Population age structure of Murray cod indicates a large recruitment event 1 year in 5, demonstrated by a cohort representing >50% of the population. Did a YOY cohort represent >50% of the Murray cod population from the Gorge zone?3,4,5,6 Did the length-frequency distribution for Murray cod indicate at least 1 large recruitment event in the last 5 years, demonstrated by a YOY cohort6 representing >50% of the population from the Gorge zone? 3,4 Abundance (CPUE) of Murray cod increases by ≥50% over a 10-year period. Did the abundance of Murray cod in the Gorge zone increase by ≥20% over a 5-year period?3,7 Restore resilient populations of golden and silver perch specialists). Abundance (CPUE) of golden perch and silver perch increases by ≥30% over a 5-year period. Did the abundance of golden perch in the Gorge zone increase by >30% over a 5-year period? Did the abundance of silver perch in the Gorge zone increase by >30% over a period? 3 Restore resilient populations of freshwater catfish. Abundance (CPUE) of freshwater catfish increases by ≥30% over a 5-year period. Did the abundance of freshwater catfish in the Gorge zone increase by ≥30% over a 5-year period? 3 Restore and maintain resilient populations of foraging generalists (e.g. Australian smelt, bony herring, Murray rainbowfish, unspecked hardyhead, carp gudgeons, flathead gudgeons). The length-frequency distributions for foraging generalists include size classes showing annual recruitment. Did the length-frequency distribution for bony herring in the zone include size classes representing YOY? Did the length-frequency distribution for Murray rainbowfish in the Gorge zone include size classes representing YOY? Did the length-frequency distribution for carp gudgeon in the Gorge zone include size classes representing YOY? 10 Did the length-frequency distribution for bony herring in the Gorge zone include size classes representing YOY during all 5 years? Did the length-frequency distribution for Murray rainbowfish in the Gorge zone include size classes representing YOY during all 5 years? 10 Did the length-frequency distribution for carp gudgeon in the zone include size classes representing YOY during all 5 years? 10
.. CEWO and DEWNR evaluation questions for the LMR Selected Area by indicator. CEWO and DEWNR questions are sourced and/or adapted from Gawne et al. (2014) and the Long Term Watering Plan (LTWP) (DEWNR 2015), respectively. Cat. Indicator CEWO Key 1-year evaluation question DEWNR Key 1-year evaluation question* CEWO Key 5-year evaluation question DEWNR Key 5-year evaluation question* 1 Stream metabolism What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity? What did CEW contribute to patterns and of decomposition? What did CEW contribute to dissolved oxygen levels? What did CEW contribute to temporarily shifting open water productivity towards heterotrophy? What did CEW contribute to increased nutrients and DOC levels? What did CEW contribute to maintaining dissolved oxygen levels 50% saturation throughout the water column at all times? What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity? What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition? What did CEW contribute to dissolved oxygen levels? What did CEW contribute to maintaining or increasing annual autotrophic production and increasing annual heterotrophy? What did CEW contribute to temporarily shifting open water productivity towards heterotrophy in at least 3 years out of 5? What did CEW contribute to increased nutrients and DOC levels? What did CEW contribute to maintaining dissolved oxygen levels above 50% saturation throughout the water column at all times? 1 Fish (Channel) N/A See specific objectives in Table 4.1. Short-term evaluation questions for fish targets of DEWNR’s LTWP are provided in Table 4.2. N/A See specific objectives in Table 4.1. Long-term evaluation questions for fish targets of DEWNR’s LTWP are provided in Table 4.2. 1 Hydrology (Channel) None identified. What did CEW contribute to providing a seasonal hydrograph that encompassed variation in discharge, velocity and water levels? None identified. What did CEW contribute to providing a hydrograph that encompassed variation in discharge, velocity and water levels? What did CEW contribute to meeting the EWRs (all metrics) for the Channel?
