Lake Hugh Muntz Management Plan Australian Wetlands Amanda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Lake Hugh Muntz Management Plan

Australian Wetlands Amanda Reichelt-Brushett

Study Area

Lake Hugh Muntz is about 17 Ha in size and supports recreational activities including fishing, swimming and other organised water

• sports. It has high aesthetic value and is the only freshwater lake in

the Gold Coast City Council area that is used for primary contact recreation.

Local use and interest in water quality

Broader Study Area

Lake Hugh Muntz is about 25 years old and in a highly urbanised and well established location. It is a highly modified environment. Previously the area was extensive wetland and floodplain.

The Management Plan

Gold Coast City Council is keen to ensure that Lake Hugh Muntz maintains a water quality that enables primary contact activities. Apart from Drinking Water Quality Criteria some of the most stringent water quality criteria are defined for primary contact activities. To ensure this suitable water quality we need to ensure the ecological processes function correctly.

Immediate actions III

• Key stakeholder and community input

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What we know

• 10 years of water quality

data (generally good quality).

• Indications that nutrients

are elevated at times.

• Faecal

coliforms have been elevated at times.

• Blue green algae have

been present at times.

• pH, dissolved oxygen,

turbidity, salinity have been consistent.

Water quality sites

Water quality trend Secchi depth (clarity)

1996 2007 2001

Water quality trend Total nitrogen (nutrients)

1996 2007

Qld WQG 2006

2001

Water quality trend

1996 2007

Qld WQG 2006

2001

Water quality trend –Ammonia N

?

1996 2007 2001

Water quality trend Total Phosphorus (nutrients)

1996 2007 2001

Qld WQG 2006

Water quality trend

2004 2005 2006 2007

Stormwater drains and catchment

Flora and Fauna

• A two day and one evening survey on the 9th & 10th of August

2007

• Flora survey
• Visual and acoustic survey of birds
• Targeted survey for nocturnal mammals.
• Call playbacks were undertaken for targeted species of frogs.
• Searches for tracks, faecal matter, pellets and other signs of

fauna

• The survey was undertaken on a cool and sunny day and

evening

Flora and Fauna

Site investigations revealed:

• 34 species of birds (+45

SH)

• 0 reptiles
• 5 mammals
• 1 amphibian species

low level of biological diversity compared to what could be an anticipated result from a higher quality natural riparian system in this locality. LOCAL OBSERVATIONS OF YOURS CAN BE ADDED TO OUR DATA BASE

FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Accipitridae Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite O Anatidae Anas rhynchotis Australasian Shoveler O Anatidae Aythya australis Hardhead O Anatidae Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck O Anhingidae Anhinga melanogaster Darter O Artamidae Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Magpie O Artamidae Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird O Artamidae Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird O Artamidae Strepera graculina Pied Currawong O Cacatuidae Cacatua roseicapilla Galah O Cacatuidae Cacatua galerita Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo O Columbidae Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon O Columbidae Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove O Corvidae Corvus orru Torresian Crow O Dicruridae Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-Lark O Dicruridae Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail O Laridae Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull O Maluridae Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-Wren O Meliphagidae Plectorhyncha lanceolata Striped Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Philemon citreogularis Little Friarbird O Meliphagidae Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Entomyzon cyanotis Blue-Faced Honeyeater O Meliphagidae Anthochaera chrysoptera Little Wattlebird O Meliphagidae Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner O Meropidae Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-Eater O Oriolidae Sphecotheres viridis Figbird O Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant O Psittacidae Platycercus adscitus Pale-Headed Rosella O Psittacidae Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus Rainbow Lorikeet O Rallidae Fulica atra Eurasian Coot O Rallidae Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen O Rallidae Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen O Sturnidae Acridotheres tristis Common Myna O Threskiornithidae Threskiornis molucca Australian White Ibis O

FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Bufonidae Bufo marinus Cane Toad O* Hylidae Litoria fallax SH Hylidae Litoria gracilenta Graceful Treefrog SH Hylidae Litoria caerulea Common Green Treefrog SH Hylidae Limnodynastes peronii Striped Marshfrog SH FAMILY GENUS / SPECIES COMMON NAME SURVEY Canidae Canis lupus familiaris Dog O Felidae Felis catus Cat O Muridae Rattus rattus Black Rat SH* Muridae Mus musculus House Mouse O* Phalangeridae Trichosurus vulpecula Common Brushtail Possum SH Pteropodidae Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-Headed Flying-Fox O Pteropodidae Pteropus alecto Black Flying-Fox O

Fish in Lake Hugh Muntz

• Introduced fish species have been found in Lake

Hugh Muntz during DPI&F studies 2004 & 2005.

• Additional surveys will be conducted in this study

Common name Scientific name Status Long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii Freshwater native Freshwater catfish Tandanus tandanus Freshwater native Flathead gudgeon Philypnodon grandiceps Freshwater native Bony herring Nematalosa erebi Freshwater native River garfish Hyporhamphus ardelio Estuarine / marine Common silverbelly Gerres ovatus Estuarine / marine Sea mullet Mugil cephalus Freshwater / marine Barred grunter Amniataba percoides Introduced native Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus Noxious Gambusia Gambusia holbrooki Noxious

Info from Qld DPI & Fisheries (Peter Kind)

The Management Plan....

• THE PLAN WILL BE THE STRATEGIC

GUIDE FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING REGARDING LAKE HUGH MUNTZ

To Do...The Management Plan....

• Define Environmental Values

(consultation)

• Review current monitoring

program and make recommendations.....

– Conduct water quality investigations – Understand nutrient cycling study – Define factors controlling algal blooms – Investigate sediment contamination and biogeochemistry to help d t d t i t li

The Management Plan....

• Stormwater assessment and

management recommendations. – Events sampling

• Develop strategies to be

implemented in response to algae blooms

• Finalise aquatic fauna surveys

(fish) subject to approval from DPI&F

• Develop an operation

maintenance manual

THIS IS NOT LAKE HUGH MUNTZ LETS MAKE SURE IT NEVER GETS THIS WAY

Some management strategies

• For algae we need plants, or a media such as sand or

gravel.

• For ammonia we need an aerated media. An example is

bioretention filters which can be readily incorporated into an urban setting.

• For litter, leaves and debris we need a GPT, these can

be pit inserts or end of pipe technology.

• For nitrates and phosphates we need plants - wetlands.

Key stakeholder and community input

• It is essential that we understand how YOU value

Lake Hugh Muntz.

• To be involved you can.......

– Complete the survey to determine the environmental values (available tonight). – Volunteer to assist us in sampling water quality during a rainfall event. Full training will be provided (form). – Request to be put on a database of stakeholders for future consultation (forms). – Contact GCCC who will inform Australian Wetlands

• Lake and Wetlands Management Officer
• Christy Engelzakis Ph 55816722

– OPEN DISCUSSION NOW........

Key stakeholder and community input DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS