Lake McLarty Nature Reserve 2008 Management Plan No 60
Lake McLarty Nature Reserve
2008 Management Plan No 60
2008081 LakeMcLartyMgtPcover.ind1 1 16/5/08 7:53:59 AM
CONTENTSPART A: INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11. ManagementPlanArea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22. KeyValues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23. EcologicalCharacter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34. RegionalContext. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
PART B: MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS AND PURPOSE . . . . . . . . .65. Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66. LegislativeFramework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67. ObligationsandAgreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98. PerformanceAssessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119. LandTenure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
PART C: MANAGING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . .1310. Biogeography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1311. Geology,LandformandSoils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1412. WetlandandCatchmentProtection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1513. NativePlantsandPlantCommunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1914. NativeAnimalsandHabitats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2215. EnvironmentalWeeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2716. IntroducedandOtherProblemAnimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3017. Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3318. Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3419. Rehabilitation....................................34
PART D: MANAGING CULTURAL HERITAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3520. IndigenousHeritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3521. Non-IndigenousHeritage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
PART E: MANAGING VISITOR USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3722. VisitorOpportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3723. Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3724. VisitorUse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
PART F INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3925. Information,EducationandInterpretation. . . . . . . . . . . .3926. WorkingwiththeCommunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4027. ScientificandResearchUse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
PART G MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN . . . . . .4128. TermofthePlan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
ACkNOwLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY TABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
MAP1.MANAGEMENTPLANNINGAREA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67MAP2.TENURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
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PART A: INTRODUCTIONThe planning area is located on the Swan Coastal Plainapproximately90kmsoutheastofPerthontheeasternsideoftheHarveyEstuary,withintheShireofMurray(seeMap1).
It comprises two ‘classA’ reserves;Reserve39404andReserve44978 (see Map 2). Together they cover 219 ha, and have thepurposeof ‘ConservationofFloraandFauna’.Thereservesarevested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia(Conservation Commission) and managed by the Departmentof Environment and Conservation (the Department, DEC).The management plan recommends that the two reserves beamalgamated(seesection9Land Tenure)andofficiallynamedLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.Forthepurposesofthisplan,theywillbereferredtoassuch.
Lake McLarty, a freshwater lake, is an integral part of thePeel–YalgorupSystem,locatedsouthofMandurah(CALM1990).This system is one of the largest and most diverse estuarinecomplexesinWesternAustraliaandincludesexamplesofcoastalsaline, brackish and freshwater lakes, and marshes (such asLakesMcLarty,Mealup,CliftonandPreston).Itisinternationallyimportant as a habitat and refuge site for waterbirds and wasincludedontheListofWetlandsofInternationalImportancein1990(Ramsar1990),comprisingRamsarsitenumber482.ThesouthernpartofLakeMcLartywasaddedtothisRamsarlistingin2001.
LakeMcLarty,likeothershorebirdsitesinAustralia,lieswithinthe geographical area known as the East Asian-AustralasianFlyway.MigratoryspecieswhichusethesitearelistedundertheChina–AustraliaMigratoryBirdAgreement(CAMBA),theJapan–AustraliaMigratoryBirdAgreement(JAMBA)andmorerecently,the Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement(ROKAMBA)(Seesection7Obligations and Agreements).
LakeMcLarty is includedasawetlandofnational significancein the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (EA2001), and is classified as a Conservation Category Wetlandin the Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset1. Inaddition,LakeMcLarty, togetherwithLakeMealup,was listedontheRegisteroftheNationalEstateaspartofthePeel-HarveyEstuarineSysteminMay1990,primarilyfortheirsignificanceto waterbirds (Department of the Environment and WaterResources2007a).
Lake McLarty is a regionally significant wetland and akey site in Western Australia for birdwatching. It providessignificantlandscapevalueinaregionofincreasingresidentialdevelopment, and is an important site for educational andresearchopportunities.
1 The Department’s Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset isthepeakcustodialwetlanddatasetused to identifywetlandresourcesontheSwanCoastalPlain.TheDatasetdisplaysthelocation,boundary,geo-morphicclassificationandmanagementcategoryofwetlandsontheSwanCoastalPlain.
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1. MANAGEMENT PLAN AREA
ThismanagementplanincludesReservenumber39404,whichcovers the majority of Lake McLarty, and Reserve number44978, which encompasses the southern area of the lake.Therefore throughout the plan any reference to Lake McLartyNatureReservewillincludeReservenumbers39404and44978,asshowninMap22.
2. kEY VALUES
Maintaining or enhancing the key values of the reserve isthe major focus of this management plan. The objectives andstrategiesintheplanaretargetedtoensurethisisachieved(seeManagement Summary Table).Theway inwhichthesevaluesrelate to the auditing of the management plan is detailed insection8Performance Assessment.
TheoutstandingvaluesoftheLakeMcLartyNatureReservearethosethatcontributetoitslistings,bothasaRamsarsiteandasanationallyimportantwetland.Thesevaluesincludethatit:
• supportspopulationsofbirdspeciesimportantformaintainingthebiologicaldiversityoftheSwanCoastalPlain;
• providesamajorrefugeformigratorywaterbirds,especiallysomerarerspeciesfavouringfreshwaterwetlands;
• is an internationally significant waterbird habitat whichregularly supports one percent (or more) of the nationalpopulationsofsevenspeciesofwaterbird3;and
• is a rare or unique example of a natural or near naturalwetland, characteristic of those that were once widespreadontheSwanCoastalPlain.
(EA2001,DEH2003)
Otherkeyvaluesare:
• theimportanceofthereservefortheprotectionofthreatenedandpriorityfaunaspecies;
• vegetation communities representative of those oncewidespreadontheSwanCoastalPlain;and
• communityinvolvement–thelocal‘ownership’andinterestshowninLakeMcLartyasdemonstratedbythehighlevelofvolunteerismtoundertakeworksandmonitoring.
2 TheplanonlycoverstheLakeMcLartyNatureReserveanddoesnotincludeadjoiningnaturereserves,asfundingwasprovidedtotheSwanCoastalDis-tricttoinvestigate,throughamanagementplanningprocess,optionsforhabitatmanagement,particularlywithregardstocattlegrazing.
3 seeWaterbirdsinsection14Native Animals and Habitats.
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3. ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER4
Lake McLarty is one of the most ecologically importantfreshwater,seasonallakesontheSwanCoastalPlain.Ithasbeenestimated that80%of theoriginalwetlandson theplainhavebeeneitherlostorseriouslydegradedduetofilling,clearingandotherlanduseimpactssinceEuropeansettlement(Balla1996).The closed heath vegetation community around the lake isrepresentativeofcommunitiesthatwereoncemoreextensiveonthecoastalplain.Whenflooded,thiscommunityisparticularlyimportantformoultingavianspeciessuchastheEurasiancoot(Fulica atra).TheemergentvegetationatLakeMcLartyconsistspredominantlyofsomesedgemarginswhichareimportantforbreeding swans and other waterbirds. Small fragments of theintroduced aquatic weed Typha orientalis also provide somehabitatvalue.
LakeMcLartyconsistentlysupportsahighnumberofwaterbirds(Storeyet al.1997).Thelakealsosupportsarangeofinvertebratespeciesthatprovideanabundantfoodsourcetothenumerouswaterandshorebirdsthatinhabitit.Thecurrentwaterregimeatthelakecreatessuitablefeedinghabitatsforpalaearcticwadersand isoneof the few local lakes tosupport thispre-migrationfeeding(Craiget al.2004).Overthepast25years,thenumberoftimesover20000waterbirdshavebeencountedatLakeMcLartyhasincreased.
Lake McLarty provides fresh water in summer for the birdsof Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary and supports a residentbird population, as well as a large number and variety oftransequatorial shorebirds. In addition, occasional winterobservations of red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), curlewsandpiper(Calidris ferruginea)andcommongreenshank(Tringa nebularia)indicatethatwhensuitablehabitatisavailableatthelake,italsoprovideshabitatforfirstyearmigrantswhoremainin Australia over the Austral winter (Craig et al. 2004). LakeMcLartyregularlysupportsmorethanonepercentofthetotalAustralian/world population of two Australian resident waderspecies,thered-neckedavocet(Recurvirostra novaehollandiae)(5.1% of the Australian population) and red-capped plover(Charadrius ruficapillus) (1.6%),whichqualifies itasbeingofinternationalsignificanceunderRamsarguidelines.
Atotalof160birdspecieshavebeenrecordedwithinthenaturereserve,including81speciesofwaterbirds,31and36ofwhichare protected under the JAMBA and CAMBA respectively (M.Singor, pers. comm.). In total, 41 wader species have beenrecorded at Lake McLarty, of which 29 species are migratorywaders that use the lake on a seasonal basis (M.Singor pers. comm.).LakeMcLartyistheonlywetlandinthebroaderLakeMcLartysystem(comprisingLakeMcLarty,anunnamedswampimmediately north-west, Mealup Lake, ‘Robert Bay Swamp’
4 EcologicalCharacterisdefinedintheRamsarConvention(ResolutionIX.1ofthe9thmeetingoftheConferenceofPartiestotheConventiononWet-lands,Uganda,November2005) as “…thecombinationof the ecosystemcomponents,processesandbenefits/servicesthatcharacterisethewetlandatagivenpointintime”(LambertandElix2006).
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and ‘Carraburmup Swamp’) in which the ruff (Philomachus pugnax)regularlyoccurs(albeitinlownumbers)(DEH2000b).Uncommonmigratorywaders, suchas the long-toedstintandpectoralsandpiper,restatthelakeanditisalsooccasionallyadroughtrefugeforducksontheSwanCoastalPlain.
Atthetimeofwritingthismanagementplan,theDepartment,in association with the Peel Harvey Catchment Council hadcommissioned the preparation of an Ecological CharacterDescription (ECD) for the Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar site.This is being done in accordance with the nationally agreedFramework forDescribingtheEcologicalCharacterofRamsarWetlands(DepartmentoftheEnvironmentandWaterResources2006). ECDs typically consider all aspects of a wetland; itsbiota, hydrology, geomorphology, physico-chemistry andsocial,culturalandeconomicsignificance.TheCommonwealthDepartmentofEnvironmentandWaterResourceshasprovidedpartfunding,withcashandinkindcontributionsfromDEC,thePeelHarveyCatchmentCouncilandtheCityofMandurah.
ThespecificobjectivesforthePeel-YalgorupSystemECDhavebeensummarisedasfollows:
• identify the ecosystem components and processes of thewetlands,andtheecosystemservicestheydeliver;
• developaconceptualmodel(s)thatdescribesthe‘ecologicalcharacter’intermsofecosystemcomponents,processesandservices;
• identify key ecological attributes that are impacted bythreatening processes and “limits of acceptable change”for these attributes upon which management actions andmonitoringcanbebased;and
• identifyandsummariseknowledgegapsinthedataavailableforthewetlands.
4. REGIONAL CONTExT
Lake McLarty is located within the Peel–Yalgorup System,which,atthetimeofwriting,wasoneofonly12RamsarsitesinWesternAustralia (Departmentof theEnvironmentandWaterResources 2007b). At 26 530 ha (EA 2001), it is the largestRamsar site in the south-west of Western Australia (Weaving1999).ThePeel–YalgorupSystemincludesthePeelInlet,HarveyEstuary, Lakes Mealup and McLarty and the Yalgorup Lakes(LakeClifton,LakePreston,DuckPond,BoundaryLake,LakePollard,MartinsTank,LakeYalgorup,LakeHayward,NorthandSouth Newnham Lake (Burbidge and Craig, 1996b). Althoughnotlistedinitsownright,LakeMcLartyalonemeetstheRamsarcriteriaforinternationalsignificancewithrespecttowaterbirds5
(BurbidgeandCraig1996b).
5 Criterion 5: A wetland should be considered internationally important ifit regularly supports 20000 or more waterbirds. Criterion 6: A wetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitregularlysupports1%oftheindividualsinapopulationofonespeciesorsubspeciesofwaterbird.
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The Peel–Yalgorup System is the most important area forwaterbirdsinsouth-westernAustralia,withmorethan150000individuals recorded in February 1977 (DEH 2000b). The siteisrecognisedas importanthabitat forspecies listed inJAMBA,CAMBA(WetlandsConservationSociety1996)andROKAMBA,and is an important regional resource for Western Australia.The Peel–Yalgorup System has been placed on the Register ofNationalEstate(WAGovernment1992).
ThecatchmentofthePeelInletandHarveyEstuaryis11300km2andismostlycleared(DEH2000a).LandusessurroundingLakeMcLartywithinthePeel-HarveyInletcatchmentinclude:
• theKooljerrenupNatureReserve (Reservenumber23756),gazettedforthepurposeofConservationofFloraandFauna,locatedtothesouthofthelake;
• LakeMealup,whichislocatedtothenorthofLakeMcLarty.PartofLakeMealupiscontainedwithinLakeMealupNatureReserve (Reserve No. 6627) and the balance is owned andmanagedbytheLakeMealupPreservationSocietyInc.;and
• agriculturaldevelopmentzoned‘specialrural’tothenorth-east,south-westandeast,andresidentialdevelopmenttothewest.
The western side of the nature reserve is bordered by a rural– residential subdivision (Birchmont Estate). This subdivisionhas a minimum lot size of twohectares with an emphasis on“mergingofdevelopmentwiththelandscape”(ShireofMurray2004). In order to conserve the rural environment, the Shirehas stipulated that all trees and vegetation shall be retainedunlesstheirremovalisauthorisedbyCouncil.Otherconditionsinclude the requirement for a 92000L water storage tankprior to house construction (minimising the requirement forgroundwater extraction) and for all drainage water generatedwithin the estate, whether from roads or the land, to becontained on-site. Hence, adjoining land uses pose significantthreattothevaluesofthereserve.Tothisend,theDepartmenthaspreparedaGood Neighbour Policy(DEC2007),toformallystateitsaimtobuildandmaintainmutuallybeneficialrelationswithallofitsneighbours,andtooutlinethewayinwhichtheDepartmentdealswitharangeofcross-boundarymanagementissues,including:
• weedandpestanimalcontrol;
• access and activities on Department-managed lands andwaters;
• offreserveconservation;
• naturalresourcemanagement;
• fencing;
• firemanagement;and
• communityinputtoDepartmentplanningandoperations.
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ThreatstoLakeMcLartyfromthesurroundingcatchmentincludecontinued residential development, subsequent groundwaterextraction,andtheadditionofnutrientstothelakesystemviagroundwater or surface runoff (DEH 2000a). The completionof the Peel Deviation of the Kwinana freeway to the east ofthe lake (expected in2009)will increaseaccess to landwithinthe catchment and facilitate further residential development,placingincreasedpressureonLakeMcLarty(WAPC1997).
PART B: MANAGEMENT DIRECTIONS AND PURPOSE5. VISION
ThevisionforLakeMcLartyNatureReserveis:
To be recognised by the community for its international significance as a wetland providing refuge for both migratory waders and local waterbirds, and as a place where natural, cultural and aesthetic values are appreciated and protected. Natural systems and processes will continue to function, and habitats will be managed in partnership with the community to maintain and improve the lake’s Ramsar and other natural values.
6. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEwORk
Legislation and Policies
NaturereservesarecreatedundertheLand Administration Act 1997, vested in the Conservation Commission and managedby DEC. The Department has prepared this managementplan in accordance with the legislative specifications of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALMAct).Theobjective formanagementplans fornature reservesasdefinedinsection56of theCALMAct is to ‘maintain and restore the natural environment and to protect, care for and promote the study of indigenous flora and fauna, and to preserve any feature of archaeological, historic or scientific interest’.
TheDepartmentisalsoresponsibleforadministeringtheWildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Wildlife Conservation Act), whichprovidesfortheconservationandprotectionofindigenousfloraandfaunaonalllandsandwaterswithintheState.
There are a number of other Acts affecting the Department’sactivities or conferring specific powers on the Department.SomeoftheseActsarebrieflydescribedbelow.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) establishes a legislativeframework that allows the Commonwealth to manageenvironmentalprotectionthroughanassessmentandapprovalsprocess,andbiodiversityconservationthroughspeciesandsite
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listing, recovery and management planning. The ecologicalvalues of Ramsar wetlands are listed as a matter of nationalimportanceunderthisAct,asaremigratoryspecieslistedunderthe Act, nationally listed threatened species and ecologicalcommunities, and the national heritage values of NationalHeritageplaces(MacintoshandKennedy2004).
ThepresenceofthemigratorybirdsprotectedundertheJAMBAandCAMBA,andmorerecentlyROKAMBA,affordstheplanningareaadditionalprotectionundertheEPBCAct.Anyactionthathas, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on amatterofNationalEnvironmentalSignificance(suchasRamsarwetlands and migratory species listed under internationaltreaties) is required to undergo an environmental assessmentandapprovalsprocess.Thisislikelytoinclude,forexample,landsubdivisionsinthesurroundingarea.
TheEPBCActalsoestablishedstandardsformanagingRamsarwetlandsthroughtheAustraliaRamsarManagementPrinciples,whicharestatedasregulationsundertheAct.TheActdescribesthe principles and guidelines for the management of Ramsarwetlands(EA2001).
Environmental Protection Act 1986
The Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EnvironmentalProtection Act) provides for the prevention, control andabatement of pollution and environmental harm, and forthe conservation, preservation, protection, enhancement andmanagement of the environment. Activities that impact onwetlands, such as filling, draining, mining, discharges orclearing,areprohibitedwithoutauthorizationunderthisAct.
The Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy 1992wasdevelopedunderPartIIIoftheEnvironmentalProtection Act. The purpose of this policy is to protect theenvironmental values of lakes on the Swan Coastal Plain.The policy affords the protection of the ecosystem health ofapproximately 1100 specified wetlands on the Swan CoastalPlain, including the protection of the ecological structure,functionandprocessesofthewetland,aswellastheprotectionof the beneficial uses including its use for study, education,recreation, aesthetic enjoyment and the benefit of the publicgenerally (EPA 1992). Hence, it protects the environmentalvaluesofLakeMcLartyandprohibitsanyunauthorised filling,excavation or mining, drainage (into and out of the wetland),effluentdischargeandalterationofwaterlevels.
TheEnvironmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 were developed under the EnvironmentalProtectionActtoensurethatanyclearingofnativevegetationisdoneunder theauthorityofapermit,unless theclearing isfor an exempt purpose. Exceptions do not apply in identifiedEnvironmentally Sensitive Areas6, of which Lake McLarty isone.
6 EnvironmentallySensitiveAreasaregenerallyareaswherethevegetationhashighconservationvalueandcannotbecleared.
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Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
All registered sites within the planning area are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (Aboriginal Heritage Act). This Act also ensures the protection of places and objects customarily used by or traditional to, the original inhabitants of Australia. A register of such places and objects is maintained under the Act, however, all sites are protected under the Act whether they have been entered on the register or not.
Native Title Act 1993
The Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 (Native Title Act) requires that native title claimants and representative bodies be advised when a management plan is being prepared or major public works undertaken. The South-West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council is the native title representative body for the planning area and has a number of functions prescribed under the Native Title Act.
The following State and Commonwealth policies relate specifically to the management of wetlands:
Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia 1997
This policy provides strategies to ensure that the activities of the Commonwealth Government promote the conservation, ecologically sustainable use and, where possible, enhancement of wetland functions. A principle aim is to ensure that the Commonwealth Government’s actions are consistent with those expected under the Ramsar Convention and, in particular, to promote the adoption of Ramsar’s ‘wise use’ principle for managing wetlands (ANCA 1997).
Wetlands Conservation Policy for Western Australia 1997
The Wetlands Conservation Policy for Western Australia 1997 (Wetlands Conservation Policy) is the result of the Government’s recognition of the fundamental importance of conserving and managing wetlands in a sustainable manner. It outlines the Government’s commitment to identifying, maintaining and managing the State’s wetland resources, including the full range of wetland values, for the long term, and identifies the agencies involved and their responsibilities. Under this policy, a Wetlands Coordinating Committee was established, with representatives from various agencies and community conservation groups, to facilitate interaction between management agencies, and coordinate the implementation of the policy and the activities of relevant agencies with respect to wetlands. This Committee is chaired by the Department and provides a forum for information exchange regarding the management of wetlands within Western Australia.
Departmental Policies
Policies of the Department specifically mentioned in this plan relate to the management of threatened species and ecological communities, weeds, fire, plant diseases, pest
Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:8Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:8 19.05.08 16:41:1019.05.08 16:41:10
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animals, rehabilitation, recreation and tourism, communityeducationandinterpretation,communityinvolvementandtheDepartment’sGoodNeighbourpolicy.ThesepoliciesarelistedintheReferencesection.
7. OBLIGATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
Australia is a participant of, and signatory to, a numberof important international conservation agreements thatinfluence the management of Lake McLarty by promotingconsistentstandardsofmanagementforwetlands.Inbecomingsignatory tosuchagreements,Australia iscommittedto fulfillcertain obligations in managing important wetlands. SuchagreementsincludetheConventiononWetlands(Ramsar,Iran,1971), JAMBA,CAMBA,ROKAMBAandtheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals.
The Convention on wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971)
The Convention on Wetlands, (more commonly known as theRamsarConvention), is an intergovernmental treatydedicatedto the conservation and ‘wise use’ of wetlands. It encouragesContractingPartiestodesignatesitescontainingrepresentative,rareoruniquewetlandtypes,orthatareimportantforconservingbiological diversity to the list of Wetlands of InternationalImportance (Ramsar sites). These sites need to be managedto ensure their species ecological values are maintained orimproved.AustraliabecameaContractingParty in1974.LakeMcLarty, as part of the Peel–Yalgorup System Ramsar site, isincludedonthislist.
ThePeel–YalgorupSystemRamsarsitemeetsfouroftheeightRamsarcriteriaforlisting:
1. includes the largestandmostdiverseestuarinecomplex insouth-westernAustraliaandalsoparticularlygoodexamplesofcoastalsalinelakesandfreshwatermarshes;
3. isoneofonlytwolocations insouth-westernAustraliaandone of very few in the world where living thrombolites (atype of microbialite, superficially similar in appearance tostromatolites)occurinhyposalinewater;
5. comprisesthemostimportantareaforwaterbirdsinsouth-westernAustralia,supportinginexcessof20000waterbirdsannually,withgreaterthan150000individualsrecordedatonetime(February1977);and
6. regularly supports 1% of the population of at leastsix shorebirds: red-necked avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis),red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), banded stilt(Cladorhynchus leucocephalus),caspiantern(Sterna caspia)andfairytern(Sterna nereis).
(DEH2003)
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TheRamsarInformationSheetforthissitecanbeaccessedviathewebpageoftheDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandWaterResourcesat:
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/search.pl?smode=RAMSAR>.
Under the Ramsar Convention, contracting parties must beinformedattheearliestpossibletimeiftheecologicalcharacterofanywetlandinitsterritoryandincludedinthelistofwetlandshas changed, is changing or is likely to change as the resultof technological developments, pollution or other humaninterference.
Japan–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA)/ China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA)/ Republic of korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROkAMBA)
Australia has signed treaties with Japan and China to protectmigratory birds. The JAMBA and CAMBA treaties provide forco-operation between the respective governments to protectmigratory species and theirhabitats.LakeMcLarty supports atotalof31and36JAMBAandCAMBAspeciesrespectively,whichplacesitasthefourthhighest-rankingwetlandforthesespeciesinsouth-westernAustralia(BurbidgeandCraig1996a).Itisalsothehighest-rankingnon-estuarinesite for thesespecies inthesouth-west(BurbidgeandCraig1996a).
In December 2006 Australia entered into a further agreementwith the government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea)for the protection of migratory birds. The agreement, knownas the Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement(ROKAMBA)cameintoeffecton13July2007.
The text of the ROKAMBA is similar to the JAMBA andCAMBA agreements, requiring protection of migratory birdsfrom take or trade, exchange of research information andpublications, formulation of joint awareness raising activities,andparticipation in flyway cooperative activities. It includes alistofmigratorybirds,allofwhicharealsoincludedinJAMBAand/orCAMBA(Asia-PacificShorebirdNetwork2007).
Togetherthesethreeagreementsprovideforbilateralcooperationwith the countries responsible for key staging areas formigratoryshorebirdsintheEastAsian-AustralasianFlyway.Theagreementsalsogivea strong foundation for theconservationeffortsoftherecentlylaunchedEastAsian-AustralasianFlywayPartnership(Asia-PacificShorebirdNetwork2007).
