5.3 Evaluation 5.1 Summary of monitoring and evaluation questions for water quality parameters during the water actions from irrigation canal escapes. Detailed findings are presented in Appendix A. CEWO Water Planning and delivery Monitoring and Evaluation questions and outcomes Flow component type and Expected outcomes of LTIM Question Observed outcomes What information was Were appropriate target/planned watering action (From the evaluation based flows provided to magnitude, duration, Use Minute on? achieve the expected timing and/or inundation 10038 and/or CEWO outcome? extent (CEWO 2016) Acquittal report) CEW delivered from To provide hypoxic water What did Commonwealth NA Gaps in the logger data Local refuges were refuge for fish and other irrigation escapes environmental contribute to make this difficult to achieved, with aquatic biota (WUM temperature regimes? assess, but this was not greater extent 10054-03, 10054-04 an expected outcome of around the Wakool 10054-05). the and Edward Escapes where larger volume What did Commonwealth Some dilution effects Spot measurements and field observations releases were environmental water contribute to (increased DO) downstream possible. Greater dissolved oxygen concentrations? of Edward and Wakool impact would be Escapes during escape flows achieved by starting What did Commonwealth Some small dilution effects Water samples releases earlier in environmental water contribute to observed. future blackwater nutrient concentrations? events, where What did Commonwealth NA- this was not a target of possible. environmental water contribute to flows modification of the type and amount of dissolved organic matter through reconnection with previously dry or disconnected channel habitat? What did Commonwealth Creation of local refuges with samples, spot environmental water contribute to improved water quality in the measurements, reducing the impact of blackwater immediate vicinity of the observations in the system? escapes. Small downstream improvements at some sites.
5.3 Evaluation 5.1 Summary of monitoring and evaluation questions for water quality parameters during the water actions from irrigation canal escapes. Detailed findings are presented in Appendix A. CEWO Water Planning and delivery Monitoring and Evaluation questions and outcomes Flow component type and target/planned magnitude, duration, timing and/or inundation extent (CEWO 2016) Expected outcomes of watering action (From Use Minute 10038 and/or CEWO Acquittal report) LTIM Question Observed outcomes What information was the evaluation based on? Were appropriate flows provided to achieve the expected outcome? CEW delivered from irrigation escapes To provide hypoxic water refuge for fish and other aquatic biota (WUM 10054-03, 10054-04 10054-05). What did Commonwealth environmental contribute to temperature regimes? NA Gaps in the logger data make this difficult to assess, but this was not an expected outcome of the Local refuges were achieved, with greater extent around the Wakool and Edward Escapes where larger volume releases were possible. Greater impact would be achieved by starting releases earlier in future blackwater events, where possible. What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to dissolved oxygen concentrations? Some dilution effects (increased DO) downstream of Edward and Wakool Escapes during escape flows Spot measurements and field observations What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to nutrient concentrations? Some small dilution effects observed. Water samples What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to modification of the type and amount of dissolved organic matter through reconnection with previously dry or disconnected channel habitat? NA- this was not a target of flows What did Commonwealth environmental water contribute to reducing the impact of blackwater in the system? Creation of local refuges with improved water quality in the immediate vicinity of the escapes. Small downstream improvements at some sites. samples, spot measurements, observations
edward-wakool-ltim-annual-report-2016-17.docx