Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts. A framework for. Integrated Aquatic Ecosystem. Management. Satish Choy and Peter ...
A framework for Integrated Aquatic Ecosystem Management
Satish Choy and Peter Negus* Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Outcomes of ICM?
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Review of Integrated Catchment Management “The process aspects of ICM are reasonably well established however it is at the expense of a focus on outcomes.” Integrated Catchment Management: Learning from the Australian Experience for the Murray-Darling Basin Final Report January 2002 Jennifer Bellamy1, Helen Ross2, Sarah Ewing3, Tony Meppem1 1. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Brisbane. 2. University of Queensland, Gatton. 3. University of Melbourne, Melbourne Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
What is happening now? • Currently, catchment and aquatic ecosystem management programs are segregated by issues – eg Water Planning – Murray Darling Basin Plan – focus on water allocations and flow
• Do not effectively deliver integrated outcomes
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Proposing integrated aquatic ecosystem management
• Increase in the use of risk assessments • Monitoring of health / condition are using more indicators – largely to incorporate causality
• Identification of roles and responsibilities
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Priority Threats – Western Qld Murray Darling & Bulloo Warrego
Paroo
Bulloo
Nebine
Risk
Risk
Risk
Risk
Instream pests
16.9
17.2
16.7
14.7
Deposited sediment
14.5
14.5
14.5
14.5
Riparian pests
12.0
13.0
11.4
11.5
Hydrology: waterhole persistence
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Hydrology: waterhole level fluctuation
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
Priority Threats
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Priority Threats - Lake Eyre and Bulloo Threat
Consequence
Likelihood
Risk
Riparian pest fauna
3
5
15
Instream pest fauna
4
3
12
Riparian pest flora
3
3
9
Riparian disturbance
2.5
3
7.5
Deposited sediment
3
2
6
Flow management
2
2
4
Toxicants
4
1
4
Nutrients
1
3
3
Instream disturbance
3
1
3
Climate change
2
1
2
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
River Condition 2008-09
Pioneer
Burdekin
Moreton
Tully
Cooper Creek
Fringing Zone
0.61
0.56
0.41
0.86
0.90
Catchment Disturbance
0.62
0.56
0.66
0.82
0.47
Aquatic Biota
0.82
0.89
0.72
0.83
0.67
Water Quality and Soils
0.84
0.86
0.75
0.85
0.86
Hydrological Disturbance
0.33
0.48
0.58
N/A
N/A
Physical Form
0.96
0.86
0.97
0.90
0.70
Overall score
0.63
0.66
0.64
0.85
0.68
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Natural drivers
Climate
Hydrology
Geology
Climate change
Pressures
Mining Intensive animal production Agriculture Urban and industrial
Stressors
Acid soil runoff Biota removal / disturbance Flow regime Habitat removal / disturbance Instream or riparian fragmentation Litter Nutrients
Mediators
Biophysical conditions
Ecosystem responses
Biota Water use Landscape management
Organic matter Pathogens Pest species Salinity Sediments Thermal alteration Toxicants
Physical / habitat
Biological
Alterations to instream and riparian habitat – stability, fragmentation, reduction, heterogeneity, geomorphology
Alterations to instream and riparian biota – behaviour, reproduction, fecundity, fitness, mortality, species extinction
Pressure-StressorResponse Framework
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
(Adapted from USEPA 1998)
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
• The framework is based on environmental risk assessment, prioritisation and targeted management actions • Clear roles and responsibilities, accountability, focussed monitoring and evaluation, and adaptive management. • This approach will be more cost effective, achieve greater overall ecological benefits and be more sustainable in the longer term.
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