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of wild Animals (Bonn, 1979)
The aimof theConventiononMigratorySpecies is toprotectlistedspeciesacrosstheirentiremigratoryrange.Australiahas
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been a Range State7 under this Convention since 1991. TheConvention obligates contracting parties to take measures forthe conservation of migratory species of wild animals listedunder the Convention, and for which they are a range state.Migratory species listed under this Convention are a matterof national environmental significance under the EPBC Act’sassessmentandapprovalprovisions.
8. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
TheConservationCommissionhastheresponsibilityofauditingtheimplementationofthismanagementplanandwillmeasurethe overall management performance and the effectiveness ofitbyassessingtheKeyPerformanceIndicators(KPIs)aslistedin the Management Summary Table, and other parametersas appropriate. It is not efficient to measure all aspects ofmanagement given resource and technical impediments –consequently, indicators will target ‘key’ components of theplan. Key performance indicators are the minimum set ofindicators that enable major trends and impacts on values tobedetermined.Inthecaseofthisplan,itincludesevaluationofameasureandtarget,minimumreportingrequirementsandamanagementresponsetoanytargetshortfall.Thesecomponentsprovideabasisforadaptivemanagement,wherebymanagementisalteredifnecessarytomeetadesiredoutcome.
The Department is responsible for providing information totheConservationCommissiontoallowit toassessthesuccessof the Department’s management in meeting targets specifiedin the KPIs. The frequency of these reports will depend upontherequirementsofeachKPI,thesatisfactoryestablishmentofbaselineinformationagainstwhichtoaudit,andanyunforeseenchanges to the environmental conditions. Where a reportidentifies a target shortfall, a response to the ConservationCommission is required. The response may identify factorsthat have led to the target shortfall, and propose alternativemanagement actions where appropriate. The ConservationCommission will consider the Department’s response on thetargetshortfallandevaluatetheneedforactioninthecontextofitsassessmentandauditfunctionundersection19(1)(g)(iii)oftheCALMAct.TheConservationCommissionwillmaketheresultsofauditsavailabletothepublic.
9. LAND TENURE
The planning area comprises two ‘class A’ nature reserves:Reserve number 39404, covering an area of 184.37 ha, andReserve number 44978, covering 34.73 ha. Both have thepurpose‘ConservationofFloraandFauna’andarevestedintheConservation Commission and managed by the Department.Theyshouldbeamalgamatedintoasinglereserveof219ha.
7 ARangeState isdefinedasanystate thatexercises jurisdictionoveranypartoftherangeofthatmigratoryspecies,orastate,flagvesselsofwhichareengagedoutsidenationaljurisdictionallimitsintakingthatmigratoryspecies.
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Although the planning area is commonly referred to as LakeMcLartyNatureReserve, ithasneverbeennamedofficially. ItisrecommendedthatthetwoconsolidatedreservesbeofficiallynamedLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.
A gazetted road reserve marks the eastern boundary of thereserve,althoughit isnotusedandiscurrentlyvegetated(seeMap2).Duetothenarrowvegetatedbufferaroundthelake,theDepartmentandtheConservationCommissionbelievetheroadreserve should be added to the conservation estate. Similarly,there is alsoa significantamountof vegetationon theprivatepropertyadjacenttotheeasternsideofthenaturereservewhicheffectivelydoublesthewidthofthevegetatedbuffer.Subjecttoreaching agreement with the owners, consideration should begiventoacquiringthesevegetatedareasbydirectpurchase,oras a condition of subdivision if the current agricultural landis subdivided in future. In themeantime, theDepartmentwillactivelyencouragelandownerstoretainand/orenhancenativevegetationontheirpropertiesthroughvoluntaryagreements.
Inadditiontothelegislativerequirementsdescribedinsection6Legislative Framework, the Department and the ConservationCommissionwill recommend thatany futuresubdivisionswillbesubjecttotheprincipleofnetconservationbenefit,andthatenvironmental conditions to minimise environmental impactsshouldbedulyplacedonproponents.Thiscouldinclude:
• minimumsetbacksof100mfromthewetlandboundary(asidentifiedintheGeomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plaindataset8 (DEC 2006c)) for any development (this distancemayneedtobeincreased,dependinguponthethreatsposedbytheadjacentlanduses);
• requirementsforvegetatedbuffers;
• retention or acquisition of native vegetation on privateproperty contiguous with the reserve boundary, andrevegetationrequirements;
• limits to bore extraction on adjacent private property(e.g. maximum draw of 500 kL/annum as per Birchmontsubdivision);
• largeon-sitewaterstoragecapacityforanydevelopments;
• physicalseparationofprivatesubdivisionsandthereservebyavehicleaccesstrack/roadanddog-prooffencing;
• nopublicaccesstothereserveexceptat(1)clearlydesignatedentrances through the fence and (2) on defined pathways;and
• incorporation of best management practices by adjacentlandowners.
8 Geomorphicwetlandboundarieshavebeendeterminedinthedatasetbasedoncharacteristicsofsoils,hydrologyandvegetationandprovidesamoreaccuraterepresentationofthewetlandboundarythandoesthehighwatermark.
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PART C: MANAGING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
10. BIOGEOGRAPHY
The National Reserve System Program (NRS) was adopted topreserve Australia’s native biodiversity on a regional scale,and initiate a protected reserve system that meets the world’sbest standards in terms of comprehensiveness, adequacyand representativeness (Thackway and Cresswell 1995). As aframeworkfordevelopingthisreservesystem,theNRSinitiatedtheInterimBiogeographicRegionalisationforAustralia(IBRA),which provides a framework for conservation planning for acomprehensive,adequateandrepresentativesystemofprotectedareas to conserve Australia’s terrestrial biodiversity. The NRSdividesAustraliainto85bioregions,eachreflectingaunifyingsetofmajorenvironmentalinfluences,whichshapetheoccurrenceof flora and fauna and their interaction with the physicalenvironment.Twenty-sixbioregionsoccurinWA(EA2001).
Lake McLarty is located in the Swan Coastal Plain sub-regionof theSwanCoastalPlainbioregion, a low-lyingcoastalplain,mainlycoveredwithwoodlands,whichisdominatedbybanksia (Banksia spp.) ortuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala)onsandysoils, swamp sheoak (Allocasuarina obesa) on outwash plains,andpaperbarks (Melaleuca spp.) in swampyareas. In theeast,the plain rises and is dominated by jarrah (E. marginata)woodland,whiletheoutwashplains,oncedominatedbyswampsheoak–marri(Corymbia callophylla)woodlandsandpaperbark shrublands,areextensiveonlyinthesouth(EA2000).
At the time of writing this management plan, 10.39% of theSwan Coastal Plain sub-region was secure in conservationreserves9,withanadditional5.46%otherwisemanagedby theDepartment (mainly as State forest)10. Proposals in the Forest Management Plan2004–2013(ConservationCommission2004)will increase representation. The Swan Coastal Plain has thelargestpercentageofareaclearedofanyIBRAregioninWesternAustralia (CALM 2003). Therefore it is vital to protect LakeMcLarty Nature Reserve as it contains remnants of the nativevegetationofthisregion.
The Peel–Yalgorup System is recognised as one of fourinternationally significant wetlands in the Swan Coastal Plainbioregion,with thesmallerLakeMcLartySystem identifiedasone of 25 nationally important wetlands within the bioregion(CALM2003).
9 Conservation Reserves tenure categories comprise State forest, timberreserve, national park, conservation park, nature reserve, marine naturereserve, marine park, marine management area, section 5(1)(g) reserve,section5(1)(h)reserve,ExecutiveDirectorfreeholdandmiscellaneousre-serve.
10 TenureiscurrentasofJuly2007andIBRAisversion6.1.
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11. GEOLOGY, LANDFORM AND SOILS
LakeMcLartyisashallow,oval,medium-sized,freshwaterlakewith a gently sloping bottom. Open water covers a maximumareaofapproximately2.1km(northtosouth)by1.25km(easttowest)(Craiget al.2004).Thelakeliesinanaturaldrainagedepression within the coastal plains and is isolated from theeasternshorelineoftheHarveyEstuary(distanceof600m)byavegetatedfossilduneridge(Craiget al.2004).
Thelakeispartofthe‘Bibra’suiteofwetlandswhichoccurasalinearbeltneartheinterfaceoftheBassendeanandSpearwooddune systems on the Swan Coastal Plain (Semeniuk 1988).The wetlands form as contact depressions with groundwaterimpoundedagainstaSpearwoodridge(EnvironmentalCapability1995).
Lake McLarty is located within the Spearwood dune systemand lies on the Cottesloe soil association. This associationis characterised by shallow soils, with limestone frequentlyexposed near the surface (WAPC 1997). The Spearwood dunesystem is classified as having moderate agricultural potential,althoughproductivityreliesonlargequantitiesofgroundwaterand added nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus(WAPC1997).
Thelakebedcomprisesathinlayerofsiltwhichdevelopsintoathickerlayer(40mmmaximum)ofsiltymudatthenorthernend. This overlays a firm sand with shell fragment substrate(Craiget al.2004).
Lake McLarty is classified as having a high to moderate acidsulphate soilsdisturbancerisk.The landsurrounding the lakeis classified as low risk in shallow soils (0–3m) and high tomoderateinsoilsgreaterthan3mindepth(DEC2006a).
Acidsulphatesoilsarenaturallyoccurringsoilsandsedimentsthat contain sulfide minerals, predominantly pyrite (an ironsulfide). Below the watertable in an undisturbed state, thesesoils are benign. However, if the soils are drained, excavatedor exposed by lowering the water table, the sulfides will reactwithoxygentoformsulfuricacid(DEP2003).Theacidicwaterwhichleachesfromthesesoilsisoftenhighinarsenicandheavymetals. In addition, the oxidation of iron sulphide minerals(mainlypyrite)maymake the soil extremelyacidic (Appleyard2005).
Disturbanceofacidsulphatesoilscancauseecologicaldamageto aquatic and riparian ecosystems, contaminate groundwaterwith arsenic, aluminium and heavy metals and reduceagriculturalproductivitythroughmetalcontaminationofsoils(predominantlybyaluminium)(DEP2003).Oncedisturbeditisverydifficulttostopthesoilsgeneratingaciditywithdisturbedsitescontinuingtodischargesulfuricacidandmetals intotheenvironmentforcenturies(Appleyard2005).
ThelandontheeasternsideoftheHarveyEstuaryhaspreviouslybeenconsideredunsuitableforrurallivingpurposes,asitislowlyingwithahighwatertable.However,developmentisalready
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occurringonthewesternsideofLakeMcLarty.Thisdevelopmentwill increase and demand for rural–residential subdivision ontheeasternsideofthelakeislikelywithcompletionofthePeelDeviationoftheKwinanaFreeway.
Therearecurrentlynomajorthreatstothesoilsorlandformsofthenaturereservefromactiverecreationassuchactivitiesarerestrictedtowalkingandnatureappreciation.
12. wETLAND AND CATCHMENT PROTECTION
Hydrology
Lake McLarty, like the majority of the wetlands on the SwanCoastalPlain, is a surface expressionof thegroundwaterwithwaterlevelsrisingandfallingseasonally,dependingonrainfall.Wetlandsofthesouth-westofWesternAustraliaareinfluencedbyaMediterraneanclimate.Withinthisclimateregime,waterlevels generally rise during the wetter winter months anddecrease dramatically in summer. This seasonal hydrologicalcycle creates biological, chemical and physical characteristicsuniquetothewetlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain.
There is no natural surface drainage system for much ofthe Swan Coastal Plain as rainfall on the sandy soils rapidlypermeates through the soil to the groundwater (WAPC 1996).TherearenostreamsflowingintoLakeMcLarty.
The general gradient of the groundwater drainage patterns inthePeel–HarveyCatchmentareviatheslowwesterlymovementof groundwater from the scarp to the sea. This is relativelyconsistent across the Swan Coastal Plain (WAPC 1996). Asevaporation and a reduction in groundwater levels reduce thewaterlevelsinthelake,thegradientofthegroundwatermovestore-fillthelakefromtheeastandwest.
TheeasternsideofthelakewithintheBassendeandunesystemislowlying,flat,poorlydrainedwithhighgroundwaterconditions.Thegroundwater can rise to,or above, the surface andwater-loggingorfloodingoccurs.Thesegroundwaterconditionsrenderthe land less suitable for urban/housing development (WAPC1996).Traditionalapproachestoalleviatewaterlogging/floodingusedsubsoildrainagetolowerthegroundwaterindevelopmentareas.However thisapproachwasnotappropriateandpolicieswere introduced by the then Department of Environment topreventloweringofthegroundwatertable(WAPC1996).
SeveraldrainsthatwereconstructedintheLakeMcLartyareaintheearly20thcenturyhavealterednaturaloverlanddrainageintothelake.Drainagecontinuedintothe1960s,whenthedrainonthesouthernsideofthelakewasconstructedtoenablethesouthernareastobemoreviableforfarming(G.Langleypers. comm.).Thenaturalwatersystemthatran into the lake fromtheeastwasblockedanddivertedattimeofdrainconstruction.Priortothattime,muchofthelandsurroundingthelakewasinundated.
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There is now one major drain associated with Lake McLarty.The drainage channel immediately to the south of the lakehas been breached and diverted east-west. It is presumed thatthischannelwasformedtoreducewaterlevelsinthelakeandprovidebetter conditions forpasturegrowth in adjacent areas(Environmental Capability 1995). The western section of thechannel leads to the Harvey Estuary and the eastern sectioninto farmland. In1996aweirwasconstructedon thewesternsection of the channel to control water flow from the lake totheestuary,althoughithasneverbeenopened.Apartfromthisrecentchange,thecurrenthydrologyregimehasexistedforatleast25years(Craiget al. 2004).
Management of the drain and weir is the responsibility of theDepartment.ManagementofgroundwaterresourceswithinthePeelHarveyCatchmentistheresponsibilityoftheDepartmentofWater.
Managing water Levels
LakeMcLartyislocatedinthePeelHarveyCatchmentwithinanareaofpredominantlywinterrainfall(approx.880mm/annum)and with a high surface evaporation rate (approx. 1800 mm/annum, mainly in summer). Rainfall recorded adjacent to thelakeaverages1082mm/annum(G.Mathews,pers. comm.).Thelake is marginally seasonal, drying out in most years for 1–5monthsduringlatesummerandautumn.Thepatternofwaterlevelchangeswithinthelakeispredominantlydictatedbylocalrains, both via a direct surface inflow and an increase in thewatertable(Craiget al. 2004).
Thewater levels of the lakehavebeenmonitoredmonthlyonthewesternsideofthelakebythePeelPreservationGroupsince1996.Between1996and2003,theaveragemaximumdepthofthelakewas1m(B.Bucktin,pers. comm.).Between1996and1999, the maximum depth usually occurred between AugustandSeptember.However,betweentheyearsof2000and2003,maximum depth was recorded in October (B.Bucktin, pers. comm.).Whenwaterlevelsarehigh(evenatthelowestobservedpeak level), the lake floodswell into theMelaleuca fringe andinundates the pastures immediately to the south (Craig et al.2004).
Generally,rainfallwithinthePeel–HarveyCatchmentdecreasesmarkedly from October and is insufficient to provide inflowto the lake. This, in combination with a high rate of surfaceevaporationandaloweringofthewatertable(asaresultofhighsummer temperatures), results in a gradual decrease in thewaterlevelsofthelake(Craiget al.2004).
The cycle of inundation and drying of the lake has variedsignificantlyovertheyearsinwhichthelakehasbeenmonitored.In1988,fringingshrubswereinundatedinspring,thelakewasshallow (most less than0.3m)by late summeranddry foratleastonemonth inautumn (Craiget al. 2004).More recently(in2002and2003),thelakedriedmuchearlier,inJanuaryandFebruary, and remained dry for a longer period, six and fivemonthsrespectively.Summerdryingaidsinreducingnutrient
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cycling within the wetlands, thus reducing overall nutrientlevels.
The timing of inundation and drying of Lake McLarty isimportant for bird species and bird numbers. Although thetimingoflakedryingwasvariablewithintheyearsofsampling,the low water levels and abundant food supply, required toensuremigratorywadersbuildupbodyweight,weremaintained(Craiget al.2004).
The impacts of future development on land surrounding LakeMcLarty on the hydrology of the lake is unknown. Howeverthereispotentialfor(a)anincreaseingroundwaterextractionin the area surrounding the lake, (b) a reduction in naturalgroundwater inflows and (c) additional nutrients entering thelake,viathegroundwaterorasrunoff.Changesinhydrologyofthelakemayresultinprematuredryingorprolongedflooding,thus impacting on the feeding habitat of the waders. LakeMcLarty’scurrentwaterregimecreatessuitablefeedinghabitatsforpalaearcticwadersandisoneofthefewlocallakestosupportthispre-migrationfeeding(Craiget al.2004).
Conditions for residential development surrounding the lakeprohibit the lowering of groundwater by subsoil drainage,with cost implications for development (WAPC 1996). Theconditions of the ‘special rural’ subdivision to the west of thelakerequirealllandownerstohavea92000Lrainwatertank.Asacomparison,theresidentialpercapitaconsumptionofwaterinthePerthmetropolitanareain2004/05financialyearwas296Lperday(WaterCorporation2007).Restrictionsongroundwaterextractionfromdomesticboresapplywithinthesubdivisioninrelationtogardensandlawns,withaborelicencerequiredfromthe Local Council. The flat topography and high groundwatertablemakedrainageanimportantconsiderationinplanningforresidentialdevelopmentaroundthelake.
Groundwater levels at Lake McLarty are currently monitoredtwice annually by the Department of Water from four boreslocated within a three kilometer radius of the lake. Theestablishmentoffurthermonitoringboreswithinthesubdivisionandtotheeastofthelakeisrequiredtodeterminetheimpactofcontinuedresidentialdevelopmentongroundwaterlevelswithinthecatchment.
Managing water Quality
ThewaterqualityofLakeMcLartyisinfluencedbygroundwaterand, during periods of high rainfall, runoff from surroundingland.Nutrientsareaddedtothelakesystemasaresultofrunofffrom adjacent land and due to the presence of cattle in thereserve.WaterqualitymonitoringiscurrentlyundertakenonamonthlybasisbythePeelPreservationGroup(PPG),andatleasttwiceayearbytheDepartment.
Monthlymonitoringby thePPGbetween2001andearly2004indicatedthatthepHofthelakewaswithinthenormalrange(7.0–8.5)(B.Bucktinpers. comm.)foranon-colouredwetlandin southwestern Australia (DEH 2000a). Salinity of the lake
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was highly correlated with water depth, with the averagehighest salinity recorded in summerand the lowest inwinter.The levels of salinity at the lake ranged from 1350 mg/L inspringto9300mg/Linlateautumn.Thepresenceofsamphire(Sarcocornia spp.) at the lake is an indicator that it may bebecoming more saline (see section 15 Environmental Weeds).Continuedwaterqualitymonitoring at the lake is essential toestablish patterns/cycles in the water quality of Lake McLartyover time. Monitoring of water levels, dissolved oxygen, pH,salinity,presenceofmacroinvertebratesaswellastotalnitrogen,phosphorus and chlorophylla would give a good indication ofthehealthofthewetlandsystem.
TheDepartmenthasestablishedawetlandsmonitoringprogramin the south-west, as a component of the project “WetlandsMapping, Classification and Evaluation Program for PriorityAreas,SWWesternAustralia”.Theproject,whichincludesLakeMcLarty,isbeingconductedtoestablishbaselineconditionfora small selection of representative wetlands. The monitoringwill be conducted every six months, in Autumn and Spring,andincludeswaterquality,macroinvertebrates,waterbirdsandvegetation.
Increasedresidentialdevelopmentonlandsurroundingthelakehasthepotentialtoincreasenutrientrunoff,fromfertilisersandeffluentdisposalsystems,thusaffectingthewaterqualityofthelake.Fertilisershavebeenappliedtothelandsurroundingthelaketomaintainpasturegrowthforcattle.UndertheconditionsoftheBirchmontsubdivisiononthewesternsideofthelake,thebreedingorkeepingofstockwillnotbepermittedwithoutthewrittenapprovaloftheShireofMurrayinconsultationwiththeDepartmentofAgricultureandFood.Given thesoil structure,thewesternsideofthelakeismoreabletosustainthislandusethantheeasternside.
Aconditionofthesurroundingdevelopmentisthatanydrainagewaters generated within the subdivision will be containedon-site. In addition, public education through local and StateGovernment agencies could assist in reducing over-fertilisingand loss of nutrients to drainage. Environmental Capability(1995) advised that surrounding developments should berequired to have alternative effluent disposal systems ratherthanconventionalseptictanksandleachdrains.
Establishingnewandmaintainingexistingbuffervegetationisvitalinassistingtomaintainandimprovewaterquality.Abufferwillactasafilterandstoragefornutrients,aswellasprovidinga physical barrier to problem insects such as midges betweenthe lake and surrounding development. To maximise buffersaround the lake, fringing vegetation should be re-establishedindegradedareassuchasthewesternandsouthernshorelines.Similarly, the Department will (1) seek to add the vegetatedroadreservetotheeastofthenaturereserve,and(2)liaisewithlandownersaroundthelaketomaintainanyexistingvegetationontheirprivateproperty.Considerationshouldalsobegiventoincludingremnantvegetationontheeasternsideofthelakeasaconservationoffsetifagriculturallandissubdividedinfuture(seesection9Land Tenure).
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ManyoftheecologicalproblemsfacingLakeMcLartyandotherlakesonthecoastalplainrelate towholeofcatchment issues,withmostofthe3072km2catchmentoftheSwanCoastalPlainbeing cleared (Weaving 1999). Appropriate management ofgroundwaterqualityandlevelsisrequiredthroughoutthePeelHarveyCatchmentinordertoensurethehealthofLakeMcLartyand the ecosystems it supports. Therefore involvement by theDepartment, the Shire of Murray, the Peel Harvey CatchmentCouncilandlocallandholdersisrequiredtomanagethewholecatchmentwithanintegratedapproach.
InresponsetoahistoryofhighphosphorouslevelsinthePeel-Harvey catchment, the Environmental Protection Authority(EPA), with assistance and coordination provided by the PeelHarvey Catchment Council, is developing a Water QualityImprovementPlan(WQIP)forthePeelHarveycatchment(DEH2006).TheWQIPwillbesupportedbytheprescriptionsintheECDforthePeel-YalgorupSystemRamsarsite.
Nearly70%ofthephosphorousdischargeswithinthecatchmentcomefromagriculturalactivities(DEH2006).Urbanareasonlyaccountforsixpercentofthelandusebyareabutcontributemorethan20percentofthephosphorousinputs,predominantlyfrom gardens, lawns and septic tanks (DEH 2006). The WQIPaimstoreducecurrentphosphorousdischargesfromthePeel-Harveycoastalcatchmentbyatleast48percentinordertoreachtargetssetbytheEPAin1992.Itcontainskeyrecommendationstoachieveloadreductions,including:
• fullconnectionofallcurrentandfuturehomestoreticulatedsewerage or effective alternative onsite systems to replaceexistingseptictanks;and
• all new developments to incorporate water and nutrientsensitivedesignaccordingtolocalplanningpolicies.
(DEH2006)
TheDepartmentwillsupportsuchrecommendations,particularlywhencommentingondevelopmentproposalsonlandadjoiningLake McLarty to minimise impacts of such developments onthelake.
13. NATIVE PLANTS AND PLANT COMMUNITIES
The vegetation communities of the Lake McLarty NatureReserve have been identified as representative of types oncemoreextensiveonthecoastalplainwhicharenowofrestrictedoccurrence elsewhere. However, the vegetation within thenaturereservehaschangedconsiderablyoverthelast60years.
Between the years of 1951 and 1967 sections of the naturereserve near the Birchmont homestead were farmed. Thesouthernsectionofthelakewascleared,burntandploughedforcrops.Thisareawasfencedandcattlegrazedtheremainderofthesouthernregionsofthelake.Duringthistimethewesternside of the lake was densely covered with bulrushes (speciesunknown) and the remainder of the lake was open water(G.Langleypers. comm.).
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In 1981, a study of the lake indicated that the emergentvegetation comprised extensive stands of introduced bulrush(Typha orientalis) in the open water areas and broad areas ofBaumea (including B. articulata) sedges along the margins(Craiget al.2004).Atthistime,areasofopenwateronlyoccurredatthenorthandsouthendsofthelakeandtheovergrowthofbulrushwasconsideredapossiblethreat.Anarrowfringeoflowshrubsandpaperbarkswasmostextensiveatthenorthernend(Jaensch 1988). Little bottom vegetation was recorded at thelakeuntilautumn1997,whenextensivegrowth,predominantlyduckweed(Lemna sp.),wasobserved(Craiget al.2004).
