Table Watering actions, target assets and evaluated outcomes implemented in the Gwydir river Selected Area during 2015-16 Watering action Volume (ML) Target asset Expected outcomes Evaluation of outcomes Maintain vegetation condition and Watering action insufficient to inundate reproduction substantial areas of wetland Provide refuge habitat for vegetation.* waterbirds, fish and other aquatic Watering action contributed to Replacement of species longitudinal connection through the Supplementary take from 2,700 (1,350 Maintain ecosystem resilience by wetlands, supporting habitat for native Gwydir and Gingham natural event with CEW, 1,350 supporting individual survival and bird, invertebrate, frog and fish wetlands environmental water from NSW ECA) condition communities and maintaining water storage (WUM 10043-01) Provide baseflows and freshes to quality. increase lateral and longitudinal Rates of primary production and hydrological connectivity respiration peaked during times of Allow for sediment transport, environmental water delivery. nutrient and carbon cycling. Support hydrological connectivity A maximum of 204 ha of wetlands were between wetlands inundated in the Mallowa system as a Support further recovery of result of this watering action. Replacement of vegetation extent and condition Watering action in the Mallowa system Supplementary take from Provide habitat for waterbirds and increased vegetation groundcover in natural event with 3486 CEW Mallowa wetlands native aquatic species general. The cover of the weed species environmental water from Contribute to improved habitat lippia decreased with native species storage (WUM 10043-02) quality and increased within cover increasing. ecosystem diversity to support Watering action maintained suitable survival of native birds fish and habitat for a range of waterbird species. other fauna Watering action maintained water To support in-stream ecological Supplementary take of water quality within the Mehi River during function and nutrient cycling, during natural flow events as periods of delivery and diluted nutrients 964 CEW Mehi River contributing to the health of announced by Water NSW such as phosphorus and nitrogen that habitat and maintaining (WUM 10043-04) increased to high levels during low flow water quality. periods
Table Watering actions, target assets and evaluated outcomes implemented in the Gwydir river Selected Area during 2015-16 Watering action Volume (ML) Target asset Expected outcomes Evaluation of outcomes Replacement of Supplementary take from natural event with environmental water from storage (WUM 10043-01) 2,700 (1,350 CEW, 1,350 NSW ECA) Gwydir and Gingham wetlands Maintain vegetation condition and reproduction Provide refuge habitat for waterbirds, fish and other aquatic species Maintain ecosystem resilience by supporting individual survival and condition Provide baseflows and freshes to increase lateral and longitudinal hydrological connectivity Allow for sediment transport, nutrient and carbon cycling. Watering action insufficient to inundate substantial areas of wetland vegetation.* Watering action contributed to longitudinal connection through the wetlands, supporting habitat for native bird, invertebrate, frog and fish communities and maintaining water quality. Rates of primary production and respiration peaked during times of environmental water delivery. Replacement of Supplementary take from natural event with environmental water from storage (WUM 10043-02) 3486 CEW Mallowa wetlands Support hydrological connectivity between wetlands Support further recovery of vegetation extent and condition Provide habitat for waterbirds and native aquatic species Contribute to improved habitat quality and increased within ecosystem diversity to support survival of native birds fish and other fauna A maximum of 204 ha of wetlands were inundated in the Mallowa system as a result of this watering action. Watering action in the Mallowa system increased vegetation groundcover in general. The cover of the weed species lippia decreased with native species cover increasing. Watering action maintained suitable habitat for a range of waterbird species. Supplementary take of water during natural flow events as announced by Water NSW (WUM 10043-04) 964 CEW Mehi River To support in-stream ecological function and nutrient cycling, contributing to the health of habitat and maintaining water quality. Watering action maintained water quality within the Mehi River during periods of delivery and diluted nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that increased to high levels during low flow periods