murry-darling catchment
TRANSCRIPT
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Planner Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of
Community Planning and Development
Introduction:
A catchment is an area where water is collected by the natural landscape. In a catchment, all rain
and run-off water eventually flows to a creek, river, lake or ocean, or into the groundwater system.
The natural and human systems such as rivers, bush land, farms, dams, homes, plants, animals and
people can co-exist in a catchment. Healthy catchment provides a source of clean drinking water
unspoilt natural areas for recreation and scenic enjoyment habitat for plants and animals; healthy
vegetation and waterways; reliable, clean water for stock and irrigation, and opportunities for
sustainable agribusiness and industry (Sydney Catchment Authority, 2008). Daily life activities
affect the health of the catchments. The first step towards protecting our catchments is a better
understanding of our impact on them. This assignment will provide a practical analysis, reasonable
understanding, data analysis and theoretical views of the Kiewa River which is a major tributary
river of the Murray. Finally, it also provides some commentaries on the planning issues of the
Kiewa catchment.
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Planner Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of
Community Planning and Development
TABLE 1
Response of dominant vegetation types to fire and runoff in the Kiewa River catchment
Dominant
vegetation
community
Main
tree
types
Approximate
altitude
range (m)
Vegetation response to
fire
Stream flow response to fire
Mix species Wattle,
Blue
gum,
Paper
mint,
Red box,
mana
gum
300-800 Little bugs can
come out and
start to grow
after the
immediate fire
Continue to
grow from the
undamaged and
epicormic buds
under the bark in
the trunk
Immediately increase
the water flow in
Kiewa River
particularly, after the
storm fire in the forest
and valley.
Mono
culture
(Single
Species)
Alpine
ash
800-1400 It has a thin bark
which is very
fire sensitive,
and it cannot
regenerate from
the trunk;
therefore, all
Immediately increase
the water flow on the
Kiewa River
particularly after the
fire in the forest, but
after 3-4 years the
water flow become
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Planner Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of
Community Planning and Development
trees died after
the fire;
Seeds drop on
the ash ground;
New plants start
to grow
slower than normal
time because of new
plants demand on the
water.
It takes 30-40 year for
all Alpine ash to
become mature.
Therefore, the effect on
the river water level
can last for 40 years.
Snow gum Snow
gum
1400-1800 Lignotuber
comes out after
the immediate
fire.
3-4 year high water
flow in the river;
Similar response to mix
species.
Sub Alpine Moss,
Herbs,
Snow
gum,
Grass
land
1500-2000 The grasses the
roots stay alive
in the soil;
therefore, after
the fire new
grasses can start
to grow again
It can dramatically
effect on the stream
water flow
Water level raise in
Kiewa river after the
Sub-Alpine forest
burned.
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
TABLE 3 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR COPE CREEK
Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)
0 0
3 .35
6 .38
9 .37
1.2 .30
1.5 .35
1.8 0
Segment Width of segment (m) Average depth of segment
(m)
Area of segment =
width x average depth (m2)
1 .3 .175 .0525
2 .3 .365 .1095
3 .3 .375 .1125
4 .3 .335 .1005
5 .3 .325 .0975
6 .3 .175 .0525
Total 0.525
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
(1)
Trial
number
(2)
Distance
covered (m)
(3)
Time taken
(sec)
(4)
Velocity
(m/s)
(2) / (3)
(5)
Area:
from
above
table (m2)
(6)
Discharge
(m3
/s)
(4) x (5)
1 10 16 .625
2 10 14 .714
3 10 13 .769
MEAN .71 .525 .375