Gibsonet al. (1994)classifiedtheLakeMcLartyNatureReserveasavegetationtyperepresentativeofdeeperwetlands(seasonallyinundated to 1m), dominated by species such as floodedgum (Eucalyptus rudis), freshwater paperbark (Melaleuca rhaphiophylla) and robinredbreastbush (M. lateritia).Averagespeciesrichnesswasverylowwhichwasthoughttoreflectthelongperiodofinundationofthiswetland.
By2001,itwasreportedthatthelakefloorwasalmostbarren,with only fragments of T. orientalis remaining (Craig et al.2004). Sedge margins had essentially disappeared, althoughstrikeswererecurringtemporarilyasthewaterrecededinlatesummer (Craig et al. 2004). Since the reduction in sedges,sparse/short ephemeral grasses and weeds have colonised thenewlyexposedlakeareas.Theeventscontributingtothelossofsedgesandreedsatthelakearenotknown.
The survey by Craig et al. (2004) describes stands of banbar(Melaleuca teretifolia) and freshwater paperbark fringing thenorthernandeasternmarginsofthelake,withanunderstoreyofTypha orientalis inplaces.Thesouth-westerncornerof thelake isdominatedbypasture and themid-western shore is anopeneucalyptwoodlandwithagrassunderstorey (Craiget al.2004).Davis(2000)recordedTuartwoodlandsonhighergroundfurtherfromthelake.
A general survey of the lake’s vegetation in 2004 listedapproximately 30 plant species. This survey identified banbaras the dominant species within the fringing vegetation(R.Kerslake pers. comm.).Large tuarts and flooded gumspersistonthewesternside,withswamppeppermints(Taxandria linearifolia ms11) and tuarts located on the eastern side ofthe lake. Other species present include spearwood (Kunzea glabrescens), freshwater paperbark, golden-wreath wattle(Acacia saligna), peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) and sheoaks(Allocasuarinaspp.).
Sixspeciesoforchidhavebeenrecordedinthenaturereserve,including two species, pink fairy (Caladenia latifolia) andcowslip (Caladenia flava), that were observed in the southernand northern regions respectively (R. Kerslake pers. comm.).Emergent sedges and rusheswere locatedon thewestern andeastern sides of the lake, predominantly Juncus kraussi andnativeandintroducedbulrushspecies,withaproportionofthe
11 Thisspeciesisconsideredtobeamanuscriptname,awaitingpublication.
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T. orientalislocatedinthecentreofthelake(R.Kerslakepers. comm.).T. orientaliswasalsopresentindisturbedareasofthelake,suchasthesouthernandeasternsides.Agriculturalgrassesand legumes found on neighbouring farms were recordedon the eastern and southern areas of the lake (see section 15Environmental Weeds).
Thewesternsideofthelakehasbeenhighlydegradedasaresultofhistoricallanduse,withalmostalloftheoriginalvegetationremoved. In July 2003, this area was fenced and rehabilitatedwith native species that were grown from seed collected inthe area. This rehabilitation to restore the fringing wetlandvegetationwasundertakenby thePeelPreservationGroup, inconjunctionwithPinjarraHighSchool.
Rehabilitationhasbeensuccessfulwithplantedspeciesbecomingestablished and regeneration of native species occurring (seesection19 Rehabilitation), althoughweeds remain a problem.Thepresenceofsignificantareasofmarinecouch(Sporobolus virginicus),anativegroundcover,withinthisrehabilitationareaisencouragingandlikelyaresultoftheexclusionofstock.
All native flora in Western Australia is protected under theWildlifeConservationAct.Protectedflorathatislikelytobecomeextinctorisrareorotherwiseinneedofspecialprotectioncanbedeclared tobe ‘rare flora’undersection23Fof theWildlifeConservationAct,andiscurrentlymanagedinaccordancewiththeDepartment’sproposedPolicy Statement No. 9–Conserving Threatened Species and Ecological Communities (subject tofinalisation).Inaddition,speciesthateitherdonotmeetcriteriafor listing as threatened because of insufficient information,have been recently removed from the threatened list, or arenear threatened and require monitoring are placed on theDepartment’sPriorityFloralist.Speciesonthislistaregroupedinto Priority categories 1 through to 5 (where 1 is of highestpriority).
TherearenoknownrecordsofrareorpriorityfloraintheLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.However,twodeclaredrareflora,onePriority112,fourPriority3,threePriority4(raretaxa)speciesandtwoThreatenedEcologicalCommunities(TECs)(onevulnerableandoneendangered)are located in theadjacentKooljerrenupNatureReservetothesouth.TheAustinBayNatureReservetothenorthofLakeMcLartyalsosupportstwoTECs(vulnerable)andtheMcLartyNatureReserve(A247329),tothenorthofLakeMcLarty,containsclosedheathwhichsupportstheuncommonplantspeciesBrachyloma pressii (DEH2003).
12 Priority1species(poorlyknowntaxa)arethosethatareknownfromoneorafew(generally<5)populationswhichareunderthreat.
Priority3species(poorlyknowntaxa)arethosethatareknownfromsev-eralpopulationsandarenotbelievedtobeunderimmediatethreat.
Priority4species(raretaxa)arethoseconsideredtohavebeenadequatelysurveyedandwhilebeingrare(inAustralia)arenotcurrentlythreatenedbyanyidentifiablefactors.
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14. NATIVE ANIMALS AND HABITATS
Lake McLarty, along with nearby Lake Mealup, provides freshwaterinsummerforthebirdsofPeel–YalgorupInletandHarveyEstuary and supports a resident bird population. The bed ofLakeMcLartysupportsareasofsedge,whichareimportantforbreedingswansandotherwaterbirds(DEH2003).Onoccasionsbetween late springandearly summer,over20000birdshavebeenobservedonasingleday(Craiget al.2004).
There has been one survey for invertebrates at Lake McLarty,conductedinthesummerof2000,whichidentifiedthatthelakesupportsahighdiversityof invertebrate fauna (Davis2000).Atotal of 46 species of invertebrates were identified, which arean important food source for the waterbirds that use the lake(Davis2000).
The Wildlife Conservation Act provides for the Minister forthe Environment to declare native species as “…fauna whichis likely tobecomeextinct, or is rare, orotherwise inneedofspecial protection”. Four species recorded at Lake McLarty–Carnaby’sblackcockatoo(Calyptorhynchuslatirostris),forestred-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso),the Australasian bittern13 and the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)–areaffordedsuchprotection.
TheDepartment’sproposedPolicy Statement No. 9–Conserving Threatened Species and Ecological Communities (subject tofinalisation) also provides for the recognition of ‘priority’species.Themaskedowl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is classified aPriority3species(taxawithseveral,poorly-knownpopulations,someonconservation lands).Thisclassification identifies thatadditional research is required todetermine trueconservationstatus.
The chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), which is also classified as‘rareorlikelytobecomeextinct’,isfoundintheKooljerrenupNatureReservetothesouthofLakeMcLarty.
waterbirds
Atotalof160birdspecieshavebeenrecordedwithinthenaturereserve, including 81 species of waders and other waterbirds,31and36ofwhichareprotectedundertheJAMBAandCAMBArespectively(M.Singor,pers. comm.).Forty-onewaderspecieshave been recorded at Lake McLarty, of which 29 species aremigratorywadersthatusethelakeonaseasonalbasis(M.Singorpers. comm.).Recentcountsofhighnumbersofwaterbirdsatthelakeinclude39249birdson27December2002and31256on16January2003 (M.Singor,pers comm.).LakeMcLarty isknowntobeanexcellentplacetoobservewadersinsummerandisoneofthebestsitesinsouth-westernAustralia.
13 TheAustralasianBitternhasonlybeenrecordedatLakeMcLartyononeoccasion, in November 1983 when it was heard calling. It has not beenrecordedtheresinceandisnolongeraresidentorvisitorthere(M.Singor,pers.comm.).
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The Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) for the Peel-YalgorupRamsarsite(DEH2003)identifiessixwaderspecieswhichthesite regularly supports significant populations of (see section7 Obligations and Agreements). Four of these have beenrecorded at Lake McLarty: red-necked avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) and banded stilt(Cladorhynchus leucocephalus). More recent surveys at LakeMcLarty have identified internationally significant populationsof three additional species not listed in the RIS: black-wingedstilt (Himantopus himantopus), curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), and sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)(M.Singor,pers.comm.).ItisanticipatedthatwhentheRISforthePeel-YalgorupSystemisnextupdated,thisinformationwillbeincorporated.
Lake McLarty meets the criterion for national significancefor at least 10 species: the seven named above as well asmarsh sandpiper (Tringa ategnatilis), commongreenshank (T. nebularia)andwoodsandpiper(T. glareola).Thelong-toedstint(Calidris subminuta)andpectoralsandpiper(C. melanotos)donothaveaminimumcountcriterion,althoughbasedonrecentcountsinthereserve,LakeMcLartyisnationallysignificantforthelong-toedstint.ThelakehasthehighestcountsofpectoralsandpipersfromAustralia(M.Singorpers. comm.,BurbidgeandCraig1996b),andisregionallysignificantforatleast15speciesof waterbirds. In addition, 14 waterbird species have beenrecordedbreedingatvarioustimesatthelakebetween1983and2006(M.Singorpers. comm.).
The number of birds visiting the lake has increased sincedocumentedmonitoringcommencedintheearly1980s.Sincean extensive survey of the waders and waterbirds at LakeMcLarty was conducted by Jaensch et al. (1988) between1981–85,theecologyofthelakehasbeensignificantlymodifiedwiththelossofextensiveT.orientalis bedsandBaumea sedgemargins, leaving open water and mudflats (Craig et al. 2004).The disappearance of the lake’s emergent vegetation has hadan impact on the species of birds that visit the lake (Craig et al.2004).Forexamplelittlegrassbirds(Megalurus gramineus),crakes and Australian reed warblers (Acrocephalus australis)have become less common in the reserve as the emergentvegetation has disappeared, although reed warblers are stillcommonenough(M.Singorpers. comm.).However,althoughthediversityofspeciesmayhavedecreasedslightly,theoverallnumbersofbirdsvisitingLakeMcLartyhasincreasedsincethisoriginalsurvey(fromthelate1990sonwards).Itshouldbenotedthatthenumberofbirdspotentiallyvisitingthelakeissubjectto the sizeofmigratingpopulations andglobal variations andtrends.
Lake McLarty currently provides a range of habitats thatsupport a varietyofbird species atdifferent timesof the year.Habitatssuchaslowrush-landinterspersedwithareasofopenwater or mud are important for feeding by long-toed stints,wood sandpipers, otheruncommonwaders, egrets andherons(Jaenschet al.1988).
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Exposedmudflatsareanessentialhabitatandfeedinggroundformigratorywaders,whichusethe lakeasamid-termandpost-departure feeding site (Craig et al. 2004). Between the dryingoutofthelakeandit’sre-fillingasaresultofthewinterrains,the wader species present are restricted to Australian residentspeciessuchastheblack-wingedstilt(Craiget al.2004).Highwater levels exclude migratory waders and as a result, thesebirds do not use the lake until weeks or months after theirarrivalinthearea.
The southern part of the lake is consistently used by alarge number of waterbirds, such as the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus),yellow-billedspoonbill(Platalea flavipes)androyalspoonbill (Platalea regia)14, and including migratory waders(A.N. Burbidge pers. comm.). Resident Australian waders andmigratorynorthernhemispherespeciesdifferintheirutilisationof the lake, but both use the lake as a non-breeding feedinggroundandrefugearea(Craiget al. 2004).
Cattlehavegrazedinthereservesincethe1880s.TheDepartmenthas informally allowed this practice to continue as the cattlereducethelevelofgrassessurroundingthelake,andhave,overaperiodofmanyyears,effectivelycontributedtothecreationofhabitatfortherangeofwaterbirdsthatnowutilisethelakeonaregularbasis.
To ensure the continued presence and diversity of birds thatutilise Lake McLarty, it is essential to protect the range ofhabitats that the lakeprovides.Thiscouldentail, forexample,controlling the amount of both Typha orientalis and nativeemergentrushesandsedgestopreventexcessiveencroachmentonto the lakebed. Reducing grass/weed levels surroundingthe lake is also vital to ensure that exposed mudflats remainavailableforutilisationbywadingbirds.
Adeclineinthenumbersoflong-toedstint,woodsandpiperandtoalesserextentpectoralsandpiperandruffhasbeenrecordedin recent years (Craig et al. 2004). However, the reduction inthesespecieshasnotbeenrestrictedtoLakeMcLarty,withthelong-toed stintandwoodsandpiper showingamarkeddeclineoverthewholeoftheSwanCoastalPlainincludingForrestdaleLake,KogolupLakeandThomsonsLake(Craiget al. 2004).
TheopeningoftheDawesvilleChannelinApril1994significantlychanged the water levels of the Peel-Harvey Estuary, thusreducingtheaccessibilityofmudflatstosmallerwaders(Craiget al.2004).Thischangemayhavecontributedtothesignificantincrease in numbers of red-necked stint and sharp-tailedsandpiperatLakeMcLarty(Craiget al.2004).
In addition, adverse environmental changes at wetlands insurrounding areas (such as the increase in salinity at LakeMealup)mayhavecontributedtothechangeinbirdnumbers.Disturbances from the Peel–Harvey Estuary such as powerboats,jet-skis,fishing,crabbingandotherrecreationalactivities
14 Thesespeciesdidnotoriginallyoccurinthesouth-westandhavegraduallyextendedtheirrangessincelateinthe19thCenturyasaresult(probably)ofhuman-inducedchangestohabitatandclimatechange.
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mayhaveanimpactonuseofthelakebywaterbirds.Giventheseimpacts,andincreasingsalinitylevelsinLakeMealup,thereisgreater emphasison the regional importanceofLakeMcLartyfor the resident bird population. Increased development andassociated impacts (e.g. increased nutrient run-off, utilisationof groundwater resources, disturbance from people and pets)within the Lake McLarty catchment area has the potential tosignificantlyimpactonthisimportantwetlandecosystem.Thesefactors need to be considered when developing managementstrategiesforthenaturereserve.
Cattle
Cattle have been grazed within the area that is Lake McLartyNature Reserve since the 1880s. Until recently, cattle fromneighbouring properties continued to graze parts of thesouthern half of the reserve on an ad hoc basis. This practicehadcontinuedwithouta formal leasingarrangementwith theDepartment. However, at the time of writing, cattle had notbeeninthereserveforanumberofyears,andopinionsvaryastowhetherornottheyshouldbereinstated.
Thepresenceofcattleappearstohavebothpositiveandnegativeeffectsonthevaluesofthereserve.Observationsovertheyearsindicate that there have been benefits from cattle in reducingthelevelofintroducedgrassessurroundingthelake,whichhascontributedtothecreationandmaintenanceofsuitablehabitat(e.g.mudflats)forarangeofwaterbirds.
ThelonghistoryofcattlegrazingatLakeMcLartyhascontributedto itshighlymodifiedenvironment,which ishowitwaswhenitwasnominated for,andgained, itsRamsar listing.Hence, itisacknowledgedthatcattlegrazingwaspartoftheprocessthatcontributedtothesecircumstances.
However, there are also negative impacts of grazing. Cattlecanadversely impactwetlandecosystemsthrougherosion, theintroductionandspreadofweeds,nutrientenrichment,grazingand trampling of native vegetation, and compaction of soil.UndertheCALMActandRegulations,cattlegrazingwouldnotgenerallybepermittedwithinanaturereserve.
Possible alternatives to grazing as a means of maintaininghabitat should be investigated by the Department, and shoulditbefoundthatcontinuedabsenceofcattlefromLakeMcLartyispreferable,othermethodsofweedcontrolwouldneedtobeimplemented. Otherwise the lake would most likely becomea closed fen – much like Herdsmen Lake and the southernpart of Lake Joondalup. Based on the knowledge gained fromresearchelsewhere (e.g.Nilsson et al1982,Nilsson1985), thecurrentgrazingregimeislikelytoposelessrisktothehabitatof the internationally significantwaterbird species thanwouldthe immediate cessation of all grazing, the effect of which iscurrentlyunknown.
Department scientists are of the opinion that a scientificassessmentoftheimpactsandbenefitsofcattlegrazingshouldbeundertakenbeforetheuseofgrazingasamanagementtool
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is disregarded. Consequently, closely monitored and restrictedcattle grazing will be reinstated within parts of the naturereserve, in the short-term at least, to prevent loss of mudflathabitats until the impacts or other management options(to maintain habitat) are more fully assessed. These optionsinclude (a) regular slashing/mowing of the grass and (b)limitedapplicationofherbicide,bothofwhichhaveconstraintsassociated with them (see section 15 Environmental Weeds).Both of these would be undertaken in conjunction with arehabilitationprogram.
Any grazing that does occur will only do so under a formallease/licence, with cattle likely to be restricted to (i) specifiedareasinthesouthernandsouth-easternpartofthereserveand(ii)seasonaluse;untiltheimpactofthisactivityonthewetlandsystemisbetterunderstoodandasuitable,alternativemethodofeffectivelyreducinglevelsofintroducedgrassesisidentified.Allowing controlled grazing to occur within sections of thenature reserve will aid in determining the impact of cattle intheshort-termon:
• waterbirdpopulations;
• controlofpasturegrasses;and
• generalvegetationandwetlandhealth.
This will enable long-term decisions to be made about theongoing use of cattle as a management tool in the naturereserve.
Theareaofthereservetobegrazedwillbedeterminedthroughnegotiationswithpotentiallesseesandbasedonthesuitability/viabilityforcattletograzecertainsectionsofthelakeandhabitatmaintenanceobjectives.Thelesseewillberequiredtoconstructtemporaryfencingtocontainthecattle.However, ifnecessary,theDepartmentmaycontributetothecostofthis.Stipulationson the number of cattle permitted within the reserve will beoutlinedaspartoftheleasearrangements.
Invertebrates
Invertebratesareanessentialcomponentofwetlandfoodwebs,comprising much of the diet of waterbirds and waders. Inaddition, theymayactas indicators forassessmentofwetlandhealth(Daviset al. 1993).
Inthesummerof2000,aninformalsurveyoftheinvertebrateswasconductedatLakeMcLarty(Davis2000).Priortothisstudy,therehadbeennoprevioussurveysconductedofinvertebratesin or around the lake. Invertebrates were sampled from fivelocations around the lake so as to include free-swimminginvertebrates from shallow and deep water, and core samplesfromthroughoutthelake.Atotalof46speciesofinvertebrateswere identified, seven species from the orders Ostracoda,Zygoptera and Diptera. These seven species were consideredimportant due to their abundance in the lake and role in thefood webs that exist within the lake community, providingabundantfoodforthenumerouswaterbirdsandshorebirdsthat
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inhabit Lake McLarty (Davis 2000). The more abundant anddominant species present were considered to provide a largeproportionofbirddietsoversummer.
FurtherstudiesoftheinvertebratesatLakeMcLartyarerequiredas the previous survey was only undertaken at one point intime and the relative quality or health of the lake is difficultto establish. Summer sampling would also understate thenumberof invertebratespeciespresent(Davis2000).However,theproductivityoftheaquaticinvertebratefaunaisconsideredhigh and capable of supporting a large waterbird population(Craiget al.2004).Itwashypothesisedthatthelargenumbersof birds present on the lake during summer months may beattributedtotheabundantlifethatexistsinthelakesedimentand shallow waters near the lake edges, such as Chironomid(midge)larvae,otherDiptera(fly)larvaeandColeoptera(beetle)larvaeandadults (Davis2000).Theenergy resourcesprovidedbyinvertebratesfoundinthelakeareusedbyestuarine,inlandandmigratorybirds.
The use of bio-indicators from single invertebrate ordersmay provide a useful means of biological monitoring (EPA1987). Species such as damselfly nymphs (Xanthagrion erythroneurum), aquatic beetles (Berosus spp.) and bitingmidge larvae (Ceratopogonidae), which are associated withhealthyurbanlakes,arepresentatLakeMcLarty.Thesespeciesaresensitivetochangesinwaterqualityandtheirabundanceisadirectindicationofthewaterqualitystatus(EPA1987).
15. ENVIRONMENTAL wEEDS
TheEnvironmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia (CALM1999)(EnvironmentalWeedStrategy)describesenvironmentalweeds as ‘… plants that establish themselves in naturalecosystems and proceed to modify natural processes, usuallyadversely,resultingindeclineofthecommunitiestheyinvade’.Weeds displace indigenous plants, particularly on disturbedsites, by competing with them for light, nutrients and water.Someoftheirotherimpactsincludethepreventionofseedlingrecruitment, changes to soil nutrients, and changes to theabundanceofindigenousfauna.Theycanalsohaveasignificantadverseimpactonotherconservationvaluesbyalteringanimalhabitats, harbouring pests and diseases, and increasing firehazardorchangingfireregimes.
The Environmental Weed Strategy (CALM 1999) providesan integrated approach to weed management and ratesenvironmentalweedsashigh,moderate,mildandlowaccordingtotheirpotential invasiveness,distributionandenvironmentalimpacts. This rating system provides the basis for identifyingcontrolstrategies,withthehighestratedspeciesandspeciesthatpose a threat to conservation values within the reserve, beingthe focus for weed management (see Management Summary Table). Further guidance for management is provided by theDepartment’sPolicy Statement No. 14 – Weeds on CALM Lands (CALM1986b)andproposedPolicy Statement –Environmental Weed Management(subjecttofinalconsultation).
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Astheinter-relationshipbetweensoildisturbance,weedinvasionandnativeplantsiscomplex,weedcontrolshouldbeundertakenin a strategic and integrated manner with guidance from theEnvironmental Weed Strategy (CALM 1999). Rehabilitationof areas following weed removal is important to prevent re-invasionofweedspecies(seesection19Rehabilitation).
Atotalof13weedspecieswereidentifiedduringasurveywithinthe Lake McLarty Nature Reserve in 2005 (R. Kerslake pers. comm.). According to the Environmental Weed Strategy, twoof these species are High impact species (see below), sevenModerate,twoLow,andtwoeitherunlistedornotrated(CALM1999). Many of these weeds are pasture grasses and legumesthathaveencroached fromneighbouring farmproperties.Themajorityofthe13weedspeciesarelocatedontheeasternsideofthelakeinareaswherecattlehavebeenallowedtograze.Thespreadoftheseweedspecieshasbeenfacilitatedbythepresenceof cattle in the reserve. In addition, the increasing spread ofgoosefoot(Chenopodium pumilio)onthenorthernedgeofthenaturereserve,andthepresenceofsamphire(Sarconia spp.)areindicatorsthattheseareasmaybebecomingmoresaline.
Greatbromegrass (Bromus diandrus)and introducedbulrush(Typha orientalis) are rated as high priority weed species andposethegreatestthreattonativevegetationinthereserve.Todate there have been no major control programs undertakenforeitherof theseweeds.Greatbromegrass isa seriousweedof pastures and crops in southern Western Australia (Husseyet al. 1997). Introduced bulrush is an aggressive coloniser indisturbed wetlands in the Swan Coastal Plain (Hussey et al.1997)andhasthepotentialtoreducetheareaofopenwaterandexposedmudflatsatLakeMcLarty.
ExposedmudflatsaroundLakeMcLartyareanessentialhabitatand feeding ground for migratory waders. Colonisation andspread of T. orientalis around Lake McLarty has the potentialto significantly displace and change fringing vegetation andhencealterwaterbirdhabitat.Toensurethecontinuedpresenceof waders at Lake McLarty, it is essential that the amount ofT. orientalis be controlled to prevent encroachment onto thelakebed or lake edges. In addition, as the lake dries in thesummer months, the T. orientalis dries creating a significantfire hazard. The current distribution T. orientalis aroundthe lake provides shelter, nesting sites and a food source forbirdsandotherwildlife,andactsasabuffertonutrientinput.ThereforeitscompleteremovalneedstobecarefullyconsideredandintegratedwithrevegetationstrategiesincorporatingTypha speciesthatareendemictotheregion.
UnlikeLakeMealuptothenorthwhereT. orientalisdominatesthe main lakebed, the distribution of T. orientalis at LakeMcLartyispredominantlyconfinedtotheeasternandnorthernedgesofthelakeandisnotcurrentlyconsideredamajorthreat.It is not clear why Lake McLarty has a reduced infestationof T. orientalis compared to Lake Mealup, although waterlevels may influence the current distribution patterns. LakeMcLartyisgenerallydeeperandholdswaterforalongerperiodthroughout the year than Lake Mealup, which may reduce
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conditions favourable for the establishment of T. orientalis (P.Wilmotpers. comm.).Mappingandmonitoringthedistributionof T. orientalis at Lake McLarty and initiation of appropriatecontrolmethods isrequiredtoensurewaterbirdhabitat isnotlost(seeManagement Summary Table).
Weeds that are, or may be, a problem to agriculture or theenvironment can be ‘declared’ under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976.ThisActstipulatesthatlandholderswithdeclaredplantsontheirpropertyareobligedtocontrolthem,althoughitalsopreservestheDepartment’srightto determine priorities and the level of control according toresources.Cottonbush(Gomphocarpus fruticosus),adeclaredweed,was located ina smallclumpon thenorth-westernsideofthelakeclosetotheroadduringthe2005survey.Outbreaksof this weed have since been treated and removed. However,controlandongoingmonitoringofitspresencethroughouttheplanningareaisrequiredoverthelifeofthisplan.
PasturegrassesdominatetheterrestrialweedsatLakeMcLarty,particularlyinthemoredisturbedareas(westernandsouthernsides) surrounding the lake.This is the resultofuse for ruralactivities and cattle grazing since the 1880s (see section 14Native Animals and Habitats).
Priorities forweedcontrolwithinthereservearebasedontheprinciples and rankings of the Environmental Weed Strategy(CALM1999),aswellastheirpotentialimpactsonbiodiversityatalocallevel.Otherlocalconcernssuchasongoingmaintenanceto limit the return of species previously controlled are alsoconsidered.
Intheabsenceofcattleinthereserve,itispossiblethatpasturegrasses will continue to proliferate and reduce the area ofmudflatavailabletowaterbirds.Hence,theplanemphasisestheneed to investigate other options for controlling these weeds,suchasherbicideapplicationandremovalbymechanicalmeans.However, there are constraints associated with both of thesemethods.Thelatterislabourintensiveandexpensive,requiresfrequentmanagementaction,andmay in itself leadto furtherhabitat degradation, while the former could have impacts onnon-target species if not carefully applied or applied at thewrong time of year. Most herbicides should not be used nearwaterways and those that can, such as glyphosate, have beendemonstratedinlaboratorystudiestobeslightlytoxictobirds,fish, invertebratesandmammals(UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestService1995).
Suffice to say,herbicideuse is acknowledgedas analternativecontrol method for emergent vegetation. It is possible theremay be a window of opportunity for the use of herbicide butas stated previously, further research into the benefits and/orimpacts of this is needed before any such action would beundertaken in the reserve (see section14 Native Animals and Habitats).Thatsaid,itishighlyunlikelythatitwillbeusedatLakeMcLartyoverthelifeofthismanagementplan.
Any weed control will be undertaken in conjunction withrehabilitationwithnativespecies.Rehabilitationofthewestern
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and southern edges of the lake is planned. This will facilitatethere-establishmentofnativespeciesinplaceofthenumerousweed species thathavedominated these areas in thepast (seesection19Rehabilitation).
16. INTRODUCED AND OTHER PROBLEM ANIMALS
Problem animals are those species that have the potential tocauseseriousimpactonnaturalsystemsthroughdirecteffectssuchaspredation,habitatdestruction,competitionforfoodandterritory, introduction of disease and through environmentaldegradation (i.e. overgrazing). Problem animals can be eithernative species that are impacting on natural or agriculturalvalues, or feral animals that are introduced species that havebecomeestablishedaswildornaturalisedpopulations.
AprimaryobjectiveoftheDepartmentistoachievethesystematicandsafecontrolofpestanimalsonlandsthatitmanages.TheDepartment’sproposedPolicy Statement – Management of pest animals on CALM-managed lands (subjecttofinalconsultation)provides guidance for this by identifying State-wide prioritiesandstrategicapproachestomanagement.
Feral animals such as cats, rabbits and foxes, and domesticpets (cats and dogs) pose a threat to the ecosystems withintheLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.Therearealsoanumberofacclimatised ‘native’ speciespresent in thenaturereserve thatmight compete with native fauna for nest hollows, such asgalahs(Cacatua roseicapilla)andcorellas(bothlong-billedandlittle) (C. tenuirostris and C. sanguinea)15. These species, andferalbeecolonies,willbecontrolledwhenandasnecessary inaccordancewithoperationalpriorities,butatthetimeofwritingthisplan,werenotdeemedtobeasignificantproblematLakeMcLarty.
Astrategicapproachtothemanagementofanypestanimalorassemblageofpestanimalsshouldbebasedonfourkeyactivities(afterBraysher1993):
• defining the level of damage to identified values and thereduction in pest animal density required to reduce orpreventthedamage;
• developing clear objectives in terms of the desiredconservationoutcome,anddevelopingoptionsforpestanimalmanagement (e.g. localeradication, strategicmanagement,crisismanagementandnomanagement);
• implementing the favoured option: large-scale (regional)approaches to pest animal management is usually mosteffectivebutrequiresco-ordinatedactionbybothprivateandGovernmentlandmanagers;and
• monitoring/evaluatingtheplantoassesstheefficiencyofanyspecificcontroloperation.
15 Galahsandcorellas(littleandlong-billed)arenativespeciesformerlynotfoundontheSwanCoastalPlain.
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Catsandfoxesareefficientpredatorsandcanhaveadevastatingeffect on native fauna of the lake (WRC 2001). Historicallyoblongturtles(Chelodina oblonga)wereprolificatthelakebutappear to have largely disappeared (foxes have been reportedtodiguphibernatingturtles)(Craiget al.2004)andmaybeamajorcontributortotheirdemise.
Afoxbaitingprogramcommencedinthenaturereserveattheendof2006.Theprogramisplannedtocontinueonamonthlybasis for at least five years, until the end of 2011. At the endof the five years, the Department will assess the success ofthe program and determine whether there is a need for it tocontinue,resourcespermitting.
Feralcatsarepresentwithinthereservebuttheextentoftheirimpact is not known. The potential of cats (both feral anddomestic) to prey on waterbirds, particularly hatchlings, is asignificantconcern.Rabbitsarealsopresentandcaninhibittheregenerationofnativeplants,hinderingthere-establishmentofunderstoreyspeciesorgrazingonplantedseedlings.
Control of feral cats and rabbits is not currently undertakenat Lake McLarty. Control programs covering a larger area,inclusive of Kooljerrenup and Mealup Nature Reserves andpossibly surrounding agricultural land (in collaboration withlandowners),maybeconsideredinthefutureassuchprogramsare currently being undertaken at Lake Mealup (NationalHeritage Trust 2003). However at the time of writing, theoutcomesofthisprogramhadnotbeenquantified(LakeMealupPreservationSociety,pers. comm.2006).
Under the CALM Regulations, dogs are not allowed onto thereservewithoutlawfulauthority.InthecaseofLakeMcLarty,thisisconsistentwithprotectionofthenaturalvaluesofthelake,inparticularthehighnumberofwaterbirds.Adog-resistantfenceexistsbetweenthelakeandthesubdivisiononthewesternsideofthelakeinordertoreducetheimpactofstrayingdomesticdogs.Theeffectivenessofthefenceinexcludingdogsmayneedtobeimprovedduringthelifeoftheplan.Inaddition,aneducationprogram informing the public of the impact of dogs and catson waterbirds is required. One such program was establishedin2005bymembersof localcommunitygroups (suchasPeelPreservation Group and Coolup Land Conservation DistrictCommittees and local Shires) and individuals associated withtheShorebirdConservationProject(seesection25Information, Education and Interpretation).
Midges and Mosquitoes
Midges and mosquitoes are natural components of aquaticecosystems on the Swan Coastal Plain, although nutrientenrichmentpromoteshigherdensitiesof larvae.Aspoorwaterquality of a wetland can be attributed to factors occurringthroughout the catchment, management of midges andmosquitoesisundertakenonacase-by-casebasisinconjunctionwithlocalgovernment.
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Midges breed in wetlands, intertidal areas and the edgesof streams and rivers. Midge swarms from wetlands occurduring spring and summer and can affect residents living upto a kilometre from the wetlands. Midges are not currently aproblem at Lake McLarty. However, with increased residentialdevelopment surrounding the lake, problemsmay arise in thefuture.
Chemicalcontrolcanbeusedforshort-termreductioninmidgenumbers. Monitoring of midge larvae is carried out by localgovernments to determine the timing of larvicide treatmentsandtoassesstheeffectivenessoftreatments.Inthelong-term,restoring wetland health and establishing buffers betweenthe lake and residential areas will reduce midge numbers andsubsequentproblemsfromthese.
Mosquitoes are native insects that breed in salt, brackish orfreshwater.Thespeciesofmosquitopresentwithinfreshwaterand saltwater systems vary. Unlike mosquito species foundassociated with saltmarshes (e.g. Aedes camptorhynchus),species of freshwater mosquito are not commonly known forcarryingmosquito-bornediseases suchasRossRiverVirus (S.Harrington pers. comm.). Lake McLarty is therefore unlikelyto support large populations of mosquitoes vectoring virusesand to date has not been subject to aerial spraying to reducenumbers(D.Eastwellpers. comm.).
Nevertheless, Lake McLarty is monitored for mosquito larvaeand adult mosquitoes by the Shire of Murray. A mosquitomonitoringsiteislocatedatthewesternendofMillsRd,southofLakeMcLarty(EnvironmentalCapability1995).ThissitehasrecordedhighnumbersofA. camptorhynchus inthevicinityofthetrappingsiteandA. clelandi, A. camptorhynchus andCulex sp. in the trap. These mosquitoes favour warm shallow waterinshadedareasattheperipheryofwetlandsinwhichtobreed(EnvironmentalCapability1995).
Mosquito numbers will continue to be monitored at LakeMcLartyandsprayingprogramsmaybeconsideredifproblemsarisewithincreasingnumbersofresidentsinthearea.However,records from elsewhere show that spraying has led to wadermortalities(Craiget al.2004).
TheConservationCommissionopposes, inprinciple,mosquitocontrol on nature reserves, Ramsar wetland sites and otherwetlands with high conservation value. However, it doesrecognise that mosquito control adjacent to residential areasis sometimes necessary to reduce the risk of mosquito bornediseases (suchasRossRivervirusandAustralianencephalitis)ortoreduceanextremenuisance.
With an increase in the population surrounding the lake andnearbyHarveyEstuary,thereisapossibilityof futurepressureforcontrolofmosquitoesandmidgesattheirknownbreedingsites. The establishment of an adequate vegetation bufferbetweenthelakeandsurroundingdevelopmentwillreducetheimpactofthesepestinsectsonresidents(Bowenet al.2002).
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17 DISEASE
Atpresent,themostsignificantdiseasethreattoplantswithintheplanningarea is thediseaseknownas ‘dieback’, causedbythe introduced microscopic pathogen Phytophthora. TherearenowknowntobeeightspeciesofPhytophthoraoccurringwithin the native plant communities of Western Australia,although it is recognised that P. cinnamomi is the mostdamaging. Susceptible plants, once infested, are killed and inmany cases eliminated from the site leading to dramatic andpermanent changes to native plant communities and theirdependent fauna. As a result of this fungus-like pathogen,increasesinsalinityhavebeendetectedatothersitesaswellasareductionofaestheticvalues.
Infection of native vegetation with Phytophthora cinnamomiresultsinthedestructionofsusceptiblespeciesandadramaticchange in vegetation community structure. This introducedsoil-borne plant pathogen kills a range of susceptible plantspecies,particularlythosebelongingtothefamiliesProteaceae,Myrtaceae, Epacridaceae and Papilionaceae (Dieback WorkingGroup 2005). The result is not only a loss of vegetationcommunities but of habitat and food sources for nativeanimals.
P. cinnamomiisnaturallydispersedviasurfaceandsub-surfacewaterflowandbyroot-to-rootcontactbetweeninfectedplants.However,themostsignificantspreadofthepathogenoverlargedistances isvia themovementof infectedmoist soilandplantmaterial by vectors such as humans, vehicles and animals.Infestation is most common where human activities and usehavetakenplaceintheabsenceofastricthygieneregime.
A disease interpretation assessment was conducted at LakeMcLarty Nature Reserve and McLarty Nature Reserve (to thenorthof the lake) inOctober2004.Thisassessment identifiedwhetherornotthenaturereserveswere ‘interpretable’ forthepresenceofdisease(particularlyP. cinnamomi).TheentireLakeMcLarty Nature Reserve and sections of the McLarty NatureReserve were identified as ‘uninterpretable’ for the presenceof P. cinnamomi. Uninterpretable areas are those dominatedby resistant vegetation, such as freshwater paperbark. Theseresistantspecies‘shadeout’susceptibleplantspeciesmakingitimpossibletointerpretwhetherdiseaseispresent.
The preliminary assessment of McLarty Nature Reserve dididentify large interpretable areas, in which Armillaria sp. wasfound to be present. However, this fungus is native to thearea and will not pose a significant threat to the health ofthe vegetation unless the environmental conditions within orsurrounding the reserve are changed to favour the spread ofthefungus.
Dieback management within both of the nature reserves willoccur in accordance with the Department’s Policy Statement No. 3 – Management of Phytophthora and disease caused by it (CALM 1998). It is recommended that a disease survey beundertakenwithintheMcLartyNatureReserveto identifyandmapareasofdiebackandthoseareasthatareprotectable.This
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will ensure that any infestedareas are appropriatelymanaged,particularly with regards to the disturbance or movement ofinfected soil, so itdoesnot impact adverselyonLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.
18. FIRE
Some wetlands have adapted to a natural cycle of burning.However, in the case of Lake McLarty, wildfire is a significantthreat both to the natural values of the nature reserve andto adjoining properties. Disturbance by wildfire could lead tothe invasion of agricultural weeds (a major problem in manyreserveswithnarrowbufferssuchasLakeMcLarty),preventingthe regeneration of native species. Wildfire could also lead toanincreaseinTypha orientalis acrossthelakebed.Thisspeciesis highly flammable, persists and spreads after fire, and largeinfestationsconstituteamajorfirehazard.
Intheeventofafirewithinthenaturereserve,theDepartmentisguidedbytheprovisionsoftheBush Fires Act 1954andPolicy Statement No. 19 – Fire Management(CALM2005).TheintentoftheDepartment’sfiresuppressionworkswillbetominimisethesizeofanywildfires.
The Department has the lead role in fire suppression withinthereserveandwouldbeassistedbytheShireofMurray(FireProtection Officers and bushfire volunteers). Shire of Murraybrigadeswouldmost likely formthe initialattackdueto theircloseproximitytothereserve.
Pre- and post-suppression works is the responsibility of theDepartment and would include rehabilitation of any fire linesthatareconstructedaspartofsuppressionefforts.
No prescribed burning is currently undertaken within LakeMcLartyNatureReserve andnone is proposed for the termofthisplan.
TheDepartmentmaintainsafireaccesstrackforemergencyusealong the southern boundary in conjunction with a 50metrefuelreducedbuffer.Aboreandconcretetankarelocatedonthesouth-western corner of the reserve to provide water for fire-fightingpurposes.
19. REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation is the establishment of a stable, self-regulatingecosystem followingdisturbances,consistentwith thepurposefor which the area is managed. The Department’s Policy Statement No. 10 – Rehabilitation of Disturbed Land (CALM1986a) provides guidelines for the rehabilitation of landsmanagedbytheDepartmentbasedonthefollowingprinciples:
• manage(asfaraspossible)toavoiddisturbance;
• rehabilitation should be the last option in a series ofmanagement decisions designed to protect environmentalvalues;and
35
• rehabilitationshouldaimtorestoreoriginalvaluesandhelptoenhanceallpotentialusesprovidedthepriorityusesarenotadverselyaffected.
In 2003, the western side of the lake was rehabilitated by thePeelPreservationGroupwithassistancefromalocalschoolaspartofaSouthernPeelPartnershipLandcareProject(‘Crossing the Boundaries’).Theprojectaimedtore-connecttheexistingnativefringingvegetationinthesouthwiththatinthenorthbyrehabilitatinganareaalongthewesternboundary.Thissectionof the lake was chosen for rehabilitation as it was anticipatedthat the lake and surrounds would be exposed to human anddomesticanimalintrusioninthenearfuture,particularlyfromthesubdivisionalongitswesternborders.
Therehabilitationareaof2.3hawasfencedtobekangarooandemu friendly,but restrictiveofdogsandcattle.Seedcollectedat the site was used to propagate species for planting (K.Wilson, pers. comm.). The rehabilitation has been successfulwithbothplantedspeciesandnaturalrevegetationestablishingwell, facilitated by the exclusion of cattle. Monitoring of thesuccessoftherehabilitationanddegreeofweedestablishmentwillcontinuetobecarriedoutbytheDepartmentandthePeelPreservationGroup.
Rehabilitation is planned for the southern and south-easternsides of the reserve once restrictions on cattle access are inplace. Further rehabilitation works will also be undertaken inthe south west corner adjacent to the Birchmont subdivision,andsomeinfillplantingwillbedoneintheolderrehabilitationnearthewatertankonthewesternsideofthelake.
Any rehabilitation activity at the nature reserve should onlyinclude local native plant species and soils that are freeof Phytophthora and other plant diseases. The Departmentwelcomes community input and involvement in rehabilitationprojectsatthenaturereserve(seesection26Working with the Community).
PART D: MANAGING CULTURAL HERITAGE
20. INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
The conservation of Indigenous heritage is important inmaintaining the identity, health and well being of Indigenouspeople(AHC2002).InWesternAustralia,theAboriginal Heritage Act 1972 protects places and objects customarily used by, ortraditionalto,theoriginalinhabitantsofAustralia.AregisterofsuchplacesandobjectsismaintainedundertheAct,howeverallsitesareprotectedundertheActregardlessofwhethertheyhavebeenenteredontheregister.
Akey issue formanagement is to ensure thatAboriginal sitesare protected from damage, and that obligations are fulfilledaccordingtotheAboriginalHeritageActandtheCommonwealthNative Title Act 1993beforeanyplanningorpublicworksoccur.
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The latter act requires the Department to notify AboriginalrepresentativebodiesandNativeTitleclaimantsofanyintendedpublicworkormanagementplan.
Although an extensive study of the area has not yet beenundertaken,therearenoknownAboriginalsiteswithintheLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.However,nearbysiteswithinthePeelInlet/Harvey Estuary region include Warrangup Spring, StonyPoint,HerronPointandIslandPoint.ThesesitesareknowntohavebeenAboriginalcampinggrounds.
21. NON-INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
Lake McLarty was named after one of the first and mostprominent pioneering families of the Murray District. JohnMcLartywasoriginallyatenantfarmerinthe1840s,andlaterabuildingcontractorandoneofPinjarra’sfirstpublicans.
In 1860 John and his wife, Mary Ann, built the ‘BlythewoodHomestead’whichisstilllocatedsouthofPinjarra(Craiget al.2004). John McLarty developed a cattle business centered onBlythewood and other properties in the district. McLarty wasgiven the contract to build the seawall behind the PeninsulaHotel(Mandurah)in1872inanattempttokeeptheseaentrancetothePeelInletopen(Craiget al.2004).Inthe1870s,EdwardMcLarty,sonofJohnandMaryAnn,establishedthesignificanthomestead property of Edenvale in Pinjarra which, like theBlythewood Homestead, still exists today (H. Burgess pers. comm.). In 1972 the Old Blythewood homestead was given totheNationalTrust(DEH2005).
LakeMcLartyand itssurroundshavehadahistoryof farmingforanextendedperiodoftime.In1848ArthurBirchestablishedhisfarmbesidesawetlandknownas‘BigLake’,nowknownasLakeMcLarty.Bythe1870sBirchhadbuiltalimestonecottagenext to the lake, which he named ‘Birchmont’ and by 1880Birchheld1000acresof freeholdlandandleased70000acresof Crown land between Harvey Estuary and the Peel Inlet. Inadditiontogrowingwheat,thefamilyhad2000sheep,100cattleandbredhorses(about500ontheproperty)(Craiget al.2004).Inthedaysof thehomestead, thehouseholdwatersupplywasprovidedbyaspringnearthehomestead(Richards1978).Sincethe 1880s, the south and south-western side of the lake havebeen used for rural activities (feed stock and irrigated marketgardens)(Richards1978).
TheoldBirchmontHomestead still stands, locatedona smallriseclosetothesouth-westboundaryofthelake.Thehomesteadremains inprivateownership. It ishistorically significantasagoodexampleoftheearlysettlementintheareaandislistedonthe Shire of Murray’s Municipal Heritage Inventory (HeritageCouncil of Western Australia 2004), although this provides itwithlimitedstatutoryprotection.
The land immediately surrounding the Lake McLarty NatureReserve,whichwassubjectto farmingdevelopmentsoonafterEuropeansettlement,iscurrentlyextensivelycleared.Thelandontheeasternsideofthelakeisusedforgrazingasmallnumber
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ofcattle,someofwhichstillrangethesurroundingsofthelake(Craiget al.2004).Approximately22haoftheoriginalfarmlandsurrounding the old homestead and the remaining propertyhas been sold and sub-divided by developers. An applicationtosubdivide thehomesteadpropertyof26ha into10 lotswasconsideredbytheShireofMurrayandapprovedbytheWesternAustralian Planning Commission in December 2005, subjecttoanumberofconditions,onebeingthatthehomesteadistoremainatitscurrentsite.
PART E: MANAGING VISITOR USE
22. VISITOR OPPORTUNITIES
As a nature reserve, Lake McLarty is gazetted for the purposeof ‘conservation of flora and fauna’. As such, only low impactrecreationispermitted,andthenonlywhenitdoesnotadverselyaffectthenaturalvaluesandecosystemsofthereserve.
TheDepartment’sPolicy Statement No. 18 – Recreation, Tourism and Visitor Services (DEC 2006b) outlines the principles,operationalguidelines,proceduresandadministrativecontrolsinrelationtofacilitatingrecreationandtourismonthepublicconservationestate.ThismanagementplancomplieswithPolicyStatementNo.18.
AsLakeMcLartyisanaturereserve,gazettedforthepurposeofconservationoffloraandfauna,onlyfacilitiesprovidingforpassiverecreationpursuitswillbeprovided.Furthermore,commerciallicenceswillonlybeconsideredforpassiverecreationalactivities(forexamplebirdwatchingtoursorguidednaturewalks)whichare compatible with the reserve’s purpose and the objectivesof this management plan. Applications for such licences willbe considered on a case-by-case basis, and would be requiredto be in line with the Department’s policy (DEC 2006b) oncommercialactivitiesinnaturereserves.
AnyincreaseinvisitoruseresultingfromresidentialdevelopmentaroundLakeMcLartywillneedtobecarefullymanaged.
23. ACCESS
AccesstoLakeMcLartyisprovidedforpassiverecreationaluses(such as birdwatching andnature appreciation), aswell as formanagementandemergencyvehicles.
Vehicularaccesstothesouthernpartofthereservetoallowoff-roadparkingmaybeconsideredifandwhenfuturesubdivisionsoccur.
Accesstothereserveforpedestrians,includingbirdwatchers,iscurrentlyrestrictedtotwopoints:agatelocatedonthewesternside of the lake and another gate to the south of the lake offMillsRoad.Manypartsofthelakeareinaccessibleduringwinter.Thereiscurrentlylittledemandfordesignatedpedestrian-only
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tracks within the reserve, and so none have been provided to date. This could be reviewed over the life of the plan if demand for pedestrian access increases as a result of adjacent residential development.
The firebreaks and management tracks are gated and provide access for management and emergency vehicles only.
The use of recreational watercraft (including model boats) in the lake is prohibited. However the use of canoes for research and management purposes by approved users will continue to be allowed.
24. VISITOR USE
Visitor use at Lake McLarty is expected to increase over the life of the management plan as residential development on adjoining land progresses and the area becomes more accessible with the completion of the Peel Deviation Freeway to the east of the lake (expected in 2009). Any such increase will need to be carefully managed as it will place added pressure on the natural values of the reserve. Hence it will be considered and planned for through this management plan (see section 23 Access).
The natural values of the reserve provide opportunities for nature appreciation, bird watching and environmental education, and this will remain the focus for visitor activities during the life of this management plan.
Birdwatching and Nature Appreciation
The importance of Lake McLarty as a place of refuge and a feeding ground for nationally and internationally significant waterbird species attracts birdwatchers from around Australia and the world, with birdwatching being the main recreational pursuit in the reserve. The southern and western sides are the most accessible points for birdwatching.
