Waterbirds The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to prevent further decline in habitat that supports waterbird breeding across the basin and thereby to help stabilise waterbird populations, albeit at lower levels than are sought over the long term. Environmental watering should be focussed on wetlands that have the greatest potential to support waterbird breeding in the near future. There are no specific priorities for waterbirds identified for 2016–17 under dry conditions, other than supporting the rookery habitat within the Narran Lakes system (listed under native vegetation). However, there are some specific priorities for identified waterbirds, should more moderate conditions arise. Native fish The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to protect drought refuge habitats, to maintain in-stream habitats, and to ensure existing populations of threatened species remain viable. The specific priorities are: Contribute to the long-term recovery of silver perch by improving existing populations and enhancing conditions for recruitment and dispersal to and from suitable habitat. Support viable populations of threatened native fish by protecting drought refuges and maintaining in-stream habitats and essential functions. Maximise opportunities for range expansion and the establishment of new populations of silver perch and other threatened fish, as conditions allow. Flows and connectivity The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to provide longitudinal connectivity and variable flow patterns for water quality and ecological benefit particularly for native fish. The — specific priorities are: Maintain waterholes in the Lower Balonne Floodplain to provide critical refuge for species. Protect aquatic habitat conditions in the Coorong and support native fish movement by optimising flows into the Coorong and through the Murray Mouth. In dry conditions, supporting longitudinal connectivity will be the best outcome that is possible. Although providing lateral connectivity to refuge areas and other priority sites is also important, conditions are unlikely to facilitate widespread lateral connectivity unless structures such as weirs and regulators are used. Additional priorities for moderate conditions The forecast for 2016–17 indicates that moderate conditions may arise later in the year. While not certain, if moderate conditions do occur in parts of the basin the management outcomes sought from environmental watering are to maintain ecological health and resilience by: enabling growth, reproduction and small-scale recruitment for a diverse range of plants and animals
Waterbirds The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to prevent further decline in habitat that supports waterbird breeding across the basin and thereby to help stabilise waterbird populations, albeit at lower levels than are sought over the long term. Environmental watering should be focussed on wetlands that have the greatest potential to support waterbird breeding in the near future. There are no specific priorities for waterbirds identified for 2016–17 under dry conditions, other than supporting the rookery habitat within the Narran Lakes system (listed under native vegetation). However, there are some specific priorities for identified waterbirds, should more moderate conditions arise. Native fish The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to protect drought refuge habitats, to maintain in-stream habitats, and to ensure existing populations of threatened species remain viable. The specific priorities are: Contribute to the long-term recovery of silver perch by improving existing populations and enhancing conditions for recruitment and dispersal to and from suitable habitat. Support viable populations of threatened native fish by protecting drought refuges and maintaining in-stream habitats and essential functions. Maximise opportunities for range expansion and the establishment of new populations of silver perch and other threatened fish, as conditions allow. Flows and connectivity The priority for environmental watering in 2016–17 is to provide longitudinal connectivity and variable flow patterns for water quality and ecological benefit — particularly for native fish. The specific priorities are: Maintain waterholes in the Lower Balonne Floodplain to provide critical refuge for species. Protect aquatic habitat conditions in the Coorong and support native fish movement by optimising flows into the Coorong and through the Murray Mouth. In dry conditions, supporting longitudinal connectivity will be the best outcome that is possible. Although providing lateral connectivity to refuge areas and other priority sites is also important, conditions are unlikely to facilitate widespread lateral connectivity unless structures such as weirs and regulators are used. Additional priorities for moderate conditions The forecast for 2016–17 indicates that moderate conditions may arise later in the year. While not certain, if moderate conditions do occur in parts of the basin the management outcomes sought from environmental watering are to maintain ecological health and resilience by: enabling growth, reproduction and small-scale recruitment for a diverse range of plants and animals
EWP-2016-17-report-overview_2.docx