TABLE 5 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR KIEWA RIVER @ REDBANK
Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)
0 0
3 .65
6 .7
9 .7
12 1
15 1.5
18 1.6
21 1.7
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
24 1.5
27 0
(1)
Trial
number
(2)
Distance
covered (m)
(3)
Time taken
(sec)
(4)
Velocity
(m/s)
(2) / (3)
(5)
Area:
from
above
table (m2)
(6)
Discharge
(m3/s)
(4) x (5)
1 20 15 1.33
2 20 14 1.428
3 20 13 1.538
MEAN
TABLE 6 DISCHARGE CALCULATIONS FOR KIEWA RIVER AT
BANDIANA
Distance from bank (m) Depth of water (m)
0 0
3 .35
6 .62
9 .75
12 .84
15 1.1
18 1.2
21 1.6
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
24 0
(1)
Trial
number
(2)
Distance
covered (m)
(3)
Time taken
(sec)
(4)
Velocity
(m/s)
(2) / (3)
(5)
Area:
from
above
table (m2)
(6)
Discharge
(m3/s)
(4) x (5)
1 20 23
2 20 19
3 20 28
MEAN
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
TABLE 7: RESULTS OF WATER SAMPLE ANALYSES FOR THE KIEWA RIVER
Note: some readings taken from the Victorian Water Resources Data Warehouse
Distance
from
Mt Cope
(km)
Discharge
(cumecs)
Dissolved
Oxygen
(mg/l)
Electrical
Conductivity
(uS/cm)
pH Temperature
(oC)
Total
Dissolved
Solids
(mg/l)
Total
Kjeldahl
Nitrogen
(mg/l)
Total
Phosphorus
(mg/l)
Cope Creek
2 MEAN
.37
(1)6.2
(2)5.8
(3)6.5
(4)6.1
MEAN6.15
(1)8.4
(2)8.5
(3)8.2
(4)8.3
MEAN8.35
(1) 8.1
(2) 7.6
(3) 7.4
(4) 7.8
MEAN 11.25
(1)10.6
(2)10.6
(3)12
(4)11.25
MEAN11.25
(1) 1
(2) 1
(3) 1
(4) 1
MEAN 1
MEAN: 0.01 MEAN:
0.002
Pretty Valley
MEAN
(1)7.2
(2)7.2
(1)36.0
(2)36.1
(1) 7.5
(2) 7.3
(1)12.9
(2)13.4
(1) 4
(2) 3
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
Stream at
Bogong
20 2.237 (3)7.2
(4)7.1
MEAN7.175
(3)37.0
(4)38.8
MEAN39.97
5
(3) 7.4
(4) 7.5
MEAN7.425
(3)12.5
(4)13.0
MEAN13.97
5
(3) 3
(4) 3
MEAN 3.5
MEAN: 0.06 MEAN:
0.017
Kiewa River at
Redbank40
MEAN
36.689
(1)7.2
(2)7.1
(3)7.2
(4)7.3
MEAN 7.2
(1)43.7
(2)43.5
(3)42.3
(4)44.0
MEAN44.4
(1) 7.1
(2) 7.2
(3) 7.2
(4) 7.5
MEAN 7.15
(1)16.3
(2)15.8
(3)15.6
(4)16.1
MEAN15.95
(1) 9
(2) 9
(3) 9
(4) 9
MEAN 9
MEAN: 0.14 MEAN:
0.018
Kiewa River at
Bandiana
95
MEAN
17.035
(1)6.6
(2)7.6
(3)7.2
(4)6.9
(1)42.0
(2)44.9
(3)36.5
(4)37.8
(1) 7.3
(2) 7.2
(3) 7.2
(4) 7.3
(1)20.8
(2)19.1
(3)19.5
(4)20.4
(1) 13
(2) 13
(3) 13
(4) 13
MEAN: 0.35 MEAN:
0.049
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Shaing Shaing U Nini
Master of Arts
Community Development
MEAN 7.0 MEAN39.55 MEAN 7.25 MEAN19.95 MEAN 13
Note* 1 part solid is equivalent to 1 million part of H2o
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Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of Arts
Community Development
TABLE 15 RESULTS OF STREAM CONDITION RANKINGS FOR THE
KIEWA RIVER
Cope Creek Pretty Valley
Stream
Kiewa River at
Redbank
Kiewa River at
Bandiana
Cover of exotic
vegetation rating
4 2 0 0
Regeneration of
native species rating
2 2 1 0
Bank stability rating 4 1 2 3
Bed stability rating 4 4 2 0
In stream physical
habitat rating
4 4 1 0
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Community Development
TABLE 16 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM COPE CREEK (mm).
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1977 69 32 38 38 46 70 49 68 139 271 88 36
1978 32 18 45 93 129 156 68 134 299 344 212 147
1979 42 17 18 32 43 71 60 80 340 371 125 53
1980 27 11 10 13 31 31 49 103 250 393 140 69
1981 36 31 22 18 33 72 123 108 343 535 206 102
1982 57 24 27 15 74 86 42 57 156 79 27 14
1983 14 2 27 119 149 91 69 165 446 268 182 132
1984 94 60 59 78 73 72 85 99 280 479 103 43
1985 25 11 18 42 60 90 66 107 265 338 138 140
1986 60 28 18 26 67 52 227 104 212 524 289 166
45.6 23.4 28.2 47.4 70.5 79.1 83.8 102.5 273.0 360.2 151.0 90.2
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Community Development
TABLE 17 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM PRETTY VALLEY
STREAMAT BOGONG (mm).
