SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ARID LANDS NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REGION www.environment.sa.gov.au South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy 2 Volume Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities A partnership between The Department for Environment and Heritage and South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board
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South auStralian arid landS natural reSourceS management boardSouth auStralian arid landS natural reSourceS management region
www.environment.sa.gov.au
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy
2 Volume
Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
A partnership between
the department for environment and heritage and South australian arid lands natural resources management board
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
Cover photo: Sunset over Cooper Creek
Page ii South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation PrioritiesSouth Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
IntroductionThe South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy has been developed by the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board (SAAL NRM Board) and the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH).TheSouthAustralianAridLandsNaturalResourcesManagementRegioncoversover 520,000km2,almost53%oftheState.Thelandscapesandbiodiversityofthishugeareaare diverseandcomplex.Planningforbiodiversityconservationatsuchlargescalesrequiresalandscape-basedsystemofclassifyingtheland.TheclassificationsystemusedforthisstrategyistheInterimBiogeographicRegionalisationforAustralia(IBRA)regions.TheIBRAbioregionsoftheSAALNRMregionaretheStonyPlains,FlindersLoftyBlock,BrokenHillComplex,ChannelCountry,Simpson–StrzeleckiDunefields,FinkeandGawler.
continental ecosystem: ChannelCountryIBRA–Extensivedrainagesystemoflowtopographicreliefwithextensivefloodplainsthatcrisscrossstonyplainsanddunefields,draining into Lake Eyre.
local ecosystem: Localecosystem:RiverRedGumwoodlandoverchenopodsandephemeral herbs on the Cooper Creek
Vegetation Community LocalEcosystem 1:100,000
Page 2 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
Who is this strategy for?Thisstrategyisdesignedtoaddresstheneedsofthreemainstakeholdergroups:
TheSAALNRMBoard,Governmentandotherinvestors•
Scientists,technicians,andNRMsupportstaff•
Land managers•
Saal nrm board, government and other investorsThefocusaudienceforthisstrategyistheSAALNRMBoard,StateandFederalGovernmentDepartmentswithresponsibilityforbiodiversityconservation,andotherorganisationscurrentlyinvesting,orwishingtoinvest,inconservingthebiodiversityoftheSouthAustralianAridLands. The20-yeartargetsrepresentclearstatementsofintentaboutbiodiversityconservationpriorities in the Channel Country and how they will be managed. Monitoring and evaluating progress againsttheidentifiedperformancecriteriawillcontributetoregionalreportingonbiodiversityconservationefforts.
Scientists, technicians and nrm support staffThestrategyalsohastwomainusesforbiologists,ecologists,NRMsupportstaffandothersinvolvedinbiodiversityconservationandNRMprojectsandprograms.
land managersForthelandmanagersoftheChannelCountry,thisdocumentclearlysetsoutthebiodiversityconservationprioritiesforthebioregion,anddescribestheactivitiesthatneedtobeundertakentoaddressthesepriorities.Thedocumentalsosuggestspracticalstrategiesandactionsthatlandmanagerscanundertakeaspartoftheirday-to-dayoperationstomaintainandimprovebiodiversity.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 3
South australian arid lands nrm region – ibra bioregions
Marree
Innamincka
Roxby Downs
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ARID LANDS NRM REGIONIBRA Bioregions
South Australian Arid Lands NRM Region
South Australian Arid LandsNRM Group Boundary
Salt Lake
Major Road
State Border
Locality
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Northern Territory Queensland
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Bioregion
Broken Hill Complex (BHC)
Channel Country (CHC)
Central Ranges (CR)
Eyre Yorke Block (EYB)
Finke (FIN)
Flinders Lofty Block (FLB)
Gawler (GAW)
Great Victoria Desert (GVD)
Murray Darling Depression (MDD)
Riverina (RIV)
Simpson-Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD)
Stony Plains (STP)
Gawler Ranges
Marla-Oodnadatta
North East
North Flinders
Marree-Innamincka
Kingoonya
GAW
STP
FIN
SSD
CHC
BHC
FLB
FLB
RIV
CR
MDD
EYB
EYB
GVD
GVD
Port Augusta
Ceduna
Page 4 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 7
Photo: Cooper Creek
IBRA subregionsFour IBRA subregions occur within the SAAL component of the Channel Country bioregion. Detailed descriptions of the landsystems of the Channel Country bioregion can be found in the District Plan published by the Marree Soil Conservation Board.
total area:17,331km2. landsystems:Cooper;KachumbaandKetietoonga.
lake Pure (chc7)Small,flatareanorthofInnamincka,dominated by Lignum and Cane-grass swampsandclayplainswithnumeroussmallclaypans,lowdunesandlunettes withSandhillWattle,andsomelowsandyriseswithMulgaandDeadFinish.
total area: 2,196km2. landsystems:Marcqualpie.
