5: VEFMAP 4 5 Summary of VEFMAP monitoring arrangements for environmental water use in the Goulburn River (from SKM 2007, Chee et al. 2006). Flow Hypotheses Indicator(s) Monitoring Frequency Considerations for this component sites watering options project Geomorphology Winter/spring Does increased frequency of Flow and physical habitat Two physical Physical habitat - VEFMAP provides baseline freshes winter-spring fresh events: (channel dimensions) to habitat sites in first year (2008) and information for assessing a) Increase the frequency of assess: each of Reach 4 after channel forming effects of environmental geomorphologically significant and Reach 5. events thereafter. water. May require repeat Frequency of channel events (e.g. redistribution of bed measurements to provide disturbances and bank sediments)? Three flow sites in Flow continuous at data if channel Frequency of bed – ‘before’ b) Increase channel complexity Reach 4 and two all sites. dimensions have not been disturbances (e.g. areas of the stream bed flow sites in surveyed after recent (2010) Rate of bench which are flushed free of fine Reach 5. flood events. deposition deposits, deeper pools and Bed complexity variability in bench elevations)? Bench development and c) Increase channel width and variability depth? Mean channel top width, d) Increase rates of meander cross-section area and development (i.e. bank erosion on thalweg depth the outside bank, point bar Bank erosion on outside development, increased sinuosity of meander bends and eventually bend cut-off and Point bar development. billabong formation)? Bankfull and As above As above As above As above As above overbank flows Habitat & macroinvertebrates Summer/autumn Do implemented environmental Shallow and slow water Two physical Physical habitat - As above low flows and habitat sites in first year (2008) and flows maintain in-channel areas freshes each of Reach 4 after channel forming VEFMAP sampling was not shallow and slow water areas? and Reach 5. events thereafter. designed to assess short-term Do implemented environmental Riffle/run depth and changes. Will require more flows maintain adequate area area
5: VEFMAP 4 5 Summary of VEFMAP monitoring arrangements for environmental water use in the Goulburn River (from SKM 2007, Chee et al. 2006). Flow component Hypotheses Indicator(s) Monitoring sites Frequency Considerations for this watering options project Geomorphology Winter/spring freshes Does increased frequency of winter-spring fresh events: a) Increase the frequency of geomorphologically significant events (e.g. redistribution of bed and bank sediments)? b) Increase channel complexity (e.g. areas of the stream bed which are flushed free of fine deposits, deeper pools and variability in bench elevations)? c) Increase channel width and depth? d) Increase rates of meander development (i.e. bank erosion on the outside bank, point bar development, increased sinuosity and eventually bend cut-off and billabong formation)? Flow and physical habitat (channel dimensions) to assess: Frequency of channel disturbances Frequency of bed disturbances Rate of bench deposition Bed complexity Bench development and variability Mean channel top width, cross-section area and thalweg depth Bank erosion on outside of meander bends Point bar development. Two physical habitat sites in each of Reach 4 and Reach 5. Three flow sites in Reach 4 and two flow sites in Reach 5. Physical habitat - first year (2008) and after channel forming events thereafter. Flow – continuous at all sites. VEFMAP provides baseline information for assessing effects of environmental water. May require repeat measurements to provide ‘before’ data if channel dimensions have not been surveyed after recent (2010) flood events. Bankfull and overbank flows As above As above As above As above As above Habitat & macroinvertebrates Summer/autumn low flows and freshes Do implemented environmental flows maintain in-channel shallow and slow water areas? Do implemented environmental flows maintain adequate area Shallow and slow water areas Riffle/run depth and area Two physical habitat sites in each of Reach 4 and Reach 5. Physical habitat - first year (2008) and after channel forming events thereafter. As above VEFMAP sampling was not designed to assess short-term changes. Will require more
ewater-delivery-lower-goulburn-river.docx