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1949 43 16 91 70 88 69 127 102 420 360 199 52
1950 18 52 106 122 56 78 97 105 297 293 139 72
1951 37 18 6 99 206 280 146 111 358 360 141 77
1952 30 1 21 125 176 487 125 153 476 444 330 119
1953 52 30 1 5 83 59 35 46 271 693 272 93
1954 66 66 32 71 97 130 76 277 166 140 209 206
1955 38 76 84 35 96 190 89 273 583 554 225 96
1956 141 42 71 452 275 151 137 55 153 554 448 131
1957 22 12 17 27 83 151 114 52 157 278 93 83
1958 54 35 25 33 265 181 74 320 222 576 202 65
Avera
ge
50.1 34.8 45.4 103.9 142.5 177.6 102.0 149.4 310.3 425.2 225.8 99.4
TABLE 18 MONTHLY DISCHARGE FROM KIEWA RIVER AT
REDBANK (mm).
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1989 48 15 25 71 78 122 103 102 128 158 114 42
1990 19 26 14 26 64 48 174 175 150 220 105 31
1991 32 15 12 13 17 56 110 136 185 183 61 46
1992 29 21 15 24 45 73 61 107 166 269 161 96
1993 53 40 47 40 35 57 150 160 162 199 103 96
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Community Development
1994 82 52 42 26 46 75 65 57 49 52 69 33
1995 44 35 14 26 115 193 143 120 134 109 79 49
1996 41 41 35 38 50 83 136 202 199 310 86 56
1997 38 24 21 1 29 42 47 52 111 45 5 20
1998 11 10 8 14 23 56 112 111 215 177 71 39
Avera
ge
39.7 27.9 23.3 27.9 50.2 80.5 110.1 122.2 149.9 172.2 85.4 50.8
TABLE 19 MONTHLY DISCHARGES FROM KIEWA RIVER AT
BANDIANA (mm).
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
1997 13 8 7 5 11 16 17 23 43 17 18 6
1998 2 2 1 4 8 18 40 45 105 68 34 15
1999 8 4 5 8 12 45 31 58 54 37 22 20
2000 16 13 7 8 30 41 57 81 121 129 75 22
2001 12 11 7 7 9 25 34 39 54 71 35 20
2002 7 8 8 7 7 23 27 19 33 22 8 5
2003 3 1 2 3 7 17 35 85 67 64 31 28
2004 14 12 5 6 9 21 32 47 76 49 39 18
2005 10 22 8 13 6 23 36 69 83 63 59 28
2006 13 6 4 5 11 10 12 10 10 4 3 1
Averag
e 9.8 8.7 5.4 6.6 11.0 23.9 32.1 47.6 64.6 52.4 32.4 16.3
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Community Development
A list of the average discharge of the four sites of Kiewa River between ten years.
COPE
CREEK
PRETTY
VALLEY
REDBANK BANDIANA
JAN
45.6 50.1 39.7 9.8
FEB 23.4 34.8 27.9 8.7
MAR 28.2 45.4 23.3 5.4
APR 47.4 103.9 27.9 6.6
MAY 70.5 142.5 50.2 11.0
JUN 79.1 177.6 80.5 23.9
JUL 83.8 102.0 110.1 32.1
AUG 102.5 149.4 122.2 47.6
SEP 237.0 310.3 149.9 64.6
OCT 360.2 425.2 172.2 52.4
NOV 151.0 225.8 85.4 32.4
DEC 90.2 99.4 50.8 16.3
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0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
BANDIANA
REDBANK
PRETTY VALLEY
COPE CREEK
The Averge water discharge from Cope Creek, Pretty valley, Redbank, and
Bandiana.
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Q 1: Comparing Cope Creek monthly runoff (natural flow) to the other sites on
the Kiewa River, what is the effect of the operation of the Kiewa Hydro-
Electric Scheme, water extraction and river regulation on the monthly
flow of the Kiewa River?
The operation of the Kiewa River Hydro- Electric Scheme has some obvious effects
on the Kiewa River, comparing the Cope Creek monthly runoff (natural flow) to the
other sites of the river.
