environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring€¦ · why do we need to monitor water...

Environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring

North Coast - progress report 2009

NSW Office of Water

Level 17, 227 Elizabeth Street GPO Box 3889 Sydney NSW 2001

T 02 8281 7777 F 02 8281 7799

[email protected] www.water.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Office of Water is a separate office within the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. The NSW Office of Water manages the policy and regulatory frameworks for the State’s surface water and groundwater resources to provide a secure and sustainable water supply for all users. The NSW Office of Water also supports water utilities in the provision of water and sewerage services throughout New South Wales.

Environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring. North Coast - progress report 2009

March 2011

ISBN 978 1 742 631 653

© State of New South Wales through the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, 2011. This material may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, providing the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are clearly and correctly acknowledged.

Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document.

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What is the purpose of this report? �� 4

Why do we need to monitor water sharing plans? �� 4

What water sharing plans are currently in place? �� 5

What has influenced the water sharing plans’ operations in 2008–09? �� 7

Unregulated rivers—water availability �� 7

Groundwater—water availability �� 7

What environmental issues are addressed by the water sharing plans? �� 7

Unregulated rivers water sharing plans �� 7

Groundwater water sharing plans �� 7

What ecological monitoring is occurring? �� 8



Which plan provisions are we monitoring? �� 15



What has ecological monitoring told us so far? �� 18



Socio-economic monitoring �� 23

What ecological monitoring is planned for 2009–10? �� 26



What socio-economic monitoring is planned for 2009–10? �� 26

Further specific studies on the NSW North Coast �� 26

What is planned for future water sharing plans? �� 27

Future priority needs for ecological monitoring and evaluation on the NSW North Coast �� 28

Want more information? �� 28

References �� 30

cont

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IntroductionWhat iS thE purpOSE Of thiS rEpOrt?This report provides an update

on the monitoring and evaluation

activities undertaken in 2008–09

to assess the ecological and socio-

economic performances of the water

sharing plans adopted on the NSW

North Coast. It provides an interim

assessment of outcomes of the

investigations and identifies priority

needs for future monitoring and

evaluation activities on the

NSW North Coast.

Why dO WE NEEd tO mONitOr WatEr ShariNg plaNS?Water sharing plans provide water

to meet environmental and socio-

economic needs, and spell out the

rules governing access to water.

The NSW North Coast contains a

number of important environmental

assets and supports a valuable

irrigation industry. Important

environmental assets include:

■■ numerous national parks, nature

reserves and state forests,

including Nightcap, Goonengerry,

Mount Jerusalem, Baguul, Deer

Vale, Muldiva, Junuy Juluum, Cascade, Nymboi-Binderay, Guy Fawkes River, Cathedral Rock, Nullum, Willi Willi, Mount Hyland, New England, Dorrigo, Cunnawarra and Oxley Wild Rivers, the latter six being gazetted as World Heritage areas

■■ regionally significant wetlands, including many unnamed upland wetlands, montane peatlands and swamps of the New England Tableland, all considered Endangered Ecological Communities under the NSW Threatened Species

Conservation Act (1995)

■■ surface water or groundwater-

dependent ecosystems,

including riparian vegetation

and associated ecosystems

supporting high diversity of

rare and vulnerable flora and

fauna species.

Current water sharing plans

also cover areas which include

important riverine habitat for the

endangered eastern freshwater cod

(Maccullochella ikei; Figure 1).

It is important to know whether the

water sharing plans are meeting

their environmental objectives,

so that their effectiveness can be

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Figure 1An endangered eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei)

Environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring | North Coast - progress report 2009

5

reviewed at the end of their 10-year period of operation. This information will be used to make informed decisions on how the plans might be improved when they are renewed. To achieve this, the NSW Office of Water undertakes ecological monitoring and evaluation activities focuse d on specific clauses and performance indicators within the plans.

What WatEr ShariNg plaNS arE currENtly iN placE?Nine water sharing plans on the NSW North Coast are currently gazetted (Figure 2):

■■ Water Sharing Plan for the

Apsley River Water Source 2003


Commissioners Waters

Water Source 2003


Toorumbee Creek Water

Source 2003


Upper Brunswick River Water

Source 2003

■■ Water Sharing Plan for

the Coopers Creek Water

Source 2003


Bellinger River Area Unregulated

and Alluvial Water Sources 2008


Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water

Source and Dorrigo Basalt

Groundwater Source 2003


Stuarts Point Groundwater

Source 2003


Alstonville Plateau Groundwater

Sources 2003.

More details of these plans can be

found on the NSW Office of Water’s

website www.water.nsw.gov.au under

‘Water sharing plans’.