3 Hydrological regime What did CEW contribute to hydraulic diversity within weir pools? What did CEW contribute to variability in water levels? What did CEW contribute to providing diverse hydraulic conditions and complex habitat for flow dependant biota and processes? What did CEW contribute to providing diverse hydraulic conditions over the of velocity classes in the lower third of weir pools so that habitat and processes for dispersal of organic and inorganic material between reaches are maintained? What did CEW contribute to hydrological connectivity? What did CEW contribute to variability in water levels? What did CEW contribute to providing diverse hydraulic conditions and complex habitat for flow dependant biota and processes? What did CEW contribute to providing diverse hydraulic conditions over the of velocity classes in the lower third of weir pools so that habitat and processes for dispersal of organic and inorganic material between reaches are maintained? What did CEW contribute to the range of velocity classes being present in the lower third of weir pools for at least 60-days in spring/summer in at least 3 years out of 5?
.. Complementary monitoring programs for potential use in evaluating ecological outcomes in the LMR Selected Area associated with Commonwealth environmental water. Funding source Description of site(s) Indicators Planned monitoring timeframe Security of funding Contact person SA MDB NRM Board Approximately 50 wetlands along the LMR Selected Area that are actively managed through operation of regulators or pumping Site (wetland) specific, dependent on objectives. Includes quality, groundwater, frogs, macroinvertebrates, birds, vegetation, fish Ongoing Unknown Darren Willis The Living Murray (TLM) Chowilla Water quality, vegetation, fish, birds Ongoing Funding significantly reduced in 2014-15 and 2015–16; Unknown for future years Jan Whittle TLM Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Vegetation, fish, birds, macro-invertebrates Ongoing Funding significantly reduced in 2014-15 and 2015–16; Unknown for future years Rebecca Turner Riverine Recovery Project (RRP) Approximately 60 wetlands along the LMR Selected Area that are actively managed through operation of regulators Not finalised. Site (wetland) specific, dependent on objectives. Includes vegetation, fish, birds, frogs, water quality 2014–2016 Unknown Tumi Bjornsson RRP Weir pool manipulation Inundation extent, flow velocity, vegetation, biofilms, macroinvertebrates 2014–2016 Funded Tumi Bjornsson SARFIIP Pike and Katarapko Floodplain Numerous, focus on fish 2016-2020 Likely funded Andy Harrison Goyder Institute Murray River: Lock 6 and Lock 5 weir pool and Chowilla Anabranch (creeks and floodplain) Water quality and open water metabolism: dissolved oxygen, BOD, dissolved organic carbon, nutrients February 2015 Funded Todd Wallace SA Water and MDBA (selected Lock 9, Lake Victoria Outlet, Murray River (MR) DS Rufus River Gauging Weir, MR 8 km downstream of Lock 6, MR Renmark, Lock 5, Key parameters include phytoplankton chlorophyll a, metals, basic phys/chem., colour, DOC, DO, nutrients, colifoms/E. Coli, Ongoing Not guaranteed (annual review) Thorsten Mosisch
Table .. Operational communications plan Activity Purpose Timing / frequency Responsibility Indicative attendees Project Meetings – CEWO and M&E Providers Project progress and outcomes Regular meetings between CEWO and the M&E Providers will serve to monitor project progress, ensure the project remains on track to deliver against the project outcomes and to discuss and resolve project risks, issues and actions. Monthly during Stage 1 Quarterly during Stage 2 SARDI CEWO M&E Provider (Project Leader plus others as required) M&E Adviser to M&E Provider meetings (with CEWO) Project approach, methods and technical guidance Consistency in monitoring and evaluation approach is required across all Selected Areas. The approach must be aligned with the Logic and Rationale document and monitoring for Basin-scale interests must be undertaken in a consistent manner (some flexibility may be possible in monitoring and evaluation of area-scale interests). The purpose of these meetings will be: for the M&E Advisers to brief the M&E Providers on the project approach and methods; and for the M&E Providers to seek technical guidance. Initial briefing workshop – 5 & 6 Dec 2013 Others as required M&E Adviser and CEWO