Matthew Davidson

Manager, Land Services

North West Local Land Services

� What is the resilience planning process

� How it was applied to surface water assets in the Namoi Catchment

� 2 examples of final on-ground delivery

� Map of the Namoi

Resilience Approach:

What is it?:

What does resilienceresilienceresilienceresilience mean? –

“The capacity of a system to absorb

disturbance and still retain its basic

function and structure”

V1

V2

V1

V2

V1

V2

step change

threshold

no threshold

V1

V2

threshold with

alternate

stable states

irreversible

threshold

change

Types of threshold:

1. Define socio-ecological systems –

logical segmentation of the Namoi Catchment into distinct groups of community, landuse, landform, and natural soil, water and biodiversity assets.

1. Tablelands2. Slopes;3. Plains

� Floodplain Plans� Water Audits� Industry Point Source Pollution (2)� Riverstyles Report� Wetlands Inventory & Maps (Wetland Care 2006 & EcoLogical 2008� Riverine Assessment Index� Salinity levels in stream Baseflow (DNR 2003)� Community Stream Sampling & Waterwatch� Tamworth Alternative Water sources� Groundwater Scoping Study � Interconnectivity between Surface & Groundwater in Maules Ck� 3D Model for Interconnectivity in Maules Ck� Coxs Creek Surface& Groundwater Modelling

� Deep drainage & shallow aquifer recharge � Landholder bore monitoring & analysis (2)� Gin’s Leap groundwater study� Surface Water sampling, analysis & reporting-

ENVault� Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Identification

& Verification- SEBAL technology� Depth to Groundwater� Riparian foot print� Commence to fill requirements for Namoi River� Upland wetland study

Critical assets (trends & shocks)…..1. Ground water availability – declining2. Ground water recharge – declining or stable3. Ground water quality – variable and declining4. Surface water quantity – Poor and declining5. Surface water availability to environment – Stable, possibly increasing6. Surface water availability to people – declining7. Floodplain flows – declining8. Surface water in-stream flows – declining9. Local flows – declining10. Hydrological connectivity - variable11. River Geomorphology – declining12. Aquatic species – declining13. Riparian buffers – Poor but stable generally

3. What are the critical assets and current3. What are the critical assets and current3. What are the critical assets and current3. What are the critical assets and currenttrends….trends….trends….trends….

� Surface water flow is at 66% natural flow (pre development).

� Geomorphic condition is good

� Recruitment of riparian vegetation is higher than loss

� Wetlands not drained, dammed or physically modified

� Aquatic habitats- habitat area for individual threatened species

� RiverineRiverineRiverineRiverine ecosystems ecosystems ecosystems ecosystems – By 2020 there is an improvement in the

condition of those riverine ecosystems that have not crossed defined geomorphic thresholds as at the 2010 baseline.

� Groundwater Groundwater Groundwater Groundwater systems systems systems systems – By 2020 there is an improvement in

the condition of groundwater systems to support groundwater dependant ecosystems and designated beneficial uses.

� WetlandsWetlandsWetlandsWetlands – By 2020 there is an improvement in the condition of regionally important wetlands and the extent of those wetlands is maintained.

� By 2020 there is an improvement in the By 2020 there is an improvement in the By 2020 there is an improvement in the By 2020 there is an improvement in the condition of those riverine ecosystems that condition of those riverine ecosystems that condition of those riverine ecosystems that condition of those riverine ecosystems that have not crossed defined geomorphic have not crossed defined geomorphic have not crossed defined geomorphic have not crossed defined geomorphic thresholds (2010)thresholds (2010)thresholds (2010)thresholds (2010)

� River Styles® Report- Indicative Geomorphic Condition & Geomorphic Priorities for River conservation & Rehabilitation in the Namoi Catchment 2004

� Summary of river character & behaviour based on the relationship between channel & valley morphologies and boarder landscape controls

� 10,000 km of named stream length, 23 different River styles identified

� Prioritised river reaches in good geomorphic condition at risk from landuse practices/other threats

� Targeted areas for investment

� Protecting the reaches so that they don’t cross into another state (medium/low geomorphic condition)

Idea for natural resource management program:•CMA education program

•Field day•Fact sheet•Media

Namoi CMA staff work with individual/group/organisation to develop project plan

Project proposal assessed by Namoi CMA in termsof environmental benefit to be delivered

Namoi CMA negotiates with project proponentto establish co-contribution to the project.

