Appendix 1 Quantified environmental outcomes Table 1: Summary of quantified environmental outcomes that are expected to be achieved beyond 2019 flows and Vegetation Waterbirds Fish connectivity Maintain the extent Maintain current Maintain current species and improve the species diversity, diversity, extend Improve connections along condition improve breeding distributions, improve rivers and between rivers success and numbers breeding success and and their floodplains numbers Maintained base Maintenance of the Maintained current Improved at least 60% of natural current extent of: species diversity distribution: • levels 360,000 ha of of: of key short and • • river red gum, all current long-lived fish species • Improved overall flow: 409,000 ha of black waterbirds across the Basin 10% more into the box, 310,000 ha of current migratory • • Barwon–Darling coolibah forest and shorebirds at the Improved breeding 30% more into the woodlands, and Coorong success for: • River Murray existing large short-lived species • 30–40% more to the communities of Increased (every 1–2 years) • Murray Mouth (and it lignum abundance: long-lived species in • open to the sea 90% of 20–25% increase at least 8 to 10 years • • the time) communities near or in waterbirds by at 80% of key sites in wetlands, streams 2024 mulloway in at least • Maintained and on low-lying 5 to10 years connectivity in areas floodplains Improved breeding: where it is relatively up to 50% more Improved • unaffected: Maintained the breeding events for populations of: between rivers and current condition colonial nesting short-lived species • • floodplains in the Paroo, of lowland waterbird species (numbers at pre-2007 Moonie, Nebine, floodplain forests a 30–40% increase levels) • Warrego and Ovens and woodlands of: in nests and broods long-lived species • river red gum for other waterbirds (with a spread of age • black box classes represented) Improved connectivity • coolibah Murray cod and with bank-full and/or • • golden perch low floodplain flows: by 30–60% in the Improved condition more mature fish • Murray, Murrumbidgee, of: at key sites) Goulburn and southern river red • Condamine–Balonne gum Improved by 10–20% in movement: • remaining catchments more native fish • using fish passages Maintain the Lower Lakes above sea level
Appendix 1 Quantified environmental outcomes Table 1: Summary of quantified environmental outcomes that are expected to be achieved beyond 2019 flows and connectivity Improve connections along rivers and between rivers and their floodplains Vegetation Maintain the extent and improve the condition Waterbirds Maintain current species diversity, improve breeding success and numbers Fish Maintain current species diversity, extend distributions, improve breeding success and numbers Maintained base • at least 60% of natural levels Improved overall flow: • 10% more into the Barwon–Darling • 30% more into the River Murray • 30–40% more to the Murray Mouth (and it open to the sea 90% of the time) Maintained connectivity in areas where it is relatively unaffected: • between rivers and floodplains in the Paroo, Moonie, Nebine, Warrego and Ovens Improved connectivity with bank-full and/or low floodplain flows: • by 30–60% in the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Goulburn and Condamine–Balonne • by 10–20% in remaining catchments Maintain the Lower Lakes above sea level Maintenance of the current extent of: • 360,000 ha of river red gum, 409,000 ha of black box, 310,000 ha of coolibah forest and woodlands, and existing large communities of lignum • communities near or in wetlands, streams and on low-lying floodplains Maintained the current condition of lowland floodplain forests and woodlands of: • river red gum • black box • coolibah Improved condition of: • southern river red gum Maintained current species diversity of: • all current waterbirds • current migratory shorebirds at the Coorong Increased abundance: • 20–25% increase in waterbirds by 2024 Improved breeding: • up to 50% more breeding events for colonial nesting waterbird species • a 30–40% increase in nests and broods for other waterbirds Improved distribution: • of key short and long-lived fish species across the Basin Improved breeding success for: • short-lived species (every 1–2 years) • long-lived species in at least 8 to 10 years at 80% of key sites • mulloway in at least 5 to10 years Improved populations of: • short-lived species (numbers at pre-2007 levels) • long-lived species (with a spread of age classes represented) • Murray cod and golden perch more mature fish at key sites) Improved movement: • more native fish using fish passages
Basin-Environmental-Watering-Outlook-2015-16_0.docx