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    Planner Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of

    Community Planning and Development

    Introduction:

    A catchment is an area where water is collected by the natural landscape. In a catchment, all rain

    and run-off water eventually flows to a creek, river, lake or ocean, or into the groundwater system.

    The natural and human systems such as rivers, bush land, farms, dams, homes, plants, animals and

    people can co-exist in a catchment. Healthy catchment provides a source of clean drinking water

    unspoilt natural areas for recreation and scenic enjoyment habitat for plants and animals; healthy

    vegetation and waterways; reliable, clean water for stock and irrigation, and opportunities for

    sustainable agribusiness and industry (Sydney Catchment Authority, 2008). Daily life activities

    affect the health of the catchments. The first step towards protecting our catchments is a better

    understanding of our impact on them. This assignment will provide a practical analysis, reasonable

    understanding, data analysis and theoretical views of the Kiewa River which is a major tributary

    river of the Murray. Finally, it also provides some commentaries on the planning issues of the

    Kiewa catchment.

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    Community Planning and Development

    TABLE 1

    Response of dominant vegetation types to fire and runoff in the Kiewa River catchment

    Dominant

    vegetation

    community

    Main

    tree

    types

    Approximate

    altitude

    range (m)

    Vegetation response to

    fire

    Stream flow response to fire

    Mix species Wattle,

    Blue

    gum,

    Paper

    mint,

    Red box,

    mana

    gum

    300-800 Little bugs can

    come out and

    start to grow

    after the

    immediate fire

    Continue to

    grow from the

    undamaged and

    epicormic buds

    under the bark in

    the trunk

    Immediately increase

    the water flow in

    Kiewa River

    particularly, after the

    storm fire in the forest

    and valley.

    Mono

    culture

    (Single

    Species)

    Alpine

    ash

    800-1400 It has a thin bark

    which is very

    fire sensitive,

    and it cannot

    regenerate from

    the trunk;

    therefore, all

    Immediately increase

    the water flow on the

    Kiewa River

    particularly after the

    fire in the forest, but

    after 3-4 years the

    water flow become

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    Community Planning and Development

    trees died after

    the fire;

    Seeds drop on

    the ash ground;

    New plants start

    to grow

    slower than normal

    time because of new

    plants demand on the

    water.

    It takes 30-40 year for

    all Alpine ash to

    become mature.

    Therefore, the effect on

    the river water level

    can last for 40 years.

    Snow gum Snow

    gum

    1400-1800 Lignotuber

    comes out after

    the immediate

    fire.

    3-4 year high water

    flow in the river;

    Similar response to mix

    species.

    Sub Alpine Moss,

    Herbs,

    Snow

    gum,

    Grass

    land

    1500-2000 The grasses the

    roots stay alive

    in the soil;

    therefore, after

    the fire new

    grasses can start

    to grow again

    It can dramatically

    effect on the stream

    water flow

    Water level raise in

    Kiewa river after the

    Sub-Alpine forest

    burned.

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    Shaing Shaing U Nini

    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    TABLE 3 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR COPE CREEK

    Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)

    0 0

    3 .35

    6 .38

    9 .37

    1.2 .30

    1.5 .35

    1.8 0

    Segment Width of segment (m) Average depth of segment

    (m)

    Area of segment =

    width x average depth (m2)

    1 .3 .175 .0525

    2 .3 .365 .1095

    3 .3 .375 .1125

    4 .3 .335 .1005

    5 .3 .325 .0975

    6 .3 .175 .0525

    Total 0.525

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    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    (1)

    Trial

    number

    (2)

    Distance

    covered (m)

    (3)

    Time taken

    (sec)

    (4)

    Velocity

    (m/s)

    (2) / (3)

    (5)

    Area:

    from

    above

    table (m2)

    (6)

    Discharge

    (m3

    /s)

    (4) x (5)

    1 10 16 .625

    2 10 14 .714

    3 10 13 .769

    MEAN .71 .525 .375

    TABLE 5 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR KIEWA RIVER @ REDBANK

    Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)

    0 0

    3 .65

    6 .7

    9 .7

    12 1

    15 1.5

    18 1.6

    21 1.7

    5

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    Shaing Shaing U Nini

    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    24 1.5

    27 0

    (1)

