Download Lower Murray and Plains

Regional Action Plan
Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin
SUB REGION - DRAFT (February 2016)
Lower Murray and Plains
What do we value about this area?
• Lifestyle’ values strongly connected to the River Murray; rural-living, river shacks,
water-based recreation, volunteering and strong community cohesion.
• Natural beauty; landscape aesthetic and connection to the river, including the iconic
River Murray cliffs.
For further information:
Alison Skinner, Senior Project Officer, NRM Planning
Mount Barker Natural Resource Centre
T: (08) 8391 7532 E: [email protected]
• Secure freshwater supplies from the River Murray for Adelaide, country town
supplies, domestic and industrial use.
• Agriculture production from irrigated horticulture, dairies, dryland farming, grazing
and intensive farming along the river corridor.
• Tourism associated the River Murray and European history.
• Biodiversity conservation; refugia for threatened species including the Regent
Parrot and Mallee Fowl.
• Aboriginal cultural values
What’s driving change?
• Climate change affecting water availability and water quality, year-to-year variability
of rainfall, and condition of native vegetation.
• Economic drivers; markets, transport and input cost.
• Land use change driven by land affordability.
• Farm sizes increasing; growth of organic farming and precision agriculture.
• Increase in recreational/ lifestyle landowners.
What NRM issues need addressing and why
What do our natural resources
provide?
Habitat provision for terrestrial
native plants and animals
including threatened species,
supporting the inherent values of
biodiversity and its conservation
for future generations
Habitat provision for native
plants and animals associated
with the river corridor
What natural resources management issues
do we need to work on?
What impacts are these issues having on our natural resources?
Fragmentation of habitat due to past clearing.
Loss of habitat for native species; reduction in size and isolation of plant
and animal populations; increased vulnerability to other threats (such as
climate change, pests, weeds).
Total grazing pressure (livestock and kangaroos) where
native vegetation is integrated into grazing system
(vegetation is not often fenced off in this SES).
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.
Climate change impacts on vegetation condition.
Decline in the condition of habitat and viability of plant and animal
populations due to climatic changes; exacerbated in fragmented landscapes
with small, isolated populations where genetic diversity and capacity for
adaptation or dispersal is low.
Impacts of land use change on biodiversity
values; increasing 'Lifestyle' land use.
Potential for decline in land condition if poor management leads to erosion,
weed invasion, decline in soil health. Potential for biodiversity gains if
change results in shift to conservation land use and ecological restoration.
Change to river flows (timing and duration)
as a result of river regulation.
Decline in the condition of floodplain vegetation and associated native
fauna due to lack of wetting or prolonged inundation. Prolonged high water
levels affect the condition of habitat in the river channel. Both impacts
contribute to declines in the ecological health of the river.
Water quality (turbidity and salinity) and
‘black water’ (low oxygen) events.
Impacts on water dependent species (not all species have tolerances to
sustain past certain thresholds of different water quality parameters).
Carp and other pest animals.
Reduced water quality; reduction in native fish populations due to
increased predation and competition for appropriate habitat.
Riparian weeds (e.g. willows).
Increased competition with native riparian species, causes changes to the
bank structure and eliminates existence of native river bank species,thus
reducing native habitat condition.
Historical clearance of floodplains and former
use for dairies, resulting in increasing salinity and
acid sulphate soils (Lower Murray Swamps).
Previous habitat use is completely gone. Salinity and acid sulphate soils
continue to impact River Murray water quality.
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)
Lower Murray and Plains
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.
Healthy soils and water resources
underpinning sustainable
production from irrigated
agriculture, supporting
viable rural communities.
What natural resources management issues
do we need to work on?
What impacts are these issues having on our natural resources?
Land managers’ land use and agronomic decisions
affecting chemical inputs, soil health, pest plants
and animals, water use and profitability of farming;
land use change affecting management.
Decline in land condition associated with nutrient runoff, decline in soil health, increased
erosion risk in periods of low cover, increase in weeds, and herbicide resistance, resulting in
declining profitability and sustainability of production.
Climate variability (year to year variation in rainfall),
drought, and climate change; also predicted
trend of increasing frosts and plagues.
Decline in productivity of cropping and grazing systems (especially during drought); increased
erosion risk; increase in weeds.
High soil erosion risk associated with overgrazing,
low cover, and susceptible soil types.
Decline in land condition, sustainability of production, and capacity to recover after drought.
Emergence of herbicide resistant weeds
associated with continuous cropping.
Direct impacts on capacity for weed control and profitability of cropping; indirect threat to
soil health if the management alternative results in increasing cultivation and erosion risk.
Dryland salinity, sodicity and saline seeps.
Decline in soil health affecting productivity and profitability; loss of production in areas
affected by saline seeps.
Acid sulfate soils in the Lower Murray Swamps.
Severe decline in water quality affecting the ecological health of the River Murray
downstream; loss of production and increased management costs on affected agricultural
land in the Lower Murray Swamps.
Agricultural weeds (particularly broadleaf and grass weeds).
Reduced profitability of farming enterprises due to costs of control and impacts on product
quality.
Pest animals (particularly plagues of mice and locusts).
Reduced profitability of farming enterprises due to costs of control and impacts on production.
Soil structure and soil carbon content of soils.
Affects moisture holding capacity, fertility and productivity of dryland farming systems.
Wildfire.
Decline in cover causing increased erosion risk and potential invasion of weeds. Reduces
profitability of farming enterprises due to increases in costs of management and capital
repair and reduced quality and quantity of produce.
Land managers’ land use and agronomic decisions
affecting chemical inputs, soil health, pest plants and
animals, water use and profitability of farming.
Decline in land condition associated with nutrient runoff, decline in soil health, increased
erosion risk in periods of low cover, increase in weeds, and herbicide resistance, resulting in
declining profitability and sustainability of production. Land use change in parts of Lower
Murray Swamps had resulted in unmanaged land.
Water availability (access and allocations)
and viable cost of water.
Sustainable agricultural and horticultural production is dependent on a consistent supply of
water at an appropriate quality with an economically viable cost. .
River water level.
The level of water in the River can impact access to water supplies via infrastructure (and
result in increased costs), and have damaging impacts on the river banks.
Agricultural weeds (particularly broadleaf and grass weeds).
Reduced profitability of farming enterprises due to increases in costs of management and
reduced quality produce.
Pest animals.
Reduced profitability of farming enterprises due to increases in costs of management and
reduced quality produce.
Water quality.
Impacts drinking water availability
Impacts of salinity, sodicity and saline seeps on
soil health and production capacity of land.
Salinity (rising water tables) and sodicity, impact soil structure and health and reduces the
area of viable agricultural land available and reduce profitability of affected land.
Acid sulfate soils in the Lower Murray Swamps.
Acid sulphate soils require increased management inputs, and impact on the productivity of
agricultural land, and water quality from the site entering the River Murray.
Lack of management of Lower Murray swamps due to
change in land use.
Results in declining soil health and water quality and often an increase of weeds.
Wildfire.
Affects biodiversity values; particularly fire-sensitive species. Affects access to conservation
parks for recreational use.
Potential impacts associated with growth
of intensive farming industries.
Increased water demand and waste generation. Potential water quality impacts if not
carefully managed.
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.