Workshop Summary

The following presents a brief summary and synthesis of the workshop.

Welcome and Introduction

Penny Everingham and Jeff Richardson provided an introduction and welcome to the workshop outlining the aim of:

  • Developing and agreeing on a Basin-wide water dependent ecosystem classification
  • Clarifying the status of existing jurisdictional datasets and the ability to cross-walk existing classifications into the proposed MDB-wide classification

MDBA Presentations

Presentations from Penny Everingham, Ian Burns and Jeff Richardson outlining the MDBA context, Sustainable Diversion Limits (SLD's), Environmental Watering Plan (EWP), Environmental Assets and Functions, and an overview of tasks/processes (and need for a classification/regionalisation) are available in pdf and PPT format under '14 December '09 Workshop' navigation tab.

Overview of Existing State Classifications

Material presented by Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia on the status of existing classifications and methods of applying classifications for conservation purposes (and the management of aquatic ecosystms) are available in pdf and PPT format under '14 December '09 Workshop' navigation tab.

Development of a Classification for the MDB

The aim is to develop a standardised classification for application across the whole of the Murray Darling Basin. In this respect the approach is to build on existing jurisdictional work and that currently being carried out by the Aquatic Ecosystem Task Group (AETG) under the NRM Ministerial Council.
For additional information on the HCVAE process refer to www.auricht.com/hcvae/index.html user hcvae_09 pass 74rtuN_09 Note: case sensitive

Overall there was consensus on adopting the Tier 3 AETG national aquatic ecosystem classification classes e.g. Lacustrine, Palustrine, Riverine, Estuarine, Marine, and Subterranean. Given the current status of the AETG development of the 'Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem' (ANAE) classification (i.e. work on subterranean is somewhat less advanced than other classes) it was decided to concentrate on the inland aquatic group (i.e. lacustrine, palustrine and riverine) in the first instance.

Accordingly (based on recent work by all four state jurisdictions as part of the AETG / HCVAE process) there was general consensus that it would possible to develop a consistent classification for Lacustrine/Palustrine and Riverine that is based on a set of standard attributes. In this respect the following attributes were proposed:

Lacustrine / Palustrine

  • Climate Zone (Kőppen classification) and possibly NSW Alpine classes.
  • Water Source (Primary - river, local, groundwater) (Link to NWC)
  • Water Type (Fresh, Saline)
  • Water Regime (Frequency - Permanent, Seasonal, Ephemeral) and (Duration - Permanent, <= 1 year, > 1 year)
  • Soil / Substrate (Rock, sand, mineral, organic)
  • Vegetation (Tree, Shrub, Grass/herb/sedge, Submerged)
  • Landform (Basin, Flat)
  • Landscape context (Floodplain, non-floodplain)
  • Hydro-connectivity (Terminal Branch, Through-flow, Over-bank)
  • Biodiversity Data ?

Riverine

  • Climate (Kőppen classification) and/or some other relevant classification
  • Water Type (Saline,Fresh) and Turbidity, Water Chemistry
  • Water Regime (Perennial, Ephemeral)
  • Landscape Setting (Functional Process Zones ? upland/mid-slope/lowland ?)
  • Riparian Vegetation
  • Geology
  • Connectivity to groundwater / floodplain

It was considered that the above form a useful starting point from which to look at potential cross-walks with existing state based systems.

Status of existing Jurisdictional Datasets

Information on the status of existing datasets is contained within the respective jurisdictional presentations. In short, Queensland has extensive seamless wetland mapping for the whole of their state, NSW has some fragmented datasets with the only state-wide coverage being the 'Kingsford' layer, Victoria has a statewide polygon coverage from 1994 that is currently being updated as part of a new classification project, and South Australia has seamless wetland polygon and floodplain complex datasets for the River Murray area (using the 1956 flood level as the spatial extent).

Way Forward

The workshop agreed that there was merit in obtaining existing state level datasets and to further explore the issue of developing a MDB-wide classification based on the attributes identified above.