Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Lake study sets environmental benchmark
A string of lakes in northern Victoria that are home to various threatened species are internationally recognised for their importance to migratory birds. These lakes in the Kerang Wetlands have been the subject of an extensive study to ensure they are managed sustainably.
The targeted lakes are Kangaroo Lake, Racecourse Lake, Lake Charm, Little Lake Charm and the Reedy Lakes System (Third, Middle and Reedy or First Lake).
Funding
The project, covering the development and application of an ecological monitoring and mapping program for targeted Kerang Lakes, was funded by the Australian and State Governments.
Activities
"It aims to enhance our current and future ecological understanding of seven irrigation storage lakes near the townships of Kerang and Lake Charm in North Central Victoria," said Tim Shanahan from the North Central Catchment Management Authority.
"We have to balance the need to protect the environment, with economic and social use of the lakes by humans."
Tim said there had already been a considerable amount of research by different individuals and organisations on plant and animal life and other environmental indicators in the Kerang Lakes.
"We needed to evaluate this information to see how accurately it described the wetlands, and what gaps existed in our knowledge," he said.
"On behalf of the Catchment Management Authority, the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre reviewed existing literature identifying gaps and information that was no more than 10 years old.
"We then conducted baseline monitoring to provide up-to-date ecological information for the key indicators of fish, turtles, frogs, macroinvertebrates, wetland vegetation, and water quality.
"This baseline data gives us an initial data set, or benchmark, against which future changes can be measured, and in effect provides a snapshot of the current environment."
Sampling methods included using netting and boat-mounted electro-fishing to monitor fish, and recording distinctive calls of male frogs to identify the species.
Achievements
The research showed that the Kerang Lakes have diverse and relatively abundant fish, turtle, frog, bird and macroinvertebrate communities, as well as good water quality.
Surveys found:
- almost 22,000 birds from 35 different species
- 3,264 macro invertebrates from 26 different families
- eight native and five exotic species of fish and
- seven frog species.
Vegetation maps were also produced for each lake.
More information
- Tim Shanahan, Irrigation and Water Resources Team Leader, North Central Catchment Management Authority: (03) 5448 7124 or tim.shanahan@nccma.vic.gov.au
- North Central Catchment Management Authority website: www.nccma.vic.gov.au
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