Page 8 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
channel country – ibra subregions
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CHC2
CHC4
CHC7
CHC2
Moomba
Marree
Cowarie
Dulkaninna
Innamincka
IBRA Subregions
South Australian Arid LandsNRM Region
Salt Lake
} } Dog Fence
Major Road
State Border
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SubregionSturt Stony Desert (CHC2)
Diamantina-Eyre (CHC4)
Coongie (CHC6)
Lake Pure (CHC7)
CHC6
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 9
Photo: Emubush Eremophila sp.
MajorlandformsThere are three major landforms in the Channel Country.
Wetlands, drainage lines and floodplainsEphemeralwatercoursesdrainingtowardsLakeEyrethat,inplaces,formmajordrainagesystemsfeaturingbroadfloodplains.CharacterisedbytheCooperCreek,DiamantinaRiver,GeorginaRiverandHayRivercatchments. Subregions:CHC2;CHC4;CHC6andCHC7.
Sand dunes and sand plainsDunefieldsorsandplainsofvaryingdepthsmaycompletelycoverunderlyingstonyplains orfloodplainlandforms.Wheredunespacingisfurtherapart,underlyingsoilmaybeexposed in the interdune areas. Subregions:CHC2;CHC4;CHC6andCHC7.
Page 10 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
channel country – land use
Moomba
Marree
Cowarie
Dulkaninna
Innamincka
Land Use
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Land usePastoral Station
Mainly Cattle
DEH Managed Area
Gas or Oil Field
Channel Country Bioregion
South Australian Arid LandsNRM Region
Salt Lake
Dog Fence
Major Road
State Border
Locality
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 11
Photo:Petroleumextraction,Moombarefinery
Major land usesThere are four major land uses in the Channel Country.
PastoralismThemainlandusewithintheChannelCountrybioregioniscattlegrazing,withtheextensivefloodplainareassupportingthehighestdensitiesofstockwithintheregion.Whilepastoralismadministered under the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989coversover75% oftheregion,pastoralismalsooccursinbothInnaminckaandStrzeleckiRegionalReserves.
mining and petroleumPetroleumactivitiesarefocusedontheoilandgasfieldsoftheCooperBasin,butthereissomeexplorationoutsidethebasin.Explorationformineralsandgeothermalalsooccursintheregion.Petroleumtenementsincludingexplorationandproductionlicencescoverasignificantportion oftheregion.
Page 12 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
Photo:Duneerosion
threats to biodiversityThere are many threats to biodiversity in the Channel Country. Some are specific to particular areas, or act primarily within the Channel Country, whilst others extend across multiple bioregions or jurisdictions.
alteration to natural water flowsRestrictionstonaturalflowand/orfloodingregimesofawatercourseduetodiversionsortheconstructionofartificialflowbarriersandstorageareas,includingseismiclines,tracks,roads,borrowpits,damsandotherinfrastructure.
other species or communities considered to be at riskbutnotcurrentlylistedundertheCommonwealthGovernment’sEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999.
Significance of drainage lines and floodplainsIn1987,partoftheCooperCreeksystemwasproclaimedastheCoongieLakesWetlandofInternationalImportanceunderthe1971RamsarConvention,towhichAustraliaissignatoryandrecognisedbytheLakeEyreBasinIntergovernmentalAgreement.WhiletheCoongieLakesnamewastheonlyonegiven,thelistedareaincludesextensivedunefieldsaswellasthemorefrequentlyfloodedlakesandfloodplainsoftheCooperCreeksystem.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 17
Photo:BradyWaterhole
major vegetation communitiesWoodland RiverRedGum(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)woodlandover+/-ElegantWattle(Acacia victoriae) +/-BroughtonWillow(Acacia salicina)andchenopodsandephemeralherbsontheCooperCreek.
Coolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah),RiverCooba(Acacia stenophylla)+/-BroughtonWillow(Acacia salicina)lowwoodlandoverLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)andchenopodsandephemeralherbs on major drainage lines.
Page 18 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
ramsar WetlandsRamsar Wetlands are internationally recognised wetlands that have been specifically designated on the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands achieve this status by undergoing a comprehensive evaluation process, endorsement by both the State and Federal Australian governments, and acceptance by the Ramsar Secretariat, Switzerland. Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetland meets eight of the 13 Ramsar selection criteria.
The purpose of designating a wetland under the Ramsar Convention is often misunderstood. The goal of Ramsar is to ensure the ecological character of a wetland does not change as a function of its use. They are not ‘no-go’ zones, but allow for development that can be shown to be ecologically sustainable in the long term. They are an important opportunity to demonstrate that resource use and biodiversity conservation are complementary activities.
Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetland provides fundamental ecosystem services, such as the regulation of water regimes and source of biodiversity at all levels – species, communities and ecosystems. It is also important for its economic, cultural and recreational values. By ensuring the ecological character of Coongie Lakes Wetland is maintained, we are preserving these values for generations to come.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 19
managing the biodiversity of drainage lines and floodplains – practical ways that land managers can helpThemaindriverofbiologicalactivityinthearidareasiswater.WhentheamountorintensityofrainfallovertheChannelCountryresultsinwaterrunoff,surfacewaterconvergesintodrainagelinesand,eventually,iftheflowsarelargeenough,ontofloodplains.Floodeventsmustbemanagedaccordingtotheoriginsoftherainfall.Localrainandsubsequentfloodingwillprovidegrazingpotentialdifferentfromthatoffloodeventstriggeredbyrainfallawayfromthedrainagelinesintheupperreachesofthecatchment.
conservation priority Significant response of water birds to water flow in the diamantina and cooper creek drainage systemsTheecologyoftheChannelCountryisprincipallydrivenbythesize,durationandfrequency ofwaterflowsintheLakeEyreBasin(LEB)drainagesystem.Surfacewaterflowsareessentialformanyaquaticandterrestrialspeciestocompletetheirlifecyclesanddispersethroughoutthelandscape.Thesizeanddurationofthewaterpulsethroughtheseextensivedrainagesystemsdeterminestheinitiation,numberandsizeofrecruitmenteventsandlevelsofdispersal.Adequatewaterflowsareessentialinmaintainingtheproductivityofdrainagelinesandfloodplainsforbothpastoralproductionandforthemanyspeciesthatrelyonthishabitat.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 21
conservation priority important permanent and semi-permanent waterholes of the diamantina and cooper creek drainage systemsTherearefourmajorclustersofsemi-permanentwaterbodiesintheregion;theCullyamurraareaonCooperCreek,CoongieLakes,GoyderLagoonandseveralwaterbodiesassociatedwiththeKallakoopahCreek.Waterholesthatretainwaterforshorterperiodsmayalsofunctionasseasonalrefuges.Refugewaterbodiesarethosethatpersistforatleast19–24monthswithoutreceivingfloodwater.Generally,withtheextremeevaporationrates,thesewaterbodiesneedtobeoverthreemetresdeep.Theirrefugefunctionislargelydeterminedbysalinity,physicalstructureandtimesincethelastregionalflow.
Identifyandwherepossible,quantifythedisruptionandsourcesofdisruptionofkeyecological•processessupportingindividualpopulationsoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsin the Channel Country bioregion.
Page 24 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
conservation priorities for drainage lines and floodplains
Moomba
Marree
Cowarie
Dulkaninna
Innamincka
Conservation Priorities for Drainage Lines and Floodplains
Channel Country Bioregion
South Australian Arid Lands NRM Region
Pastoral Station
Salt Lake
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Conservation prioritiesImportant permanent and semi-permanent waterholes of the Diamantina and Cooper Creek drainage systems
Grey Grasswren on floodplains and swamps
Threatened ecological communities on drainagelines, floodplains and swampsandSignificant response of water birds to water flowin the Diamantina and Cooper Creek drainagesystems
Mapped conservation priorities provide an indication of the potential distribution
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 25
Photo: Stony plains
Stony plainsThestonyplains,withundulatinggibberdowns,tablelandsandmesas,separatethetwomajordrainageareasoftheChannelCountrybioregion.Theyalsoincludesmallerareasofdunes andsaltlakes,andaredissectedbyanetworkofminordrainageareaslinedwithCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah),RiverRedGum(E. camaldulensis)andRiverCooba(Acacia stenophylla).Thelandscapeisdominatedbygibber-coveredlowhillsandexpansiveundulatingchenopodplains and tablelands.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 27
managing the biodiversity of stony plains – practical ways that land managers can helpStonyplainsrepresentasignificantproportionoftheChannelCountrybioregion.Theseareasarehighlyutilisedbythepastoralindustryfortheirgrazingvalue,andfortheproductivityoftheirwatercourseandfloodplaincountry.
