BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 900          Total No. of Sites: 6659
Survey/Project Name: Riverine Recovery Project (RRP) River Murray Wetland Surveys
Abstract: The Riverine Recovery Project (RRP) aims to achieve measurable long-term improvements in the health of the riverine environment between Wellington and the South Australian border. The project is linked with the Murray Futures Long-term Plan for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth by extending the efforts to build resilience and address River health across the whole of the River Murray system in South Australia. The main aim of this project was to collect baseline information, for ongoing monitoring, of a number of parameters and indicators of wetland condition; including frogs, fish, birds, vegetation, surface water and groundwater at a number of selected wetlands along the South Australian section of the Murray River. Refer to http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/218876/RRP_Baseline_Survey_Report_-_FINAL.pdf Fish data from the rapid assessment of eight wetlands by the University of Adelaide is included in this project. REFERENCE: Aldridge, K., Wallace, T., Wedderburn, S. and Barnes T. (2012). A rapid assessment of the condition of selected wetlands for the Riverine Recovery Project. Final report prepared for Department for Water, Government of South Australia, The University of Adelaide. Tree health was recorded according to The Living Murray methodology, P. Tucker 2004
 
Start Date: 01/01/2012      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: Selected wetlands along the South Australian section of the Murray River between Wellington and the South Australian border. Wetlands are within the extent of the DEWNR GIS SDE layer - TOPO.MurrayFlood1956 (can provide layer if required). Metadata applying to Uni of Adelaide survey component: Surveys were conducted at multiple sites within eight wetlands in the South Australian section of the Murray-Darling Basin. These wetlands were Beldora Wetland (south), Beldora Wetland (north), Kroehn's Landing, Forster Lagoon, North Purnong, Caurnamont, Saltbush Flat and Lake Carlet. Two distinct lagoons in Beldora Wetland were assessed.
Objectives
         Vegetation: Refer to Abstract.
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: Methodology as outlined in Riverine Recovery Project 2013 Baseline Wetland Vegetation Surveys Final Draft: The assessment involved establishing between 6 and 12 permanent transects at each wetland with the aim of sampling 2 to 4 representative vegetation community types and having 3 replicate transects per community (spaced a minimum of 50 metres apart). Transects were aligned perpendicular to the water body shoreline and had a starting point at +40 centimetres above normal pool level. The start of each transect was permanently marked with a labelled star picket and the location captured with GPS. Six quadrats were positioned along each transect corresponding to elevations of +40, +20, 0, -30, -60, -90 centimetres above/below pool level, wherever the wetland morphology allowed. The distance of each quadrat from the transect start point (+40 cm) was measured and recorded. Daily pool level data was used to reference transect elevations against normal pool level, and transect elevations were surveyed using a calibrated laser level. Each quadrat was 15 m x 1 m aligned perpendicularly to the right hand side of the transect (as viewed from permanent star picket), and divided into 15 x 1 m2 cells. Species presence was recorded for each 1 m x 1 m cell in each quadrat, to provide frequency scores for each species found (including bare ground), with a maximum score of 15. Tree Health methodology Tucker, P (2004). Your Wetland: Monitoring Manual - Data Collection, River Murray Catchment Water Management Board, Berri and Australian Landscape Trust, Renmark. More contemporary tree condition sites have used the Ground-based survey methods for The Living Murray assessment of condition of river red gum and black box population (the TLM Method) Souter, N. et. al. (2010), Murray Darling Basin Authority.
         Fauna: Generally surveys followed the methodologies as specified in the 'Riverine Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Program: Technical Design' document (citation below). However, some variations to methods have occurred and are captured in individual baseline survey reports. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2012). Riverine Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Program: Technical Design. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Adelaide, South Australia. Methodology applying to Uni of Adelaide component of project: Five sites were sampled at each wetland. Sites 1-3 involved the use of 6 m single-winged fyke nets (5-mm mesh) set 10 m apart, perpendicular to the bank, with the leader at the water edge. Site 4 involved the use of two 10 m double-winged fyke nets (1m hoop; 12 mm mesh), set back to back parallel to the shoreline. Site 5 involved three 10 m hauls of a seine net (8 m long; 5 mm mesh).

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Unknown :
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Misc) - Major Projects