To facilitate birdwatching and nature study at the reserve, it is proposed to construct a viewing platform on the western side of the lake. This is to be complemented by educational information at the site. Defined access points are also required to ensure the wetland ecosystem is not adversely impacted upon by visitors.
Walking
With increasing residential development immediately surrounding the lake, and the associated increase in population in the area, there is likely to be greater pressure to provide opportunities for walking within the reserve. However, disturbance to waterbirds from walkers is a major concern. To address this potential problem pedestrian access will be limited to the two existing entry points, on the western and southern boundaries.
Opportunities for bushwalking also exist in nearby Kooljerrenup Nature Reserve to the south.
Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:38Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:38 19.05.08 16:41:1619.05.08 16:41:16
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PART F INVOLVING THE COMMUNITYVarious Departmental policy statements provide managementdirectionforinvolvingthecommunityincluding:
• Policy Statement No. 15 –Community involvement (Public Participation and Volunteers)(CALM1991);
• Policy Statement No. 18 – Recreation, tourism and visitor services(DEC2006b);
• Policy Statement No. 25 – Community education and interpretation (CALM1988);and
• Good Neighbour Policy(DEC2007).
Further guidance is provided by the Department’s VisitorInterpretationManualandbestpracticeprinciples.
A range of communication strategies that target differentaudiences is used, including: information; interpretation;education; community involvement; and liaison, consultationandadvisoryservicestostakeholdergroups.
25. INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION
Lake McLarty Nature Reserve provides a valuable opportunityforimprovingcommunityawarenessaboutwetlandecosystemsand the values of Ramsar-listed wetlands. An effectiveinformation, education and interpretation program is vital toachievethevisionandobjectivesofmaintaining,enhancingandcommunicatingreservevalues.
In2004,LakeMcLartywasselectedasoneof10priorityshorebirdsitesacrossAustraliaforarangeofcommunity-drivenshorebirdconservationprojects.TheShorebirdConservationProjectwasfundedbytheNationalHeritageTrustandcoordinatedbyWorldWildlifeFundAustralia.Theproject,runoverfouryears,aimsto:
• increase the awareness,understanding and involvementbycommunitiesinconservationofshorebirdhabitatandwherepossibleenablecommunitiestoconserveandwiselymanageimportantshorebirdsites;
• prepareasitecommunicationplan,brochuresandappropriateeducationalsignageforthereserve;
• implementamoredetailedmonitoringprogram;and
• organise guided tours and information evenings about thewetland.
The program is concentrating on raising awareness about thereserve’sconservationvalues,particularlythosethatcontributeto its Ramsar listing, potential human impacts, and positiveactionvisitorscantake tosupportmanagementof thereserveandofotherwetlands.Animportantpartofanyinterpretation/education program is the provision of information on theimpactsofdomesticcatsanddogsonwaterbirds.
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Educationalfacilitiesatthereservearelimitedtoaninformationsignlocatedonthewesternsideofthelake.Giventheimportanceofthesiteaswaterbirdhabitat,itisahighprioritytoupgradethe signsand information for thepurposeofpublic educationandinterpretationtoassistinachievingconservationobjectives.ThismaybeundertakenaspartoftheShorebirdConservationProject. In addition, it is proposed that a viewing platform beconstructedonthewesternsideofthelake.Thisstructurecouldthensupportfurtherinterpretativesignsandinformationonthevaluesof reserve.Any signswill incorporate anexplanationoftheRamsarConvention.
Theinternet,particularlytheDepartment’sNatureBasewebpage,also provides a valuable means of distributing information onthesignificantvaluesofthereserve.
The proximity of Lake McLarty to the Peel estuary increasesthepotentialforvisitorstobeexposedtomosquitoesthathavea high possibility of carrying Ross River virus. As mosquitoesare an essential part of the lake’s ecosystem and mosquitocontrol has the potential to jeopardise the natural values, theDepartment and the Conservation Commission would prefernot to take measures to reduce mosquito numbers. Instead,increasingvisitor awarenessmayhelp reduce the incidenceofinfection.
26. wORkING wITH THE COMMUNITY
Community involvement is an integral component of theDepartment’s operations. The community, as groups orindividuals, isencouraged tobe involved inboth theplanningandmanagementofLakeMcLartyNatureReserve.
Lake McLarty Nature Reserve is highly valued by the localcommunity and several community groups within the regionarededicatedtoconservationofthereserve.Thesegroupshaveplayedanactive role in theplanningandmanagementof thisreserve. Such groups include the Peel Preservation Group,Coolup Land Conservation District Committee, the Crossing the Boundaries – Southern Peel-Harvey Landcare Project andlocalschools.
Ongoing community support is essential for the successfulimplementation of this management plan. The Department’sPolicy Statement No. 15 – Community Involvement (Public Participation and Volunteers) (CALM1991)outlinesinitiativesto provide more volunteer opportunities and training to boththe volunteers and Departmental staff in the management ofvolunteers.
Volunteer activities are encouraged and supported at LakeMcLarty,andcommunitygroups,localschoolsanduniversitiesare encouraged to take part in volunteer activities such aswaterbird surveys, water monitoring, rehabilitation, andinterpretationandeducation.TheDepartmentwill seek toco-ordinatecommunitygroupstofacilitatesuchwork.
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27. SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH USE
There aremanyopportunities for researchwithin the reserve,includingstudiesofwaterlevelsandquality,invertebratesand,particularly,waterbirds.ThePeelPreservationGroupcurrentlymonitorswaterlevelsonamonthlybasis,andmembersofBirdsAustraliaconductmonthlymonitoringofpresenceandnumbersofbirdspecies.TheShireofMurrayconductsmosquito larvaetestingasrequired.
ResearchbyuniversitiesandcommunitygroupswillcontinuetobeencouragedandsupportedbytheDepartment.
It is appropriate that research and monitoring programsinvolveawiderangeofpeopleandgroups.Theinvolvementofvolunteers, educational institutions and individual researcherscanreduce thecostsof suchprogramsandassist inprovidinginformationtotheDepartmentandtothebroadercommunity.However, it is important that all research undertaken in thereserveiscoordinatedbytheDepartment,asthiswillensureanintegrated approach, avoid duplication, minimise impacts andenableprojectstobeprioritised.
PART G MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PLANThestrategiesoutlinedintheplanwillbebuiltintotheworksprogram of the Department’s Swan Coastal District, which isresponsiblefortheday-to-daymanagementofthereserve.
The Conservation Commission will assess the effectiveness ofthis management plan via regular audits of Key PerformanceIndicators (KPIs) or other mechanisms as deemed necessary.KPIs for this management plan are listed in the Management Summary Table.
28. TERM OF THE PLAN
Inaccordancewith theCALMAct, the termof thisplan is foraperiodof10years fromthedate theplan isapprovedby theMinisterfortheEnvironment.Attheendofthe10-yearperiod,it is recommended that an audit of the management plan beundertakenandtheplanreviewedwithfullpublicconsultationandthenre-submittedtotheMinisterforapproval.TheCALMAct also specifies that in the event of such a revision notoccurringby theendof theplan’s specified life span, theplanwill remain in force in its original form, unless it is eitherrevoked by the Minister or a new plan is approved. RevisionsoramendmentstotheplanareallowedunderSection61oftheCALMAct.
The Conservation Commission may initiate a review of themanagement plan before the 10-year term expires. Shouldsignificantchangestothisplanberequired,publiccommentontheproposedamendmentswillbesought.
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REFERENCESAHC(2002)Ask First. A guide to respecting Indigenous heritage
places and values. Australian Heritage Commission,Canberra.
ANCA (1997) Wetlands Policy of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Australian Nature ConservationAgency,Canberra.
Appleyard,S.(2005)An overview of acid sulfate soils management issues and a preliminary assessment of impacts within the Herdsman Lake catchment – Draft. Department ofEnvironment,WesternAustralia.
Asia-Pacific Shorebird Network (2007) <http://www.shorebirdnetwork.org/news070207rokamba.html>.Accessed29May2007.
Balla, S.A. (1996) Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain. WaterAuthorityofWesternAustralia,WaterandRiversCommissionandtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,Perth.
Bowen,B.,Froend,R.andO’Neil,K.(2002)Literature Review of Wetland Values, Threats and the Function and Management of Wetland Buffers.DraftReporttoWelkerEnvironmental.
Braysher,M.(1993)Managing Vertebrate Pests: Principles and Strategies.BureauofRuralSciences,Canberra.
Burbidge, A. and Craig, M. (1996a) Western Australian Bird Notes,49:12–13.
Burbidge, A. and Craig, M. (1996b) Western Australian Bird Notes,78:10–13.
CALM (in prep.) Policy Statement – Environmental Weed Management (subjectto finalconsultation).DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM(inprep.)Policy Statement – Management of Pest Animals on CALM-managed lands (subject to final consultation).DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM(inprep.)Policy Statement No. 9–Conserving Threatened Species and Ecological Communities (subjecttofinalisation).DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM (1986a) Policy Statement No. 10 – Rehabilitation of Disturbed Land. Department of Conservation and LandManagement,Perth.
CALM (1986b) Policy Statement No. 14 – Weeds on CALM Lands.DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM(1988)Policy Statement No. 25 – Community Education and Interpretation. Department of Conservation and LandManagement,Perth.
CALM(1991)Policy Statement No. 15 – Community Involvement (Public Participation and Volunteers). Department ofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
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CALM (1998) Policy Statement No. 3 – Management of Phytophthora and disease caused by it. Department ofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM (1999) Environmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia. Department of Conservation and LandManagement,Perth.
CALM (2003) Bioregional Summary of the 2002 Biodiversity Audit for Western Australia. Department of ConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
CALM (2005) Policy Statement No. 19 – Fire Management.DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
Conservation Commission (2004) Forest Management Plan 2004–2013.ConservationCommissionofWesternAustralia,Perth.
Craig, M., Darnell, J., Davis, C., Davis, M., Kirkby, T. andSingor, M. (2004) Lake McLarty – Ornithological Surveys.Unpublished.
Davis,M.(2000)A report on invertebrate sampling at McLarty Lake, including a list of invertebrate species.Unpublished.
Davis, J.A., Rosich, R.S., Bradley, J.S., Growns, J.E., Schmidt,L.G. and Cheal, F. (1993) Wetland Classification on theBasis of Water Quality and Invertebrate Community Data.Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain: Volume 6. DraftreporttoWaterAuthorityWAandEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority,Perth.
DEC (2006a) Acid Sulfate Soil Risk Map, Swan Coastal Plain.DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation,Perth.
DEC (2006b) Policy Statement No. 18 – Recreation, Tourism and Visitor Services. Department of Environment andConservation,Perth.
DEC(2006c)Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset.DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation,Perth.
DEC(2007)Good Neighbour Policy.DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation,Perth.
Department of Environmental Protection (2003) Acid Sulfate Soils in Western Australia. Department of EnvironmentalProtection,Perth.
DEH(2000a)Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for fresh and marine water quality – Aquatic Ecosystems.DepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage,Canberra.
DEH (2000b) <http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/report.pl?smode=DOIW&doiw_refcodelist=WA083>. Accessed 24February2005.
DEH (2003) Ramsar Information Sheet 36 Peel-Yalgorup System, Western Australia. <http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/report.pl>.Accessed20March2007.
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DEH (2005) Australian Heritage database – Old Blythewood,SouthWesternHwy,Pinjarra,WA.<http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=10769>.Accessed24February2005.
DEH (2006) Coastal Water Quality, Western Australia’s Peel-Harvey estuarine system. Paper prepared for the 2006AustralianStateoftheEnvironmentCommittee.DepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage,Canberra.
Department of the Environment and Water Resources (2006)Draft – Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Ramsar Wetlands – National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands – Module 2 of the Australian National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands – Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia.Department of the Environment and Water Resources,Canberra.
Departmentof theEnvironment andWaterResources (2007a)Peel-Harvey Estuarine System, Mandurah, WA. Register ofthe National Estate. <http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;feedback=yes;place_id=20>.Accessed10April2007.
Departmentof theEnvironmentandWaterResources (2007b)Australia’s Ramsar Sites. <http://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/ramsar/pubs/ramsar.pdf>.Accessed26February2007.
DiebackWorkingGroup(2005)Managing Phytophthora dieback in bushland: A guide for landholders and community conservation groups. Edition 3. Dieback Working Group,Perth.
EA(2000)Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 5.1 Summary Report.EnvironmentAustralia,Canberra.
EA(2001)A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, Third Edition.EnvironmentAustralia,Canberra.
EnvironmentalCapability (1995)Foreshore Management Plan – Birchmont Special Rural Subdivision. EnvironmentalCapability, E.M Goble-Garratt & Associates, Ben Carr &Associates,WesternAustralia.
EPA (1987) A baseline monitoring program for the urban wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain.<http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/docs/1089_EPP_SCPW04.pdf>. Accessed 28 February2005.
Gibson,N.,Keighery,B.,Keighery,G.,Burbidge,A.andLyons,M. (1994) A floristic survey of the southern Swan Coastal Plain.DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth.
Heritage Council of Western Australia (2004) List of the Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places. <http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/>.Accessed9September2004.
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Hussey,B.M. J.,Keighery,G. J.,Cousens,R.D.,Dodd, J. andLloyd,S.G.(1997)Western Weeds – A guide to the weeds of Western Australia.ThePlantProtectionSocietyofWesternAustralia(Inc.),Perth.
Jaensch, R., Vervest, R. and Hewish, M. (1988) Waterbirds in Nature Reserves of south-western Australia 1981–1985: Reserve Accounts.RAOUReportNo.30.
Lambert, J. and Elix, J. (2006) Workshop Report Ecological Character Description for Ramsar Wetlands. Prepared forthe Commonwealth Department of the Environment andHeritage.CommunitySolution,Sydney.
Macintosh,A.andKennedy,L.(2004)EPBC: A Conservationist’s Guide (3rd Edition). WWF Australia and the TasmanianConservationTrust,Canberra.
NationalHeritageTrust(2003)Management Plan for Covenanted Bushland at Lake Mealup Pinjarra.LakeMealupPreservationSociety,WesternAustralia.
Nilsson,L.,Hansson,L.A.andHögström,L.(1982)LakeKävsjönasabirdlake–breedingandrestingwaterfowlin1972–1980–andrestorationofitsshoremeadows.Var Fagelvärld:41.InSwedishwithEnglishsummary.
Nilsson,L.(1985)Experiencesoflakerestorationexperiments:LakeKävsjönandLakeLaduviken.Var Fagelvärld Suppl. 10.InSwedishwithEnglishsummary.
Ramsar(1990)<http:/www.wetlands.org/reports/>.Accessed20August2004.
Richards,R.(1978)The Murray District of Western Australia: A History.ShireofMurray,WA.
Semeniuk, C.A. (1988) Consanguineous Wetlands and theirDistributionontheDarlingSystem,SouthwesternAustralia.Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia.70:69–87.
ShireofMurray(2004)Town Planning Scheme 4 – Schedule 4.ShireofMurray,WA.
Storey, A.W., Land, J.A.K. and Davis, P.M. (1997) Monitoring the Ecological Character of Australia’s wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Convention).DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,WesternAustralia.
Thackway,R.andCresswell,I.D.(1995)An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia: A Framework for Establishing the National System of Reserves, Version 4.0. AustralianNatureConservationAgency,Canberra.
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Water Corporation (2007) Water Supplied Daily to the Perth Metropolitan area (plus parts of the South West Region) in the 04/05 financial year.<http://www.watercorporation.com.au/S/supply.cfm>.Accessed3April2007.
Weaving,S.(1999)Peel –Harvey Catchment – Natural Resource Atlas.SpatialResourceInformationGroup,AgricultureWA,Perth.
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Wetlands Conservation Society (1996) Western Australian Wetlands.BlackSwanPress,WA.
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONSA.N.Burbidge–ScienceDivision,DEC.
H.Burgess–PeelHeritageCouncil.
D.Eastwell–ShireofMurray.
S.Harrington–DepartmentofHealth,WA.
R.Kerslake–DepartmentofAgricultureandFood.
G.Langley–formerfarmerofareasurroundingLakeMcLarty.
G.Mathews–(Viasubmissiontodraftplan)–localresident.
Lake Mealup Preservation Society – (Via submission to draftplan).
M.Singor–BirdsAustralia.
P.Wilmot–LakeMealupPreservationSociety.
K. Wilson – Landcare Development Officer, Southern Peel-HarveyLandcareProject.
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ACkNOwLEDGEMENTSThis management plan was finalised by Kathryn McGuanefromDEC’sManagementPlanningUnit.Manypeopleprovidedvaluableassistance,inparticular:
• Murray Love, former Senior Operations Officer from DECMandurah, who provided input and advice during thedevelopmentofthemanagementplan;
• Tania Jackson and Daryl Moncrieff, formerly from DEC’sManagement Planning Unit, who prepared the draftmanagementplan;
• The Conservation Commission which provided advice onboththedraftandfinalplans;
• BrianBucktin,whoprovideddataonwaterlevelsandwaterqualityatLakeMcLartyfrom2000–2004;
• Marcus Singor, who provided information and advice onwadersandwaterbirds;
• Members from the Peel Preservation Group, who providedwatermonitoringdataandinformation;and
• OfficersfromthePeelHarveyCatchmentCouncil.
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road
rese
rve
mar
ksth
eea
ster
nbo
unda
ryo
fthe
nat
ure
rese
rve.
Thi
ssh
ould
be
adde
dto
the
natu
rere
serv
e.
•Th
ere
isa
sig
nific
anta
mou
nto
fveg
etat
ion
on
the
priv
ate
prop
erty
adj
acen
tto
the
east
ern
side
oft
hen
atur
ere
serv
ew
hich
effe
ctiv
ely
doub
les
the
wid
tho
fthe
veg
etat
edb
uffe
r.Su
bjec
tto
reac
hing
agr
eem
entw
ithth
eow
ners
,con
side
ratio
nsh
ould
be
give
nto
ac
quiri
ngth
ese
area
sby
dire
ctp
urch
ase,
ora
san
env
ironm
enta
lcon
trib
utio
nif
the
curr
ent
agric
ultu
rall
and
iss
ubdi
vide
din
futu
re.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rote
ctth
eva
lues
oft
here
serv
eby
sec
urin
gar
eas
of
grea
test
val
uein
toth
eco
nser
vatio
nes
tate
.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.s
ecur
ing
addi
tions
toth
ere
serv
ew
here
verp
ossi
ble,
in
clud
ing
the
road
rese
rve
onth
eea
ster
nsi
deo
fthe
lake
;
2.a
mal
gam
atin
gRe
serv
e44
978
into
Lak
eM
cLar
ty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve
(Res
erve
num
ber3
9404
),re
sulti
ngin
a
cons
olid
ated
rese
rve
of2
19h
ecta
res;
3.o
ffici
ally
nam
ing
the
two
rese
rves
that
com
pris
eth
ena
ture
re
serv
e“L
ake
McL
arty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve”
;
4.s
eeki
ngto
ent
erin
tov
olun
tary
agr
eem
ents
with
rese
rve
neig
hbou
rsto
pro
tect
rem
nant
veg
etat
ion
via
futu
re
purc
hase
ofl
and
fora
dditi
onto
the
rese
rve;
and
•Th
eCo
nser
vatio
nCo
mm
issi
ona
ndth
eDe
part
men
twill
reco
mm
end
that
any
futu
re
subd
ivis
ions
adj
oini
ngth
ere
serv
ew
illb
esu
bjec
tto
the
prin
cipl
eof
net
con
serv
atio
nbe
nefit
,and
that
env
ironm
enta
lcon
ditio
nsto
m
inim
ise
envi
ronm
enta
lim
pact
ssh
ould
be
duly
pla
ced
onp
ropo
nent
s.
5.n
egot
iatin
gen
viro
nmen
talc
ontr
ibut
ions
with
dev
elop
ers
shou
ldfu
rthe
rsub
divi
sion
sbe
app
rove
d.
PART
C. M
AN
AGIN
G T
HE
NAT
URA
L EN
VIRO
NM
ENT
12.
wET
LAN
D A
ND
CAT
CHM
ENT
PRO
TECT
ION
Man
agin
g w
ater
Lev
els
•La
keM
cLar
tyis
as
urfa
cee
xpre
ssio
nof
gr
ound
wat
erth
ath
asfo
rmed
whe
reth
ew
ater
tabl
ein
ters
ects
with
the
grou
nd
surfa
ce.T
here
fore
,the
lake
’sw
ater
leve
ls
are
dire
ctly
affe
cted
by
man
agem
ento
fthe
re
gion
alg
roun
dwat
ers
yste
m.
•Th
esu
rface
wat
erle
vels
oft
hela
keh
ave
been
mon
itore
dm
onth
lyo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
keb
yth
ePe
elP
rese
rvat
ion
Gro
up
sinc
e19
96.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tom
aint
ain
aw
ater
leve
lreg
ime
that
sup
port
sth
ela
ke’s
wat
er-d
epen
dent
eco
syst
ems
and
mee
tsth
ene
eds
ofth
era
nge
ofw
ater
bird
sth
atu
seth
ela
ke.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.n
egot
iatin
ga
Mem
oran
dum
ofU
nder
stan
ding
with
Sta
te
and
loca
lgov
ernm
enta
genc
ies
and
othe
rlan
dm
anag
ers
toe
nsur
ein
tegr
ated
pla
nnin
gan
dm
anag
emen
tof
Lake
McL
arty
,to
enab
leth
eDe
part
men
tto
achi
eve
the
obje
ctiv
eso
fthi
spl
an;
2.l
iais
ing
with
the
Depa
rtm
ento
fWat
erre
gard
ing
the
mon
itorin
gan
dm
aint
enan
ceo
fwat
erle
vels
;
Chan
ges
in
grou
ndw
ater
le
vels.
No
sign
ifica
nt
chan
geto
th
ecu
rren
thy
drol
ogy
ofth
ela
ke
(incl
udin
gse
ason
al
patt
erns
).
Ever
ytw
o–th
ree
year
s
49
MA
NAG
EMEN
T SU
MM
ARY
TA
BLE
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
PART
B. M
AN
AGEM
ENT
DIR
ECTI
ON
S A
ND
PU
RPO
SE
9. L
AN
D T
ENU
RE
•Th
epl
anni
nga
rea
com
pris
estw
o‘c
lass
A’
natu
rere
serv
esth
ats
houl
dbe
am
alga
mat
ed
into
as
ingl
ere
serv
eof
219
ha
and
offic
ially
na
med
Lak
eM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
e.
•A
gaze
tted
road
rese
rve
mar
ksth
eea
ster
nbo
unda
ryo
fthe
nat
ure
rese
rve.
Thi
ssh
ould
be
adde
dto
the
natu
rere
serv
e.
•Th
ere
isa
sig
nific
anta
mou
nto
fveg
etat
ion
on
the
priv
ate
prop
erty
adj
acen
tto
the
east
ern
side
oft
hen
atur
ere
serv
ew
hich
effe
ctiv
ely
doub
les
the
wid
tho
fthe
veg
etat
edb
uffe
r.Su
bjec
tto
reac
hing
agr
eem
entw
ithth
eow
ners
,con
side
ratio
nsh
ould
be
give
nto
ac
quiri
ngth
ese
area
sby
dire
ctp
urch
ase,
ora
san
env
ironm
enta
lcon
trib
utio
nif
the
curr
ent
agric
ultu
rall
and
iss
ubdi
vide
din
futu
re.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rote
ctth
eva
lues
oft
here
serv
eby
sec
urin
gar
eas
of
grea
test
val
uein
toth
eco
nser
vatio
nes
tate
.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.s
ecur
ing
addi
tions
toth
ere
serv
ew
here
verp
ossi
ble,
in
clud
ing
the
road
rese
rve
onth
eea
ster
nsi
deo
fthe
lake
;
2.a
mal
gam
atin
gRe
serv
e44
978
into
Lak
eM
cLar
ty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve
(Res
erve
num
ber3
9404
),re
sulti
ngin
a
cons
olid
ated
rese
rve
of2
19h
ecta
res;
3.o
ffici
ally
nam
ing
the
two
rese
rves
that
com
pris
eth
ena
ture
re
serv
e“L
ake
McL
arty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve”
;
4.s
eeki
ngto
ent
erin
tov
olun
tary
agr
eem
ents
with
rese
rve
neig
hbou
rsto
pro
tect
rem
nant
veg
etat
ion
via
futu
re
purc
hase
ofl
and
fora
dditi
onto
the
rese
rve;
and
•Th
eCo
nser
vatio
nCo
mm
issi
ona
ndth
eDe
part
men
twill
reco
mm
end
that
any
futu
re
subd
ivis
ions
adj
oini
ngth
ere
serv
ew
illb
esu
bjec
tto
the
prin
cipl
eof
net
con
serv
atio
nbe
nefit
,and
that
env
ironm
enta
lcon
ditio
nsto
m
inim
ise
envi
ronm
enta
lim
pact
ssh
ould
be
duly
pla
ced
onp
ropo
nent
s.