    Trial

    number

    (2)

    Distance

    covered (m)

    (3)

    Time taken

    (sec)

    (4)

    Velocity

    (m/s)

    (2) / (3)

    (5)

    Area:

    from

    above

    table (m2)

    (6)

    Discharge

    (m3/s)

    (4) x (5)

    1 20 15 1.33

    2 20 14 1.428

    3 20 13 1.538

    MEAN

    TABLE 6 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR KIEWA RIVER AT

    BANDIANA

    Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)

    0 0

    3 .35

    6 .62

    9 .75

    12 .84

    15 1.1

    18 1.2

    21 1.6

    6

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    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    24 0

    (1)

    Trial

    number

    (2)

    Distance

    covered (m)

    (3)

    Time taken

    (sec)

    (4)

    Velocity

    (m/s)

    (2) / (3)

    (5)

    Area:

    from

    above

    table (m2)

    (6)

    Discharge

    (m3/s)

    (4) x (5)

    1 20 23

    2 20 19

    3 20 28

    MEAN

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    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    TABLE 7: RESULTS OF WATER SAMPLE ANALYSES FOR THE KIEWA RIVER

    Note: some readings taken from the Victorian Water Resources Data Warehouse

    Distance

    from

    Mt Cope

    (km)

    Discharge

    (cumecs)

    Dissolved

    Oxygen

    (mg/l)

    Electrical

    Conductivity

    (uS/cm)

    pH Temperature

    (oC)

    Total

    Dissolved

    Solids

    (mg/l)

    Total

    Kjeldahl

    Nitrogen

    (mg/l)

    Total

    Phosphorus

    (mg/l)

    Cope Creek

    2 MEAN

    .37

    (1)6.2

    (2)5.8

    (3)6.5

    (4)6.1

    MEAN6.15

    (1)8.4

    (2)8.5

    (3)8.2

    (4)8.3

    MEAN8.35

    (1) 8.1

    (2) 7.6

    (3) 7.4

    (4) 7.8

    MEAN 11.25

    (1)10.6

    (2)10.6

    (3)12

    (4)11.25

    MEAN11.25

    (1) 1

    (2) 1

    (3) 1

    (4) 1

    MEAN 1

    MEAN: 0.01 MEAN:

    0.002

    Pretty Valley

    MEAN

    (1)7.2

    (2)7.2

    (1)36.0

    (2)36.1

    (1) 7.5

    (2) 7.3

    (1)12.9

    (2)13.4

    (1) 4

    (2) 3

    8

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    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    Stream at

    Bogong

    20 2.237 (3)7.2

    (4)7.1

    MEAN7.175

    (3)37.0

    (4)38.8

    MEAN39.97

    5

    (3) 7.4

    (4) 7.5

    MEAN7.425

    (3)12.5

    (4)13.0

    MEAN13.97

    5

    (3) 3

    (4) 3

    MEAN 3.5

    MEAN: 0.06 MEAN:

    0.017

    Kiewa River at

    Redbank40

    MEAN

    36.689

    (1)7.2

    (2)7.1

    (3)7.2

    (4)7.3

    MEAN 7.2

    (1)43.7

    (2)43.5

    (3)42.3

    (4)44.0

    MEAN44.4

    (1) 7.1

    (2) 7.2

    (3) 7.2

    (4) 7.5

    MEAN 7.15

    (1)16.3

    (2)15.8

    (3)15.6

    (4)16.1

    MEAN15.95

    (1) 9

    (2) 9

    (3) 9

    (4) 9

    MEAN 9

    MEAN: 0.14 MEAN:

    0.018

    Kiewa River at

    Bandiana

    95

    MEAN

    17.035

    (1)6.6

    (2)7.6

    (3)7.2

    (4)6.9

    (1)42.0

    (2)44.9

    (3)36.5

    (4)37.8

    (1) 7.3

    (2) 7.2

    (3) 7.2

    (4) 7.3

    (1)20.8

    (2)19.1

    (3)19.5

    (4)20.4

    (1) 13

    (2) 13

    (3) 13

    (4) 13

    MEAN: 0.35 MEAN:

