Table : Potential biotic variables and parameters for monitoring ecological response to environmental flows. (Adapted from Wilson et al. 2009) Parameter* Ecological Objective Monitoring Method Rationale Responsibility Maintain water quality in Salinity Provides data on NOW manages current Water chemistry channels, pools and physicochemical responses instantaneous salinity, pH wetlands. to environmental flows and dissolved oxygen, turbidity, Dissolved oxygen also assessment acid pH and temperature Prevent stratification in Temperature sulphate chemical response. monitoring at a number of deep pools. Turbidity gauging stations in the Sampling and analytical Conductivity system. methods are well Suspended solids established. Dissolved organic carbon Some data is likely available Phosphorus and nitrogen from previous monitoring conducted in the catchment. Maintain water quality in Chlorophyll a Base of aquatic food webs. NOW manages an algal Algae channels, pools and monitoring program that Diatom cell abundance and Exhibit relatively rapid wetlands. provides counts of taxonomic composition responses to flow variability. algae. Prevent stratification in Pelagic cell abundance and High public awareness. deep pools. taxonomic composition Benthic algal biomass and taxonomic composition Maintain and improve Shoot density Macrophytes are a key NOW and OEH monitor the Macrophytes semi-permanent aquatic structural component of condition of selected Taxonomic composition vegetation communities to aquatic ecosystems. wetlands throughout the Seedbank germination good condition. system. Potential rapid response to flow variability. Maintain and improve river Species composition, Key structural component of NOW and OEH monitor the Floodplain red gum forest/woodland, abundance and biomass floodplain ecosystems. condition of selected vegetation black box woodland and wetlands throughout the Seedbank emergence High public awareness. lignum communities. system. Management focus. MI monitors vegetation Potential availability of rehabilitation in Barren Box historic data sets and Swamp. monitoring sites. Relatively rapid response to
Table : Potential biotic variables and parameters for monitoring ecological response to environmental flows. (Adapted from Wilson et al. 2009) Parameter* Ecological Objective Monitoring Method Rationale Responsibility Water chemistry Maintain water quality in channels, pools and wetlands. Prevent stratification in deep pools. Salinity pH Dissolved oxygen Temperature Turbidity Conductivity Suspended solids Dissolved organic carbon Phosphorus and nitrogen Provides data on physicochemical responses to environmental flows and also assessment acid sulphate chemical response. Sampling and analytical methods are well established. Some data is likely available from previous monitoring conducted in the catchment. NOW manages current instantaneous salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH and temperature monitoring at a number of gauging stations in the system. Algae Maintain water quality in channels, pools and wetlands. Prevent stratification in deep pools. Chlorophyll a Diatom cell abundance and taxonomic composition Pelagic cell abundance and taxonomic composition Benthic algal biomass and taxonomic composition Base of aquatic food webs. Exhibit relatively rapid responses to flow variability. High public awareness. NOW manages an algal monitoring program that provides counts of algae. Macrophytes Maintain and improve semi-permanent aquatic vegetation communities to good condition. Shoot density Taxonomic composition Seedbank germination Macrophytes are a key structural component of aquatic ecosystems. Potential rapid response to flow variability. NOW and OEH monitor the condition of selected wetlands throughout the system. Floodplain vegetation Maintain and improve river red gum forest/woodland, black box woodland and lignum communities. Species composition, abundance and biomass Seedbank emergence Key structural component of floodplain ecosystems. High public awareness. Management focus. Potential availability of historic data sets and monitoring sites. Relatively rapid response to NOW and OEH monitor the condition of selected wetlands throughout the system. MI monitors vegetation rehabilitation in Barren Box Swamp.
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