Page 28 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities
conservation priority Significant and endemic flora and fauna species on stony plainsFourthreatenedandendemicspecieshavebeenrecordedintheSouthAustralianportionoftheChannelCountryonstonyplains.Theseinclude:
5-year performance informationPercentageofpotentialhabitatoccupiedbysignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecies•on stony plains within the Channel Country.
Numberandviabilityofpopulationsofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecieson•stony plains within the Channel Country.
Significance of dunefields and sand plainsdunefieldsandsandplainsintheChannelCountrybioregionhaveasimilarspeciescompositionfromthoseintheSimpson–StrzeleckiDunefieldsbioregion.Theysupportasmallnumberofmammalspecies,andmanygeneralistbirdsusethishabitat,althoughnoneareentirelydependentonit.Duetotheproximitytomajordrainageareas,thislandscapeprovidesimportantforaginghabitatforbirdsofprey,butfewnestingplaces.Swales,wherepondingoccursaftersignificantrainfall,canalsobehighlyproductiveareas.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 31
managing the biodiversity of dunefields and sand plains – practical ways that land managers can helpManagementstrategiesforthedunefieldsandsandplainsintheChannelCountrybioregionfocuslargelyontotalgrazingpressuremanagement.Sandyareasarepronetowinderosionandonceanareabeginstodrift,there-stabilisationprocesscantakeconsiderabletime.Recruitmentofpalatableperennialplantsrequiresaseriesofrainfalleventsatjusttherighttimetoallowforfloweringandseedset,germinationandseedlingestablishment.Theserecruitmenteventsoccurveryinfrequently–formanyspeciesonlyoncein30to50years.Itiscriticaltocarefullymanagegrazingpressureondunefieldsandsandplainsfollowingtheseeventstomaximisethelikelihood ofsuccessfulrecruitmentofperennialplants.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 33
conservation priority for dunefields and sand plains
Moomba
Marree
Cowarie
Dulkaninna
Innamincka
Conservation Priorities for Dunefields and Sand Plains
Channel Country Bioregion
South Australian Arid Lands NRM Region
Pastoral Station
Salt Lake
Dog Fence
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Conservation priorityMulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains
Mapped conservation priorities provide an indication of the potential distribution
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Monitoring and evaluationTheChannelCountryConservationPrioritiesaimistofacilitateconservationactionsacrossthebioregion.TheSAALNRMBoardandsupportpartnerswillcoordinateandsupportthedeliveryoftheseactions,guidedbystatutorymechanisms.TheSAALNRMBoardwillmonitorandreportontheimplementationoftheChannelCountryConservationPriorities.
BoththeSAALNRMBoardandtheDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritagearejointlyresponsibleforevaluatingtheeffectivenessofthisplanwhichcontributestotheSAALNRMPlanand No Species Loss – A Nature Conservation Strategy for South Australia.
Themaintenanceor improvement oftheviabilityofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within the Channel Country
Percentageofpotentialarea•occupiedbythreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within IBRA subregions.Conditionofindividual•occurrencesofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within IBRA subregions.
Percentageofpotentialhabitat•occupiedbytheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsintheChannel Country bioregion.Numberandviabilityofpopulations•oftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsintheChannel Country bioregion.
Percentageofpotentialhabitat•occupiedbysignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplainswithinthe Channel Country.Numberandviabilityofpopulations•ofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplainswithin the Channel Country.
dunefields and sand plains
Mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains
ThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofMulgalow woodlands on low dunes and sand plains within the Channel Country
Percentageofpotentialarea•occupiedbyMulgalowwoodlandon low dunes and sand plains within IBRA subregions.Conditionofindividualoccurrences•ofMulgalowwoodlandonlow dunes and sand plains within IBRA subregions.
South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 35
gilgai:AnaturalsoilformationoccurringextensivelyininlandAustralia,characterisedbyaanundulatingsurfacesometimeswithmoundsordepressionscausedbytheswellingandcrackingofclaysduringalternatingwet and dry seasons.
Species diversity:Variability(richnessandabundance)ofbiotainanarea.Anindexofcommunitydiversitythattakesintoaccountbothspeciesrichnessandtherelativeabundanceofspecies.
DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage(2009) South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - ChannelCountryConservationPriorities, SouthAustralianAridLandsNRMBoard, DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage.
For further information please contact:SA Arid Lands NRM Board Railway Station Building RailwayTerrace Port Augusta Telephone:(08)86485977 Website:www.saalnrm.sa.gov.au