southern bell frog adults increased in areas where refuge habitat was maintained compared to wetlands that were allowed to dry which suggests that the watering actions were successful in creating refuge. While the availability of refuge habitat is important, large-scale inundation of temporary habitats adjacent to refuge sites is also important in spring and summer to support southern bell frog breeding. Waterbirds Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to wetlands through the Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and mid-Murrumbidgee zones as part of four key watering actions: Redbank (Yanga National Park) waterbird contingency, Redbank (north), Nimmie-Caira refuge and Yarradda Lagoon. The broad objective across the Murrumbidgee Selected Area is to the habitat requirements of waterbirds”, “support with individual watering actions focused on either maintaining habitat for waterbirds or supporting breeding outcomes - for full evaluation of the outcomes of individual watering actions please see Appendices. Across the Murrumbidgee Selected Area the responses of waterbirds to environmental watering actions were assessed against four key evaluation questions shown in the table below. Summary of watering actions and outcomes Relevant Was the Expected Watering Action Evaluation questions expected Selected Area Measured outcomes (s) in 2015/16 and predictions outcome outcomes achieved Total waterbird diversity was What did higher in wetlands that Commonwealth received environmental environmental water water over September Yes contribute to Redbank 2016 compared to waterbird species (Yanga National sites that were not Support the diversity? Park) waterbird inundated. habitat contingency requirements of Total waterbird abundance What did waterbirds was higher in wetlands that Redbank (North) Commonwealth received environmental environmental water water over September Yes contribute to 2016 compared to Nimmie-Caira waterbird sites that were not SBF refuge abundance? inundated.
southern bell frog adults increased in areas where refuge habitat was maintained compared to wetlands that were allowed to dry which suggests that the watering actions were successful in creating refuge. While the availability of refuge habitat is important, large-scale inundation of temporary habitats adjacent to refuge sites is also important in spring and summer to support southern bell frog breeding. Waterbirds Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to wetlands through the Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and mid-Murrumbidgee zones as part of four key watering actions: Redbank (Yanga National Park) waterbird contingency, Redbank (north), Nimmie-Caira refuge and Yarradda Lagoon. The broad objective across the Murrumbidgee Selected Area is to “support the habitat requirements of waterbirds”, with individual watering actions focused on either maintaining habitat for waterbirds or supporting breeding outcomes - for full evaluation of the outcomes of individual watering actions please see Appendices. Across the Murrumbidgee Selected Area the responses of waterbirds to environmental watering actions were assessed against four key evaluation questions shown in the table below. Summary of watering actions and outcomes Expected Selected Area outcomes Relevant Watering Action (s) in 2015/16 Evaluation questions and predictions Measured outcomes Was the expected outcome achieved Support the habitat requirements of waterbirds Redbank (Yanga National Park) waterbird contingency Redbank (North) Nimmie-Caira SBF refuge What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird species diversity? Total waterbird diversity was higher in wetlands that received environmental water over September 2016 compared to sites that were not inundated. Yes What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to waterbird abundance? Total waterbird abundance was higher in wetlands that received environmental water over September 2016 compared to sites that were not inundated. Yes