Threats Identifying actual and likely threats to the ecological character of the site helps guide future management planning and action. Those threats that pose a significant risk to the critical components, processes, benefits and services of Lake Albacutya are summarised below in Table E4 and the most significant threats are discussed further in the subsequent text. Table E4 Summary of key threats to the ecological character of Lake Albacutya Threat Potential impacts Significance of threat Likelihood of impacts Timing of impacts River regulation Reduced frequency, duration and extent of flooding. Interference with migration, reproduction, regeneration and recruitment processes. Reduced habitat availability and quality for waterbirds. Declining Eucalypt woodland health. High High Short term Climate change – reduced rainfall Reduced frequency, duration and extent of flooding. Interference with migration, reproduction, regeneration and recruitment processes. Reduced habitat availability and quality for waterbirds. Declining Eucalypt woodland health. High Medium Short to long term Decline in Eucalypt woodland health Reduced habitat for waterbirds and Regent Parrot High to medium High to medium Short to medium term Recreation Recreational hunting and human activity may disturb waterbirds and Regent Parrot breeding. Low Unknown Dependent upon hydrology Pests (carp, birds, bees, rabbits, foxes, cats, dogs) European Carp reduce habitat quality for fish, aquatic flora and fauna and waterbirds. birds compete with waterbirds and Regent Parrot for food and habitat. Bees compete with waterbirds and Regent Parrot for tree hollows. Rabbits inhibit Eucalypt woodland recruitment. Foxes, cats and dogs may prey on waterbirds and Regent Parrot. High for carp, medium for other pests Unknown Unknown Weeds Degradation of Eucalypt woodland. Reduced habitat quality for waterbirds and Regent Parrot. Medium to low Medium to low Short term Declining surface water quality mainly due to rising saline water tables, salinisation and reduced dilution potential Reduced habitat quality for waterbirds Low Medium during low flow events, Low during high flow events Dependent upon hydrology
Table 8.1 Limits of acceptable change in the ecological character of Lake Albacutya (see Explanatory Notes below #) Critical parameter Baseline condition and range of natural variation Limits of acceptable change Basis for determination Confidence level Short term (0 – 10 years) Medium term (25 to 50 years) Critical components and processes Morphology - lakebed The lakebed is comprised of a suitable substrate enabling it to hold water for extended periods to depths of over 6 m when full, while allowing some seepage to recharge the groundwater aquifer. The single natural inlet creek allows unimpeded flows from . The sill of the single natural discharge creek allows water to accumulate in the lake to a depth of over 6 m. The lake margins have an elevation significantly higher than the discharge creek bed Attribute retained without significant change as a result of human interference. Attribute retained without significant change as a result of human interference. Attribute retained without significant change as a result of human interference. Attribute retained without significant change as a result of human interference. As for short term. As for short term. As for short term. As for short term. Expert opinion. High High High High Hydrology Lake Albacutya fills intermittently from river flows from the upper catchment, and once full, holds water for several years. Modelling of natural conditions indicates that the recurrence interval for 6 months duration overflow events is 6 years, and for 24 months duration overflow events is 10 years. Not applicable The average return period for shallow floods of at least nine months duration will be no more than eight years. The average return period for overflow events of 24 months duration will be no more than 20 years. Expert opinion and documented literature - Ecological Associates, 2004. Low Medium
Supports threatened species , especially the Eucalypt woodland, provides important habitat for the nationally vulnerable Regent Parrot, including roosting and nesting sites. Not applicable, as for Eucalypt woodland above As for Eucalypt woodland above. Expert opinion and documented literature. High
volume, extent (area), date, season, duration. Can be used to improve hydrology models and to quantify any changes in hydrology over time and inform release of environmental water allocations. Monitor environmental releases. . depth and area. Flow, volume, duration, timing and downstream penetration of environmental allocation releases. Depth and area – at least monthly. Environmental releases – each release. Flora – Eucalypt woodland including River Red Gum Detect and quantify any changes/trends in the health of the Eucalypt woodland including River Red Gum community (which may assist in determining the exact cause of dieback). Keep records of recruitment events and monitor recruitment and seedling survival. Percentage and area of trees with severe, moderate, slight or no dieback. Number and success of recruitment events. Age structure of community. Every 5 years High Surface water – water quality Establish a baseline for water quality and detect any change. Salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients, organic carbon, chlorophyll. At least monthly when the lake holds water. Medium Groundwater Determine if groundwater in the Parilla Sands aquifer is rising or becoming more saline. Can also help to increase understanding of groundwater recharge and dilution processes. Depth to groundwater. Groundwater salinity. Extent, depth and persistence, of freshwater lens or perched aquifer at multiple locations. At least biannually when dry and at least monthly (or preferably by data logger) when the lake holds water. High Fauna – pest animals To determine impacts of European Carp on the ecology of European carp number, size and distribution in relation to water quality and hydrological parameters (e.g. depth). At least every 6 months when the lake holds water. Medium 12. COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS MESSAGES
