Plan Objectives Basin Outcomes 5 year Expected Outcomes 1 year Expected Outcomes Related and Effect Diagram (Reference only) Biodiversity (Basin Plan. S 8.05) Ecosystem diversity Landscape Ecosystem Diversity Species diversity Within Ecosystem Diversity Species diversity Vegetation Vegetation diversity Landscape Vegetation Diversity Reproduction Condition Vegetation Condition and Reproduction Growth and survival Germination Dispersal Vegetation Recruitment and Extent Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrate diversity Within Ecosystem Macroinvertebrate Diversity Fish Fish diversity Landscape Fish Diversity Condition Fish Condition Larval abundance Reproduction Fish Reproduction Larval and juvenile recruitment Fish Larval growth and survival Waterbirds Waterbird diversity Landscape Waterbird Diversity Waterbird diversity and population condition (Abundance and Population structure) Survival and condition Waterbird Survival and Condition Chicks Waterbird Reproduction Fledglings Waterbird Recruitment and Fledging vertebrate diversity Young Other Vertebrate Reproduction abundance Other Vertebrate Growth and Survival Ecosystem Function (Basin Plan S. 8.06) Connectivity Hydrological connectivity including end of system flows Hydrological Connectivity (including end of system flows) Biotic dispersal and movement Biotic Dispersal Sediment transport Sediment Transport Process Primary productivity (of aquatic ecosystems) Primary Production Decomposition Decomposition Nutrient and carbon cycling Nutrient and Carbon Cycling Resilience (Basin Plan S.8.07) Ecosystem resilience Population condition (individual refuges) Individual survival and condition (Individual refuges) Individual Refuges Population condition (landscape refuges) Landscape Refuges Individual condition (Ecosystem resistance) Ecosystem Resistance Population condition (Ecosystem recovery Ecosystem Recovery Water quality (Basin Plan S.9.04) Chemical Salinity Salinity Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen pH pH Dissolved Organic Carbon Dissolved Organic Carbon Biological Algal blooms Algal Blooms
Indicators included in the M&E Plan were scored against each of the factors discussed above (Table 11). All of these factors were taken into account to provide an overall priority score for each indicator (high, medium and lower priority). Table 11. Summary of priority ranks (H=High, M=Medium, L=Low) for the proposed indicators for the Edward-Wakool Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Indicator Indicator Category Basin- scale evaluation Selected Area evaluation Contribute to Selected Area response modelling Contributes to Selected Area multiple lines of evidence approach Short-term adaptive management Longer term adaptive management Cost per zone over 5 years (H,M,L) Inkind contribution over 5 years High value for money Community values Confidence detecting Selected Area response Overall score Cat I and II Indicators Ecosystem type I L H Tree stand condition I M L Fish (river) I partly partly H M Fish (larvae) I partly partly H M River hydrology I L H Stream metabolism I M H Fish movement II M H Cat III indicators Fish (larvae) III M H Fish recruitment III M H Fish (river) III L H Microinvertebrates III L M Shrimp III L L Frogs III L M Hydraulic modelling III L H Riverbank and aquatic vegetation III L H Carbon and WQ during adverse WQ events III L H Summary of hydrological and indicators selected for the M&E Plan Table 12 provides a summary of the hydrological zones and indicators selected for the M&E Plan for the LTIM Project. The indicators included in the M&E Plan are: Ecosystem type River hydrology Hydraulic modelling Stream metabolism Carbon and water quality Riverbank and aquatic vegetation Fish movement – on silver perch and golden perch fish larvae – to evaluate the success of spawning fish recruitment – focus on young-of-year and 1+ Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch Fish – annual survey of fish community
