1516-Mbg-12 Murrumbidgee – Nap Nap 7000.0 06/05/16 – 30/06/16 Wetland inundation primary Nap Nap, Wagauroh Not monitored in surveys 1516-Mbg-11 Murrumbidgee – Nap Nap – Waugorah 2557.0 06/05/16 – 30/06/16 Wetland inundation primary 1516-Mbg-10 Murrumbidgee – Sandy Creek 105.7 01/04/16 – 12/05/16 Wetland inundation secondary Not monitored Edward–Wakool – system 15 740.0 04/09/15 – 30/01/16 Base flow and Fresh primary Not monitored 1516-EdWak-02 Edward–Wakool – Wakool River 1444.9 04/09/15 – 30/01/16 Base flow and primary Wakool River Little observed effect Variable wetting history Edward–Wakool – Yallakool Creek 13 004.1 04/09/15 – 30/01/16 Base flow and primary Yallakool Creek Further gradual increase in riverbank and aquatic plant cover and species richness 1516-EdWak-04 Edward–Wakool – Tuppal Creek 2000.0 17/09/15 – 22/11/15 Base flow and Fresh primary Not monitored 1516-Gbn-01 Goulburn – River Channel 190 563.0 01/07/15 – 08/07/15 Fresh primary Not monitored 1516-Gbn-03 Goulburn – River Channel 03/10/15 – 29/10/15 primary Loch McCoys Bridge Little observed effect on plant cover, increased probability of aquatic taxa, reduced probability of grasses Dry antecedent conditions 1516-Gbn-05 Goulburn – Lower River Channel 15/03/16 – 05/04/16 Baseflow primary Not monitored 1516-Gwyd-01 Gwydir – Gwydir Wetlands 1350.0 09/01/16 – 11/02/16 Overbank primary Gwydir and Gingham wetlands Watering action did not inundate substantial wetland area
1516-Gwyd-02 Gwydir – Mallowa Wetlands (Commonwealth environmental water – Regulated water) 3150.0 09/11/15 – 05/02/16 Overbank (in conjunction with a and irrigation deliveries in the Mehi River) primary Mallowa wetlands Increased groundcover vegetation, especially native species. Reduced of exotic lippia. (Commonwealth environmental water – Supplementary) 336.0 primary 1516-Gwyd-04 Gwydir – Gwydir River System 2600.0 10/04/16 – 30/05/16 Baseflow secondary Not monitored TOTAL 336 965.5 1 As reported by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO). 2 As reported by the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Provider team for each Selected Area in Selected Area reports for 2015–16. ‘Not monitored’ indicates that an action was not directly monitored during this year. However, responses to actions will be considered in relation to future long-term monitoring.
Table . Water regime categories assigned to vegetation diversity field survey plots/transects at wetland/floodplain Selected Areas in 2015–16. D indicates ‘Dry’ and W indicates ‘Wet’. Refer to Section 2.1.1 for further details on water regime categories. Numbers indicate the total number of plots/transects surveyed in each water regime category at each survey time. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of sample points (i.e. locations) across which these plots/transects were distributed. The number of plots/transects (and associated sample points) affected by Commonwealth environmental watering actions delivered during 2015–16 are shown in bold. Selected Area Survey 1 Survey 2 Survey 3 Survey 4 D W D–D W* D* Gwydir river system 21 (10) 19 (6) 16 (7) 5 (3) 19 (6) 0 0 1 (1) Lachlan river system 32 (15) 18 (9) 4 (2) 28 (12) 0 13 (7) 4 (2) 18 (9) 2 (1) 0 4 (2) Murrumbidgee system 10 (10) 13 (6) 2 (1) 11 (6) 9 (4) 1 (1) 1 (1) 12 (6) 2 (1) 0 0 11 (6) 4 (2) 5 (3) 1 (1) 1 (1) 3 (3) 9 (4) 2 (1) 1 (1) 3 (2) 1 (1) 3 (3) 5 (4) 1 (1) 4 (3) 1 (1) 11 (6) 4 (2) Junction of the Warrego and Darling rivers 21 (8) 2 (1) 18 (7) 4 (3) 0 2 (1) 0 0 * Only sampled during second survey.
