8.3 Evaluation 8.2 Summary of fish movement responses to Commonwealth environmental watering. N/A = Not applicable to this watering action. Detailed findings are presented in Appendix D. CEWO Water Planning and delivery Monitoring and Evaluation questions and outcomes Flow component type Expected outcomes of LTIM Question Observed outcomes What information was the Were appropriate and target/planned watering action (From evaluation based on? provided to magnitude, duration, Water Use Minute 10038 achieve the expected timing and/or and/or CEWO Acquittal outcome? inundation extent report) To provide hypoxic water Were periodic species (golden Only a proportion of the Location of tagged individuals No. Timing of flow refuge for fish and other and silver perch) present in the tagged sample of fish survived within the system based on delivery was aquatic biota (WUM target reaches during the hypoxic blackwater event either current movements or generally too late to 10054-03, 10054-04 Commonwealth environmental the last valid detection protect the majority 10054-05). water delivery? of individuals. Did periodic species remain Yes see above Location of tagged individuals – To reinstate part of the within the target reaches during within the system based on continuous flows during Commonwealth environmental either current movements or winter-spring. To improve water delivery? the last valid detection links with other parts of NA NA Did Commonwealth the river system (WUM environmental water stimulate 10054-07, 10054-08) periodic fish species to exhibit movement consistent with reproductive behaviour? Does Commonwealth NA NA environmental water enable periodic species to disperse from and return to refuge habitat? Does Commonwealth Possibly, although note that the Location of tagged individuals environmental water protect timing of e-flow delivery from within the system based on periodic species from adverse irrigation escapes was too late either current movements or water quality? to ensure survival of many fish the last valid detection
8.3 Evaluation 8.2 Summary of fish movement responses to Commonwealth environmental watering. N/A = Not applicable to this watering action. Detailed findings are presented in Appendix D. CEWO Water Planning and delivery Monitoring and Evaluation questions and outcomes Flow component type and target/planned magnitude, duration, timing and/or inundation extent Expected outcomes of watering action (From Water Use Minute 10038 and/or CEWO Acquittal report) LTIM Question Observed outcomes What information was the evaluation based on? Were appropriate provided to achieve the expected outcome? To provide hypoxic water refuge for fish and other aquatic biota (WUM 10054-03, 10054-04 10054-05). To reinstate part of the continuous flows during winter-spring. To improve links with other parts of the river system (WUM 10054-07, 10054-08) Were periodic species (golden and silver perch) present in the target reaches during Commonwealth environmental water delivery? Only a proportion of the tagged sample of fish survived the hypoxic blackwater event Location of tagged individuals within the system based on either current movements or the last valid detection No. Timing of flow delivery was generally too late to protect the majority of individuals. Did periodic species remain within the target reaches during Commonwealth environmental water delivery? Yes – see above Location of tagged individuals within the system based on either current movements or the last valid detection Did Commonwealth environmental water stimulate periodic fish species to exhibit movement consistent with reproductive behaviour? NA NA Does Commonwealth environmental water enable periodic species to disperse from and return to refuge habitat? NA NA Does Commonwealth environmental water protect periodic species from adverse water quality? Possibly, although note that the timing of e-flow delivery from irrigation escapes was too late to ensure survival of many fish Location of tagged individuals within the system based on either current movements or the last valid detection
edward-wakool-ltim-annual-report-2016-17.docx