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Assessment site in the Bellinger River area

http://www.water.nsw.gov.au

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South Pacific Ocean

Brunswick River

Nambucca River

Bellinger River

Macleay River

Nymboida River

Clarence River

Richmond River Tweed River

Hastings River

Port Macquarie

Dorrigo Coffs Harbour

BallinaTenterfield

Tweed Heads

Lismore

Grafton

Kempsey

Armidale

South Pacific Ocean

Brunswick River

Nambucca River

Bellinger River

Macleay River

Nymboida River

Clarence River


Hastings River

Port Macquarie


BallinaTenterfield

Tweed Heads

Lismore

Grafton

Kempsey

Armidale

LeGeNDGroundwater SourcesUnregulated Rivers Water Sources

South Pacific Ocean

Brunswick River

Nambucca River

Bellinger River

Macleay River

Nymboida River

Clarence River


Hastings River

Port Macquarie


BallinaTenterfield

Tweed Heads

Lismore

Grafton

Kempsey

Armidale

Upper Brunswick River

Coppers Creek

Alstonville

Bellinger River Area

Stuarts Point

Dorrigo Plateau

Commissioners Waters

Apsley River

Dorrigo Basalt

Toorumbee Creek

figurE 2Locations of the current water sharing plans on the NSW North Coast

0 25 50

kilometres


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What haS iNfluENcEd thE WatEr ShariNg plaNS’ OpEratiON iN 2008–09?

unregulated rivers—water availability

Annual allocations to all categories of access licences for the gazetted unregulated water sources on the NSW North Coast were 100 per cent, although given the low flows in most streams, this amount may not have been extractable.

groundwater—water availability

Annual allocations to all categories of access licences for the Dorrigo Basalt, the Stuarts Point and the Alstonville Plateau Groundwater Sources were 100 per cent.

What ENvirONmENtal iSSuES arE addrESSEd by thE WatEr ShariNg plaNS?

unregulated rivers water

sharing plans

The water sharing plans for the gazetted unregulated water sources on the NSW North Coast set cease-to-pump rules to protect very low flows, and establish daily flow sharing rules

to protect a proportion of flows

for the environment. For example,

the water sharing plan for the


Source sets cease-to-pump rules

to protect low flows and pools

within the four management zones

established by the plan. It also

establishes daily flow sharing rules

to protect a proportion of flows for

the environment on any given day.

Within the plan, access to very low

flows and pools varies between

the individual management zones

in order to limit the environmental

impacts of reduced habitat.

groundwater water sharing plans

The Water Management Act 2000

requires that water be allocated

for the fundamental health of a

water source and its dependent

ecosystems as a first priority.

This means that extraction from

a groundwater source must

not have a significant impact

on any ecosystems that rely

on groundwater.

Groundwater levels in the Dorrigo

Basalt, Stuarts Point and Alstonville

Plateau Groundwater Sources are

monitored in areas where intensive

groundwater extraction occurs.

This allows the sustainable

management of extraction and

the minimisation of any impacts

on associated groundwater-

dependent ecosystems, surface

water and other users. In the Stuarts

Point Groundwater Source the

groundwater quality is monitored to

ensure that the interface between the

freshwater (low-salinity) aquifer and

the saltwater estuary remains stable.

More details of these plans can be

found on the NSW Office of Water’s

website www.water.nsw.gov.au under

‘Water sharing plans’.

available water determinations

South Pacific Ocean

Brunswick River

Nambucca River

Bellinger River

Macleay River

Nymboida River

Clarence River


Hastings River

Port Macquarie


BallinaTenterfield

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Grafton

Kempsey

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Nymbodia River at Mills Road


the North Coast

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ecological monitoring

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What EcOlOgical mONitOriNg iS OccurriNg?

unregulated rivers water sharing plans

The NSW Office of Water has established a program to assess the ecological outcomes of the 20 water

sharing plans for unregulated water

sources that were gazetted in 2004.

The first aim of ecological monitoring

in unregulated rivers is to determine

whether the environmental objectives

of the water sharing plans are being

achieved. Monitoring programs have

been or are being established in:

■■ Apsley River Water Source

- photo-point and low flow

gauging sites established

(Figure 3)

■■ Commissioners Waters Water

Source - photo-point and low

flow gauging sites established

(Figure 4)

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Apsley RiverfigurE 3Locations of photpoint and low flow gauging sites in the Apsley River Water Source

0 2.5 5 7.5 10

kilometres

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Apsley River

LeGeNDMonitoring sites Roads


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■■ Toorumbee Creek Water Source - not yet established

■■ Upper Brunswick River Water Source - not yet established

■■ Coopers Creek Water Source - established

■■ Bellinger River Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources - not yet established

■■ Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water Source - photo-point and low flow gauging sites established (Figures 5 and 6).

Depending on results of these initial studies, more detailed monitoring of vulnerable habitats may be undertaken during the term of the plans.

Planned sampling of fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates will support predictive ecological modelling for existing unregulated rivers water sources. This new approach will attempt to determine whether water extraction has impacted the biological communities in the unregulated rivers. Migrations and movements of the endangered eastern freshwater cod are being monitored in the unregulated Nymboida River, home to one of the last remaining populations of this species. The monitoring will enable water requirements for this species to be better defined.

Establishing suitable monitoring sites on the North Coast has its problems. A pedestrian bridge upstream of Apsley Falls, selected as a monitoring site, was destroyed by a flood (Figures 7 and 8).

figurE 4Locations of photo-point and low flow gauging sites in the Commissioners Waters Water Source

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Apsley River

LeGeNDMonitoring sites Roads

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0 2 4 6 8

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Apsley River

LeGeNDProposed monitoring sites Waterways

Bricks River

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Nymboida River

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ZONE 4

ZONE 2

ZONE 3

Dorrigo

figurE 5Locations of proposed photo-point and low flow gauging sites in the Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water Source

0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

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South Pacific Ocean


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Figure 6Photo-point and low flow gauging site in the Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water Source

Figure 7Proposed photo-point monitoring site in the Apsley River Water Source

Figure 8The proposed photo-point monitoring site in Figure 7 after a major flood

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Stuarts Point Groundwater SourceChanges in groundwater levels in the Stuarts Point Groundwater Source are monitored at 20 monitoring bores (Figure 9). In addition, three bore transects are monitored to assess groundwater salinity close to the Fishermans Reach Estuary, part of the Macleay

River Arm, which abuts the aquifer.

The ‘NSW Coastal Groundwater

Quality and Groundwater-

Dependent Ecosystems’ project

is currently being undertaken

in collaboration with several

universities, local water utilities

and local councils. The project

focuses on groundwater extraction

within high-use coastal sand and

alluvial aquifers and how this

affects both groundwater quality

and groundwater-dependent

ecosystems. The Stuarts Point

Groundwater Source is one of seven

pilot sites that are being investigated

in detail. The results will be used to

support a decision making process

for the remaining northern NSW

coastal aquifer systems.

Alstonville Plateau Groundwater Sources

Changes in groundwater levels in

the Alstonville Plateau Groundwater

Sources are monitored at 32

monitoring bores installed at 13

sites (Figure 10). Using information

from deep bores, the NSW Office

of Water developed a conceptual

groundwater model for the deep

aquifer system in 2001 (Brodie

& Green 2002). The NSW Office

of Water is now developing a

MODFLOW groundwater model

for managing groundwater within

the Alstonville Plateau Basalt Deep

Aquifer. The information will be used

to review the proportion of water

held in the aquifer as environmental

water to ensure that the aquifer is

managed sustainably.

Dorrigo Basalt Groundwater Source

The Dorrigo Basalt Groundwater

Source currently does not require

monitoring bores for management

of the plan because of the low

density of existing bores relative

to allocations.

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The installation of groundwater monitoring bores in a groundwater dependent ecosystem environment


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0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

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Pacific Hwy

Creek

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Arm

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South Pacific Ocean

0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

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Pacific HwyCreek

Mac

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Rive

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Mac

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Arm

Grassy Head

South Pacific Ocean

0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

Stua

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Pacific Hwy

Creek

Mac

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Rive

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South Pacific Ocean

0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

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Creek

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Mac

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Grassy Head

South Pacific Ocean

0 1 2

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StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

Stua

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Pacific Hwy

Creek

Mac

leay

Rive

r

Mac

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Arm

Grassy Head

South Pacific Ocean

LeGeNDWaterways

Monitor Bore sites

Fishermans Bend Nature Reserve

Yarrahappini Wetland Trust

figurE 9Monitoring bore sites for the Stuarts Point Groundwater Source

0 1 2

kilometres

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Skinners Creek

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Bangalow

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kilometres

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Creek

Skinners Creek

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Bangalow

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kilometres

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Skinners Creek

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Alstonville

Bangalow

0 2 4 6 8 10

kilometres

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Pearces

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Skinners Creek

Lismore

Alstonville

Bangalow

0 2 4 6 8 10

kilometres

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Skinners Creek

Lismore

Alstonville

Bangalow

0 2 4 6 8 10

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Pearces

Creek

Skinners Creek

Lismore

Alstonville

Bangalow

0 2 4 6 8 10

kilometres

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Pearces

Creek

Skinners Creek

Lismore

Alstonville

Bangalow

0 2 4 6 8 10

kilometres

LeGeNDZONE 1 Alstonville

ZONE 2 Tuckean

ZONE 3 Bangalow

ZONE 4 Coopers

ZONE 5 Wyrallah

ZONE 6 Lennox

Monitor Bore sites

figurE 10Monitoring bore sites for the Alstonville Plateau Groundwater Sources

0 2 4 6 8 10

kilometres

0 1 2

kilometres

StuartsPoint

South West Rocks

Stua

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Pacific Hwy

Creek

Mac

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Rive

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Mac

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Arm

Grassy Head

South Pacific Ocean


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Which plaN prOviSiONS arE WE mONitOriNg?


sharing plans

Water Sharing Plan for the

Apsley River Water Source

clause 13: performance indicators

The performance of the plan is

assessed against changes in:

(a) low flows

(b) the ecological condition

of the water source and

dependent ecosystems

(c) the economic benefits

derived from water

extraction and use.

clause 17: flow classes for the

surface water source

The sharing of daily flows is

based on flow classes established

by the plan.

clause 46: total daily

extraction limits

The plan sets a total daily

extraction limit for each flow

class established in clause 17.

Water Sharing Plan for the Commissioners Waters Water Source


The performance of the plan is assessed against changes in:

(a) low to moderate flows (combined A and B Class flows)

(b) the ecological condition of the water source and dependent ecosystems

(c) the economic benefits derived from water extraction and use.

clause 17: flow classes for the surface water source

The sharing of daily flows is based on flow classes established by the plan.

clause 46: total daily extraction limits

The plan sets a total daily extraction limit for each flow class established in clause 17.

clause 87: amendment of very low flow provisions

The Minister may vary the very low flow levels established in clause 17 within a small range following field verification that pools and natural

low flows would be protected.