CEWO M&E Advisers (Project Leader plus matter M&E Providers (Project Leader plus Task Leaders) LTIM Project Leaders Group meetings Collaboration and consistency Consistency across all Selected Areas is essential. Regular meetings between the M&E Provider Project Leaders for each Selected Area and CEWO will help achieve this. Such meetings will also provide an opportunity for the Project Leaders to collaborate and share knowledge and experiences. Monthly during Stage 1 Biannually from 2014–15 CEWO CEWO M&E Provider Project Leaders for each Selected Area Selected Area Working meetings Information and knowledge exchange The Selected Area Working Group meetings will provide a forum for all parties involved in environmental water delivery to exchange knowledge, information and observations. At least 2 times during Stage 1 3–4 times per year from 2014–15 SARDI Selected Area Working Group members M&E Provider annual workshops Technical collaboration As monitoring and evaluation activities proceed, adaptations will be required in response to practical experiences. Annual workshops will provide a forum to discuss lessons learned and collaborate on adapting the monitoring and evaluation activities. The workshops will also help to build relationships between the M&E Providers and create opportunities for efficiencies. Annually CEWO CEWO M&E Adviser (Project Leader plus Matter leads) M&E Providers (Project Leader plus Task Leaders)
Selected Area environmental watering group workshop Update on LTIM Project Combined with one Selected Area Workshop in Year 2 and Year 5, other members of the environmental watering group will be invited to be kept up to date on the activities and outputs of the monitoring program. Two workshops over the life of the project Likely in Year 2 and Year 5 Selected Area Working members Broader range of interested parties from the environmental watering group and community representatives Reporting to CEWO The timetable for reporting to CEWO is described in the table below. Table .. Summary of engagement, reporting and information transfer activities What Frequency Timing / due date Responsibility Receiver Description and high level requirements Inputs Monitoring and Evaluation Plan One-off Draft – 28 Feb 2014 Final – 17 Apr 2014 M&E Providers CEWO A plan for monitoring and evaluation in each Selected Area over the five-year period from 2014–15 to 2018–19. Monitoring work plan Annual August M&E Providers CEWO An annual plan will be developed and provided to CEWO. Evaluation work plan Annual August M&E Providers CEWO An annual plan will be developed and provided to CEWO. Area evaluation report Annual Draft – 30 Nov Final – 22 Dec report – 2015 report – 2019 M&E Providers CEWO A cumulative evaluation of the outcomes of Commonwealth environmental at each Selected Area, prepared in accordance with the M&E Plan. The report must be prepared in plain English with simple science and be suitable for publication on CEWO website. M&E Plan Monitoring data for the Selected Area
Progress reports – 2013–14 Monthly Nov 2013 to Jun 2014 (last business day of the month) M&E Providers CEWO A written progress report, summarising tasks completed since the last report, tasks planned for the upcoming period, emerging issues etc. Progress report template Progress reports – 2014–15 onwards Quarterly Sep, Dec, Mar and Jun (last business day of month) for the duration of the LTIM Project M&E Providers CEWO A written progress report, summarising tasks completed since the last report, tasks planned for the upcoming period, emerging issues etc. Progress report template Monitoring data entry Monthly Or as appropriate for indicators agreed by CEWO Monthly (or appropriate frequency agreed by CEWO) for the duration of the LTIM Project M&E Providers Monitoring Data Management System Processed monitoring data uploaded to the Monitoring Data Management System in accordance with data management protocols, as outlined in the M&E Plans. Data management protocols Information exchange As appropriate to support delivery of environmental water M&E Providers CEWO and other delivery partners Information exchange on project activities (monitoring undertaken, observations, evaluation) and any information that is available to M&E Providers that would support the delivery of environmental water. This could be written and/or verbal. The Selected Area Working Group is an appropriate forum.