Natural resource management

partnership established

� 13km north of Narrabri13km north of Narrabri13km north of Narrabri13km north of Narrabri

� 12 landholders working together, RLPB & RTA12 landholders working together, RLPB & RTA12 landholders working together, RLPB & RTA12 landholders working together, RLPB & RTA

� 15km of a section of Spring Creek15km of a section of Spring Creek15km of a section of Spring Creek15km of a section of Spring Creek

� Works:Works:Works:Works:

◦ Protection from overgrazingProtection from overgrazingProtection from overgrazingProtection from overgrazing

◦ Erosion control worksErosion control worksErosion control worksErosion control works

◦ Plantings (6,500 trees & shrubs)Plantings (6,500 trees & shrubs)Plantings (6,500 trees & shrubs)Plantings (6,500 trees & shrubs)

� Perennial pasture establishmentPerennial pasture establishmentPerennial pasture establishmentPerennial pasture establishment

� Field daysField daysField daysField days

� Project total Project total Project total Project total ---- $300,000 ($216,000 from Namoi CMA)$300,000 ($216,000 from Namoi CMA)$300,000 ($216,000 from Namoi CMA)$300,000 ($216,000 from Namoi CMA)

� Target - By 1010 contribute to the information

and actions supporting recovery of viable threatened species, populations and communities

� Action- apply Resilience Thinking concepts to

individual species by exploring their thresholds regarding population sizes & habitat area

� TS which also operate as a flagship for key ecosystems

� Undertook study to find extent and priority areas

� Developed a program targeted at these prioritised areas using management actions suggested in the research report

BooroolongFrog- Investment ProgramThis project was a result of the Conservation

status report commissioned last year.

The report’s take home messages:

• A 75% decrease in utilised habitat since 1970

• Feral animal predation

• Chytrid Fungus (10% of the population tested positive)

• Known colony locations

• Improved management recommendations.

The Program

Outline• The Namoi CMA has to achieve at least 1 partnership and 6km of in-stream

habitat protection preserved under a management agreement.

• The Budget is $100,000 for onground works

Building the program and raising capacity• Prioritised Investment locations (field recon)

• A ‘Purpose Built’ species and habitat condition assessment tool.

• Benchmark Management conditions focusing weed/feral animal management, handling restrictions, fossicking, timing and usage control of chemicals and stock access

• Technical training for landholders

The outcome...

• Contracted 4 individual partners.

• 11.89km of in-stream habitat with known populations of the Booroolong Frog restored and conserved.

• Threatening processes reduced include:– A decrease in illegal fossicking activity– Improved weed management– Reduction of stock and vehicle impact

and access– Limitations on surface water extraction– No fertilizer application in the project

area– No gravel extraction– Frog Handling protocols– No exotic fish releases in the project area.

The outcome...

• An expert spotlighting night for all partners to improve understanding and capacity to implement the agreement.

• Monitoring– Community Waterwatch group

formed– Monthly Scientific water quality

monitoring along the reach by State Water for 12 months then quarterly there after.

– Annual landholder monitoring

� Resilience planning process is dependant on the quantity and quality of supporting science.

� Trends towards being conservative if science is vague.

� Move NRM planning away from general good things to do to acting on critical assets to keep them away from adverse thresholds

� More effective, particularly with limited resources.

� The change in thinking can be hard to sell initially.

� Provides strong rationale for 1 investment option over another.

� Transparent where hard decisions need to be made.