Water Sharing Plan for the Toorumbee Creek Water Source



(a) low flows



Water Sharing Plan for the Upper Brunswick River Water Source



(a) low flows



clause 17: flow classes for the surface water source

The sharing of daily flows is based on

flow classes established by the plan.

plan provisions being monitored

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clause 46: total daily extraction

limits


Water Sharing Plan for the Coopers Creek Water Source



(a) low flows





The sharing of daily flows is based on flow classes established by the plan.


limits


clause 77: assessment of fish

passage requirements

The Minister may vary the very low flow class and the bottom level of the A Class established in clause 17 within a specific range following an assessment of fish passage and

habitat requirements for eastern

freshwater cod (Maccullochella

ikei). The assessment should

consider the effects of the

removal or modification of artificial

barriers such as weirs, changes

in scientific understanding of the

flow requirements and include any

socio-economic impacts of any

recommended changes.

Water Sharing Plan for the Bellinger

River Area Unregulated and Alluvial

Water Sources




(a) the low-flow regime

(b) or maintenance of, the ecological

value of key water sources and


(c) the economic benefits derived

from water extraction and use.


water sources

The sharing of daily flows is

based on flow classes established

by the plan. The flow classes can

be altered.

Water Sharing Plan for the Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water Source and Dorrigo Basalt Groundwater Source




(a) low flows at the end of this


(b) the ecological condition of the

water sources and dependent

ecosystems





The sharing of daily flows is based

on flow classes established for all

management zones.


limits

The plan sets a total daily extraction

limit for each flow class established

in clause 17.

clause 87: amendment of very low

flow provisions

The Minister may vary the very low

flow levels established in clause 17,

but only within a stipulated range

following field verification that pools

and wetlands (during periods of no

flow), and natural low flows would

be protected.


Water Sharing Plan for the


Source and Dorrigo Basalt

Groundwater Source 2003


17




(a) groundwater extraction relative

to the extraction limit

(b) the ecological condition of the

water sources and dependent

ecosystems



clause 22: planned environmental

water

Water essential for environmental

health must be reserved. The

volume is defined as:

(a) the long-term average storage

component of the groundwater

source minus the basic

landholder rights extraction

(b) plus 90 per cent of the average

annual recharge.

If the total share components

reach 10 per cent of the recharge,

the Minister may vary the proportion

in point (b) after an assessment

of the impact of allowing greater

levels of groundwater extraction

on groundwater-dependent

ecosystems, the linkages between

groundwater and surface water,

Aboriginal values, economic benefits

from additional water use and

alternative sources of water.

clause 59: protection of

groundwater-dependent ecosystems

The Minister may add further high-

priority groundwater-dependent

ecosystems in year 6 of the plan

after further studies of ecosystem

dependency on groundwater.

Water Sharing Plan for the Stuarts

Point Groundwater Source 2003




(a) groundwater extraction relative to

the extraction limit

(b) climate-adjusted groundwater

levels

(c) water levels adjacent to identified

high-priority groundwater-


(d) groundwater quality

(e) the economic benefits derived

from groundwater extraction

and use.

Schedule 5: high-priority

groundwater-dependent ecosystems

High-priority groundwater-dependent

ecosystems are:

(a) Fisherman’s Bend Nature

Reserve

(b) SEPP 14 coastal wetlands.

Water Sharing Plan for the Alstonville Plateau Groundwater Sources 2003



(a) groundwater extraction relative to the extraction limit

(b) climate-adjusted groundwater levels

(c) water levels adjacent to high-priority groundwater-dependent ecosystems

(d) groundwater quality

(e) the economic benefits derived from groundwater extraction and use.

clause 18: planned environmental water

Water essential for environmental health must be reserved. The volume is defined as:

(a) the long-term average storage component of each groundwater source minus the basic landholder rights extraction

(b) plus 80 per cent of the average annual recharge to each zone.

The Minister may vary the proportion in point (b) after further studies of ecosystem dependency on groundwater.

clause 39: protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems

The Minister may amend Schedule 5 after further studies of groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

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What haS thE EcOlOgical mONitOriNg tOld uS SO far?


sharing plans

Monitoring activities

The photo-point and low flow

gauging monitoring programs are

examining the ecological effects

of low flows on the Apsley River,

the Commissioners Waters, the

Toorumbee Creek, the Upper

Brunswick River, the Coopers Creek,

the Dorrigo Plateau Surface and the


and Alluvial Water Sources during

drought. These effects may be

confounded should drier conditions

result from climate change.

Detailed investigations of the

Coopers Creek Water Source

indicate that the current low flow

access (cease-to-pump) rules

provide good connectivity within

aquatic habitats, and water levels

that protect aquatic sponge and

macroinvertebrate communities

sensitive to changes in low flow

water levels.

The monitoring program established

within the remaining plan areas

began in 2009–10. It consists

primarily of photo-point monitoring

and some low flow gauging. The low

flow gauging will start, however, only

if flows approach the cease-to-pump

levels. Monitoring sites for photo-

point and low flow gauging have

been established in the Apsley River,

the Commissioners Waters and

the Dorrigo Plateau Surface Water

Sources (Figures 3 to 5). Monitoring

sites in the Toorumbee Creek, the

Upper Brunswick River and the


and Alluvial Water Sources are yet

to be established.