Grebe novaehollandiae Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 6 Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 1000 VU Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 3000 Breeding Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 2000 Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus 100000 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 2 CJR Black Swan Cygnus atratus 50 Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa VU CJR Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 100 Breeding Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis EN L Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia NT L CJR Chestnut Teal Anas castanea Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia CJR Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos VU CJ Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea CJR Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae Breeding Double-banded Plover Charadrius bicinctus Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta VU L CJ Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 3000 Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 1000 EN L Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 1 NT C Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Grey Teal Anas gracilis 20000 Breeding Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica EN L Hardhead Aythya australis 1500 VU Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus Breeding Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia CR L Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 1 Little Egret Egretta garzetta EN L
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos Breeding Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 6 CJR Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 100 Breeding Musk Duck Biziura lobata VU Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus NT Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 3000 Breeding Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius NT Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 30 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus Breeding Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 20 Breeding Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 50 Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis CJR Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 3 CJR Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata CJ Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 200 Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 30 Swamp Harrier Circus approximans Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus NT White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster VU L C White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 1 Breeding White-necked Heron Ardea 100 Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 100 Legend: VAL = Victorian Advisory List, FFG = Flora & fauna guarantee Act, TR = International treaties, NT = near threatened, VU = vulnerable, EN = endangered, CR = critically endangered, L = listed, C = CAMBA, J = JAMBA, R = ROKAMBA. Terrestrial birds recorded at or around the Ramsar site (DSE, 2009b) Common name Latin name Count (max) Breeding EPBC VAL FFG Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 1 CR L Australian Hobby Falco longipennis Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen Breeding Australian Aegotheles cristatus Australian Raven Corvus coronoides Breeding Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 2
zonarius Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea NT Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor Breeding Black Falcon Falco subniger 3 VU Black Kite Milvus migrans 1 Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis NT Black-eared Cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculans NT Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis 1 EN EN L Black-faced Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris Breeding Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 4 Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma 4 Brown Falcon Falco berigora Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis Brown Treecreeper (south-eastern ssp.) Climacteris picumnus victoriae Breeding NT Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 1 Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius Breeding EN L Chestnut Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotus NT Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 2 Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 100 Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis NT L Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 6 Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 2 Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 2 NT L Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata VU L Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus Platycercus eximius Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 6 Fairy Martin Hirundo ariel Breeding Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 100 Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 1
rufiventris Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus 2 Silvereye Zosterops lateralis Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens 1 Slender-billed Thornbill Acanthiza iredalei NT L Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 2 Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Breeding Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens Breeding Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 2 NT Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 2 Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata Breeding Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 2 Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Breeding Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Phylidonyris melanops Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans Breeding Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 100 Wedge-tailed Eagle audax 2 Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 6 Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena Breeding Gerygone fusca Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 1 White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 100 White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus Breeding White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 1 Breeding White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 100 White-fronted Honeyeater Phylidonyris albifrons White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus Breeding White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos Breeding White-winged Triller Lalage sueurii