Table 31. Communication and engagement plan for the Edward-Wakool Selected Area Tools/Activities Detail Timeframe Responsibility Reporting to CEWO Reporting requirements for LTIM Project activities as per Project Operations Manual e.g. project updates, annual reports (see section 9.2 in bid document) Continuous LTIM Project Leader Edward- Wakool Stakeholder Committee for stakeholder input and strategic-level guidance on project direction Continuous (Quarterly meetings and some 'out of session' inputs) Chair of EWSC Operations Advisory CEWO, LLS Project Officer, MIL, MDBA, OEH, SWC, NPWS, Forestry Corp of NSW Monthly before and fortnightly during eflow delivery CEWO At 3 Public events per year: - Edward-Wakool Fish and Flows Forum - Deni Fishing Classic - Wakool Fishing Classic Invitations sent to MDBA and AG Nov Feb Mar/Apr LLS Project Officer Direct contact with potentially affected landholders During e-flow planning and during and after e-flow events Mar/Apr Sep-Apr CEWO LEO (LLS to in interim) Media release (e.g. article for newspaper, radio interview Content provided by CEWO, OEH, NOW, LTIM Project Leader. Approved by CEWO and OEH Audience = Rec fishers, Govt, General public following quarterly reporting to CEWO LLS Project Officer to coordinate with approved content from OEH and CEWO. LTIM Project Presentation at EWAG meeting Presentation by LTIM Project Leader on project activities and outcomes Annually LTIM Project Leader
33. Summary of reporting and information transfer requirements for the LTIM Project (Source LTIM Project Operations Manual) Activity Type What Frequency Timing / Due date Responsibility Receiver Description and high level requirements Inputs Reporting Monitoring and Evaluation Plan One-off Draft – Feb 28 2014 Final – 17 April 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. M&E Providers are responsible for developing M&E Plans during 2013-14, in collaboration with the CEWO. See the M&E Plan specifications for more information. See Monitoring outline and Evaluation outline Reporting Area evaluation report Annual Draft – Aug 30 Final – Oct 31 First 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 Reporting Basin evaluation report Annual Draft – Aug 30 Final – Oct 31 First report – 2015 Final report - 2019 M&E Advisors CEWO A cumulative evaluation of the outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water at the Basin-scale, based on the Evaluation Plan. The report must be prepared in plain English with simple science and be suitable for publication on CEWO website. Evaluation Plan Monitoring data for all Selected Areas Reporting Progress reports - 2013-14 Monthly Nov 2013 to June 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 Reporting Project progress reports - onwards Quarterly Sep, Dec, Mar and June (last business day of the 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 Information Transfer Monitoring data entry Monthly Monthly for the duration of the LTIM Project M&E Providers Monitoring and 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 Data management protocols
fish (river) and fish movement components, contribute to project team meetings and annual planning Technical Officer Mr Chris Smith DPI NSW Performing fieldwork, assisting with data entry for fish (river). Undertake fish movement field work. Assist with fish larvae fieldwork. Technical Officer Mr Rehwinkel DPI NSW Assist with fieldwork Casual assistants DPI NSW Required for all DPI field trips where three staff are needed. Ms Sascha Healy OEH Team Leader for OEH, Fieldwork for riverbank and aquatic vegetation assessment, assist with data analysis and reporting, contribute to project team meetings and annual planning Dr Nick Bond Griffith Lead predictive response modelling and reporting, contribute to project team meetings and annual planning Table 35. Summary of roles of members of the Edward-Wakool Stakeholder Committee Name Position Organisation Role Dr Trish Bowen Project Team Leader Murray LLS Jennie Hehir Board Member Murray LLS Deputy Mr Anthony Conallin Project Team member Murray LLS Observer, administrative support A/Prof Robyn Watts Project Team Leader Charles Sturt University Member Dr Nicole McCasker Project Team member Charles Sturt University Observer Dr Tim Wyndham Director, Long term Intervention Monitoring Project CEWO Monitoring and Evaluation Member TBA CEWO staff member CEWO Observer Paul Childs Senior Environmental Water Manager Office of Environment and Heritage Member Executive Officer Murray-Lower Darling Edward-Wakool Advisory Group Digby Jacobs Team Leader NSW Office of Water TBC John Lolicato Chairman Wakool Association Member Spokesperson Wakool System Advisory Group Representative Wakool Landholder Association Dennis Gleeson Representative Colligen and Niemur Landholder group Member Rick Ellis Secretary and Project Officer Western Murray Land Improvement group Member Knight Community Support Officer Western Murray Land Improvement Member Community delegate Koondrook-Perricoota Alliance Ian Fisher President Edward-Wakool Angling Association Member