Correspondence: Alana Wilkes, e-mail: alana.wilkes@environment.gov.au and Rebecca White, e-mail: rebecca.white@mdba.gov.au More information: Murray-Darling Basin Aquatic Ecosystem Classification project: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications/interim-classification-aquatic-ecosystems-mdb Interim ANAE Classification Framework: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/aquatic-ecosystems-toolkit-module-2-interim-australian-national-aquatic-ecosystem-anae

Alana Wilkes1*, Benjamin Docker1, Rebecca White2*, Ashraf L. Hanna2, Ian Neave2, Amy O’Brien1, Neil Freeman3, Paul Marsh3, Tristan Skinner1 1 Commonwealth Environmental Water Office , 2 Murray-Darling Basin Authority, 3 Australian Department of the EnvironmentBackground image: David Straccione

The classification project The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and

Murray-Darling Basin Authority have jointly developed an interim

classification and typology of aquatic ecosystems in the

Murray-Darling Basin, using the interim Australian National Aquatic

Ecosystem (ANAE) framework (see Box 1).

◗ The project integrated state-based classification work and was informed by state governments and the scientific community.

◗ Over 250,000 aquatic ecosystem features along with attribute data were compiled into a single database.

◗ Features were assigned across almost 100 lacustrine, palustrine, estuarine, riverine and floodplain types based on physical and ecological attributes (see example at Figure 1).

in the Murray-Darling Basin

Classifying aquatic ecosystems

1% 2%

8%

34%

14%

22%

15%

8%

Temporary marshes

Freshwater playas

Other temporary wetlands

Saline wetlands(inc. swamp, marsh, playas)

Permanent marsh

Permanent spring

Other permanent wetlands(inc. swamp forest, peat bogs, fen marshes)

Temporary swamps

2%

16%

29%

49%4%

Other intermittent swamps(inc. coolibah and river cooba)

Other temporary swamps

Intermittent river red gum swamp

Intermittent black box swamp

Intermittent lignum swamp

a) b)

Further breakdown oftemporary swamps

Applying the classification to environmental water management The classification can inform:

◗ Implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

◗ Prioritisation of environmental watering

◗ Monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities

◗ Adaptive management (see Box 2)

Importantly, the classification is one of many pieces of information available to support decisions on these matters, along with operational feasibility and other considerations.

Figure 2: a) Breakdown of palustrine features b) Further breakdown of the ‘temporary swamps’ subset of palustrine features

Box 1: Multi-jurisdictional Approach to Aquatic Ecosystem AssessmentThe interim Australian National Aquatic Ecosystem (ANAE) classification framework establishes a nationally agreed, consistent and systematic method for classifying aquatic ecosystems in the Australian landscape. The ANAE is a semi-hierarchical, attribute-based framework that consists of three levels, which are designed to capture the broad spatial patterns and ecological diversity of aquatic ecosystems and habitat types. The ANAE framework was developed iteratively, with refinements based on the outcomes of trials in the Lake Eyre Basin, Northern Australia and Tasmania.

ANAE structure

LEVEL 1 REGIONAL SCALE (Attributes: Hydrology, climate, landform)

LEVEL 2 LANDSCAPE SCALE (Attributes: Water influence, landform, topography, climate)

LEVEL 3

SURFACE WATER SUBTERRANEAN

Mar

ine

Est

uari

ne

Lacu

stri

ne

Pal

ustr

ine

Riv

erin

e

Flo

od

pla

in

Frac

ture

d

Po

rous

S

edim

enta

ry

Ro

ck

Unc

ons

olid

ated

Cac

e/K

arst

POOL ATTRIBUTES TO DETERMINE AQUATIC HABITATS (eg: water type, vegetation, substrate, porosity, water source)H

abita

t

Sys

tem

Cla

ss

Box 2: Using the classification to support adaptive management in environmental watering

The classification identifies wetland types, which

can be contribute to adaptive management.

GIS analysis at Figure 3 shows the wetlands

that have and have not received environmental

water in the Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain

(2009–2013).

This type of analysis can inform future planning

and delivery of environmental water.

Figure 3: Environmental watering in the Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain

Figure 1: Example of the Murray-Darling Basin classification, Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain

Estuarine - Coorong Palustrine - Macquarie Marshes Lacustrine - Paika Lake Riverine - Severn RiverImage: Alana Wilkes Image: Hayley Behnke Image: Stephanie Secomb Image: Clare D’arcy

Commonwealth Environmental Water Office

Classification and typology: resultsThe classification incorporated approximately:

◗ 8,400 lacustrine (lake) features◗ 37,000 palustrine (wetland) features (see Figure 2)◗ 157,000 riverine (stream) segments

◗ 33,000 floodplain units ◗ 37 estuarine units within the Coorong and Murray Mouth