Download Meningie-Tailem Bend

Regional Action Plan
Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin
SUB REGION - DRAFT (February 2016)
Meningie-Tailem Bend
What do we value about this area?
• ‘Lifestyle’ values: rural-living, family history, understanding each other, strong
community cohesion and water-related activities
• Natural beauty and spiritual values of the Ramsar wetlands
• Secure freshwater supplies from the Lower Lakes for domestic and industrial use
For further information:
Alison Skinner, Senior Project Officer, NRM Planning
Mount Barker Natural Resource Centre
T: (08) 8391 7532 E: [email protected]
• Agricultural production from dryland farming; cropping and grazing
• Commercial and recreational fishing
• Tourism associated with Ramsar wetlands, European and indigenous history
• Biodiversity conservation
• Aboriginal cultural values
What’s driving change?
• Declining population
• Corporatisation of farms
• High water costs
• Climate change
What NRM issues need addressing and why
What do our natural resources
provide?
Habitat provision for native
plants and animals including
threatened species, supporting
the inherent values of biodiversity
and its conservation for future
generations; recreation and
tourism associated with the
lakes (including commercial
and recreational fishing), and
Aboriginal cultural values.
Healthy aquatic habitats supporting biodiversity values,
recreation and tourism associated
with the lakes, commercial
and recreational fishing, and
Aboriginal cultural values.
What natural resources management issues
do we need to work on?
What impacts are these issues having on our natural resources?
Over-grazing by livestock and other
herbivores (kangaroos, deer, rabbits).
Decline in condition of native vegetation and suitability of habitat for
native species; increased risk of erosion and weed invasion, affecting
the capacity of vegetation to recover and affecting water quality.
Change in fire regime.
Lack of recruitment of fire-dependent species; decline in condition
of native vegetation if fires too frequent or absent.
Predation of native fauna (by foxes, dingoes).
Foxes and dingoes are predators of native animals, but also contribute to
reduced total grazing pressure through predation of rabbits and kangaroos.
Fragmentation of habitat due to past clearing.
Loss of habitat for native species and increased vulnerability
of native plant and animals populations to other threats
(such as climate change, pests, weeds).
Reduced in-flows (due to basin-wide extraction)
affecting water level in lakes, connectivity of aquatic
habitats, and water quality (including salinity).
Decline in aquatic and water-dependent plants and animals.
Decline in water quality due to upstream extraction
and impacts of surrounding land uses.
Decline in water quality affects condition of aquatic habitat, lifestyle values
and suitability of water for consumptive uses (stock, domestic and irrigation).
Carp and other aquatic pest animals.
Reduced water quality; reduction in native fish populations. Affects
biodiversity and lifestyle values due to impacts on native fish populations.
Impacts of recreational activities (e.g. jet skis, boating).
Disturbance to and decline in condition of aquatic habitat, due to
pollution, erosion from wave action, and transfer of pests and weeds.
Impacts of long nose fur seals on fish populations.
Decline in fish populations and commercial fishing values if seal
numbers high.
Table continued on page 2
Version 1.0 - modified 16/2/16
DISCLAIMER: While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular
purpose of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of this publication. Reference to any company, product or service in this publication should not be taken as a Department endorsement of the
company, product or service.
Regional Action Plan
Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin
SUB REGION - DRAFT (February 2016)
Meningie-Tailem Bend
Table continued:
What NRM issues need addressing and why
What do our natural resources
provide?
Healthy soils and water
resources underpinning
sustainable production from
dryland agriculture, supporting
viable rural communities.
Water supply (groundwater
and lake water) for stock and
domestic use (near lakes).
What natural resources management issues
do we need to work on?
What impacts are these issues having on our natural resources?
(Poor) access to, and high cost of water for stock and
domestic use, irrigation; issues affecting groundwater,
creeks, dams and piped water, including weeds.
High cost of water affects the profitability and viability of farming
enterprises. Indirect risk of land degradation from expansion of cropping
into unsuitable areas as a result of the high cost of piping water for stock.
Rainfall variability affecting erosion risk on
shallow soils and marginal country; likely to
be exacerbated under climate change.
Decline in land condition, sustainability of production,
and capacity to recover after drought.
Over-grazing by livestock and native
herbivores (kangaroos, deer, rabbits).
Decline in pasture and land condition, and increased risk of erosion;
increased spread of disease (deer); decline in productivity.
Pest animals (especially deer) spreading
disease (Ovine Johnes and Leptospirosis).
Reduced fertility of sheep; decline in profitability of farming enterprise.
(Poor) access to, and high cost of water for
stock and domestic use and irrigation.
High cost of water affects the profitability and viability of farming
enterprises. Indirect risk of land degradation from expansion of cropping
into unsuitable areas as a result of the high cost of piping water for stock.
Version 1.0 - modified 16/2/16
DISCLAIMER: While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular
purpose of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of this publication. Reference to any company, product or service in this publication should not be taken as a Department endorsement of the
company, product or service.