Full Title
Literature review and experimental design to address retaining floodwater on floodplains and flow enhancement hypotheses relevant to native tree species
Contact Person
Ben Gawne
Project Team
Ben Gawne, Christine Reid, Caitlin Johns and Cherie Campbell in collaboration with CSIRO representatives, Jane Roberts and DECC representatives
Funding Body
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Duration
May - June 2009
Outcomes
Workshop between collaborators and report to MDBA including literature review, conceptual models, summary of outcomes and adaptive management options)
Summary
The Murray-Darling Basin is dominated by 3 species of trees: River Red Gum (Eucalyptus
camaldulensis) is the most wide-spread within the Basin, Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens)
is found predominantly in the south and west along the Murray River, and the Coolibah
(Eucalyptus microtheca) in the north and west, and particularly in the Darling system. The
River Cooba (Acacia stenophylla) is also a notable, but physically smaller, species occurring
throughout the western part of the Basin, and is found within The Living Murray (TLM) sites.
These species, along with others, such as Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), River Oak
(Casuarina cunninghamii) and Melaleuca species keystone species that perform a range of
critical roles in floodplain ecosystems including primary production, micro-climate
regulation, soil formation and the provision of habitat for fauna, such as birds.
The objectives of this project are:
· To identify flow characteristics that best create or maintain habitat suitable for the germination of native tree species
· To identify flow characteristics that best create or maintain habitat suitable for the health and growth of native tree species
· To identify flow characteristics that best create or maintain habitat suitable for the recruitment of native tree species
. To identify the risks of weed germination, growth and dispersal with the flow characteristics identified as suitable for native tree species