    0.049

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    Master of Arts

    Community Development

    MEAN 7.0 MEAN39.55 MEAN 7.25 MEAN19.95 MEAN 13

    Note* 1 part solid is equivalent to 1 million part of H2o

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    Community Development

    TABLE 15 RESULTS OF STREAM CONDITION RANKINGS FOR THE

    KIEWA RIVER

    Cope Creek Pretty Valley

    Stream

    Kiewa River at

    Redbank

    Kiewa River at

    Bandiana

    Cover of exotic

    vegetation rating

    4 2 0 0

    Regeneration of

    native species rating

    2 2 1 0

    Bank stability rating 4 1 2 3

    Bed stability rating 4 4 2 0

    In stream physical

    habitat rating

    4 4 1 0

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    Community Development

    TABLE 16 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM COPE CREEK (mm).

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

    1977 69 32 38 38 46 70 49 68 139 271 88 36

    1978 32 18 45 93 129 156 68 134 299 344 212 147

    1979 42 17 18 32 43 71 60 80 340 371 125 53

    1980 27 11 10 13 31 31 49 103 250 393 140 69

    1981 36 31 22 18 33 72 123 108 343 535 206 102

    1982 57 24 27 15 74 86 42 57 156 79 27 14

    1983 14 2 27 119 149 91 69 165 446 268 182 132

    1984 94 60 59 78 73 72 85 99 280 479 103 43

    1985 25 11 18 42 60 90 66 107 265 338 138 140

    1986 60 28 18 26 67 52 227 104 212 524 289 166

    45.6 23.4 28.2 47.4 70.5 79.1 83.8 102.5 273.0 360.2 151.0 90.2

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    Community Development

    TABLE 17 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM PRETTY VALLEY

    STREAMAT BOGONG (mm).

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

    1949 43 16 91 70 88 69 127 102 420 360 199 52

    1950 18 52 106 122 56 78 97 105 297 293 139 72

    1951 37 18 6 99 206 280 146 111 358 360 141 77

    1952 30 1 21 125 176 487 125 153 476 444 330 119

    1953 52 30 1 5 83 59 35 46 271 693 272 93

    1954 66 66 32 71 97 130 76 277 166 140 209 206

    1955 38 76 84 35 96 190 89 273 583 554 225 96

    1956 141 42 71 452 275 151 137 55 153 554 448 131

    1957 22 12 17 27 83 151 114 52 157 278 93 83

    1958 54 35 25 33 265 181 74 320 222 576 202 65

    Avera

    ge

    50.1 34.8 45.4 103.9 142.5 177.6 102.0 149.4 310.3 425.2 225.8 99.4

    TABLE 18 MONTHLY DISCHARGE FROM KIEWA RIVER AT

    REDBANK (mm).

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

    1989 48 15 25 71 78 122 103 102 128 158 114 42

    1990 19 26 14 26 64 48 174 175 150 220 105 31

    1991 32 15 12 13 17 56 110 136 185 183 61 46

    1992 29 21 15 24 45 73 61 107 166 269 161 96

    1993 53 40 47 40 35 57 150 160 162 199 103 96

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    Community Development

    1994 82 52 42 26 46 75 65 57 49 52 69 33

    1995 44 35 14 26 115 193 143 120 134 109 79 49

    1996 41 41 35 38 50 83 136 202 199 310 86 56

    1997 38 24 21 1 29 42 47 52 111 45 5 20

    1998 11 10 8 14 23 56 112 111 215 177 71 39

    Avera

    ge

    39.7 27.9 23.3 27.9 50.2 80.5 110.1 122.2 149.9 172.2 85.4 50.8

    TABLE 19 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM KIEWA RIVER AT

    BANDIANA (mm).

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

    1997 13 8 7 5 11 16 17 23 43 17 18 6

    1998 2 2 1 4 8 18 40 45 105 68 34 15

    1999 8 4 5 8 12 45 31 58 54 37 22 20

    2000 16 13 7 8 30 41 57 81 121 129 75 22

    2001 12 11 7 7 9 25 34 39 54 71 35 20

    2002 7 8 8 7 7 23 27 19 33 22 8 5

    2003 3 1 2 3 7 17 35 85 67 64 31 28

    2004 14 12 5 6 9 21 32 47 76 49 39 18

    2005 10 22 8 13 6 23 36 69 83 63 59 28

    2006 13 6 4 5 11 10 12 10 10 4 3 1

    Averag

    e 9.8 8.7 5.4 6.6 11.0 23.9 32.1 47.6 64.6 52.4 32.4 16.3

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    A list of the average discharge of the four sites of Kiewa River between ten years.

    COPE

    CREEK

    PRETTY

    VALLEY

    REDBANK BANDIANA

    JAN

    45.6 50.1 39.7 9.8

    FEB 23.4 34.8 27.9 8.7

    MAR 28.2 45.4 23.3 5.4

    APR 47.4 103.9 27.9 6.6

    MAY 70.5 142.5 50.2 11.0

    JUN 79.1 177.6 80.5 23.9

    JUL 83.8 102.0 110.1 32.1

    AUG 102.5 149.4 122.2 47.6

    SEP 237.0 310.3 149.9 64.6

    OCT 360.2 425.2 172.2 52.4

    NOV 151.0 225.8 85.4 32.4

    DEC 90.2 99.4 50.8 16.3

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    Community Development

    0

    200

    400

    600

    800

    1000

    1200

    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

    BANDIANA

    REDBANK

    PRETTY VALLEY

    COPE CREEK

    The Averge water discharge from Cope Creek, Pretty valley, Redbank, and

    Bandiana.

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    Community Development

    Q 1: Comparing Cope Creek monthly runoff (natural flow) to the other sites on

    the Kiewa River, what is the effect of the operation of the Kiewa Hydro-

    Electric Scheme, water extraction and river regulation on the monthly

    flow of the Kiewa River?

    The operation of the Kiewa River Hydro- Electric Scheme has some obvious effects

    on the Kiewa River, comparing the Cope Creek monthly runoff (natural flow) to the

    other sites of the river.

    The water follows of the Kiewa River are usually higher in the winter seasons than

    any other seasons of the year. Especially, the water flow becomes lower in the

    summer seasons due to water storage in the dam for the Hydro Power Station. The

    monthly discharge of Cope Creek is higher than the Pretty Valley because the waters

    have been diverted by the hydraulic power stations including east and west branches

    of the river. However, the monthly discharge of Redbank is higher in some months

    comparing to Cope Creek because of the water generally use for the farming and

    industrial purposes, not for the storage. The monthly discharge of the Bandiana

    remains lower than the natural flows because human activities are on a small scale,

    and the river becomes stable bringing life to exotic vegetation.

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    Q 2: Questions on stream condition: How does the stream condition of the Kiewa River

    change between the Mt Cope and Wodonga? What factors are responsible for these

    changes?

    The Kiewa River flows in various ways and conditions from the beginning of Mt Cope to

    Wodonga.

    In the Mount Cope area: Mount Cope is the place where the Kiewa River is born. At this

    place the river condition and the water quality is better than any other part of the river.The

    rivers bank is stable, and there are various native plants, grasses and flowers in the Mt Cope

    river site. There is also no soil erosion and no human activities (such as farming, wast dump)

    that can be a threat for the river.

    The water quality is clean and very good, and the both river banks are in good condition.

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    River at Pretty valley

    The river at Pretty Valley has changed a lot. The river sites are reasonably good, less soil

    erosion and still a presence of some native plants with exotic plants, but the water quality has

    changed. The water flow appears bumpy due to presence of the rocks in the river which is

    necessary for the aquatic life to get the oxygen from the air.

    The river bed is also reasonably good at this stage. The water quality appears clean and

    comparably better than the down streams of the Kiewa River. Finally, The Kiewa River here

    is in a moderate condition because it has mostly exotic riparian vegetation, but instream water

    conditions and fish habitat are excellent.

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    River at Redbank:

    Kiewa River at Redbank is wider than upstream, but has deteriorated in many ways. The river

    bank is not in good condition; there is soil erosion on the river bank. The water also does not

    look clean and clear compared to the Cope Creek and the Pretty Valley streams.

    There is less vegetation, and many exotic plans, very few native species in the river side. Some of

    the places of the river bank were broken and were not in a stable condition. The pH level has

    found 9, which 8 times increase on Cope Creek pH levels.

    Kiewa River at Wodonga

    The river condition deteriorates near Wodonga because of sedimentation. Yackandandah

    Creek is generally in poor condition in its lower reaches, from loss of bank vegetation, bank

    erosion and sedimentation.

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    There are several reasons for the change in stream conditions of the Kiewa River between Mt

    Cope and Wodonga. Factors include the Hydrology power station, farming activities, sewage

    plant, cattle grazing and mining activities. In the following statement those factors will be

    described.

    Sewerage plant: Thesewage plant at Falls Creek is a big issue in terms of sitting position. It

    has huge impact on the down stream water quality. Especially, in the winter season the river

    carries more disposal than any other time due to tourist population increase at Falls Creek.

    Farming activities: The farming activities at Red bank have impact in the Kiewa Rivers.

    Cattle grazing, agricultural activities contribute to increased solids in the water of the Kiewa

    River.

    The Forest fires: The Alpine forest fires in 2003 and 2006 have an impact on the Kiewa

    River. It has significantly affected the riversides, native vegetations, plants and aquatic

    animals, plants and life of the Kiewa River (Conservation and Environment 2008).

    Industrial Activities: The disposal from the Devondale Milk Industry in Tangambalanga has

    also had a negative impact in the water quality of the Kiewa River.

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    Mining Activities: Mining activities at Yackandandah Creek have had a strong impact on the

    creek which contributes to further down stream of the river, especially when it gets to

    Wodonga (waterborne Erosion An Australian Story, 2001).

    Q3: Is the stream condition of the Kiewa River that you observed and sketched

    consistent with those identified by the Victorian Department of Sustainability &

    Environment (2001)?

    According to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and environment the catchment has a

    comparatively high percentage (65%) of stream length in the marginal category, but it has

    relatively low percentage in the poor and very poor condition which is only 7%. During the

    study tour I observed that most of the catchment area of the Kiewa River is in good condition.

    However, it has deteriorated more than 7% due to presence of the agricultural activities, forest

    fires of 2003 and 2006, constant grazing and industrial activities.

    Q4: What are the main recommendations made in the North East Regional Catchment

    Strategy (NECMA 2004) and are they consistent with your observations?

    The North East Regional Catchment Strategy (NECEMA 2004) has focused on a link within

    and between natural systems, and with environmental, economic and social factors that can

    assist to achieve an integrated catchment management for the entire region. The strategy

    recommends that the community and public authorities (including land users, stakeholders

    and the local governments) collaborate and participate to fulfil its five objectives. Fist, they

    need to improve effective natural resource management; to prepare plans for conservation,

    enhancement and balances use of natural resources; capacity building to implement plans;

    facilitate necessary changes in practices and management; and evaluate progress and learn

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    from results. It also recommendation there should be a balance between competing uses.

    Protecting the Kiewa River which is of highest community value from decline in condition is

    the main recommendation.

    However, there is still soil erosion at the Redbank, consistent farming activities in those areas

    have deteriorated the Kiewa River's health. The sewerage plan (at the Falls Creek Village)

    which has been discharging waste from its treatment since it has made. There is no

    recommendation in the strategy to deal with this issue. The Devendale Milk Factory which is

    also a significant negative contributor for the Kiewa River heath that has been forgotten.

    Another recommendation has been made to control willows, exotic plants, and manage the

    native plants in the riparian zone for the native fish, and fishing in the lower part of the Kiewa

    river.

    Questions on water quality:

    Q5: How does water quality change as one moves downstream along the Kiewa River?

    Using Table 8 identify possible factors responsible for those changes?

    The water quality changes a lot as the river goes down to the valley. In the following

    statement some measurement will be used to identify the possible factors responsible for those

    changes.

    Dissolve oxygen: Oxygen is a very important element for the water and its aquatic life. In the

    Cope Creek the water has more oxygen than any other parts of the river. As the river goes

    down to Pretty Valley, Redbank and Bandiana it becomes poorer due to farming, sewage,

    industrial and mining activities. Therefore, there is less aquatic life in Pretty Valley, Redbank,

    Bandiana due to less low oxygen level in the water.

