Wet and Damp Forests

Threats

 

+ Lack of knowledge, skills and resources

Land owners lucky enough to have waterways or wetlands on their land may not be aware of the importance of protecting fringing native vegetation, keeping stock out of creek-lines and removing trees such as willows and other weeds.

Responses

 

→ Build skills, share information and provide resources

Equip land owners with the knowledge and skills to protect stream banks and control weed species. Provide incentives and support for riparian revegetation, stock-exclusion fencing and off-stream troughs for stock watering.

 

+ Farm dams and water extraction

Farm dams and extraction of water (including groundwater) reduce creek volumes and flows. This means higher water temperatures and less oxygen, and reduces the creek's capacity to sustain life. It also reduces deeper water needed by larger animals such as native fish, crayfish and platypus.

→ Reduce extraction and manage the impact of dams

Increase community understanding about the consequences of over extraction of water and the impact of farm dams. Monitor and regulate commercial extraction and building of new dams. Provide financial incentives for the removal of dams that are no longer needed.

 

+ Clearing or lack of streamside vegetation

The loss of, or insufficient, stream-side vegetation elevates water temperatures and reduces oxygen levels, adversely affecting aquatic species. It also increases bank instability and erosion and fewer leaves and woody debris are shed into the water depriving aquatic species of food and shelter.

→Protect and/or replace streamside vegetation

Replant indigenous species along and beyond the creek banks to restore a wide corridor of streamside vegetation. Use fences to protect the plantings where stock are present. Farm dams vegetated with wetland species can provide good habitat for a number of wetland species.

 

+ Sedimentation

During heavy rain soil runs into waterways and wetlands from unsealed roads and areas disturbed by earthworks, overgrazing and clearing. This silt smothers water-based plants and clouds the water creating a light- and oxygen-poor environment unsuitable to many plants and animals.

→ Reduce sediment and nutrient runoff and protect creeks from storm runoff

Revegetate stream banks with indigenous riparian species to create a wide vegetation corridor that can trap silt and nutrients before they reach the creek or wetland. Plant indigenous shrubs and grasses thickly along unsealed tracks and roads that are near creeks and wetlands to trap or divert storm water and its load of silt. On adjacent farmland, maintain good groundcover and use nutrient budgeting to apply only the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.

 

What is occuring

During heavy rain soil runs into waterways and wetlands from unsealed roads and areas disturbed by earthworks, overgrazing and clearing. This silt smothers water-based plants and clouds the water creating a light- and oxygen-poor environment unsuitable to many plants and animals.

How we can return it to health

Doe woe

some bad stuff happening!.

 

+Sedimentation

What is happening

During heavy rain soil runs into waterways and wetlands from unsealed roads and areas disturbed by earthworks, overgrazing and clearing. This silt smothers water-based plants and clouds the water creating a light- and oxygen-poor environment unsuitable to many plants and animals.

How we can return it to health

Reduce sediment and nutrient runoff and protect creeks from storm runoff: Revegetate stream banks with indigenous riparian species to create a wide vegetation corridor that can trap silt and nutrients before they reach the creek or wetland. Plant indigenous shrubs and grasses thickly along unsealed tracks and roads that are near creeks and wetlands to trap or divert storm water and its load of silt. On adjacent farmland, maintain good groundcover and use nutrient budgeting to apply only the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.

 

+Question 3?

Land owners lucky enough to have waterways or wetlands on their land may not be aware of the importance of protecting fringing native vegetation, keeping stock out of creek-lines and removing trees such as willows and other weeds.
Land owners lucky enough to have waterways or wetlands on their land may not be aware of the importance of protecting fringing native vegetation, keeping stock out of creek-lines and removing trees such as willows and other weeds

→Question 3?

Answer Here