5.n
egot
iatin
gen
viro
nmen
talc
ontr
ibut
ions
with
dev
elop
ers
shou
ldfu
rthe
rsub
divi
sion
sbe
app
rove
d.
PART
C. M
AN
AGIN
G T
HE
NAT
URA
L EN
VIRO
NM
ENT
12.
wET
LAN
D A
ND
CAT
CHM
ENT
PRO
TECT
ION
Man
agin
g w
ater
Lev
els
•La
keM
cLar
tyis
as
urfa
cee
xpre
ssio
nof
gr
ound
wat
erth
ath
asfo
rmed
whe
reth
ew
ater
tabl
ein
ters
ects
with
the
grou
nd
surfa
ce.T
here
fore
,the
lake
’sw
ater
leve
ls
are
dire
ctly
affe
cted
by
man
agem
ento
fthe
re
gion
alg
roun
dwat
ers
yste
m.
•Th
esu
rface
wat
erle
vels
oft
hela
keh
ave
been
mon
itore
dm
onth
lyo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
keb
yth
ePe
elP
rese
rvat
ion
Gro
up
sinc
e19
96.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tom
aint
ain
aw
ater
leve
lreg
ime
that
sup
port
sth
ela
ke’s
wat
er-d
epen
dent
eco
syst
ems
and
mee
tsth
ene
eds
ofth
era
nge
ofw
ater
bird
sth
atu
seth
ela
ke.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.n
egot
iatin
ga
Mem
oran
dum
ofU
nder
stan
ding
with
Sta
te
and
loca
lgov
ernm
enta
genc
ies
and
othe
rlan
dm
anag
ers
toe
nsur
ein
tegr
ated
pla
nnin
gan
dm
anag
emen
tof
Lake
McL
arty
,to
enab
leth
eDe
part
men
tto
achi
eve
the
obje
ctiv
eso
fthi
spl
an;
2.l
iais
ing
with
the
Depa
rtm
ento
fWat
erre
gard
ing
the
mon
itorin
gan
dm
aint
enan
ceo
fwat
erle
vels
;
Chan
ges
in
grou
ndw
ater
le
vels.
No
sign
ifica
nt
chan
geto
th
ecu
rren
thy
drol
ogy
ofth
ela
ke
(incl
udin
gse
ason
al
patt
erns
).
Ever
ytw
o–th
ree
year
s
50
KEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
KEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
Man
agin
g W
ater
Lev
els
(con
tinu
ed)
• Th
e pa
tter
n of
wat
er le
vel c
hang
es w
ithin
th
e la
ke is
dic
tate
d by
loca
l rai
ns. T
he la
ke is
m
argi
nally
eph
emer
al a
nd d
ries,
on a
vera
ge,
for 1
–4 m
onth
s of
the
year
.
• Th
e tim
ing
of in
unda
tion
and
dryi
ng o
f Lak
e M
cLar
ty is
impo
rtan
t for
bird
spe
cies
and
bird
nu
mbe
rs.
• G
roun
dwat
er, a
nd s
ubse
quen
tly, w
etla
nd
wat
er le
vels
may
be
unde
r thr
eat a
s a
resu
lt of
a c
ombi
natio
n of
dry
clim
ate
and
grou
ndw
ater
abs
trac
tions
in s
urro
undi
ng
area
s.
• M
anag
emen
t of t
he g
roun
dwat
er re
sour
ce
with
in th
e Pe
el-H
arve
y Ca
tchm
ent i
s th
e re
spon
sibi
lity
of th
e De
part
men
t of W
ater
.
THIS
WIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y: (c
onti
nued
)
3. w
orki
ng c
oope
rativ
ely
with
the
Depa
rtm
ent o
f Wat
er to
en
sure
that
the
man
agem
ent o
f the
lake
’s w
ater
leve
ls
cons
ider
s w
ater
bird
and
oth
er fa
una
habi
tats
; and
4. l
iais
ing
with
the
Depa
rtm
ent o
f Wat
er to
est
ablis
h at
leas
t tw
o m
ore
wat
er m
onito
ring
bore
s in
the
area
sur
roun
ding
th
e la
ke.
Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:50Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:50 19.05.08 16:41:1819.05.08 16:41:18
51
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
Man
agin
g w
ater
Lev
els
(con
tinu
ed)
•Th
epa
tter
nof
wat
erle
velc
hang
esw
ithin
th
ela
keis
dic
tate
dby
loca
lrai
ns.T
hela
keis
m
argi
nally
eph
emer
ala
ndd
ries,
ona
vera
ge,
for1
–4m
onth
sof
the
year
.•
The
timin
gof
inun
datio
nan
ddr
ying
ofL
ake
McL
arty
is
impo
rtan
tfor
bird
spe
cies
and
bird
num
bers
.
•G
roun
dwat
er,a
nds
ubse
quen
tly,w
etla
nd
wat
erle
vels
may
be
unde
rthr
eata
sa
resu
ltof
ac
ombi
natio
nof
dry
clim
ate
and
grou
ndw
ater
abs
trac
tions
ins
urro
undi
ng
area
s.
•M
anag
emen
toft
heg
roun
dwat
erre
sour
ce
with
inth
ePe
el-H
arve
yCa
tchm
enti
sth
ere
spon
sibi
lity
ofth
eDe
part
men
tofW
ater
.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y: (c
onti
nued
)
3.w
orki
ngc
oope
rativ
ely
with
the
Depa
rtm
ento
fWat
erto
en
sure
that
the
man
agem
ento
fthe
lake
’sw
ater
leve
ls
cons
ider
sw
ater
bird
and
oth
erfa
una
habi
tats
;and
4.l
iais
ing
with
the
Depa
rtm
ento
fWat
erto
est
ablis
hat
leas
ttw
om
ore
wat
erm
onito
ring
bore
sin
the
area
sur
roun
ding
th
ela
ke.
•G
roun
dwat
erle
vels
atL
ake
McL
arty
are
cu
rren
tlym
onito
red
twic
ean
nual
lyb
yth
eDe
part
men
tofW
ater
from
four
bor
eslo
cate
dw
ithin
ath
ree
kilo
met
erra
dius
oft
hela
ke.
The
esta
blis
hmen
toff
urth
erm
onito
ring
bore
sw
ithin
the
subd
ivis
ion
and
toth
eea
st
ofth
ela
keis
requ
ired
tod
eter
min
eth
eim
pact
ofc
ontin
ued
resi
dent
iald
evel
opm
ent
ong
roun
dwat
erle
vels
with
inth
eca
tchm
ent.
12.
wET
LAN
D A
ND
CAT
CHM
ENT
PRO
TECT
ION
Man
agin
g w
ater
Qua
lity
•Fa
ctor
ssu
cha
snu
trie
ntru
noff
from
su
rrou
ndin
gre
side
ntia
land
rura
llan
din
fluen
ceth
ew
ater
qua
lity
ofL
ake
McL
arty
.
•Th
eDe
part
men
tis
resp
onsi
ble
form
onito
ring
the
wat
erq
ualit
yin
the
lake
.The
yar
eas
sist
edb
yth
ePe
elP
rese
rvat
ion
Gro
up.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tom
aint
ain
ahe
alth
yaq
uatic
eco
syst
em,t
here
bye
nsur
ing
the
prov
isio
nof
afe
edin
ggr
ound
and
refu
gefo
rwat
erbi
rds
and
prot
ectio
nof
the
rese
rve’
sec
olog
ical
val
ues.
Chan
ges
in
abun
danc
e,
spec
ies
dive
rsity
and
st
ruct
ure
ofn
atur
ally
oc
curr
ing
aqua
ticm
acro
-in
vert
ebra
te
popu
latio
ns.
No
decl
ine
in
the
abun
danc
eor
div
ersi
ty
ofn
atur
ally
oc
curr
ing
aqua
ticm
acro
-in
vert
ebra
te
popu
latio
ns
base
don
200
0le
vels.
Ever
ytw
o–th
ree
year
s
52
KEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
KEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
Man
agin
g W
ater
Qua
lity
(con
tinu
ed)
• Es
tabl
ishi
ng n
ew a
nd m
aint
aini
ng e
xist
ing
buffe
r veg
etat
ion
is v
ital i
n as
sist
ing
to
mai
ntai
n an
d im
prov
e w
ater
qua
lity.
A bu
ffer
will
act
as
a fil
ter a
nd s
tora
ge fo
r nut
rient
s, as
wel
l as
prov
idin
g a
phys
ical
bar
rier t
o pr
oble
m in
sect
s su
ch a
s m
idge
s be
twee
n th
e la
ke a
nd s
urro
undi
ng d
evel
opm
ent.
• An
inte
grat
ed, w
hole
of c
atch
men
t app
roac
h is
requ
ired
for m
anag
ing
grou
ndw
ater
qua
lity
and
leve
ls th
roug
hout
the
Peel
Har
vey
Catc
hmen
t.
• Th
e EP
A, to
geth
er w
ith th
e Pe
el H
arve
y Ca
tchm
ent C
ounc
il, is
dev
elop
ing
a W
ater
Q
ualit
y Im
prov
emen
t Pla
n fo
r the
cat
chm
ent,
whi
ch c
onta
ins
key
reco
mm
enda
tions
to
achi
eve
redu
ctio
ns in
pho
spho
rous
.
THIS
WIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1. s
uppo
rtin
g th
e Pe
el P
rese
rvat
ion
Gro
up in
con
tinui
ng to
m
onito
r the
wat
er q
ualit
y (in
clud
ing
diss
olve
d ox
ygen
, pH
, sal
inity
, tot
al n
itrog
en a
nd p
hosp
horu
s, an
d m
acro
-in
vert
ebra
tes)
of t
he la
ke e
very
six
mon
ths;
2. e
nsur
ing
that
the
man
agem
ent o
f wat
er q
ualit
y co
nsid
ers
wat
erbi
rd a
nd o
ther
faun
a ha
bita
ts;
3. c
ontin
uing
to re
-est
ablis
h bu
ffer v
eget
atio
n su
rrou
ndin
g th
e la
ke;
4. w
orki
ng c
oope
rativ
ely
with
sta
te a
nd lo
cal g
over
nmen
t au
thor
ities
rega
rdin
g th
e m
anag
emen
t of s
urfa
ce a
nd
subs
urfa
ce d
rain
age;
5. m
aint
aini
ng th
e De
part
men
t’s ro
le o
n th
e Pe
el-H
arve
y Ca
tchm
ent C
ounc
il; a
nd
6. s
uppo
rtin
g th
e re
com
men
datio
ns o
f the
EPA
’s W
ater
Q
ualit
y Im
prov
emen
t Pla
n fo
r the
Pee
l Har
vey
catc
hmen
t, pa
rtic
ular
ly w
hen
com
men
ting
on d
evel
opm
ent p
ropo
sals
on
land
adj
oini
ng L
ake
McL
arty
.
Chan
ges
in
salin
ity a
nd
tota
l nitr
ogen
an
d ph
osph
orus
le
vels
of t
he
lake
.
No
sign
ifica
nt
incr
ease
in
the
salin
ity
or c
hang
es in
le
vels
of t
otal
ni
trog
en a
nd
phos
phor
us in
th
e la
ke.
Ever
y tw
o–th
ree
year
s
Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:52Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:52 19.05.08 16:41:1819.05.08 16:41:18
53
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
Man
agin
g w
ater
Lev
els
(con
tinu
ed)
•Es
tabl
ishi
ngn
ewa
ndm
aint
aini
nge
xist
ing
buffe
rveg
etat
ion
isv
itali
nas
sist
ing
to
mai
ntai
nan
dim
prov
ew
ater
qua
lity.
Abu
ffer
will
act
as
afil
tera
nds
tora
gefo
rnut
rient
s,as
wel
las
prov
idin
ga
phys
ical
bar
riert
opr
oble
min
sect
ssu
cha
sm
idge
sbe
twee
nth
ela
kea
nds
urro
undi
ngd
evel
opm
ent.
•An
inte
grat
ed,w
hole
ofc
atch
men
tapp
roac
his
requ
ired
form
anag
ing
grou
ndw
ater
qua
lity
and
leve
lsth
roug
hout
the
Peel
Har
vey
Catc
hmen
t.
•Th
eEP
A,to
geth
erw
ithth
ePe
elH
arve
yCa
tchm
entC
ounc
il,is
dev
elop
ing
aW
ater
Q
ualit
yIm
prov
emen
tPla
nfo
rthe
cat
chm
ent,
whi
chc
onta
ins
key
reco
mm
enda
tions
to
achi
eve
redu
ctio
nsin
pho
spho
rous
.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.s
uppo
rtin
gth
ePe
elP
rese
rvat
ion
Gro
upin
con
tinui
ngto
m
onito
rthe
wat
erq
ualit
y(in
clud
ing
diss
olve
dox
ygen
,pH
,sal
inity
,tot
aln
itrog
ena
ndp
hosp
horu
s,an
dm
acro
-in
vert
ebra
tes)
oft
hela
kee
very
six
mon
ths;
2.e
nsur
ing
that
the
man
agem
ento
fwat
erq
ualit
yco
nsid
ers
wat
erbi
rda
ndo
ther
faun
aha
bita
ts;
3.c
ontin
uing
tore
-est
ablis
hbu
fferv
eget
atio
nsu
rrou
ndin
gth
ela
ke;
4.w
orki
ngc
oope
rativ
ely
with
sta
tea
ndlo
calg
over
nmen
tau
thor
ities
rega
rdin
gth
em
anag
emen
tofs
urfa
cea
nd
subs
urfa
ced
rain
age;
5.m
aint
aini
ngth
eDe
part
men
t’sro
leo
nth
ePe
el-H
arve
yCa
tchm
entC
ounc
il;a
nd
6.s
uppo
rtin
gth
ere
com
men
datio
nso
fthe
EPA
’sW
ater
Q
ualit
yIm
prov
emen
tPla
nfo
rthe
Pee
lHar
vey
catc
hmen
t,pa
rtic
ular
lyw
hen
com
men
ting
ond
evel
opm
entp
ropo
sals
on
land
adj
oini
ngL
ake
McL
arty
.
Chan
ges
in
salin
itya
nd
tota
lnitr
ogen
an
dph
osph
orus
le
vels
oft
he
lake
.
No
sign
ifica
nt
incr
ease
in
the
salin
ity
orc
hang
esin
le
vels
oft
otal
ni
trog
ena
nd
phos
phor
usin
th
ela
ke.
Ever
ytw
o–th
ree
year
s
13.
NAT
IVE
AN
IMA
LS A
ND
HA
BITA
TS
•La
keM
cLar
ty,a
spa
rto
fthe
Pee
l-Yal
goru
pSy
stem
,was
des
igna
ted
toth
eLi
sto
fW
etla
nds
ofIn
tern
atio
nalI
mpo
rtan
ceu
nder
th
eCo
nven
tion
onW
etla
nds
(Ram
sar,
Iran,
197
1)in
199
0.It
isa
lso
liste
din
the
Dire
ctor
yof
Impo
rtan
tWet
land
sin
Aus
tral
ia
(as
part
oft
heM
cLar
tyS
yste
m).
•Ca
ttle
gra
zing
has
occ
urre
dw
ithin
the
rese
rve
sinc
eth
e18
80s,
alth
ough
(at
the
time
ofw
ritin
g)n
otw
ithin
the
past
fe
wy
ears
.Gra
zing
atL
ake
McL
arty
has
co
ntrib
uted
toth
ecr
eatio
nof
val
uabl
eha
bita
tfor
wat
erbi
rds.
•Th
epl
anni
nga
rea
isa
nim
port
antb
reed
ing
grou
ndfo
rloc
alb
irds,
and
supp
orts
31
and
36s
peci
esp
rote
cted
und
erth
eJA
MBA
and
CA
MBA
,res
pect
ivel
y,an
dis
as
umm
erre
fuge
fo
r29
mig
rato
ryw
ader
spe
cies
.
•A
tota
lof1
60b
irds
peci
esh
ave
been
re
cord
edin
the
rese
rve,
incl
udin
g81
spe
cies
of
wat
erbi
rds,
and
supp
orts
four
spe
cial
ly
prot
ecte
dsp
ecie
san
don
epr
iorit
yfa
una
spec
ies.
OBJ
ECTI
VES
1.T
oco
nser
vein
dige
nous
faun
a,w
itha
nem
phas
iso
nth
reat
ened
and
prio
rity
spec
ies
and
thos
epr
otec
ted
by
inte
rnat
iona
lagr
eem
ents
.
2.T
oco
nser
vea
nde
nhan
ceth
ere
serv
efo
rwat
erbi
rds
asp
er
the
man
agem
entr
equi
rem
ents
forR
amsa
r-lis
ted
wet
land
s.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.m
aint
aini
ngs
hore
bird
hab
itatb
yco
ntro
lling
the
type
and
st
ruct
ure
ofs
hore
line
vege
tatio
nby
:
–
allo
win
gca
ttle
gra
zing
toc
ontin
ueu
nder
afo
rmal
le
ase/
licen
ce,w
ithc
attle
rest
ricte
dto
(i)s
peci
fied
area
sin
the
sout
hern
and
sou
th-e
aste
rnp
arto
fthe
rese
rve
and
(ii)s
easo
nalu
se,u
ntil
the
impa
cto
fthi
sac
tivity
on
the
wet
land
sys
tem
can
be
esta
blis
hed;
and
–
asse
ssin
gan
dtr
ialli
nga
ltern
ativ
em
anag
emen
topt
ions
to
cat
tleg
razi
ngfo
rmai
ntai
ning
mud
flath
abita
tsfo
rsh
oreb
irds;
2.p
rote
ctin
gna
tive
faun
afro
min
trod
uced
and
pro
blem
an
imal
sth
roug
hap
prop
riate
con
trol
regi
mes
whe
re
nece
ssar
y(s
eeIn
trodu
ced
and
othe
r Pro
blem
Ani
mals
);
Num
bero
fm
igra
tory
w
ater
bird
sut
ilisi
ngth
ela
kea
sa
sum
mer
refu
ge
and
feed
ing
grou
nd.
Chan
ges
ins
peci
es
dive
rsity
an
dsp
ecie
sco
mpo
sitio
nof
mig
rato
ry
wad
ers.
Subj
ect
ton
atur
al
varia
tions
,no
dec
line
in
the
num
ber
ofm
igra
tory
w
ater
bird
svi
sitin
gla
ke.
Subj
ect
ton
atur
al
varia
tions
,m
aint
ain
orin
crea
se
the
spec
ies
dive
rsity
an
dsp
ecie
sco
mpo
sitio
nof
mig
rato
ry
bird
sfro
m2
007
leve
ls.
Ever
yth
ree
year
s. Ev
ery
thre
eye
ars.
55
• Th
ere
are
no k
now
n re
cord
s of
rare
or
prio
rity
flora
in th
e La
ke M
cLar
ty N
atur
e Re
serv
e.
• Th
e m
ain
thre
ats
to th
e ve
geta
tion
are
wat
er
leve
ls a
nd q
ualit
y, en
viro
nmen
tal w
eeds
, hu
man
dis
turb
ance
(inc
ludi
ng p
ets)
, cat
tle
graz
ing
and
fire.
• Th
e w
este
rn s
ide
of th
e la
ke h
as b
een
high
ly
degr
aded
as
a re
sult
of h
isto
rical
land
use
, w
ith a
lmos
t all
of th
e or
igin
al v
eget
atio
n re
mov
ed.
2. m
aint
aini
ng v
eget
atio
n bi
odiv
ersi
ty b
y re
duci
ng
thre
aten
ing
proc
esse
s;
3. m
aint
aini
ng th
e va
riety
of h
abita
ts th
at a
re a
vaila
ble
at
the
lake
to s
uppo
rt th
e di
vers
ity o
f bird
spe
cies
, inc
ludi
ng
enco
urag
ing
som
e ar
eas
of e
mer
gent
nat
ive
vege
tatio
n to
re-e
stab
lish
to p
rovi
de h
abita
t for
targ
eted
bird
spe
cies
(e
.g. A
ustr
alia
n re
ed w
arbl
er);
4. r
ehab
ilita
ting
degr
aded
are
as a
roun
d th
e la
ke to
rest
ore
a ve
geta
tion
buffe
r; an
d
5. m
aint
aini
ng fe
nces
with
in th
e re
serv
e to
ens
ure
that
cat
tle
graz
ing
occu
rs o
nly
in d
esig
nate
d ar
eas.
Chan
ges
in ra
nge
of h
abita
ts
avai
labl
e.
Mai
ntai
n or
incr
ease
th
e va
riety
of
hab
itats
av
aila
ble
at th
e la
ke fr
om 2
007
leve
ls.
Ever
y fiv
e ye
ars.
15.
ENVI
RON
MEN
TAL
WEE
DS
• Th
irtee
n w
eed
spec
ies
have
bee
n id
entif
ied
with
in th
e re
serv
e. A
s ra
ted
in th
e En
viron
men
tal W
eed
Stra
tegy
for W
este
rn A
ustra
lia
two
spec
ies
are
rate
d as
Hig
h an
d se
ven
as M
oder
ate
acco
rdin
g to
thei
r im
pact
on
biod
iver
sity
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
To p
reve
nt s
peci
es lo
ss a
nd c
omm
unity
dec
line
from
wee
d in
vasi
on.
THIS
WIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1. c
ontr
ollin
g en
viro
nmen
tal w
eeds
rate
d as
hig
h or
m
oder
ate
in th
e En
viron
men
tal W
eed
Stra
tegy
for W
este
rn
Austr
alia,
and
dec
lare
d w
eeds
, inc
ludi
ng c
otto
nbus
h;
2. m
appi
ng a
nd a
nnua
lly m
onito
ring
the
dist
ribut
ion
of T.
or
ienta
lis a
nd im
med
iate
ly c
ontr
ollin
g ne
w s
atel
lite
clum
ps;
and
Chan
ges
in
abun
danc
e an
d di
strib
utio
n of
prio
rity
envi
ronm
enta
l w
eeds
as
iden
tifie
d in
the
Envir
onm
enta
l W
eed
Stra
tegy
for
Wes
tern
Aus
tralia
.
No
incr
ease
in
the
abun
danc
e an
d di
strib
utio
n of
hig
h an
d m
oder
ate
rate
d en
viro
nmen
tal
wee
ds fr
om
2007
leve
ls.
Ever
y th
ree
year
s.
Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:55Lake McLarty Mgt Plan.indd Sec1:55 19.05.08 16:41:1919.05.08 16:41:19
55
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
13.
NAT
IVE
AN
IMA
LS A
ND
HA
BITA
TS
(
cont
inue
d)
•Th
ela
kes
uppo
rts
ahi
ghd
iver
sity
of
inve
rteb
rate
faun
a,w
hich
are
an
impo
rtan
tfo
ods
ourc
efo
rthe
wat
erbi
rds
that
use
it.
•Th
em
ain
thre
ats
toth
ena
tive
faun
aan
dfa
una
habi
tats
are
cha
nges
in
hydr
olog
y(w
ater
leve
lsa
ndw
ater
qua
lity)
,en
viro
nmen
talw
eeds
,unp
lann
edfi
re,a
nd
pred
atio
nby
foxe
san
dca
ts,a
nd,p
oten
tially
,th
eab
senc
eof
cat
tleg
razi
ng.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y: (c
onti
nued
)
3.E
ncou
ragi
nga
nds
uppo
rtin
ggr
oups
(e.g
.Bird
sAus
tral
ia,
com
mun
ityg
roup
s,te
rtia
ryin
stitu
tions
)to
unde
rtak
esp
ecifi
cre
sear
cha
nd/o
rmon
itorin
gpr
ojec
tsw
ithin
the
rese
rve;
and
4.s
uppo
rtin
gth
epr
epar
atio
nan
dim
plem
enta
tion
of
reco
very
pla
nsfo
rany
thre
aten
edfa
una
spec
ies
that
are
id
entif
ied
inth
ere
serv
e.
Exte
nto
fem
erge
nt
vege
tatio
n.
No
incr
ease
in
the
exte
nt
ofe
mer
gent
ve
geta
tion.