The water follows of the Kiewa River are usually higher in the winter seasons than
any other seasons of the year. Especially, the water flow becomes lower in the
summer seasons due to water storage in the dam for the Hydro Power Station. The
monthly discharge of Cope Creek is higher than the Pretty Valley because the waters
have been diverted by the hydraulic power stations including east and west branches
of the river. However, the monthly discharge of Redbank is higher in some months
comparing to Cope Creek because of the water generally use for the farming and
industrial purposes, not for the storage. The monthly discharge of the Bandiana
remains lower than the natural flows because human activities are on a small scale,
and the river becomes stable bringing life to exotic vegetation.
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Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of Arts
Community Development
Q 2: Questions on stream condition: How does the stream condition of the Kiewa River
change between the Mt Cope and Wodonga? What factors are responsible for these
changes?
The Kiewa River flows in various ways and conditions from the beginning of Mt Cope to
Wodonga.
In the Mount Cope area: Mount Cope is the place where the Kiewa River is born. At this
place the river condition and the water quality is better than any other part of the river.The
rivers bank is stable, and there are various native plants, grasses and flowers in the Mt Cope
river site. There is also no soil erosion and no human activities (such as farming, wast dump)
that can be a threat for the river.
The water quality is clean and very good, and the both river banks are in good condition.
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Shaing Shaing U NiniMaster of Arts
Community Development
River at Pretty valley
The river at Pretty Valley has changed a lot. The river sites are reasonably good, less soil
erosion and still a presence of some native plants with exotic plants, but the water quality has
changed. The water flow appears bumpy due to presence of the rocks in the river which is
necessary for the aquatic life to get the oxygen from the air.
The river bed is also reasonably good at this stage. The water quality appears clean and
comparably better than the down streams of the Kiewa River. Finally, The Kiewa River here
is in a moderate condition because it has mostly exotic riparian vegetation, but instream water
conditions and fish habitat are excellent.
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River at Redbank:
Kiewa River at Redbank is wider than upstream, but has deteriorated in many ways. The river
bank is not in good condition; there is soil erosion on the river bank. The water also does not
look clean and clear compared to the Cope Creek and the Pretty Valley streams.
There is less vegetation, and many exotic plans, very few native species in the river side. Some of
the places of the river bank were broken and were not in a stable condition. The pH level has
found 9, which 8 times increase on Cope Creek pH levels.
Kiewa River at Wodonga
The river condition deteriorates near Wodonga because of sedimentation. Yackandandah
Creek is generally in poor condition in its lower reaches, from loss of bank vegetation, bank
erosion and sedimentation.
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There are several reasons for the change in stream conditions of the Kiewa River between Mt
Cope and Wodonga. Factors include the Hydrology power station, farming activities, sewage
plant, cattle grazing and mining activities. In the following statement those factors will be
described.
Sewerage plant: Thesewage plant at Falls Creek is a big issue in terms of sitting position. It
has huge impact on the down stream water quality. Especially, in the winter season the river
carries more disposal than any other time due to tourist population increase at Falls Creek.
Farming activities: The farming activities at Red bank have impact in the Kiewa Rivers.
Cattle grazing, agricultural activities contribute to increased solids in the water of the Kiewa
River.
The Forest fires: The Alpine forest fires in 2003 and 2006 have an impact on the Kiewa
River. It has significantly affected the riversides, native vegetations, plants and aquatic
animals, plants and life of the Kiewa River (Conservation and Environment 2008).
Industrial Activities: The disposal from the Devondale Milk Industry in Tangambalanga has
also had a negative impact in the water quality of the Kiewa River.
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Mining Activities: Mining activities at Yackandandah Creek have had a strong impact on the
creek which contributes to further down stream of the river, especially when it gets to
Wodonga (waterborne Erosion An Australian Story, 2001).
Q3: Is the stream condition of the Kiewa River that you observed and sketched
consistent with those identified by the Victorian Department of Sustainability &
Environment (2001)?
According to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and environment the catchment has a
comparatively high percentage (65%) of stream length in the marginal category, but it has
relatively low percentage in the poor and very poor condition which is only 7%. During the
study tour I observed that most of the catchment area of the Kiewa River is in good condition.
However, it has deteriorated more than 7% due to presence of the agricultural activities, forest
fires of 2003 and 2006, constant grazing and industrial activities.
Q4: What are the main recommendations made in the North East Regional Catchment
Strategy (NECMA 2004) and are they consistent with your observations?
