Full Title
Continuation of the current long-term biological monitoring of the river health below Dartmouth Dam and the additional monitoring sites in the Upper Mitta Mitta Catchment
Contact Person
John Hawking
Project Team
John Hawking, Chris Davey, Rob Cook
Funding Body
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Duration
June 2008 to December 2011 (continuing on from November 2005 to February 2008)
Outcomes
Report to the MDBA and maintenance of database of macroinvertebrates identified from samples
Summary
The initial project investigated the Mitta Mitta River and several tributaries below Dartmouth Dam and it is suggested that this valuable monitoring continue. However, this study ignored the river health of the Mitta River catchment above Dartmouth Dam. This revised project will study the macroinvertebrate communities at strategic sites to detect degradation in the upper Mitta River, above the lake to its alpine source. Nine monitoring sites are proposed. Five sites on the Mitta River proper: (1) Alpine site, on Whiterock Creek, the source of the Big River; (2) Subalpine site, The Big River, Mt Nelse Track, with dense Mountain Ash stands; (3) Big River, in the Glen Valley, subjected to farming and mining; (4) Mitta Mitta River, in the the Omeo Valley, subjected to intense farming and land clearing, especially the riparian vegetation; (5) Mitta Mitta River, in the Alpine National Park, above Dartmouth Dam. Four tributaries of the Mitta Mitta River, with two impacted: (6) Livingstone Creek, Omeo Valley, (7) Bingo Munjie Creek, Bingo Munjie. Which are subjected to intense farming; Two streams forested and least impacted: (8) Cobungra River, Cobungra Valley; (9) Gibbo River, in the Alpine National Park.
The study will use AusRivAs methods and SEPP guidelines to assess river health values, which has the ability to detect the presence of environmental impairment or degradation, from the past and present catchment management practices. The study will be conducted over three years, with sampling in spring and autumn each year. This expanded project will value add to the existing monitoring program by providing a more detailed evaluation of the total Mitta Catchment from the headwaters of the Big River to the junction with the Hume Dam and fulfil the Commissions duty to identify catchment impairment that degrades the health of the river.
