Table 4.3.1: Key current impacts and likely future impacts in the Fitzroy basin and likely consequences for the World Heritage Area Current impacts on Trend 1999-2009 Impacts on the World Heritage Future likely impacts on Future likely impacts on Coastal Ecosystems Area Coastal Ecosystems the World Heritage Area Broadscale clearing of Rates of clearing have Loss of ecological process and Coastal ecosystems Ongoing loss of function will coastal ecosystems for declined as a result of the connectivity, replacement of unlikely to be returned to remain unless remedied. agriculture, urban or Vegetation Management Act some ecological processes their former state, and industry 1999. depending on the nature of the further losses expected with modified system. changes to existing legislation. Farm run-off Improvements as a result of Improvements to water quality Dependant on extent of Water quality expected to increasing rates of BMP expected, although delayed due new intensive development improve over time. uptake. to lag effects. Changes in land and uptake of BMP. use will not be obvious for a few years. Groundwater changes Used where river access is not Unknown. Over extraction of Uncertain. possible. groundwater may lead to increases in salinity and loss of dry season refugia in waterways. Drainage of the Static. Changes to fish passage and May increase as a result of As for current impacts. floodplain reduction in water residence time expected increase in causing a reduced capacity for irrigated cropping. biogeochemical processes to occur. Introduced aquatic Introduced aquatic weeds are Leads to lowered oxygen levels If nutrient loads are If weeds continue to weeds and declining well established in the basin. in aquatic ecosystems that render reduced the weed growth proliferate a reduction in wetland health habitats unsuitable for most could also decrease. water quality, fish habitat native fish species. Create black and connectivity are likely water pulses that cause to occur. downstream fish barriers and fish kills. Act as a barrier to fish movement. Stream/river bank Increasing as a result of Increase in suspended sediments Management actions (e.g. Likely to improve under erosion extreme weather events and and turbidity in coastal waters; Reef Plan) underway to uptake of best management changed hydrology. Legacy increase in sediment build up in restore riparian areas. A practices and restoration issues from historical clearing waterways. reduction in sediment projects but timelines and sedimentation. inputs could see expected to be long.
Table 4.3.1: Key current impacts and likely future impacts in the Fitzroy basin and likely consequences for the World Heritage Area Current impacts on Coastal Ecosystems Trend 1999-2009 Impacts on the World Heritage Area Future likely impacts on Coastal Ecosystems Future likely impacts on the World Heritage Area Broadscale clearing of coastal ecosystems for agriculture, urban or industry Rates of clearing have declined as a result of the Vegetation Management Act 1999. Loss of ecological process and connectivity, replacement of some ecological processes depending on the nature of the modified system. Coastal ecosystems unlikely to be returned to their former state, and further losses expected with changes to existing legislation. Ongoing loss of function will remain unless remedied. Farm run-off Improvements as a result of increasing rates of BMP uptake. Improvements to water quality expected, although delayed due to lag effects. Changes in land use will not be obvious for a few years. Dependant on extent of new intensive development and uptake of BMP. Water quality expected to improve over time. Groundwater changes Used where river access is not possible. Unknown. Over extraction of groundwater may lead to increases in salinity and loss of dry season refugia in waterways. Uncertain. Drainage of the floodplain Static. Changes to fish passage and reduction in water residence time causing a reduced capacity for biogeochemical processes to occur. May increase as a result of expected increase in irrigated cropping. As for current impacts. Introduced aquatic weeds and declining wetland health Introduced aquatic weeds are well established in the basin. Leads to lowered oxygen levels in aquatic ecosystems that render habitats unsuitable for most native fish species. Create black water pulses that cause downstream fish barriers and fish kills. Act as a barrier to fish movement. If nutrient loads are reduced the weed growth could also decrease. If weeds continue to proliferate a reduction in water quality, fish habitat and connectivity are likely to occur. Stream/river bank erosion Increasing as a result of extreme weather events and changed hydrology. Legacy issues from historical clearing and sedimentation. Increase in suspended sediments and turbidity in coastal waters; increase in sediment build up in waterways. Management actions (e.g. Reef Plan) underway to restore riparian areas. A reduction in sediment inputs could see Likely to improve under uptake of best management practices and restoration projects but timelines expected to be long.