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    Electrical conductivity: the ability of an aqueous solution to conduct an electrical current

    was lower when it was in the Cope Creek, and the average was 8.35 uS/cm. This means the

    more pure water has less electrical conductivity. However, it started to increase once it got

    down to the downstream of the Kiewa River. The average electrical conductivity at Pretty

    Valley was 36.975 uS/cm. At Redbank it become higher which was 43.4 uS/cm. finally, at

    the Bandiana it was the 39.55 uS/cm. The factors responsible for the higher electrical

    conductivity could be for the sewage disposal, farming activities, cattles waste (cow dug

    and urine) dissolved in the water and milk factorys waste and other human activities in the

    catchment system.

    pH: it is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity presence in one litre of a substance. The

    level of acidity increases once it got down to the downstream of Kiewa River.

    Temperature: The water temperature has a significant impact on the aquatic system. A

    sustained increase of 2oC is likely to adversely affect an ecosystem. The average temperature

    at Cope Creek is 11.25 oC; however it increased when the river reached Bandiana which was

    19.95 oC. The major contributors of the increasing temperature of the water could be the

    disposal waste from the industry and farming and other human activities.

    Total dissolve solid: the Total Dissolve Solid (T.D.S.) is one of the popular measures of the

    overall water quality. It provides information about presence of salinity and affects the

    suitability of the water for drinking and irrigation purposes. The increasing number of solid

    in the down stream river of Kiewa could be due to the various human activities including

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    mining, farming, cattle grazing and industrial waste dumping and sewerage plants waste in

    the catchment.

    Q6: Are there some sites along the Kiewa River that record water quality values above

    acceptable limits? If so, can you relate them to any specific land uses?

    The electric conductivity in the Red Bank and Bandiana become higher than the Cope Creek.

    The water in the Cope Creek was pure, and the pH was 1 which is drinkable. There is no

    human activities and destruction in the catchment system which provides a friendly

    environment for the catchment system. The creek is maintained and managed. On the other

    hand, as the river goes down to the valley it starts to deteriorate through the sewerage water,

    dam and electric production activities, farming (cattle, vineyard and other agricultural

    activities), dairy farms and mining activities all these contribute to deteriorate river health of

    the Kiewa.

    Summary statement

    Q7: Considering the entire catchment of the Kiewa River, what is the relationship

    between the physical environment (elevation, geology, and vegetation), land use, fire

    history, hydrology, and water quality and stream condition? How do these factors

    change and interact between Mt Cope and Wodonga?

    There is close relationship between the entire catchment of the Kiewa Rivers Physical

    environment, land use, fire history, hydrology, and water and stream conditions. At Mount

    Cope the physical environment and the land use activities are very limited and controlled;

    therefore it offers a friendly environment to the natural ecosystem; the entire vegetation and

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    the catchment system of the valley. The forest fires of 2003 and 2006 have hcaused serious

    damages, and there is still affects of that incident. As I observed, there was rapidly decreased

    numbers of native fish from the river and the Rocky Valley Reservoir. Native animals and

    even birds were also victims from the fire. There was a countable number of birds, in the

    reservoir and very few in the forest and mountain. The regulation of banned cattle grazing in

    the high land offers a sustainable atmosphere for the native plants and animals. It reduces

    significantly soil erosion and water pollution in the creek. However, some of the Alpine Ash

    forests burned in 2003 and 2006 forest have lost their features, because some of them were

    immature and young enough to provide seeds to grow new plants (Mountain Cattlemens

    Association of Victoria 2008). The hydrology system has been impacting on the catchment

    system, and it will continue in the future. The monthly discharge of Pretty Valley is the

    highest due to water diversions by the hydraulic power station. The electrical conductivity has

    increased in this valley. The sewage system in Falls Creek and its intensive discharge in the

    winter seasons in the catchment leave a question mark to the planner and scholars. The

    farming activities and cattle grazing down the valley, industrial waste from the milk factory

    has contributed to the river pollution, bed and bank instability, soil erosion, loss of native

    vegetation and aquatic plants, animals and fishes from the entire catchment. Riparian

    vegetation have been extensively cleared for the agricultural activities, and replaced with

    willows and exotic plants in the river of Bandanna. The Yackandandah creek seems to be

    deteriorating, and it is in very poor condition. There is no maintenance to protect the creek.

    There were tourist activities going on near the creek that could increasingly deteriorate the

    creeks health. Finally, the Kiewa River from Mount Cope to Bandiana has changed, and

    worsens lot due to land use, fire history, and hydrology, mining and industrial activities.