There is currently not enough

information to assess the

unregulated water sharing plans

for the Apsley River, the

Commissioners Waters, the

Toorumbee Creek, the Upper

Brunswick River, the Coopers Creek,

the Dorrigo Plateau Surface and

the Bellinger River Area Unregulated

and Alluvial Water Sources.

Coopers Creek Water Source

Monitoring in the Coopers Creek

Water Source has focused on the

assessment of habitat requirements

for the eastern freshwater cod

(Butler, 2009), fish sampling (Butler

et al., 2009) and the fish passage

and low flow habitat requirements

for the ecosystem (Reinfelds and

Williams, 2009). As a result of

recommendations by the last report

to change access to low flows, the

cease-to-pump limit was changed

to 12.5 megalitres per day at Ewing

Bridge, which is equivalent to an

end-of-system flow of 14 megalitres

per day. This limit will remain in

place for the first 5 years of the

plan. The amended flow rule will

ensure that pools and low flow

riffles are protected from extraction.

These sites tend to be areas of

high biological diversity as well as

drought refuges for fish species

such as the endangered eastern

freshwater cod. The amendment

recognises that medium flows may

be important for passage of the

eastern freshwater cod and other

fish. Doubling of extraction, as

could happen if sleeper entitlements

are activated, could impact on

medium flows and the effects will be

evaluated over the life of the plan.

A detailed review of the biology,

conservation status and habitat

requirements of the eastern

freshwater cod has indicated that

movements by this fish across riffles

separating river pools are associated

with both increases in river flow

and changes in water temperature

associated with the onset of the

breeding season (Butler, 2009).

Breeding season movements of up

to 30 kilometres have been recorded

by tracking with radio transmitters.

The Coopers Creek Water Source

has formed one of a series of

catchments stocked with hatchery-

bred eastern freshwater cod

fingerlings (Butler, 2009). A total of

13,200 fingerlings are known to have


19

Photo-point and low flow gauging monitoring programs are examining the ecological effects of low flows within the NSW North Coast

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been stocked in the Wilsons River

and Coopers Creek catchments

since 1988, but there appears to

be a low survival rate, as very few

individuals have been observed by

subsequent sampling programs

(Butler, 2009; Butler et al., 2009).

To provide further information

on flow requirements for the eastern

freshwater cod, the NSW Office

of Water, in partnership with

Industry and Investment NSW and

the Northern Rivers Catchment

Management Authority initiated a

fish tagging and tracking program

in the Nymboida River system in

2009. The Nymboida–Mann River

system holds a remnant population

of the eastern freshwater cod,

and 20 fish have been surgically

implanted with transmitters.

Each transmitter has a unique

identification code that is detected

by underwater listening stations,

and the movements of these fish

in relation to river flow and water

temperature are being monitored.

The information is being used to

assess flow rates that stimulate

eastern freshwater cod to move

across shallow riffles and rapids

separating deeper pools, and

to assess the influence of water

temperature on fish movements

during the breeding season.

The very low numbers of eastern

freshwater cod observed and

sampled in Coopers Creek

precluded an investigation of this

type there. It is expected, however,

that the results of the tagging and

tracking program in the Nymboida

River system will provide behavioural

data that can be used to inform and

refine the water sharing plan for the

Coopers Creek Water Source.

More information on monitoring of

unregulated river water sharing plans

can be found at the NSW Office of

Water website www.water.nsw.gov.au


Monitoring activities

Groundwater levels are monitored

in the Stuarts Point and the


Sources. Levels are currently not

being monitored in the Dorrigo

Basalt Groundwater Source.

Seasonal demand for water

by licence holders influences

groundwater levels. In the absence

of water use monitoring, current

volumes extracted are not known.

Licence allocations can only be

used to indicate potential extraction.

So groundwater monitoring bores

are used to monitor extraction

levels in order to manage aquifer

extraction impacts.

Stuarts Point Groundwater Source

Within the Stuarts Point

Groundwater Source the measured

water level changes matched those

predicted on the basis of climate

and usage. Electrical conductivity

measurements of groundwater with

depth were used to characterise the

movement over time of the interface

between the freshwater aquifer and

the underlying saltwater wedge

from the Macleay River Estuary.

Rumpf (2006) characterised this

interface in the transect bore closest

to the estuary. The interface was

not present at the second bore

200 metres away. During 2008–09,

groundwater salinity measurements

ranged within background levels,

associate with natural variation.


Sources

The Alstonville Plateau Groundwater

Sources comprise two major regional

aquifers, a shallow one (less than

50 metres depth) and a deeper one,

each containing multiple aquifers.

Monitoring bores were installed in the

Basalt Plateau aquifer in 1987, 1999

and 2005–06 (Figure 11).

The shallow aquifer is an unconfined

aquifer and the lower aquifer is a

semi-confined/confined aquifer.

Groundwater levels in both are

monitored. The shallow aquifer is

rapidly recharged by rain, but it

is also the first to be impacted by

drought. The water level changes

measured in 2008–09 matched

those predicted on the basis of

climate and usage.



21

The water levels in the deeper

aquifer recharged significantly

more slowly. In the Wollongbar

area, from 1997 until early 2003

the groundwater levels remained

at their lowest since the monitoring

bores were installed in 1987. The

aquifer drawdown covered an area

greater than 3 kilometres wide, and

there was an overall decline in levels

varying from 8 to 19 metres (Green,

2006). The groundwater levels

remained suppressed as extraction

rates exceeded recharge rates. The

period from 2002 until early 2003

was the peak of the drought, when

surface water supplies became

unreliable or cease-to-pump

conditions were imposed on them.

