Innovative techniques for managing multiple threats to high value aquatic systems

The key element of this project involves the landscape-scale (1,500 ha) manipulation of water regimes on Dowd Morass in the Gippsland Lakes. Dowd Morass is subject to an inappropriate water regime, having been flooded more-or-less permanently since the mid 1970s despite it having probably experienced annual draw down and a dry period every 2-5 years under natural conditions in earlier times before river regulation and catchment development. It is subject also to chronic salinisation from saline intrusions from the oceanic Gippsland Lakes, nutrient enrichment, acid-sulfate soils and a limited amount of weed infestation.

There is a distressing lack of documentation on the impacts of altered hydrology on ecological and economic sustainability of wetlands, and little consensus on the best ways to re-introduce a more natural water regime to high-value wetlands in particular. Moreover, there is a serious lack of quantitative data available on the effectiveness of reintroducing a more natural water regime on wetland structure, function and values which this project aims to address.

Outcomes

1. Quantify primary and secondary impacts among multiple ecological threats in terms of species, communities and ecosystem scale effects upon a high value aquatic system
2. Assess the effectiveness of various restoration/ rehabilitation strategies, including hydrological manipulation, fish exclusion and active revegetation on an ecosystem threatened by multiple impacts
3. Determine the most effective spatial and temporal scales on which to base management decisions in order to ensure ecological sustainability of aquatic systems
4. Embed these studies within a rigorous and genuine adaptive management strategy in accordance with approved management plans, closely coordinated with relevant management agencies and linked with community and stakeholder groups
5. Integrate the outputs of these four objectives into the development of a case study handbook that is widely transferable and can be used by managers to guide the management of aquatic environments subjected to multiple ecological threats

Publications and Resources

None listed

Citation

Land & Water Australia. 2009. Innovative techniques for managing multiple threats to high value aquatic systems. [Online] (Updated August 6th, 2009)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/3221 [Accessed Tuesday 26th of April 2011 05:06:39 AM ].