. Plant species only present in each wetland/floodplain Selected Area in 2014–15 and 2015–16 in plots/transects following inundation by Commonwealth environmental water delivered during this period. Gwydir river system Lachlan system Murrumbidgee system Junction of Warrego and Darling rivers Grasses Aristida leptopoda Diplachne fusca Echinochloa spp. Eriochloa crebra Leptochloa spp. Panicum decompositum Paspalum distichum Sporobolus caroli Echinochloa inundata Eragrostis australasica Eragrostis leptostachya Forbs Bidens pilosa* Eichhornia crassipes* Gratiola pedunculata Centipeda minima Rumex brownii Spirodela polyrhiza Tetragonia tetragonioides Vittadinia cuneata Azolla filiculoides Dichondra spp. Lythrum hyssopifolia Myriophyllum spp. Stellaria angustifolia Veronica catenata* Arctotheca calendula* Calotis erinacea Nymphoides crenata Rhaponticum repens* Senecio pinnatifolius var. pinnatifolius Stellaria media* Verbena gaudichaudii Heliotropium supinum* Chrysocephalum apiculatum Goodenia pinnatifida Gnaphalium spp. Persicaria spp. Sedges/rushes Cyperus bifax Persicaria hydropiper Eleocharis plana Carex appressa Carex bichenoviana Cyperus spp. Sub-shrubs/shrubs Eremophila debilis Persicaria lapathifolia Alternanthera nodiflora Atriplex leptocarpa Conyza sumatrensis* Lycium australe Persicaria orientalis Sclerolaena spp. Sida fibulifera Xanthium strumarium* Trees Acacia salicina Eucalyptus camaldulensis Eucalyptus largiflorens Myoporum acuminatum Mistletoes Dendrophthoe spp. Note: asterisks (*) indicate exotic species.
Table . Contribution of Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) watering over 2014–15 and 2015–16 to Basin Plan objectives associated with vegetation diversity. Basin Plan objectives Basin outcomes 5-year expected outcomes 1-year expected outcomes Measured and predicted 1–2-year outcomes1 Measured 1-year outcomes 2015–16 Measured 1–2-year outcomes 2014–16 Predicted 1–5-year outcomes Biodiversity (Basin Plan S. 8.05) Species diversity Plants Greater plant species diversity Establishment, growth, spread and reproduction of hydrophilic taxa Some species favoured by Commonwealth environmental water inundation but dependent on Selected Area. Some species only apparent following inundation by Commonwealth environmental inundation but dependent on Selected Area. Some species only apparent following inundation by Commonwealth environmental water inundation but dependent on Selected Area. Presence of some species in extant vegetation likely to be dependent on inundation by Commonwealth environmental water inundation but dependent on Selected Area. Mortality, reduced establishment and spread of taxa Exotic taxa mostly constrained by Commonwealth environmental water inundation but a few cases where exotic cover promoted by inundation. Lower proportional cover and richness of exotic taxa observed in response to inundation by Commonwealth environmental water and other sources. Lower proportional cover and richness of exotic taxa observed in response to inundation by Commonwealth environmental water and other sources. Mostly lower proportional cover and richness of exotic taxa in response to inundation although may be a risk of promoting exotic cover through short-duration inundation. Ecosystem diversity Vegetation Greater vegetation diversity Increased richness and productivity of wetland vegetation communities Mostly, but not consistently, increased diversity and cover of vegetation communities. Highly dependent on timing of survey and community type (e.g. wetland versus floodplain). Increased total cover and dominance of inundated vegetation communities and mostly higher species richness (though highly dependent on range of intrinsic and extrinsic factors). Greater vegetation cover in plots/transects subjected to at least some wetting during this period. Mostly, but not consistently, increased diversity and cover of vegetation communities. Shifts in composition of floodplain and wetland vegetation communities Consistently shifted vegetation composition towards dominance by a range of hydrophilic species (often emergent grasses and sedges) and Consistent and distinctive shifts in vegetation composition driven by wetting. Consistent and distinctive shifts in vegetation composition driven by wetting. Consistently shifted vegetation composition towards dominance by a range of hydrophilic species (often emergent grasses and sedges) and
Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Carpark Lagoons 229.00 21/10/15 – 31/01/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Molo Flat (Western and Eastern channels) 105.00 08/10/15 – 21/10/15 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Wiela 375.00 04/11/15 – 11/12/15 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Hogwash Bend North 28.00 14/01/16 – 06/04/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Hogwash Bend South 420.00 20/01/16 – 18/02/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Morgan East 200.00 12/11/15 – 30/01/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Morgan Conservation Park Bird & Meeting Lagoons 306.00 11 /01/16 – 29/04/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Maize Island Conservation Park 213.00 04/02/16 – 24/04/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NRM Board) – Yabby Creek 1290.00 10/03/16 – 18/05/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Lyrup Lagoon 284.00 01/09/15 – 30/01/16 Wetland inundation Primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Mundic Wetland 104.00 01/10/15 – 30/11/15 Wetland inundation Primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Duck Hole 271.00 01/10/15 – 30/11/16 Wetland inundation Primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Inner Mundic Creek 42.00 01/11/15 – 30/11/15 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – 117.00 01/09/15 – 30/04/16 Wetland inundation primary
Johnson's Waterhole Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – South Teringie 79.00 01/12/15 – 30/05/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Calperum Station 837.00 01/11/15 – 30/06/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Lescheid Pikes 19.00 01/12/15 – 30/12/15 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Loxton Riverfront Reserve 19.00 01/08/15 – 30/05/16 Wetland inundation primary Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Clark's Floodplain 105.00 01/08/15 – 30/03/16 Wetland inundation primary Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Waikerie Ferry 6.00 01/12/15 – 30/01/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Yarra Creek 593.00 01/10/15 – 30/01/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Thiele's Flat 43.00 01/08/15 – 30/03/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Rilli Reach – Stanitzkis 27.00 01/11/15 – 30/05/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Westbrooks 14.00 01/10/15 Wetland inundation primary Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Rilli Reserve 2.00 01/08/15 – 30/09/15 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Riversleigh 569.00 01/01/16 – 30/06/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Greigers @ Sugar Shack 59.00 01/12/15 – 30/04/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Greenways 39.00 01/02/16 – 30/03/16 Wetland inundation primary Lower Murray wetlands (NFSA) – Warnoch Lescheid 32.00 1/02/16 Wetland inundation primary 1516-Cmp-01 Campaspe – downstream of 1700.00 26/08/15 – 06/09/15 Fresh primary
Lake Eppalock (Reach 4 with benefit to Reaches 2 and 3 en route) Campaspe – downstream of Lake Eppalock (Reach 4 with benefit to Reaches 2 and 3 en route) 1558.70 27/10/15 – 04/11/15 Fresh primary 1516-Brkn-01 Lower Broken Creek – Reach 3 with benefit to Reaches 1 and 2 en route 29 519.50 12/08/15 – 22/05/16 Baseflow secondary 1516-Brkn-02 Lower Broken Creek – Reach 3 with benefit to Reaches 1 and 2 en route 18/08/15 Baseflow secondary 1516-Brkn-04 Lower Broken Creek – Reach 3 with benefit to Reaches 1 and 2 en route 01/10/15 Baseflow secondary 1516-Brkn-03 Lower Broken Creek – Reach 3 with benefit to Reaches 1 and 2 en route 18/08/15 – 12/09/15 28/09/15 – 30/11/15 Freshes secondary 1516-Brkn-05 Broken Creek – Reach 3 with benefit to Reaches 1 and 2 en route 25/10/15 – 9/11/15 29/11/15 – 31/12/15 Baseflows secondary 1516-Mur-01 NSW and Vic Murray – Murray to SA and Floodplain – River Murray Channel 99 400.00 22/06/15 – 24/07/15 Baseflow and freshes primary 1516-Mur-03 NSW and Vic Murray – River Murray to SA and Floodplain – River Murray Channel, Barmah and Millewa 172 600.00 25/07/15 – 10/09/15 Overbank primary 1516-Mur-04 NSW and Vic Murray – River Murray to SA and Floodplain – River Murray Channel, Barmah and Millewa 63 900.00 11/09/15 Overbank primary 16/05/16
floodplain (Supplementary water) Gwydir – Gwydir Wetlands 1350.00 09/01/16 – 11/02/16 Overbank primary Gwydir – Mallowa Wetlands (Commonwealth environmental – Regulated water) 3150.00 09/11/15 – 05/02/16 Overbank (in conjunction with a fresh and irrigation deliveries in the Mehi River) primary (Commonwealth environmental water – Supplementary) 336.00 primary Gwydir – Gwydir System 2600.00 10/04/16 – 30/05/16 Baseflow secondary Mallee wetland Sites – Brickworks Billabong 200.00 01/10/15 – 30/11/15 09/03/16 – 03/06/16 Wetland inundation primary Mallee wetland Sites – Cardross Wetland inundations 476.61 09/09/15 – 24/12/15 Wetland inundation primary Mallee wetland Sites – Cowanna Billabong 125.00 10/06/15 – 30/11/15 Wetland inundation primary Hattah Lakes 5347.50 12/10/15 – 23/10/15 Wetland inundation primary TOTAL 1 582 441.23 1 As reported by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO).