1 Outcome and resilient rivers, wetlands and floodplains’ example questions, indicators and ‘healthy – data sources Evaluation Example indicators Data sources questions Red gum inundation To what extent have inundation model scenarios Vegetation age classes (to the Basin Plan and Plan’ ‘with-’ ‘without-Basin see that germination and objectives, targets Vegetation growth are occurring) and outcomes for Red gum location from MDB water-dependent vegetation type map 2013 Vegetation diversity (to ecosystems been assess no. of species) achieved? Flood inundation model scenarios How has the Basin and Plan’ ‘with-’ ‘without-Basin Plan contributed to Water bird nesting MDB aerial waterbird survey the protection and opportunities Birds restoration of Other surveys especially those at ecosystem functions? Water bird age classes assets as part of state reporting of the achievement of environmental How has the Basin outcomes at an asset scale Plan contributed to the protection and Gauge network flows that meet restoration of spawning requirements and Plan’ ‘With’ ‘without-Basin ecosystems? hydrology models Spawning How has the Basin A wide fish monitoring Fish Distribution Plan contributed to program Age classes improved resilience of Other surveys especially at water-dependent as part of state reporting of ecosystems in the the achievement of environmental Murray–Darling to outcomes climate change and other risks and Flood inundation model scenarios threats? Floodplain area inundated and Plan’ ‘with-’ ‘without-Basin Connectivity How did the (lateral) Bankfull flows - a measure Hydrology models and ‘with-’ of how often / for how long ecosystems respond Plan’ ‘without-Basin rivers are full to environmental watering? Periods when stop or Hydrology models and ‘with-’ are low Plan’ ‘without-Basin In what way has the Connectivity EWP improved flow (longitudinal) Murray Mouth opening Hydrology models and ‘with-’ regimes across the regime Plan’ ‘without-Basin Basin? Compliance with In what ways has the Connectivity Compliance with water resource groundwater provisions in condition of (vertical) plans WRPs environmental assets improved? MDBA monitoring of salinity targets Water quality Salinity levels Have the specific flow and salt loads & connectivity targets set in the BP been Asset surveys as part of state met? Diversity Vegetation diversity reporting
1 Outcome ‘healthy and resilient rivers, wetlands and floodplains’ – example questions, indicators and data sources Evaluation questions Example indicators Data sources To what extent have the Basin Plan objectives, targets and outcomes for water-dependent ecosystems been achieved? How has the Basin Plan contributed to the protection and restoration of ecosystem functions? How has the Basin Plan contributed to the protection and restoration of ecosystems? How has the Basin Plan contributed to improved resilience of water-dependent ecosystems in the Murray–Darling to climate change and other risks and threats? How did the ecosystems respond to environmental watering? In what way has the EWP improved flow regimes across the Basin? In what ways has the condition of environmental assets improved? Have the specific flow & connectivity targets set in the BP been met? Vegetation Red gum inundation Vegetation age classes (to see that germination and growth are occurring) Vegetation diversity (to assess no. of species) inundation model scenarios ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ Red gum location from MDB vegetation type map 2013 Birds Water bird nesting opportunities Water bird age classes Flood inundation model scenarios ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ MDB aerial waterbird survey Other surveys especially those at assets as part of state reporting of the achievement of environmental outcomes at an asset scale Fish Spawning Distribution Age classes Gauge network flows that meet spawning requirements ‘With’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ hydrology models A wide fish monitoring program Other surveys especially at as part of state reporting of the achievement of environmental outcomes Connectivity (lateral) Floodplain area inundated Flood inundation model scenarios ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ Bankfull flows - a measure of how often / for how long rivers are full Hydrology models ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ Connectivity (longitudinal) Periods when stop or are low Hydrology models ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ Murray Mouth opening regime Hydrology models ‘with-’ and ‘without-Basin Plan’ Connectivity (vertical) Compliance with groundwater provisions in WRPs Compliance with water resource plans Water quality Salinity levels MDBA monitoring of salinity targets and salt loads Diversity Vegetation diversity Asset surveys as part of state reporting
Basin-Plan-Evaluation-Framework-final.docx