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    Planning issues

    Q8: What planning issues did you identify for the Kiewa River catchment, and what

    is being, or should be, done to address those issues?

    There are several issues that have come out from the observation of the Kiewa River

    throughout the study tour. In the following statement those factors will be described.

    The Sewerage

    The sewerage plant at Falls Creek can be seen as a serous issue. It is located at the very

    beginning of the catchment, and the effect of this activity obviously carries out to the entire

    catchment. The secondary level treated disposal water from the sewerage can be used for any

    other purpose rather than putting straight in to the catchment system. For example, use the

    water for farming and irrigation purposes or to deposit them in separate ponds to purify the

    water in a natural way.

    The dam

    The location of the dam is another significant focal point for planning issues. It requires a

    considerable amount of water storage for its electricity production. In the summer when the

    water demands for the community and river health become higher, the dam also needs to

    storage water, and it leaves a great pressure to the entire catchment.

    Recommendations: First, build another dam and ponds farther down the stream close to the

    river by using the sewerage plant water. Second, store the secondary treated water in the

    ponds then send them to the dam to purify in a natural way. Third, use this water to produce

    electricity. Fourth, use the river's water if necessary for the dam to produce electricity.

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    Using the sewerage water in this process, could reduce water shortages, and waste sewerage

    water dumping in the catchment system. Therefore, it will help to provide a balanced and

    sustaibale natural ecosystem to the catchment.

    Farming activities: The farming activities in the Kiewa River Valley impact on the

    catchment system. As pH electric conductivity shows the presence of the solid in the water

    become higher when the water reaches Red Bank. Therefore, it needs to be monitored that the

    farming activities do not impact on the river health.

    Mining activities: Mining activities at the Yackandandah Creek leaves strong affects in the

    catchment system. After constructing the mining activities the creek was abandoned without

    care. The bed and bank of the creek is very unstable, and the bank is not protected. There is

    also less native vegetation on the bank of the creek. It appears nothing significant has been

    done to maintain the creeks health for heritage purposes to keep it as it is. From my view, it

    was a history of whatever happened to the creek, and obviously it was human exploitation of

    nature. However, it is our duty to rehabilitate the creek again, and maintain it properly. The

    creek is dying, if we preserve this creek as it is, one day we could lose it forever.

    Industrial zone

    Industrial waste water from the milk factory at Yackandandah Township has been dumping in

    the catchment system since it was made. Industrial waste in the catchment system has some

    obvious negative impacts. Therefore, it needs to be regulated and monitored properly to

    reduce and stop the negative impacts for the catchment.

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    Conclsusion:

    The Kiewa River is a major tributary to the Murray River of Australia. Australia is a country

    which has a major problem with water. Especially, in recent years the Victorian farmes have

    been experiencing continuous drought, which has major impact on the countrys economy and

    sustainable environment. From the basis of the analysis, experement and observation of the

    Kiewa River, it still in a good condition; therefore it needs to be maintained and regulated

    appropriately.

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    References:

    Conservation and Environment, Bushfire Recovery (2008) [online] Available:

    http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenari.nsf/LinkView/9B559346ED6BABB6CA256EF40018

    99619648BCFAC8675B00CA256DD300024CC6[Accessed: 2 December 2008].

    Mountain Cattlemens Association of Victoria, Alpine Grazing Heritage Trail -

    Bogong High Plains(2008) [online] Available:http://www.mcav.com.au/Alpine%20Grazing%20Heritage%20Trail.pdf[Accessed: 6 December 2008].

    North East Catchment Authority. (2004) North East regional river health strategy 2004:

    summary. North East Catchment management Authority, Wodonga [online] Available:

    http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/help/search/sitesearch.asp [Accessed: 29 November 2008].

    Sydney Catchment Authority (2008) [online] Available:http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/the-

    catchments/what-is-a-catchment [Accessed: 1 December 2008].

    Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2001. Victorian catchment indicator

    [online] Available: http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/ins-clpr/vico/ [Accessed: 28 November 2008].

    Waterborne Erosion An Australian Story (2001) [online] Available:

    http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/technical2001/tr17-01.pdf[Accessed: 5 December

    2008].

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