The North East Regional Catchment Strategy (NECEMA 2004) has focused on a link within
and between natural systems, and with environmental, economic and social factors that can
assist to achieve an integrated catchment management for the entire region. The strategy
recommends that the community and public authorities (including land users, stakeholders
and the local governments) collaborate and participate to fulfil its five objectives. Fist, they
need to improve effective natural resource management; to prepare plans for conservation,
enhancement and balances use of natural resources; capacity building to implement plans;
facilitate necessary changes in practices and management; and evaluate progress and learn
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Community Development
from results. It also recommendation there should be a balance between competing uses.
Protecting the Kiewa River which is of highest community value from decline in condition is
the main recommendation.
However, there is still soil erosion at the Redbank, consistent farming activities in those areas
have deteriorated the Kiewa River's health. The sewerage plan (at the Falls Creek Village)
which has been discharging waste from its treatment since it has made. There is no
recommendation in the strategy to deal with this issue. The Devendale Milk Factory which is
also a significant negative contributor for the Kiewa River heath that has been forgotten.
Another recommendation has been made to control willows, exotic plants, and manage the
native plants in the riparian zone for the native fish, and fishing in the lower part of the Kiewa
river.
Questions on water quality:
Q5: How does water quality change as one moves downstream along the Kiewa River?
Using Table 8 identify possible factors responsible for those changes?
The water quality changes a lot as the river goes down to the valley. In the following
statement some measurement will be used to identify the possible factors responsible for those
changes.
Dissolve oxygen: Oxygen is a very important element for the water and its aquatic life. In the
Cope Creek the water has more oxygen than any other parts of the river. As the river goes
down to Pretty Valley, Redbank and Bandiana it becomes poorer due to farming, sewage,
industrial and mining activities. Therefore, there is less aquatic life in Pretty Valley, Redbank,
Bandiana due to less low oxygen level in the water.
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Community Development
Electrical conductivity: the ability of an aqueous solution to conduct an electrical current
was lower when it was in the Cope Creek, and the average was 8.35 uS/cm. This means the
more pure water has less electrical conductivity. However, it started to increase once it got
down to the downstream of the Kiewa River. The average electrical conductivity at Pretty
Valley was 36.975 uS/cm. At Redbank it become higher which was 43.4 uS/cm. finally, at
the Bandiana it was the 39.55 uS/cm. The factors responsible for the higher electrical
conductivity could be for the sewage disposal, farming activities, cattles waste (cow dug
and urine) dissolved in the water and milk factorys waste and other human activities in the
catchment system.
pH: it is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity presence in one litre of a substance. The
level of acidity increases once it got down to the downstream of Kiewa River.
Temperature: The water temperature has a significant impact on the aquatic system. A
sustained increase of 2oC is likely to adversely affect an ecosystem. The average temperature
at Cope Creek is 11.25 oC; however it increased when the river reached Bandiana which was
19.95 oC. The major contributors of the increasing temperature of the water could be the
disposal waste from the industry and farming and other human activities.
Total dissolve solid: the Total Dissolve Solid (T.D.S.) is one of the popular measures of the
overall water quality. It provides information about presence of salinity and affects the
suitability of the water for drinking and irrigation purposes. The increasing number of solid
in the down stream river of Kiewa could be due to the various human activities including
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mining, farming, cattle grazing and industrial waste dumping and sewerage plants waste in
the catchment.
Q6: Are there some sites along the Kiewa River that record water quality values above
acceptable limits? If so, can you relate them to any specific land uses?
The electric conductivity in the Red Bank and Bandiana become higher than the Cope Creek.
The water in the Cope Creek was pure, and the pH was 1 which is drinkable. There is no
human activities and destruction in the catchment system which provides a friendly
environment for the catchment system. The creek is maintained and managed. On the other
hand, as the river goes down to the valley it starts to deteriorate through the sewerage water,
dam and electric production activities, farming (cattle, vineyard and other agricultural
activities), dairy farms and mining activities all these contribute to deteriorate river health of
the Kiewa.
Summary statement
Q7: Considering the entire catchment of the Kiewa River, what is the relationship
between the physical environment (elevation, geology, and vegetation), land use, fire
history, hydrology, and water quality and stream condition? How do these factors
change and interact between Mt Cope and Wodonga?
