Wetlands: biodiversity values, condition, threats and options for management

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1 Wetlands: biodiversity values, condition, threats and options for management Snowy River knowledge exchange forum, December 2015 This is a placeholder image. To replace either right click and select change picture or insert a new picture via the insert menu and crop to size.

2 Wetlands - background ~38,000 naturally occurring wetlands in Victoria

3 Wetlands diversity and importance alpine bogs, freshwater and saline lakes, swamps and floodplain wetlands diverse significant environmental, social and cultural values

4 Wetland research in the Lower Snowy Research program commissioned by EGCMA to assess values and condition of the lower Snowy River, its estuary and wetlands Lake Curlip Lake Wat Wat Lake Corringle Cabbage Tree Lagoon

5 Wetland research in the Lower Snowy Aim results will inform management with the objective to improve condition of the lower Snowy wetlands Approach - assess wetland values, condition, connectivity and threats Results - combined into inventory and spatial mapping Benefits of research: wetland values and threats identified - can be targeted in management programs to conserve and improve wetland condition

6 Wetland research what we did

7 Wetland research what we did Surveyed fish, aquatic invertebrates, frogs and reptiles using many methods (autumn/spring 2014) Assessed wetland vegetation and condition (summer 2015) Identified threats

8 What we found Three significant fauna species Green and Golden Bell frog (Litoria aurea) Southern Toadlet (Pseudophryne semimarmorata) Dave Hunter Flinders Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca sp) MDBA

9 What we found Two significant flora species Creeping Rush (Juncus revolutus) Leafy Twig Sedge (Cladium procerum) Greg Jordan Friends of Westgate Park

10 What we found Invertebrate diversity a reflection of habitat and salinity Fresh to brackish waters Brackish to saline waters

11 What we found Fish diversity a reflection of habitat and salinity Only one introduced species found (Eastern gambusia in Cabbage Tree Lagoon) Fishes of Australia Yellow eye mullet Flat headed gudgeon MDBA Tarmo Raadik Eastern gambusia introduced species

12 What we found Five wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) Four are bio-regionally significant: Estuarine Reedbed, Estuarine Wetland, Estuarine Scrub and Coastal Saltmarsh Estuarine Reedbed, Lake Curlip Estuarine Scrub Cabbage Tree Lagoon Estuarine Wetland, Lake Corringle

13 Wetland condition Wetland condition assessed using the Index of Wetland Condition IWC Wetland catchment Hydrology Water properties Soils Biota Physical form Land use Buffer Water regime Nutrients Salinity Soil physical properties Wetland plants Wetland area Wetland shape

14 What we found Wetland condition Cabbage Tree Lagoon excellent Lakes Corringle and Curlip good Lake Wat Wat moderate Condition reflects degree of disturbance and the threats operating at the wetlands

15 Threats at wetlands Threats to wetlands and floodplain include: water quality (salinity, nutrients) soil disturbance (pugging by livestock, deer) degraded buffer vegetation (livestock, deer) shoreline erosion (increased by livestock) invasive weeds (increased spread by livestock and deer) invasive animals (deer, foxes)

16 Threats at wetlands Livestock grazing and Cobblers Peg weed, Lake Curlip Deer pugging, Lake Corringle Fox scat, Lake Corringle

17 Decline in wetland condition Condition of Estuarine scrub from Cabbage Tree Lagoon to lakes Curlip and Wat Wat Great Going.. Gone

18 What are the options? Options for management of threats: livestock grazing management - fencing, off wetland watering reduce deer abundance weed control (especially high threat weeds) revegetation in some ecological vegetation classes

19 Acknowledgements Arthur Rylah Institute Jason Lieschke Mike Nicol Katie Howard Nick Clemann Tarmo Raadik East Gippsland CMA Bec Hemming Liz Brown Graeme Ashby Ken Judd Rakali Consulting Damien Cook Wildlife Unlimited Rohan Bilney