Appendix C – Objectives, evaluation questions, hypotheses and outcomes for each component (indicator) of the LTIM Project. CEWO (Category 1) and Selected Area-scale (Category 3) evaluation questions relating to Basin Plan environmental and water quality objectives for water-dependant ecosystems (adapted from Gawne et al. 2014). Basin Plan level 1 objectives Basin outcomes 1-year expected outcomes 5-year expected outcomes Basin-scale 1-year evaluation questions Basin-scale 5-year evaluation questions Selected Area 1-year evaluation questions Selected Area 5-year evaluation questions LTIM indicator Biodiversity Species diversity Fish Condition Larval abundance Reproduction Fish diversity Larval and juvenile recruitment What did CEW contribute to native fish diversity? Category 1 Fish (Channel) What did CEW contribute to the reproduction of golden and silver perch? Category 3 Fish Spawning and Recruitment diversity What did CEW contribute to microinvertebrate diversity? What did CEW contribute to microinvertebrate abundance (density)? What did CEW contribute to microinvertebrate diversity? Category 3 Ecosystem function Connectivity Hydrological connectivity including end of system flows Biotic dispersal and movement Sediment transport What did CEW contribute to hydraulic diversity within weir pools? What did CEW contribute to variability in levels? What did CEW contribute to hydrological connectivity? What did CEW contribute to variability in levels? Category 3 Hydrological Regime
What did CEW contribute via upstream connectivity to microinvertebrate communities of the LMR Selected Area? Category 3 Process Primary productivity (of aquatic ecosystems) Decomposition Nutrient and carbon cycling What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition? What did CEW contribute to patterns and of primary productivity? What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of decomposition? What did CEW contribute to patterns and rates of primary productivity? Category 1 Stream Metabolism What did CEW contribute to concentrations and transport of phytoplankton? What did CEW contribute to ecosystem function? What did CEW contribute to water quality to support aquatic biota and normal biogeochemical processes? What did CEW contribute to concentrations and transport of phytoplankton? What did CEW contribute to ecosystem function? What did CEW contribute to quality to support aquatic biota and normal biogeochemical processes? Category 3 Matter Transport Resilience Ecosystem resilience Individual survival and condition Population condition What did CEW contribute to native What did CEW contribute to Category 1 Fish (Channel)
(individual refuges) Individual condition (ecosystem resistance) (individual refuges) Population condition (landscape refuges) Population condition (ecosystem recovery) fish community resilience? What did CEW contribute to native fish survival? native fish populations? What did CEW contribute to the resilience of golden perch and silver perch populations? Category 3 Fish Spawning and Recruitment What did CEW contribute to the resilience of microinvertebrate propagules? Category 3 Water quality Chemical Salinity Dissolved oxygen pH Dissolved organic carbon What did CEW contribute to dissolved oxygen levels? What did CEW contribute to dissolved oxygen levels? Category 1 Stream Metabolism What did CEW contribute to salinity levels and transport? What did CEW contribute to nutrient concentrations and transport? What did CEW contribute to the salinity regime? What did CEW contribute to nutrient concentrations and transport? Category 3 Matter Transport The following question for Category 3 Microinvertebrates is not present in the table as it broadly relates to multiple basin plan objectives and outcomes (Biodiversity: Species diversity; Ecosystem function: Process): What did CEW contribute to the timing and presence of key species in relation to diet of large-bodied native fish larvae (e.g. golden perch)?
Acronyms ANAE Interim Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council ARMCANZ Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand AS/NZS ISO Australian/New Zealand Standard International Organisation for Standardisation CED Causal effect diagram CEW Commonwealth Environmental Water CEWH Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder CEWO Commonwealth Environmental Water Office CLLMM Coorong Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth CPUE Catch Per Unit Effort CR Community Respiration CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DO Dissolved Oxygen DEWNR Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources EPA Environment Protection Authority EPBC Act Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act EWR Environmental Water Requirement GPS Global Positioning System IAP2 International Association of Public Participation LMR Lower Murray River LMRIA Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area LTIM Long Term Intervention Monitoring LTWP Long Term Watering Plan MDB Murray–Darling Basin MDBA Murray–Darling Authority MDBC Murray–Darling Basin Commission