There is close relationship between the entire catchment of the Kiewa Rivers Physical
environment, land use, fire history, hydrology, and water and stream conditions. At Mount
Cope the physical environment and the land use activities are very limited and controlled;
therefore it offers a friendly environment to the natural ecosystem; the entire vegetation and
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Community Development
the catchment system of the valley. The forest fires of 2003 and 2006 have hcaused serious
damages, and there is still affects of that incident. As I observed, there was rapidly decreased
numbers of native fish from the river and the Rocky Valley Reservoir. Native animals and
even birds were also victims from the fire. There was a countable number of birds, in the
reservoir and very few in the forest and mountain. The regulation of banned cattle grazing in
the high land offers a sustainable atmosphere for the native plants and animals. It reduces
significantly soil erosion and water pollution in the creek. However, some of the Alpine Ash
forests burned in 2003 and 2006 forest have lost their features, because some of them were
immature and young enough to provide seeds to grow new plants (Mountain Cattlemens
Association of Victoria 2008). The hydrology system has been impacting on the catchment
system, and it will continue in the future. The monthly discharge of Pretty Valley is the
highest due to water diversions by the hydraulic power station. The electrical conductivity has
increased in this valley. The sewage system in Falls Creek and its intensive discharge in the
winter seasons in the catchment leave a question mark to the planner and scholars. The
farming activities and cattle grazing down the valley, industrial waste from the milk factory
has contributed to the river pollution, bed and bank instability, soil erosion, loss of native
vegetation and aquatic plants, animals and fishes from the entire catchment. Riparian
vegetation have been extensively cleared for the agricultural activities, and replaced with
willows and exotic plants in the river of Bandanna. The Yackandandah creek seems to be
deteriorating, and it is in very poor condition. There is no maintenance to protect the creek.
There were tourist activities going on near the creek that could increasingly deteriorate the
creeks health. Finally, the Kiewa River from Mount Cope to Bandiana has changed, and
worsens lot due to land use, fire history, and hydrology, mining and industrial activities.
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Planning issues
Q8: What planning issues did you identify for the Kiewa River catchment, and what
is being, or should be, done to address those issues?
There are several issues that have come out from the observation of the Kiewa River
throughout the study tour. In the following statement those factors will be described.
The Sewerage
The sewerage plant at Falls Creek can be seen as a serous issue. It is located at the very
beginning of the catchment, and the effect of this activity obviously carries out to the entire
catchment. The secondary level treated disposal water from the sewerage can be used for any
other purpose rather than putting straight in to the catchment system. For example, use the
water for farming and irrigation purposes or to deposit them in separate ponds to purify the
water in a natural way.
The dam
The location of the dam is another significant focal point for planning issues. It requires a
considerable amount of water storage for its electricity production. In the summer when the
water demands for the community and river health become higher, the dam also needs to
storage water, and it leaves a great pressure to the entire catchment.
Recommendations: First, build another dam and ponds farther down the stream close to the
river by using the sewerage plant water. Second, store the secondary treated water in the
ponds then send them to the dam to purify in a natural way. Third, use this water to produce
electricity. Fourth, use the river's water if necessary for the dam to produce electricity.
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Community Development
Using the sewerage water in this process, could reduce water shortages, and waste sewerage
water dumping in the catchment system. Therefore, it will help to provide a balanced and
sustaibale natural ecosystem to the catchment.
Farming activities: The farming activities in the Kiewa River Valley impact on the
catchment system. As pH electric conductivity shows the presence of the solid in the water
become higher when the water reaches Red Bank. Therefore, it needs to be monitored that the
farming activities do not impact on the river health.
Mining activities: Mining activities at the Yackandandah Creek leaves strong affects in the
catchment system. After constructing the mining activities the creek was abandoned without
care. The bed and bank of the creek is very unstable, and the bank is not protected. There is
also less native vegetation on the bank of the creek. It appears nothing significant has been
done to maintain the creeks health for heritage purposes to keep it as it is. From my view, it
was a history of whatever happened to the creek, and obviously it was human exploitation of
nature. However, it is our duty to rehabilitate the creek again, and maintain it properly. The
creek is dying, if we preserve this creek as it is, one day we could lose it forever.
Industrial zone
Industrial waste water from the milk factory at Yackandandah Township has been dumping in
the catchment system since it was made. Industrial waste in the catchment system has some
obvious negative impacts. Therefore, it needs to be regulated and monitored properly to
reduce and stop the negative impacts for the catchment.
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Conclsusion:
The Kiewa River is a major tributary to the Murray River of Australia. Australia is a country
which has a major problem with water. Especially, in recent years the Victorian farmes have
been experiencing continuous drought, which has major impact on the countrys economy and
sustainable environment. From the basis of the analysis, experement and observation of the
Kiewa River, it still in a good condition; therefore it needs to be maintained and regulated
appropriately.
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References:
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Mountain Cattlemens Association of Victoria, Alpine Grazing Heritage Trail -
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