Ever
yth
ree
year
s.
14.
NAT
IVE
PLA
NTS
AN
D P
LAN
T
C
OM
MU
NIT
IES
•Ve
geta
tion
com
mun
ities
inth
ere
serv
ear
ere
pres
enta
tive
ofth
ose
once
wid
espr
ead
on
the
Swan
Coa
stal
Pla
inth
ath
ave
now
bee
nsi
gnifi
cant
lyc
lear
ed.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Toc
onse
rve
indi
geno
usp
lant
spe
cies
and
com
mun
ities
.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.i
dent
ifyin
gan
dco
nser
ving
veg
etat
ion
and
flora
that
is
rare
,thr
eate
ned
orin
nee
dof
spe
cial
con
side
ratio
n;
Dens
itya
nd
dive
rsity
of
nat
ive
vege
tatio
n.
An
impr
ovem
ent
inth
ede
nsity
an
ddi
vers
ity
ofu
nder
stor
ey
vege
tatio
nfro
m
2007
leve
ls.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
•Th
ere
are
nok
now
nre
cord
sof
rare
or
prio
rity
flora
inth
eLa
keM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
e.
•Th
em
ain
thre
ats
toth
eve
geta
tion
are
wat
er
leve
lsa
ndq
ualit
y,en
viro
nmen
talw
eeds
,hu
man
dis
turb
ance
(inc
ludi
ngp
ets)
,cat
tle
graz
ing
and
fire.
•Th
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
keh
asb
een
high
ly
degr
aded
as
are
sult
ofh
isto
rical
land
use
,w
itha
lmos
tall
ofth
eor
igin
alv
eget
atio
nre
mov
ed.
2.m
aint
aini
ngv
eget
atio
nbi
odiv
ersi
tyb
yre
duci
ng
thre
aten
ing
proc
esse
s;3.
m
aint
aini
ngth
eva
riety
of
hab
itats
that
are
ava
ilabl
eat
the
lake
tos
uppo
rtth
edi
vers
ityo
fbird
spe
cies
,inc
ludi
nge
ncou
ragi
ngs
ome
area
sof
em
erge
ntn
ativ
eve
geta
tion
tore
-est
ablis
hto
pr
ovid
eha
bita
tfor
targ
eted
bird
spe
cies
(e.g
. Aus
tral
ian
reed
war
bler
);
4.r
ehab
ilita
ting
degr
aded
are
asa
roun
dth
ela
keto
rest
ore
ave
geta
tion
buffe
r;an
d
5.m
aint
aini
ngfe
nces
with
inth
ere
serv
eto
ens
ure
that
cat
tle
graz
ing
occu
rso
nly
ind
esig
nate
dar
eas.
Chan
ges
inra
nge
ofh
abita
ts
avai
labl
e.
Mai
ntai
nor
incr
ease
th
eva
riety
of
hab
itats
av
aila
ble
atth
ela
kefr
om2
007
leve
ls.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
15.
ENVI
RON
MEN
TAL
wEE
DS
•Th
irtee
nw
eed
spec
ies
have
bee
nid
entif
ied
with
inth
ere
serv
e.A
sra
ted
inth
eEn
viron
men
tal W
eed
Stra
tegy
for W
este
rn A
ustra
lia
two
spec
ies
are
rate
das
Hig
han
dse
ven
asM
oder
ate
acco
rdin
gto
thei
rim
pact
on
biod
iver
sity
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
reve
nts
peci
eslo
ssa
ndc
omm
unity
dec
line
from
wee
din
vasi
on.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.c
ontr
ollin
gen
viro
nmen
talw
eeds
rate
das
hig
hor
m
oder
ate
inth
eEn
viron
men
tal W
eed
Stra
tegy
for W
este
rn
Austr
alia,
and
dec
lare
dw
eeds
,inc
ludi
ngc
otto
nbus
h;
2.m
appi
nga
nda
nnua
llym
onito
ring
the
dist
ribut
ion
ofT.
or
ienta
lisa
ndim
med
iate
lyc
ontr
ollin
gne
ws
atel
lite
clum
ps;
and
Chan
ges
in
abun
danc
ean
ddi
strib
utio
nof
prio
rity
envi
ronm
enta
lw
eeds
as
iden
tifie
din
the
Envir
onm
enta
l W
eed
Stra
tegy
for
Wes
tern
Aus
tralia
.
No
incr
ease
in
the
abun
danc
ean
ddi
strib
utio
nof
hig
han
dm
oder
ate
rate
den
viro
nmen
tal
wee
dsfr
om
2007
leve
ls.
Ever
yth
ree
year
s.
56
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
15.
ENVI
RON
MEN
TAL
wEE
DS
(con
tinu
ed)
•Ty
pha
orien
talis
has
the
pote
ntia
lto
furt
her
redu
ceth
ear
eao
fope
nw
ater
atL
ake
McL
arty
.Alth
ough
its
curr
entd
istr
ibut
ion
is
limite
d,T
ypha
has
bee
nw
ides
prea
don
the
lake
bed
prev
ious
lya
ndm
aya
gain
bec
ome
am
anag
emen
tiss
ue.
•O
ther
wee
dsp
ecie
sth
reat
enin
gre
serv
eva
lues
incl
ude
cott
onbu
sh(a
dec
lare
dw
eed)
,br
ome
gras
s(h
igh
prio
rity
wee
dsp
ecie
s)a
nd
goos
efoo
t.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y: (c
onti
nued
)
3.t
rialli
ngd
iffer
entc
oste
ffect
ive
met
hods
toc
ontr
olT.
or
ienta
listo
det
erm
ine
the
mos
teffe
ctiv
em
etho
dfo
rLak
eM
cLar
ty.
16.
INTR
OD
UCE
D A
ND
OTH
ER P
ROBL
EM
A
NIM
ALS
•Pr
oble
ma
nim
als
asso
ciat
edw
ithth
ere
serv
ein
clud
efo
xes,
cats
(fer
ala
ndd
omes
tic),
dogs
an
dra
bbits
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
reve
nt,a
ndw
here
pos
sibl
e,n
egat
eth
eim
pact
sof
pr
oble
ma
nim
als
onth
ere
serv
e’s
valu
es.
Chan
ges
in
the
num
bers
of
mos
quito
es
trap
ped
with
in
the
rese
rve.
No
sign
ifica
nt
incr
ease
in
the
mos
quito
po
pula
tions
pr
esen
tatt
he
lake
.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
•Fo
xes
and
cats
may
pos
ea
thre
atto
nat
ive
faun
a,a
ndit
isth
ough
ttha
tfox
esm
ayh
ave
been
am
ajor
cau
seo
fdec
line
inth
elo
cal
popu
latio
nof
obl
ong
turt
les.
•A
fox
baiti
ngp
rogr
amc
omm
ence
din
the
natu
rere
serv
eat
the
end
of2
006,
whi
chis
pl
anne
dto
con
tinue
on
am
onth
lyb
asis
at
leas
tunt
ilth
een
dof
201
1.
•M
osqu
itoa
ndm
idge
bre
edin
gw
ithin
th
ela
keis
ap
oten
tialp
robl
emfo
rfut
ure
resi
dent
s.Th
eSh
ireo
fMur
ray
mon
itors
m
osqu
itola
rvae
num
bers
adj
acen
tto
Lake
M
cLar
ty.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
repa
ring
aco
ntro
lpro
gram
forp
robl
ema
nim
als
base
don
the
follo
win
gcr
iteria
:
a.
exi
stin
gan
dpo
tent
iali
mpa
cto
fthe
spe
cies
;
b.
the
effi
cien
cya
nde
ffect
iven
ess
ofc
ontr
olm
easu
res;
c.
ava
ilabi
lity
ofre
sour
ces;
and
d.
the
cap
acity
forl
ong-
term
mon
itorin
gof
the
popu
latio
n;
2.e
stab
lishi
nga
form
alle
ase/
licen
ceto
allo
wc
lose
ly
mon
itore
dca
ttle
gra
zing
toc
ontin
uein
the
rese
rve
(see
Na
tive
Anim
als a
nd H
abita
ts);
3.r
einf
orci
ngth
eve
geta
tion
buffe
raro
und
the
lake
to
nega
tep
oten
tialp
robl
ems
with
mid
ges
and
mos
quito
es;
4.r
efer
ring
prop
osal
sto
spr
ayfo
rmid
gea
ndm
osqu
ito
cont
rolt
oth
eCo
nser
vatio
nCo
mm
issi
on;a
nd
5.i
ncre
asin
gco
mm
unity
aw
aren
ess
ofth
ene
edto
kee
pdo
mes
tica
nim
als
outo
fthe
rese
rve,
and
incr
easi
ngth
eef
fect
iven
ess
ofth
edo
g-re
sist
antf
ence
on
the
wes
tern
si
deo
fthe
lake
ifn
eces
sary
.
57
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
15.
ENVI
RON
MEN
TAL
wEE
DS
(con
tinu
ed)
•Ty
pha
orien
talis
has
the
pote
ntia
lto
furt
her
redu
ceth
ear
eao
fope
nw
ater
atL
ake
McL
arty
.Alth
ough
its
curr
entd
istr
ibut
ion
is
limite
d,T
ypha
has
bee
nw
ides
prea
don
the
lake
bed
prev
ious
lya
ndm
aya
gain
bec
ome
am
anag
emen
tiss
ue.
•O
ther
wee
dsp
ecie
sth
reat
enin
gre
serv
eva
lues
incl
ude
cott
onbu
sh(a
dec
lare
dw
eed)
,br
ome
gras
s(h
igh
prio
rity
wee
dsp
ecie
s)a
nd
goos
efoo
t.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y: (c
onti
nued
)
3.t
rialli
ngd
iffer
entc
oste
ffect
ive
met
hods
toc
ontr
olT.
or
ienta
listo
det
erm
ine
the
mos
teffe
ctiv
em
etho
dfo
rLak
eM
cLar
ty.
16.
INTR
OD
UCE
D A
ND
OTH
ER P
ROBL
EM
A
NIM
ALS
•Pr
oble
ma
nim
als
asso
ciat
edw
ithth
ere
serv
ein
clud
efo
xes,
cats
(fer
ala
nd d
omes
tic),
dogs
an
dra
bbits
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
reve
nt,a
ndw
here
pos
sibl
e,n
egat
eth
eim
pact
sof
pr
oble
ma
nim
als
onth
ere
serv
e’s
valu
es.
Chan
ges
in
the
num
bers
of
mos
quito
es
trap
ped
with
in
the
rese
rve.
No
sign
ifica
nt
incr
ease
in
the
mos
quito
po
pula
tions
pr
esen
tatt
he
lake
.
Ever
y fiv
eye
ars.
•Fo
xes
and
cats
may
pos
ea
thre
atto
nat
ive
faun
a,a
ndit
isth
ough
ttha
tfox
esm
ayh
ave
been
am
ajor
cau
seo
fdec
line
inth
elo
cal
popu
latio
nof
obl
ong
turt
les.
•A
fox
baiti
ngp
rogr
amc
omm
ence
din
the
natu
rere
serv
eat
the
end
of2
006,
whi
chis
pl
anne
dto
con
tinue
on
am
onth
lyb
asis
at
leas
tunt
ilth
een
dof
201
1.
•M
osqu
itoa
ndm
idge
bre
edin
gw
ithin
th
ela
keis
ap
oten
tialp
robl
emfo
rfut
ure
resi
dent
s.Th
eSh
ireo
fMur
ray
mon
itors
m
osqu
itola
rvae
num
bers
adj
acen
tto
Lake
M
cLar
ty.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
repa
ring
aco
ntro
lpro
gram
forp
robl
ema
nim
als
base
don
the
follo
win
gcr
iteria
:
a.
exi
stin
gan
dpo
tent
iali
mpa
cto
fthe
spe
cies
;
b.
the
effi
cien
cya
nde
ffect
iven
ess
ofc
ontr
olm
easu
res;
c.
ava
ilabi
lity
ofre
sour
ces;
and
d.
the
cap
acity
forl
ong-
term
mon
itorin
gof
the
popu
latio
n;
2.e
stab
lishi
nga
form
alle
ase/
licen
ceto
allo
wc
lose
ly
mon
itore
dca
ttle
gra
zing
toc
ontin
uein
the
rese
rve
(see
Na
tive
Anim
als a
nd H
abita
ts);
3.r
einf
orci
ngth
eve
geta
tion
buffe
raro
und
the
lake
to
nega
tep
oten
tialp
robl
ems
with
mid
ges
and
mos
quito
es;
4.r
efer
ring
prop
osal
sto
spr
ayfo
rmid
gea
ndm
osqu
ito
cont
rolt
oth
eCo
nser
vatio
nCo
mm
issi
on;a
nd
5.i
ncre
asin
gco
mm
unity
aw
aren
ess
ofth
ene
edto
kee
pdo
mes
tica
nim
als
outo
fthe
rese
rve,
and
incr
easi
ngth
eef
fect
iven
ess
ofth
edo
g-re
sist
antf
ence
on
the
wes
tern
si
deo
fthe
lake
ifn
eces
sary
.
58
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
17.
DIS
EASE
•La
keM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
eis
‘u
nint
erpr
etab
le’f
orth
epr
esen
ceo
fPh
ytop
htho
ra ci
nnam
omi.
How
ever
sec
tions
of
the
adja
cent
McL
arty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve
are
‘inte
rpre
tabl
e’a
nds
usce
ptib
leto
this
pa
thog
en.
•Ph
ytop
htho
ra ci
nnam
omi c
ould
hav
ean
impa
ct
onre
vege
tatio
npr
ogra
ms
inth
ere
serv
eif
the
spec
ies
plan
ted
are
vuln
erab
leto
it.
•P.
cinna
mom
ican
be
spre
adb
yhu
man
s,ve
hicl
esa
nda
nim
als
mov
ing
infe
sted
soi
lan
dpl
antm
ater
ial.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
To
prev
ent
the
intr
oduc
tion
and
spre
ad,
of
Phyt
opht
hora
cin
nam
omi.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.s
urve
ying
the
adjo
inin
gM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
efo
rP.
cinna
mom
i inf
ectio
n an
dqu
aran
tinin
gaf
fect
eda
reas
;
2.r
educ
ing
the
risk
ofin
trod
ucin
gan
dsp
read
ing
the
dise
ase
tou
ninf
ecte
dar
eas
byli
miti
nga
cces
sto
affe
cted
are
as,
and
ensu
ring
appr
opria
teh
ygie
nes
tand
ards
form
achi
nery
an
dve
hicl
esw
hen
unde
rtak
ing
wor
ksw
ithin
the
rese
rve;
3.e
nsur
ing
soils
and
oth
erm
ater
ials
bro
ught
into
the
rese
rve
are
free
ofP.
cinn
amom
i;an
d
4.r
aisi
ngc
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess
ofth
eim
pact
san
dm
anag
emen
tiss
ues
asso
ciat
edw
ithd
ieba
ck(s
eeIn
volvi
ng
the
Com
mun
ity).
18.
FIRE
•W
ildfir
eis
as
igni
fican
tthr
eatt
oth
ena
tura
lva
lues
oft
here
serv
e,a
ndto
adj
oini
ng
prop
ertie
s.
•Th
eDe
part
men
thas
the
lead
role
infi
re
supp
ress
ion
with
inth
ere
serv
ean
d,in
the
even
toff
ire,w
ould
be
assi
sted
by
the
Shire
of
Mur
ray
•Fi
rem
anag
emen
tatL
ake
McL
arty
is
guid
edb
yth
eBu
shF
iresA
ct1
954
and
the
Depa
rtm
ent’s
Fire
Man
agem
entP
olic
y.
•Fi
res
ins
mal
lres
erve
ssu
rrou
nded
by
agric
ultu
rall
and
usua
llyp
rom
ote
wee
din
vasi
on.
•La
rge
infe
stat
ions
ofi
ntro
duce
dbu
lrush
are
a
fire
haza
rd.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
Top
rote
ctth
ebi
odiv
ersi
tyo
fthe
rese
rve,
as
wel
las
peop
le
and
prop
erty
,by
min
imis
ing
the
impa
cto
fwild
fire.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.m
inim
isin
gth
ear
eao
fTyp
hain
fest
atio
nsto
pre
vent
the
build
up
offu
el;
2.m
aint
aini
ngth
eco
ncre
teta
nka
ndb
ore
onth
ew
este
rn
side
oft
hela
kefo
rfire
figh
ting
purp
oses
;
3.e
nsur
ing
that
acc
ess
forf
irep
rote
ctio
npu
rpos
esis
co
nsid
ered
and
pro
vide
dw
hen
any
subd
ivis
ions
are
pr
opos
ed;a
nd
4.c
onsi
derin
gse
lect
ive
pres
crib
edb
urni
ngo
nly
fort
he
prot
ectio
nof
spe
cial
lyp
rote
cted
,thr
eate
ned
orp
riorit
ysp
ecie
s.
19.
REH
ABI
LITA
TIO
N
•De
grad
atio
nan
dlo
sso
fnat
ural
veg
etat
ion,
pa
rtic
ular
lyo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
ke,h
aso
ccur
red
hist
oric
ally
as
are
sult
of
farm
ing
prac
tices
and
cat
tleg
razi
ng.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tore
stor
ede
grad
eda
reas
oft
here
serv
eto
ac
ondi
tion
rese
mbl
ing
the
natu
rale
nviro
nmen
t.Ch
ange
inth
ear
eao
flan
dre
habi
litat
ed
with
inth
ere
serv
e.
Land
inth
eso
uthe
rna
nd
wes
tern
par
ts
ofth
ere
serv
esa
tisfa
ctor
ily
reha
bilit
ated
.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
59
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
17.
DIS
EASE
•La
keM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
eis
‘u
nint
erpr
etab
le’f
orth
epr
esen
ceo
fPh
ytop
htho
ra ci
nnam
omi.
How
ever
sec
tions
of
the
adja
cent
McL
arty
Nat
ure
Rese
rve
are
‘inte
rpre
tabl
e’a
nds
usce
ptib
leto
this
pa
thog
en.
•Ph
ytop
htho
ra ci
nnam
omi c
ould
hav
ean
impa
ct
onre
vege
tatio
npr
ogra
ms
inth
ere
serv
eif
the
spec
ies
plan
ted
are
vuln
erab
leto
it.
•P.
cinna
mom
ican
be
spre
adb
yhu
man
s,ve
hicl
esa
nda
nim
als
mov
ing
infe
sted
soi
lan
dpl
antm
ater
ial.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
To
prev
ent
the
intr
oduc
tion
and
spre
ad,
of
Phyt
opht
hora
cin
nam
omi.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.s
urve
ying
the
adjo
inin
gM
cLar
tyN
atur
eRe
serv
efo
rP.
cinna
mom
i inf
ectio
n an
dqu
aran
tinin
gaf
fect
eda
reas
;
2.r
educ
ing
the
risk
ofin
trod
ucin
gan
dsp
read
ing
the
dise
ase
tou
ninf
ecte
dar
eas
byli
miti
nga
cces
sto
affe
cted
are
as,
and
ensu
ring
appr
opria
teh
ygie
nes
tand
ards
form
achi
nery
an
dve
hicl
esw
hen
unde
rtak
ing
wor
ksw
ithin
the
rese
rve;
3.e
nsur
ing
soils
and
oth
erm
ater
ials
bro
ught
into
the
rese
rve
are
free
ofP.
cinn
amom
i;an
d
4.r
aisi
ngc
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess
ofth
eim
pact
san
dm
anag
emen
tiss
ues
asso
ciat
edw
ithd
ieba
ck(s
eeIn
volvi
ng
the
Com
mun
ity).
18.
FIRE
•W
ildfir
eis
as
igni
fican
tthr
eatt
oth
ena
tura
lva
lues
oft
here
serv
e,a
ndto
adj
oini
ng
prop
ertie
s.
•Th
eDe
part
men
thas
the
lead
role
infi
re
supp
ress
ion
with
inth
ere
serv
ean
d,in
the
even
toff
ire,w
ould
be
assi
sted
by
the
Shire
of
Mur
ray
•Fi
rem
anag
emen
tatL
ake
McL
arty
is
guid
edb
yth
eBu
shF
iresA
ct1
954
and
the
Depa
rtm
ent’s
Fire
Man
agem
entP
olic
y.
•Fi
res
ins
mal
lres
erve
ssu
rrou
nded
by
agric
ultu
rall
and
usua
llyp
rom
ote
wee
din
vasi
on.
•La
rge
infe
stat
ions
ofi
ntro
duce
dbu
lrush
are
a
fire
haza
rd.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
Top
rote
ctth
ebi
odiv
ersi
tyo
fthe
rese
rve,
as
wel
las
peop
le
and
prop
erty
,by
min
imis
ing
the
impa
cto
fwild
fire.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.m
inim
isin
gth
ear
eao
fTyp
hain
fest
atio
nsto
pre
vent
the
build
up
offu
el;
2.m
aint
aini
ngth
eco
ncre
teta
nka
ndb
ore
onth
ew
este
rn
side
oft
hela
kefo
rfire
figh
ting
purp
oses
;
3.e
nsur
ing
that
acc
ess
forf
irep
rote
ctio
npu
rpos
esis
co
nsid
ered
and
pro
vide
dw
hen
any
subd
ivis
ions
are
pr
opos
ed;a
nd
4.c
onsi
derin
gse
lect
ive
pres
crib
edb
urni
ngo
nly
fort
he
prot
ectio
nof
spe
cial
lyp
rote
cted
,thr
eate
ned
orp
riorit
ysp
ecie
s.
19.
REH
ABI
LITA
TIO
N
•De
grad
atio
nan
dlo
sso
fnat
ural
veg
etat
ion,
pa
rtic
ular
lyo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
ke,h
aso
ccur
red
hist
oric
ally
as
are
sult
of
farm
ing
prac
tices
and
cat
tleg
razi
ng.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tore
stor
ede
grad
eda
reas
oft
here
serv
eto
ac
ondi
tion
rese
mbl
ing
the
natu
rale
nviro
nmen
t.Ch
ange
inth
ear
eao
flan
dre
habi
litat
ed
with
inth
ere
serv
e.
Land
inth
eso
uthe
rna
nd
wes
tern
par
ts
ofth
ere
serv
esa
tisfa
ctor
ily
reha
bilit
ated
.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
60
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
19.
REH
ABI
LITA
TIO
N (c
onti
nued
)
•Re
habi
litat
ion
ofth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
ke
was
und
erta
ken
in2
004
usin
gna
tive
spec
ies
grow
nfro
ms
eed
colle
cted
from
the
rese
rve.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.r
ehab
ilita
ting
with
pla
nts
that
hav
ebe
enp
ropa
gate
dfro
m
seed
san
dcu
ttin
gsc
olle
cted
eith
erfr
omw
ithin
the
rese
rve
orfr
omp
rove
nanc
efro
mth
eSw
anC
oast
alP
lain
;
2.c
oord
inat
ing
reha
bilit
atio
nw
orks
with
wee
dco
ntro
l,fir
epr
otec
tion
and
catt
lee
xclu
sion
;
3.e
ncou
ragi
ngm
embe
rso
fthe
loca
lcom
mun
ity,c
omm
unity
gr
oups
and
sch
ools
top
artic
ipat
ein
reha
bilit
atio
nw
orks
,an
dto
see
kex
tern
alfu
ndin
gfo
rsuc
hw
orks
;
4.e
nsur
ing
mul
cha
nds
oilu
sed
inre
habi
litat
ion
wor
ksd
oes
notc
onta
inu
nwan
ted
seed
sor
pla
ntd
isea
ses;
5.e
ncou
ragi
ngn
atur
alre
gene
ratio
nas
muc
has
pos
sibl
eby
m
anag
ing
graz
ing
pres
sure
from
cat
tlea
ndra
bbits
;and
6.u
nder
taki
ngre
habi
litat
ion
wor
kso
nth
eso
uthe
rna
nd
sout
h-ea
ster
nsi
des
ofth
ere
serv
e,a
ndc
ontin
uing
re
habi
litat
ion
onth
ew
este
rns
ide.
PART
D. M
AN
AGIN
G C
ULT
URA
L H
ERIT
AGE
20.
