lower Lakes Lower Darling River Great Darling Anabranch Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Hattah Lakes Floodplain and wetlands from Euston to South Australian border Floodplain and wetlands from South Australian border to Lower Lakes VEGETATION Maintain riparian and in-channel vegetation condition. Increase periods of growth for vegetation communities that closely fringe or occur within river channels. Ensure survival and promote growth and recruitment of Ruppia tuberosa in the south lagoon of the Coorong. Maintain or improve the diversity, condition and extent of aquatic and littoral vegetation at the Lower Lakes. Maintain the current extent of water-dependent vegetation near river channels and on low-lying areas of the floodplain. Improve condition of black box, river red gum and lignum shrublands. Improve recruitment of trees within black box and river red gum communities. WATERBIRDS Provide habitat and food sources to support waterbird survival and recruitment, and maintain condition and current species diversity. Maintain habitat and food sources to support improvement in waterbird condition and populations within the Lower Lakes and Coorong lagoons (including curlew sandpiper, greenshank, red-necked stint and sharp-tailed sandpiper). Complete seasonally appropriate colonial bird breeding events that are in danger of failing due to drying. FISH Provide flows to support habitat and food sources and promote increased movement, recruitment and survival/condition of native fish. Maintain or improve diversity, condition and population for fish populations (inc estuarine-dependent fish) through providing suitable habitat conditions within the Coorong lagoons and maintaining migration pathways that supports species recruitment and survival/condition. Provide flow cues to promote increased movement, recruitment Provide flow cues to promote increased movement, recruitment and survival/condition of native fish (particularly for floodplain specialists).
Southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis) Establish additional populations in the Lower Lakes Only if additional populations are established Trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) For the connected population of the Murrumbidgee–Murray–Edwards, continue downstream expansion. Yes Two-spined blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) Establish additional populations (no specific locations identified) Yes Yarra pygmy perch (Nannoperca obscura) Expand the range of current populations including the Lower Lakes/Coorong region Yes Important Basin environmental assets for native fish in the Lower Murray Environmental asset Key movement corridors High Biodiversity Site of other Significance Key site of hydrodynamic diversity Threatened species Dry period / drought refuge In-scope for C’th watering? Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth * * * * * Yes Swamps on the lower Murray channel, between Wellington and Mannum (swamp geomorphic region * * Yes Kerang lakes * * Yes Katarapko anabranch * * Yes Pike anabranch * * Yes Lower River Murray main channel (from Darling junction downstream) * * * * * Yes Murray main channel (from Hume dam to Darling junction) * * * * * * Yes Chowilla anabranch * * * * * * Yes Lindsay–Wallpolla–Mularoo Creek * * * * * * Yes Lower Darling main channel * * * * * * Yes Darling anabranch * * Yes Hattah Lakes * * Yes