During this time groundwater was

used extensively for irrigation and

town water supply. The groundwater

level hydrographs in the central

aquifer clearly show the deep

drawdown caused by the high

levels of extraction.

The water table began to recover in early March 2003, coincident with the end of the drought. The deep aquifer recharged during the following three and a half years. Levels rose from 8 to 25 metres across the aquifer through to 2006, in the area previously affected by over-extraction (Green, 2006). This rise in groundwater levels was due to

the significant reduction in extraction caused by the above-average rains in early 2003. Groundwater levels have now recovered to levels close to what existed in the late 1980s when monitoring was begun.

The measured water level changes

in 2008–09 matched those

predicted on the basis of climate

and usage.

Links to other projects

The Bureau of Rural Sciences

mapped significant groundwater-

dependent ecosystems (GDEs) from

data collected by the NSW National

Parks and Wildlife Service and

the former Department of Natural

Resources. Buffer zones around

these GDEs were based on this

map (Brodie & Green, 2002).

A broad identification of GDEs

should be available by mid 2011.

Several other projects are under

way, including some funded by

the National Water Commission

(National GDE Atlas) and the

Catchment Management Authority

(riverine studies).

Many of the NSW coastal sand

aquifers are used for municipal

water supplies. Most of the bore

fields lie within national parks and

nature reserves. With increased

population growth there will be

increased pressure to extract

more water in order to satisfy this

growing demand. To predict the

Figure 11Drilling of monitoring bore on Alstonville Plateau

22

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effects of increased extraction, the ‘NSW Coastal Groundwater Quality and Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems’ project is being undertaken by several universities, water utilities and local councils, which share common goals. The project focuses on groundwater extraction within high-use coastal sand and alluvial aquifers and how this affects groundwater quality and GDEs. The Stuarts Point Groundwater Source is one of seven pilot sites that are being investigated in detail. The results will be used to support decision making process for the remaining NSW coastal aquifer systems. Detailed field investigations will identify rooting depths of various coastal plant species and assess how groundwater levels and quality and other landscape elements determine the distribution of groundwater-dependent vegetation types. Discharge rates, patterns (temporal and spatial) and quality (mainly salinity and nutrients) will be investigated. The project will also study how groundwater discharges relate to the distribution of sea grass communities. It should result in a set of risk-based maps for NSW coastal aquifers that identify those aquifers at greatest risk of a change in beneficial use due to increased groundwater extraction, climate change or both.

The NSW ‘Macro water sharing

plan’ process is expected to develop plans for all groundwater sources on the North Coast. Each plan will state long-term average annual extraction limits and rules that will allow only

certain impacts on users and the environment. Groundwater sources that are highly connected to the rivers will be subject to cease-to-pump criteria.

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For more information on water sharing plans visit www.water.nsw.gov.au



23

In 2005, the NSW Office of Water

began a statewide project to monitor

changes in the NSW irrigation

industry following the introduction of

water sharing plans. The project is

designed to:

■■ monitor key social and

economic changes at the

farm and regional levels arising

from water sharing plans

■■ provide data for the NSW

Office of Water’s review and

evaluation of water sharing plans

■■ provide data for the Natural

Resources Commission’s

review of water sharing plans

■■ provide a benchmark for

other economic and social

monitoring exercises in natural

resource management.

The project was developed

after extensive consultation

with stakeholders, including the

NSW Irrigators’ Council and the

Primary Industries and Economic

Development Standing Committee

of the NSW Natural Resources

Advisory Council.

The project reports on changes in

a number of identified social and

economic indicators. The data are

collected primarily in a 20-minute

telephone survey of irrigators

who responded to an invitation

to participate. A sample size of

approximately 10 per cent of the

eligible irrigators is targeted for

each survey. Additional customised

data from the Australian Bureau

of Statistics’ Agricultural Census

are also used.

The first of the surveys, in 2006,

targeted irrigators in areas where

the first 31 water sharing plans were

implemented in July 2004. These

plans included all major regulated

rivers in NSW, and represented

approximately 80 per cent of the

extractive water use in NSW. The

2006 survey collected baseline

data reflecting the socio-economic

conditions of farms in these areas.

In 2009, the companion baseline

survey targeted irrigators in the

remaining areas of the State,

where water sharing plans were

implemented after 2004 or are

about to be implemented. This

survey covered irrigators whose

water sources are predominantly

unregulated rivers or major inland

groundwater systems. The combined

2006 and 2009 survey data will

provide a complete statewide

baseline data set to be used in the

socio-economic reporting of plan

performance indicators.

For reporting purposes the results

of the irrigator surveys are tabulated

by catchment management authority

(CMA) area. The North Coast data

are reported for the Northern Rivers

CMA area.

The 2006 survey results included

irrigators from the unregulated river

water sharing plan catchments of the

Upper Brunswick River, the Coopers

Creek, the Dorrigo Plateau Surface,

the Apsley River, the Commissioners

Waters and the Toorumbee Creek

Water Sources. It also included

the groundwater water sharing

plan areas of Alstonville Plateau,

Stuarts Point and Dorrigo Basalt

Groundwater Sources:

■■ The median irrigation farm

size was 32 hectares, with a

25th to 75th percentile range

of 11 to 80 hectares. The

statewide medium farm size

was 158 hectares (percentile

range 26 to 620 hectares)

socio-economic monitoring

24

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Per

cent

age

of r

espo

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Attitude

■■ Figure 12 shows types of irrigation systems used in 2006 survey for the Northern Rivers CMA area and compares this to statewide results

■■ Irrigators derived an average 33 per cent of total farm income from irrigated crops and pastures. The statewide average was 51 per cent

■■ 40 per cent of irrigators employ non-family members on farm. The statewide average was 52 per cent

■■ Full-time employment, including family and non-family members (excluding casuals), per irrigation farm was 3.4 equivalent full-time (EFT) positions. The statewide average was 3.9 EFT positions

■■ The ratio of water entitlement to EFT employees was 31 megalitres per EFT employee. The statewide ratio was 270

megalitres per EFT employee

■■ 13 per cent of irrigators had

used their water entitlement as

security for a loan. The statewide

average was 30 per cent

■■ Figure 13 shows the irrigators’

responses to the statement ‘The

water sharing plan has made a

lot of difference to water use in

this catchment’.

The 2009 survey included irrigators

in the remaining unregulated rivers

and groundwater areas in the

Northern Rivers CMA area:

■■ The median irrigation farm size

was 41 hectares, with a 25th to

75th percentile range 18 to 93

hectares. The statewide medium

was 81 hectares (percentile

range 28 to 81 hectares)

Figure 12 2006 survey responses reporting irrigation systems used in the Northern Rivers CMA area with comparison to statewide results.

Centre pivot or lateral move

Flood or furrow

Drip system

Spray or sprinkle2006 SURvEY RESUlTS

Irrigation system by area for Northern Rivers CMA

2006 SURvEY RESUlTS Irrigation system by area for

New South Wales

Figure 13 2006 survey water user’s response to the statement ‘The water sharing plan has made a lot of difference to water use in this catchment’.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

strongly agree

agree neither disagree strongly disagree

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

strongly agree


Northern Rivers CMA

Statewide (weighted) results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

strongly agree



25

■■ Figure 14 shows types of

irrigation systems used by

irrigators across the Northern

Rivers CMA with comparison

to statewide results

■■ Irrigators derived on average

17 per cent of total farm

income from irrigated crops

and pastures. The statewide


■■ 33 per cent of irrigators employ

non-family members on farm.

The statewide average was

45 per cent

■■ Full-time employment,

including family and non-family

members (excluding casuals),

per irrigation farm was 1.5 EFT

positions. The statewide average

was 2.1 EFT positions

■■ The ratio of water entitlement

to EFT employees was 40

megalitres per EFT employee.

The statewide ratio was 136

megalitres per EFT employee

■■ 7 per cent of irrigators had

used their water entitlement as

security for a loan. The statewide


■■ Figure 15 shows the irrigators’

responses to the statement ‘The

water sharing plan had or will

make a lot of difference to water

use in this catchment’.

Detailed reports of the

2006 and 2009 surveys are

available at www.water.nsw.gov.au

Figure 14 2009 survey responses reporting irrigation systems used in the remaining unregulated and groundwater areas in the Northern Rivers CMA area with comparison to statewide results.

Centre pivot or lateral move

Flood or furrow

Drip system

Spray or sprinkle2009 SURvEY RESUlTS

Irrigation system by area for Northern Rivers CMAs

2009 SURvEY RESUlTS Irrigation system by area for

New South Wales

Figure 15 2009 water users’ attitude response to the statement ‘The water sharing plan had or will make a lot of difference to water use in this catchment’.

Per

cent

age

of r

espo

nden

ts

Attitude

Northern Rivers CMA

Statewide (weighted) results

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

strongly agree


0%

10%

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strongly agree


0%

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strongly agree


0%

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strongly agree


0%

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strongly agree



26

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monitoring plans for 2009-10What EcOlOgical mONitOriNg iS plaNNEd fOr 2009–10?


sharing plans

Monitoring of low flows in the

Apsley River, the Commissioners

Waters and the Dorrigo Plateau

Surface Water Sources during

low flow conditions is continuing.

Tracking of the eastern freshwater

cod in the Nymboida River system

is continuing, and a predictive

ecological model to determine

the impact of water extraction

on fish and macroinvertebrates

is being developed.

The fish tracking work will provide detailed information on the relationship between river flows, migrations and movements by the eastern freshwater cod. This information will be used to inform water sharing plans for water sources with remnant or recovering populations of the eastern freshwater cod. Predictive modelling of the impact of water extractions on macroinvertebrate and fish communities will enable more informed assessment of

the adequacy of low flow cease-to-pump limits in meeting the environmental objectives of the water sharing plans.

Monitoring sites in the Toorumbee Creek, the Upper Brunswick River, the Coopers Creek and the Bellinger River Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources will be established according to levels of perceived risk

to instream values.


Groundwater monitoring is continuing in the Stuarts Point and Alstonville Plateau Groundwater Sources. Status reports for both are being prepared and should be available in 2010-11.