IND
IGEN
OU
S A
ND
21
. N
ON
-IND
IGEN
OU
S H
ERIT
AGE
•Th
ere
are
nok
now
nAb
orig
inal
site
sin
the
rese
rve,
alth
ough
regi
ster
eds
ites
exis
twith
in
the
Peel
Inle
t/Har
vey
Estu
ary
area
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rote
ctth
ere
serv
e’s
cultu
ralh
erita
ge.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.n
otify
ing
rele
vant
Nat
ive
Title
Cla
iman
tsa
nda
utho
ritie
sw
hen
prop
osin
gto
und
erta
kep
ublic
wor
ksin
regi
ster
ed
herit
age
site
s;
2.e
nsur
ing
man
agem
enta
ctiv
ities
do
noti
mpa
ctu
pon
cultu
ralh
erita
gev
alue
s;an
d
3.c
olla
ting
info
rmat
ion
onc
ultu
ralh
erita
ges
ites
and
addi
ng
them
toth
ere
gist
ero
nth
eDe
part
men
t’sR
ecre
atio
nan
dTo
uris
mIn
form
atio
nSy
stem
(RAT
IS)d
atab
ase.
PART
E. M
AN
AGIN
G V
ISIT
OR
USE
23.
VISI
TOR
ACCE
SS
•Vi
sito
racc
ess
toth
ere
serv
eis
lim
ited
to
gate
slo
cate
don
the
wes
tern
and
sou
ther
nsi
des
ofth
ela
ke,a
lthou
ghth
eso
uthe
rn
acce
ssis
form
anag
emen
tveh
icle
son
ly.
Wal
kers
als
ous
em
anag
emen
tand
fire
ac
cess
trac
ks.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rovi
des
afe
and
conv
enie
nta
cces
sw
ithin
the
res
erve
,fo
rvi
sito
rsa
ndm
anag
emen
t,th
atis
con
sist
ent
with
res
erve
va
lues
.
61
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
19.
REH
ABI
LITA
TIO
N (c
onti
nued
)
•Re
habi
litat
ion
ofth
ew
este
rns
ide
ofth
ela
ke
was
und
erta
ken
in2
004
usin
gna
tive
spec
ies
grow
nfro
ms
eed
colle
cted
from
the
rese
rve.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.r
ehab
ilita
ting
with
pla
nts
that
hav
ebe
enp
ropa
gate
dfro
m
seed
san
dcu
ttin
gsc
olle
cted
eith
erfr
omw
ithin
the
rese
rve
orfr
omp
rove
nanc
efro
mth
eSw
anC
oast
alP
lain
;
2.c
oord
inat
ing
reha
bilit
atio
nw
orks
with
wee
dco
ntro
l,fir
epr
otec
tion
and
catt
lee
xclu
sion
;
3.e
ncou
ragi
ngm
embe
rso
fthe
loca
lcom
mun
ity,c
omm
unity
gr
oups
and
sch
ools
top
artic
ipat
ein
reha
bilit
atio
nw
orks
,an
dto
see
kex
tern
alfu
ndin
gfo
rsuc
hw
orks
;
4.e
nsur
ing
mul
cha
nds
oilu
sed
inre
habi
litat
ion
wor
ksd
oes
notc
onta
inu
nwan
ted
seed
sor
pla
ntd
isea
ses;
5.e
ncou
ragi
ngn
atur
alre
gene
ratio
nas
muc
has
pos
sibl
eby
m
anag
ing
graz
ing
pres
sure
from
cat
tlea
ndra
bbits
;and
6.u
nder
taki
ngre
habi
litat
ion
wor
kso
nth
eso
uthe
rna
nd
sout
h-ea
ster
nsi
des
ofth
ere
serv
e,a
ndc
ontin
uing
re
habi
litat
ion
onth
ew
este
rns
ide.
PART
D. M
AN
AGIN
G C
ULT
URA
L H
ERIT
AGE
20.
IND
IGEN
OU
S A
ND
21
. N
ON
-IND
IGEN
OU
S H
ERIT
AGE
•Th
ere
are
nok
now
nAb
orig
inal
site
sin
the
rese
rve,
alth
ough
regi
ster
eds
ites
exis
twith
in
the
Peel
Inle
t/Har
vey
Estu
ary
area
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rote
ctth
ere
serv
e’s
cultu
ralh
erita
ge.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.n
otify
ing
rele
vant
Nat
ive
Title
Cla
iman
tsa
nda
utho
ritie
sw
hen
prop
osin
gto
und
erta
kep
ublic
wor
ksin
regi
ster
ed
herit
age
site
s;
2.e
nsur
ing
man
agem
enta
ctiv
ities
do
noti
mpa
ctu
pon
cultu
ralh
erita
gev
alue
s;an
d
3.c
olla
ting
info
rmat
ion
onc
ultu
ralh
erita
ges
ites
and
addi
ng
them
toth
ere
gist
ero
nth
eDe
part
men
t’sR
ecre
atio
nan
dTo
uris
mIn
form
atio
nSy
stem
(RAT
IS)d
atab
ase.
PART
E. M
AN
AGIN
G V
ISIT
OR
USE
23.
VISI
TOR
ACCE
SS
•Vi
sito
racc
ess
toth
ere
serv
eis
lim
ited
to
gate
slo
cate
don
the
wes
tern
and
sou
ther
nsi
des
ofth
ela
ke,a
lthou
ghth
eso
uthe
rn
acce
ssis
form
anag
emen
tveh
icle
son
ly.
Wal
kers
als
ous
em
anag
emen
tand
fire
ac
cess
trac
ks.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Top
rovi
des
afe
and
conv
enie
nta
cces
sw
ithin
the
res
erve
,fo
rvi
sito
rsa
ndm
anag
emen
t,th
atis
con
sist
ent
with
res
erve
va
lues
.
62
KEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
KEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
23.
VISI
TOR
ACCE
SS (c
onti
nued
)
•Ca
noei
ngo
nth
ela
keis
onl
ype
rmitt
ed
form
anag
emen
tand
sci
entif
icre
sear
ch
purp
oses
.
ThIS
wIl
l BE
ACh
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.m
aint
aini
ngd
esig
nate
dac
cess
poi
nts
toth
ere
serv
eto
fa
cilit
ate
wal
king
and
bird
wat
chin
gac
tiviti
es;
2.i
nsta
lling
an
info
rmat
ion
sign
ate
ach
ofth
eac
cess
poi
nts;
3.c
ontin
uing
top
erm
itpe
dest
rian
acce
sso
nm
anag
emen
tan
dfir
eac
cess
trac
ksu
nles
sot
herw
ise
sign
post
ed;
4.p
endi
ngfu
ture
sub
divi
sion
s,co
nsid
erin
gup
grad
ing
vehi
cle
acce
ssto
the
sout
hof
the
lake
off
Mill
sRo
adto
allo
wo
ff-ro
adp
arki
ng;
5.p
endi
nga
futu
rein
crea
sein
vis
itorn
umbe
rs,c
onsi
der
deve
lopi
ngd
efin
edw
alki
ngtr
ails
ifre
quire
d;a
nd
6.p
rohi
bitin
gth
eus
eof
recr
eatio
nalw
ater
craf
t(in
clud
ing
mod
elb
oats
)in
the
lake
,and
allo
win
gth
eus
eof
can
oes
only
fore
duca
tion,
rese
arch
and
man
agem
entp
urpo
ses
bya
ppro
ved
user
s.
24.
VISI
TOR
USE
•Th
em
ostp
opul
arv
isito
ruse
sat
the
rese
rve
are
bird
wat
chin
gan
dna
ture
app
reci
atio
n.
•Vi
sito
ruse
atL
ake
McL
arty
ise
xpec
ted
to
incr
ease
ove
rthe
life
oft
hem
anag
emen
tpl
ana
sre
side
ntia
ldev
elop
men
ton
adjo
inin
gla
ndp
rogr
esse
san
dth
ear
eab
ecom
esm
ore
acce
ssib
lew
ithth
eco
mpl
etio
nof
the
Peel
De
viat
ion
Free
way
.
•Fa
cilit
ies
are
limite
dto
an
info
rmat
ion
boar
don
the
wes
tern
sid
eof
the
lake
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
Top
rovi
def
orp
assi
ve,l
ow-im
pact
vis
itor
uses
in
am
anne
rth
atis
con
sist
ent
with
the
res
erve
’spu
rpos
ean
dva
lues
,and
w
hich
min
imis
esc
onfli
ctb
etw
een
visi
tors
.
ThIS
wIl
l BE
ACh
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
rom
otin
gvi
sito
ruse
that
isc
onsi
sten
twith
the
prot
ectio
nan
dpr
omot
ion
ofth
ere
serv
e’s
valu
es;
2.e
nsur
ing
that
vis
itoru
ses
don
otim
pact
on
the
valu
eso
fLa
keM
cLar
ty;a
nd
3.c
onst
ruct
ing
avi
ewin
gpl
atfo
rmo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
of
the
lake
.
PART
F.
INVO
lVIN
G T
hE
COM
MU
NIT
Y
25.
INFO
RMAT
ION
, ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
IN
TERP
RETA
TIO
N
•In
form
atio
n,e
duca
tion
and
inte
rpre
tatio
npr
ovid
eta
rget
edc
omm
unic
atio
nw
ithth
epu
blic
.
•It
isim
port
antf
orth
eef
fect
ive
impl
emen
tatio
nof
the
man
agem
entp
lan
that
com
mun
ityu
nder
stan
ding
and
sup
port
is
fost
ered
OBJ
ECTI
VES
1.T
oin
crea
sec
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess,
appr
ecia
tion
and
unde
rsta
ndin
gof
the
rese
rve’
sva
lues
,and
tog
ain
supp
ort
form
anag
emen
tpra
ctic
es.
2.T
oin
crea
sec
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess,
appr
ecia
tion
and
unde
rsta
ndin
gof
Lak
eM
cLar
ty’s
natio
nala
nd
inte
rnat
iona
lim
port
ance
forw
ater
bird
s.
63
KEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
KEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
23.
VISI
TOR
ACCE
SS (c
onti
nued
)
•Ca
noei
ngo
nth
ela
keis
onl
ype
rmitt
ed
form
anag
emen
tand
sci
entif
icre
sear
ch
purp
oses
.
ThIS
wIl
l BE
ACh
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.m
aint
aini
ngd
esig
nate
dac
cess
poi
nts
toth
ere
serv
eto
fa
cilit
ate
wal
king
and
bird
wat
chin
gac
tiviti
es;
2.i
nsta
lling
an
info
rmat
ion
sign
ate
ach
ofth
eac
cess
poi
nts;
3.c
ontin
uing
top
erm
itpe
dest
rian
acce
sso
nm
anag
emen
tan
dfir
eac
cess
trac
ksu
nles
sot
herw
ise
sign
post
ed;
4.p
endi
ngfu
ture
sub
divi
sion
s,co
nsid
erin
gup
grad
ing
vehi
cle
acce
ssto
the
sout
hof
the
lake
off
Mill
sRo
adto
allo
wo
ff-ro
adp
arki
ng;
5.p
endi
nga
futu
rein
crea
sein
vis
itorn
umbe
rs,c
onsi
der
deve
lopi
ngd
efin
edw
alki
ngtr
ails
ifre
quire
d;a
nd
6.p
rohi
bitin
gth
eus
eof
recr
eatio
nalw
ater
craf
t(in
clud
ing
mod
elb
oats
)in
the
lake
,and
allo
win
gth
eus
eof
can
oes
only
fore
duca
tion,
rese
arch
and
man
agem
entp
urpo
ses
bya
ppro
ved
user
s.
24.
VISI
TOR
USE
•Th
em
ostp
opul
arv
isito
ruse
sat
the
rese
rve
are
bird
wat
chin
gan
dna
ture
app
reci
atio
n.
•Vi
sito
ruse
atL
ake
McL
arty
ise
xpec
ted
to
incr
ease
ove
rthe
life
oft
hem
anag
emen
tpl
ana
sre
side
ntia
ldev
elop
men
ton
adjo
inin
gla
ndp
rogr
esse
san
dth
ear
eab
ecom
esm
ore
acce
ssib
lew
ithth
eco
mpl
etio
nof
the
Peel
De
viat
ion
Free
way
.
•Fa
cilit
ies
are
limite
dto
an
info
rmat
ion
boar
don
the
wes
tern
sid
eof
the
lake
.
OBJ
ECTI
VE:
Top
rovi
def
orp
assi
ve,l
ow-im
pact
vis
itor
uses
in
am
anne
rth
atis
con
sist
ent
with
the
res
erve
’spu
rpos
ean
dva
lues
,and
w
hich
min
imis
esc
onfli
ctb
etw
een
visi
tors
.
ThIS
wIl
l BE
ACh
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
rom
otin
gvi
sito
ruse
that
isc
onsi
sten
twith
the
prot
ectio
nan
dpr
omot
ion
ofth
ere
serv
e’s
valu
es;
2.e
nsur
ing
that
vis
itoru
ses
don
otim
pact
on
the
valu
eso
fLa
keM
cLar
ty;a
nd
3.c
onst
ruct
ing
avi
ewin
gpl
atfo
rmo
nth
ew
este
rns
ide
of
the
lake
.
PART
F.
INVO
lVIN
G T
hE
COM
MU
NIT
Y
25.
INFO
RMAT
ION
, ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
IN
TERP
RETA
TIO
N
•In
form
atio
n,e
duca
tion
and
inte
rpre
tatio
npr
ovid
eta
rget
edc
omm
unic
atio
nw
ithth
epu
blic
.
•It
isim
port
antf
orth
eef
fect
ive
impl
emen
tatio
nof
the
man
agem
entp
lan
that
com
mun
ityu
nder
stan
ding
and
sup
port
is
fost
ered
OBJ
ECTI
VES
1.T
oin
crea
sec
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess,
appr
ecia
tion
and
unde
rsta
ndin
gof
the
rese
rve’
sva
lues
,and
tog
ain
supp
ort
form
anag
emen
tpra
ctic
es.
2.T
oin
crea
sec
omm
unity
aw
aren
ess,
appr
ecia
tion
and
unde
rsta
ndin
gof
Lak
eM
cLar
ty’s
natio
nala
nd
inte
rnat
iona
lim
port
ance
forw
ater
bird
s.
64
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
INFO
RMAT
ION
, ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
IN
TERP
RETA
TIO
N (c
onti
nued
)
•Th
ere
isli
mite
dco
mm
unity
aw
aren
ess
of
Lake
McL
arty
’sim
port
ance
as
ana
tiona
lly
and
inte
rnat
iona
llys
igni
fican
twet
land
.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
rovi
ding
info
rmat
ion
tov
isito
rso
nre
serv
eva
lues
and
is
sues
suc
has
its
impo
rtan
cefo
rmig
rato
ryw
ater
bird
s,vi
sito
rsaf
ety,
perm
itted
act
iviti
esa
ndre
gula
tions
;and
2.i
nsta
lling
sig
nsa
ndin
form
atio
nfo
rthe
pur
pose
of
publ
ice
duca
tion
and
inte
rpre
tatio
nto
ass
isti
nac
hiev
ing
cons
erva
tion
obje
ctiv
es.
26.
wO
RkIN
G w
ITH
TH
E CO
MM
UN
ITY
•Co
mm
unity
invo
lvem
enti
san
inte
gral
co
mpo
nent
oft
heD
epar
tmen
t’so
pera
tions
.
•Co
mm
unity
gro
ups
and
indi
vidu
als
are
enco
urag
edto
be
invo
lved
inth
em
anag
emen
tofL
ake
McL
arty
.
•Co
mm
unity
sup
port
ise
ssen
tialf
or
the
succ
essf
ulim
plem
enta
tion
ofth
is
man
agem
entp
lan.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tofa
cilit
ate
effe
ctiv
eco
mm
unity
invo
lvem
enti
nth
em
anag
emen
toft
here
serv
e.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.c
ontin
uing
toe
ncou
rage
,pro
mot
ean
dsu
ppor
tvol
unte
ers
and
com
mun
ityg
roup
sw
ithe
ssen
tialr
esou
rces
toh
elp
them
car
ryo
utth
eira
ctiv
ities
;and
2.i
nvol
ving
the
com
mun
ityin
the
impl
emen
tatio
nof
this
m
anag
emen
tpla
n.
Chan
gein
th
enu
mbe
rs
ofv
olun
teer
sho
urs
cont
ribut
ed
tore
serv
em
anag
emen
t.
20p
erce
nt
incr
ease
inth
enu
mbe
rso
fvo
lunt
eerh
ours
co
ntrib
uted
to
the
man
agem
ent
ofth
ere
serv
efro
m2
006
leve
ls.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
27.
SCIE
NTI
FIC
AN
D R
ESEA
RCH
USE
•Da
tac
olle
cted
att
here
serv
ein
clud
esw
ater
qu
ality
indi
cato
rs,w
ater
leve
ls,b
irdc
ount
san
dm
osqu
itola
rvae
cou
nts.
Opp
ortu
nitie
sex
istf
orfu
rthe
rstu
dies
toc
ompl
emen
tpr
opos
als
inth
ism
anag
emen
tpla
n,
part
icul
arly
inre
latio
nto
impa
cts
and/
or
bene
fits
ofc
attle
gra
zing
and
alte
rnat
ives
for
habi
tatm
aint
enan
ce.
•Al
lres
earc
hsh
ould
be
co-o
rdin
ated
by
the
Depa
rtm
ent.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Toi
ncre
ase
know
ledg
ean
dun
ders
tand
ing
ofk
eyv
alue
sto
pr
ovid
efo
rim
prov
edm
anag
emen
tof
the
pla
nnin
gar
eaa
nd
tom
onito
rthe
pos
sibl
eim
pact
sas
soci
ated
with
impl
emen
ting
the
man
agem
entp
lan.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.c
ondu
ctin
gre
sear
cha
ndm
onito
ring,
as
reso
urce
spe
rmit
and
acco
rdin
gto
prio
rity,
that
focu
ses
onis
sues
and
va
lues
requ
ired
tore
port
on
this
man
agem
entp
lan,
and
th
ees
tabl
ishm
ento
fbas
elin
ein
form
atio
n;
2.e
ncou
ragi
nga
nds
uppo
rtin
g,w
here
verp
ossi
ble,
ext
erna
lag
enci
es,o
rgan
isat
ions
,vol
unte
erg
roup
san
din
divi
dual
sto
und
erta
kere
sear
cha
ndm
onito
ring
proj
ects
whe
reth
ey
cont
ribut
eto
bio
dive
rsity
con
serv
atio
nan
dre
flect
vis
itor’s
us
eof
the
area
;and
3.s
uppo
rtin
g,a
ndw
here
pos
sibl
e,s
eeki
ngg
rant
app
licat
ions
to
enc
oura
ges
cien
tific
rese
arch
and
mon
itorin
gw
ithin
the
plan
ning
are
a,p
artic
ular
lyin
rela
tion
toim
pact
san
d/or
be
nefit
sof
cat
tleg
razi
nga
nda
ltern
ativ
esfo
rhab
itat
mai
nten
ance
.
Rese
arch
with
in
the
rese
rve
isc
ondu
cted
ac
cord
ing
to
Depa
rtm
enta
lpr
iorit
ies
and
Gov
ernm
ent
initi
ativ
es,
and
toa
ssis
tw
ithth
epe
rform
ance
as
sess
men
tfo
rthi
sm
anag
emen
tpl
an.
Rese
arch
un
dert
aken
is
that
whi
chh
as
been
dee
med
a
high
prio
rity.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
*Not
e:th
ere
spon
seto
targ
etsh
ortfa
llfo
reac
hof
the
keyp
erfo
rman
cein
dica
tors
isfo
rthe
Dep
artm
entt
oin
vest
igat
eth
eca
use
and
repo
rtto
the
Cons
erva
tion
Com
mis
sion
fora
ctio
n.
65
kEY
POIN
TSO
BJEC
TIVE
S A
ND
STR
ATEG
IES
kEY
PERF
ORM
AN
CE IN
DIC
ATO
RS*
Perf
orm
ance
M
easu
reTa
rget
Repo
rtin
g Re
quir
emen
ts
INFO
RMAT
ION
, ED
UCA
TIO
N A
ND
IN
TERP
RETA
TIO
N (c
onti
nued
)
•Th
ere
isli
mite
dco
mm
unity
aw
aren
ess
of
Lake
McL
arty
’sim
port
ance
as
ana
tiona
lly
and
inte
rnat
iona
llys
igni
fican
twet
land
.
THIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.p
rovi
ding
info
rmat
ion
tov
isito
rso
nre
serv
eva
lues
and
is
sues
suc
has
its
impo
rtan
cefo
rmig
rato
ryw
ater
bird
s,vi
sito
rsaf
ety,
perm
itted
act
iviti
esa
ndre
gula
tions
;and
2.i
nsta
lling
sig
nsa
ndin
form
atio
nfo
rthe
pur
pose
of
publ
ice
duca
tion
and
inte
rpre
tatio
nto
ass
isti
nac
hiev
ing
cons
erva
tion
obje
ctiv
es.
26.
wO
RkIN
G w
ITH
TH
E CO
MM
UN
ITY
•Co
mm
unity
invo
lvem
enti
san
inte
gral
co
mpo
nent
oft
heD
epar
tmen
t’so
pera
tions
.
•Co
mm
unity
gro
ups
and
indi
vidu
als
are
enco
urag
edto
be
invo
lved
inth
em
anag
emen
tofL
ake
McL
arty
.
•Co
mm
unity
sup
port
ise
ssen
tialf
or
the
succ
essf
ulim
plem
enta
tion
ofth
is
man
agem
entp
lan.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Tofa
cilit
ate
effe
ctiv
eco
mm
unity
invo
lvem
enti
nth
em
anag
emen
toft
here
serv
e.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.c
ontin
uing
toe
ncou
rage
,pro
mot
ean
dsu
ppor
tvol
unte
ers
and
com
mun
ityg
roup
sw
ithe
ssen
tialr
esou
rces
toh
elp
them
car
ryo
utth
eira
ctiv
ities
;and
2.i
nvol
ving
the
com
mun
ityin
the
impl
emen
tatio
nof
this
m
anag
emen
tpla
n.
Chan
gein
th
enu
mbe
rs
ofv
olun
teer
sho
urs
cont
ribut
ed
tore
serv
em
anag
emen
t.
20p
erce
nt
incr
ease
inth
enu
mbe
rso
fvo
lunt
eerh
ours
co
ntrib
uted
to
the
man
agem
ent
ofth
ere
serv
efro
m2
006
leve
ls.
Ever
yfiv
eye
ars.
27.
SCIE
NTI
FIC
AN
D R
ESEA
RCH
USE
•Da
tac
olle
cted
att
here
serv
ein
clud
esw
ater
qu
ality
indi
cato
rs,w
ater
leve
ls,b
irdc
ount
san
dm
osqu
itola
rvae
cou
nts.
Opp
ortu
nitie
sex
istf
orfu
rthe
rstu
dies
toc
ompl
emen
tpr
opos
als
inth
ism
anag
emen
tpla
n,
part
icul
arly
inre
latio
nto
impa
cts
and/
or
bene
fits
ofc
attle
gra
zing
and
alte
rnat
ives
for
habi
tatm
aint
enan
ce.
•Al
lres
earc
hsh
ould
be
co-o
rdin
ated
by
the
Depa
rtm
ent.
OBJ
ECTI
VE
Toi
ncre
ase
know
ledg
ean
dun
ders
tand
ing
ofk
eyv
alue
sto
pr
ovid
efo
rim
prov
edm
anag
emen
tof
the
pla
nnin
gar
eaa
nd
tom
onito
rthe
pos
sibl
eim
pact
sas
soci
ated
with
impl
emen
ting
the
man
agem
entp
lan.
T HIS
wIL
L BE
ACH
IEVE
D B
Y:
1.c
ondu
ctin
gre
sear
cha
ndm
onito
ring,
as
reso
urce
spe
rmit
and
acco
rdin
gto
prio
rity,
that
focu
ses
onis
sues
and
va
lues
requ
ired
tore
port
on
this
man
agem
entp
lan,
and
th
ees
tabl
ishm
ento
fbas
elin
ein
form
atio
n;
2.e
ncou
ragi
nga
nds
uppo
rtin
g,w
here
verp
ossi
ble,
ext
erna
lag
enci
es,o
rgan
isat
ions
,vol
unte
erg
roup
san
din
divi
dual
sto
und
erta
kere
sear
cha
ndm
onito
ring
proj
ects
whe
reth
ey
cont
ribut
eto
bio
dive
rsity
con
serv
atio
nan
dre
flect
vis
itor’s
us
eof
the
area
;and
3.s
uppo
rtin
g,a
ndw
here
pos
sibl
e,s
eeki
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Place holder
for
A4 size foldout
map
2008081-0508-400
2008081 LakeMcLartyMgtPcover.ind2 2 16/5/08 7:53:59 AM