Figure 38 Example of the change in vegetation functional groups over time at key lagoon wetlands in the Mid-Murrumbidgee. Sites are ordered in relation to the number of years dry before rewetting from most frequently flooded (Turkey Flat C2) to least frequently flooded (Euroley (C1) Control site 1). Discussion The key objective of the Commonwealth environmental watering action with respect to vegetation was to health of existing extent of riparian, “maintain floodplain and wetland native vegetation communities”. However, capacity constraints within the Murrumbidgee River meant that it was not possible to achieve enough height in the River to reconnect with the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands, and, as a result, all sites were drying down during 2012-13. Environmental watering in the previous year (2011-12) had benefited vegetation communities in many of the wetlands. However, in 2012-13 there was an increase in terrestrial species while the percent cover of aquatic vegetation species remained stable or declined. The recovery of vegetation communities in the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands to their condition () will require a long-term commitment to Commonwealth environmental watering. McKennas summer 1999 (Photo James Maguire) McKennas from the same - summer 2013
Figure 38 Example of the change in vegetation functional groups over time at key lagoon wetlands in the Mid-Murrumbidgee. Sites are ordered in relation to the number of years dry before rewetting from most frequently flooded (Turkey Flat C2) to least frequently flooded (Euroley (C1) Control site 1). Discussion The key objective of the Commonwealth environmental watering action with respect to vegetation was to “maintain health of existing extent of riparian, floodplain and wetland native vegetation communities”. However, capacity constraints within the Murrumbidgee River meant that it was not possible to achieve enough height in the River to reconnect with the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands, and, as a result, all sites were drying down during 2012-13. Environmental watering in the previous year (2011-12) had benefited vegetation communities in many of the wetlands. However, in 2012-13 there was an increase in terrestrial species while the percent cover of aquatic vegetation species remained stable or declined. The recovery of vegetation communities in the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands to their condition () will require a long-term commitment to Commonwealth environmental watering. McKennas summer 1999 (Photo James Maguire) McKennas from the same - summer 2013
ecological-response-monitoring-murrumbidgee-12-13.docx