Attachment A – Expected outcomes from the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy Expected outcomes from the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (MDBA 2014) that are relevant to the Lachlan catchment are described below. RIVER FLOWS AND CONNECTIVITY Baseflows are at least 60 per cent of the natural level. A 10–20 per cent increase in the frequency of freshes, bankfull and lowland floodplain flows. VEGETATION Maintain the current extent of water-dependent vegetation near river channels and on low-lying areas of the floodplain. Improve condition of black box, river red gum and lignum shrublands. Improved recruitment of trees within black box and river red gum communities. Increased periods of growth for non-woody vegetation communities that closely fringe or occur within the river and creek channels, and for common reed and cumbungi in the Great Cumbung Swamp. Vegetation extent Area of Area of Area of Non–woody water river red black box Shrublands dependent gum (ha) (ha) (ha) vegetation Closely fringing or occurring within the Lignum in the Lachlan River and Willandra Creek; 41,300 58,000 N/A Lower and Common reed and Cumbungi in Lachlan the Great Cumbung Swamp Black box condition Percent of Vegetation condition score vegetation assessed 0 –6 >6 –10 (within the managed 72 per cent 28 per cent floodplain) 45 per cent River red gum condition Percent of Vegetation condition score vegetation assessed 0 – 2 >2 – 4 >4 – 6 >6 – 8 >8 – 10 (within the managed 3 per cent 8 per cent 21 per cent 41 per cent 26 per cent floodplain) 93 per cent WATERBIRDS Maintain current species diversity. Increase Basin-wide abundance of waterbirds by 20–25 per cent by 2024. A 30–40 per cent increase in nests and broods (Basin-wide) for other waterbirds. Up to 50 per cent more breeding events (Basin-wide) for colonial nesting waterbird species.
Attachment A – Expected outcomes from the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy Expected outcomes from the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (MDBA 2014) that are relevant to the Lachlan catchment are described below. RIVER FLOWS AND CONNECTIVITY Baseflows are at least 60 per cent of the natural level. A 10–20 per cent increase in the frequency of freshes, bankfull and lowland floodplain flows. VEGETATION Maintain the current extent of water-dependent vegetation near river channels and on low-lying areas of the floodplain. Improve condition of black box, river red gum and lignum shrublands. Improved recruitment of trees within black box and river red gum communities. Increased periods of growth for non-woody vegetation communities that closely fringe or occur within the river and creek channels, and for common reed and cumbungi in the Great Cumbung Swamp. Vegetation extent Area of river red gum (ha) Area of black box (ha) Area of (ha) Shrublands Non–woody water dependent vegetation 41,300 58,000 N/A Lignum in the Lower Lachlan Closely fringing or occurring within the Lachlan River and Willandra Creek; and Common reed and Cumbungi in the Great Cumbung Swamp Black box condition Vegetation condition score Percent of vegetation assessed (within the managed floodplain) 0 –6 >6 –10 72 per cent 28 per cent 45 per cent River red gum condition Vegetation condition score Percent of vegetation assessed (within the managed floodplain) 0 – 2 >2 – 4 >4 – 6 >6 – 8 >8 – 10 3 per cent 8 per cent 21 per cent 41 per cent 26 per cent 93 per cent WATERBIRDS Maintain current species diversity. Increase Basin-wide abundance of waterbirds by 20–25 per cent by 2024. A 30–40 per cent increase in nests and broods (Basin-wide) for other waterbirds. Up to 50 per cent more breeding events (Basin-wide) for colonial nesting waterbird species.