What SOciO-EcONOmic mONitOriNg iS plaNNEd fOr 2009–10?The NSW Office of Water commissioned the Australian Bureau of Statistics to customise the 2006 Agricultural Census data to the water sharing plans’ boundaries and related water sources. The data will be made available in 2010 and will be used to ground-truth components of

the survey data set. The Australian Bureau of Statistics will also provide additional secondary socio-economic data to be used to monitor the performance of water sharing plans against their

stated objectives.

The third of the planned series of irrigator surveys was undertaken in 2010, targeting the irrigators surveyed in 2006. The results will be compared against the benchmark surveys, and will be used to report against the water sharing plans’ performance reporting requirements.

further specific studies

on the NSW North coast

Water Sharing Plan for the Coopers Creek Water Source - socio-economic impact assessment of changes to flow rulesThis study assessed the likely social and economic effects on the Coopers Creek Water Source community that may result from the implementation of the flow rule changes recommended in the water sharing plan. The analysis used data obtained from the NSW

Office of Water’s hydrology model


27

and a survey of irrigation licence

holders in the water source, in

which 65 percent of licence holders

participated. It determined that

one of the proposed changes to

the cease-to-pump rules was likely

to significant reduced irrigators’

income, especially dairy farmers.

The results were used to support

the review panel’s deliberations

and contributed to the final

recommendations for changes

in the cease-to-pump levels.

What iS plaNNEd fOr futurE WatEr ShariNg plaNS?Ten additional water sharing plans covering the NSW North Coast are currently being developed for:

■■ Coffs Harbour Area Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Richmond Regulated, Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Tweed Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Nambucca Unregulated and

Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Hastings Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Brunswick Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Clarence Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources

■■ Upper North Coast Groundwater Sources

■■ Mid and Lower North Coast

Groundwater Sources.

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River depth survey in the Clarence River Gorge

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futurE priOrity NEEdS fOr EcOlOgical mONitOriNg aNd EvaluatiON ON thE NSW NOrth cOaStIn accordance with the publication

‘Macro Water Sharing Plans - The

approach for unregulated rivers.

Report to assist community

consultation, 2nd edition’, NOW

2009, (this report is available at

www.water.nsw.gov.au) potential

and actual (as supported by the

regional expert panel) high-priority

water sources are those identified

as being at high risk to instream

environmental values by water

extraction. A number of water

sources were identified as such

during the development of the

water sharing plans for the:

■■ Coffs Harbour Area Unregulated

and Alluvial Water Sources

(gazetted 2009)

■■ Richmond Regulated,

Unregulated and Alluvial Water

Sources (in draft)

■■ Tweed Unregulated and Alluvial

Water Sources (in draft)

■■ Nambucca Unregulated and

Alluvial Water Sources

(in preparation)

■■ Hastings Unregulated


(in preparation)

■■ Brunswick Unregulated


(in preparation)

■■ Clarence Unregulated


(in preparation)

■■ Macleay Unregulated and Alluvial

Water Sources (in preparation).

These are listed in Table 1 and 2.

Additional information on water

sharing plans and socio-economic

assessment is available on the

NSW Office of Water’s website

www.water.nsw.gov.au

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For more information on water sharing plans visit www.water.nsw.gov.au





29

WATeR ShARiNg PlAN WATeR SoURCe

Tweed Clothiers Creek Dungay CreekCrystal Creek

Richmond Bangalow Area Leycester CreekUpper Richmond River Myrtle Creek

Kyogle Area Alstonville AreaTerania Creek Gradys CreekTidal pool areas of the Coraki and Wyrallah Areas

Coffs Harbour Area Korora Basin Boambee CreekWoolgoolga Creek Bonville CreekCorindi River Coffs Harbour CreekDouble Crossing Creek

table 1 High-priority water sources

WATeR ShARiNg PlAN WATeR SoURCe

Brunswick Tyagarah Creek Upper Marshalls Creek

Clarence Acacia Creek Koreelah CreekBookookoorara Creek Tooloom Creek

Mid Orara River Upper Duck CreekUpper Nymboida River Bucca Bucca CreekUpper Orara River

Nambucca Upper Deep Creek Warrell CreekNorth Arm Nambucca River

Hastings Camden Haven River Pappinbarra CreekMiddle Hastings River Wilson RiverStewarts River Thone River

table 2 Potential high-priority water sources


30

referencesBrodie RS, Green RT. (2002) A hydrogeological assessment of the fractured basalt aquifers of the Alstonville Plateau, NSW. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra

Butler G. (2009) Environmental water monitoring in unregulated rivers - Review of the ecology and environmental water requirements of the endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod. NSW Office of Water, Sydney

Butler G, Mackay B, Hutchison J. (2009) Environmental water monitoring in unregulated rivers - Fish assemblages of Coopers Creek and the Wilsons River, with special reference to the Eastern Freshwater Cod. NSW Office of Water, Sydney

Green RT. (2006) Alstonville Groundwater Investigations, Status Report. NSW Department of Natural Resources, unpublished

Reinfelds I, Williams S. (2009) Environmental water monitoring in unregulated rivers - Assessment of fish passage and low flow habitat protection - Coopers Creek. NSW Office of Water, Sydney

Rumpf C. (2006) Stuarts Point Groundwater Investigations 2005-06 Status Report. NSW Department of Natural Resources, unpublished

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environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring€¦ · why do we need to monitor water...

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