ForestNetwork_Submission to East Gippsland regional Forest Assesment1

RECOMMENDATIONS

*It must be pointed out that although Heritage Rivers status does protect the rivers in question, the tributaries feeding into these rivers are in many cases not protected. It is my recommendation that in the best interests for protecting the attributes of freshwater ecosystems in the Gippsland region is that the tributaries of Heritage Rivers are granted protection through the establishment of 50 - 100 metre buffer zones. On smaller drainage lines in the headwaters of these creeks/rivers a 20 metre buffer zone - measured in the horizontal be established. No logging activity to occur within buffer zones.

*The Tambo River warrants special protection and I recommened 50 - 100 metre zones along the banks of the Tambo with 50 - 100 metre buffer zones on all tribuatary streams, with 20 m buffer zones on drainage lines of the tribuataries. This matter is extremely urgent, regarding issues relating to the Australian Grayling and spotted galaxias. No logging activity to occur within buffer zones.

*The Heritage River status of the Thomson needs to be extended both from the northern aspects of the river down to the junction with the Macallister. The Macallister requires at least 50 metre buffer zones along both it and its tribuataries. No logging activity to occur within buffer zones.

*The upper reaches of the Latrobe (all the way to Powelltown) warrant protection due to the populations of blackfish that inhabit the river and also the proetction of recreational fishing attributes. 50 -100 metre buffer zones need to be established along the length of the Latrobe River, with 20 metre buffers on all drainage line and tribuataries. This should also be the case with the Morwell and Upper Tyers Rivers. No logging activity to occur within buffer zones.

*The Heritage status values of the Thomson River need to be extended to Cowwarr weir.

*50 -100 metre buffer zones need to apply to the Glenmaggie Creek, Tanjil River, Morwell River and Tyers River, with 20 metre buffer zones, measured in the horizontal for all drainage lines. No logging activity to occur within buffer zones.

*The Code of Forest Practices needs further tightening up to remove loopholes which allow for the logging or removing of vegetation from filter strips and buffer zones. A total rethink about the Code of Forest Practices on private land needs to occur urgently.

*Slopes above 25 degrees should not be logged.

*Where protection is warranted on streams and rivers that in part have had their native vegetation removed, tree planting and understorey planting should begin, giving displaced timber workers and the long term unemployed first preference in tree planting schemes on pay comparable to what they were making in the timber industry. These schemes would have to be subsidised by both the state and federal governments.

*Funding needs to be increased in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for further research into the long term protection of indigenous fish and macroinvertebrate populations.

*Education information needs to be provided to fishermen when they get their fishing licences about the importance of protecting catchment values. Information should also be provided about When Creeks Silt Up Fishermen Miss Out! pamphlets. Fishermen should be given the opportunity to become more proactive in safeguarding their local environment.

*All logging should be carried out with the aim of getting Forest Stewardship Council recommendations for that timber.

*Finally, the consultation process regarding Aboriginal Groups/Communities in the Comprehensive Regional Assessment Report is very scant. Directions should have been made to consult with Aboriginal Elders in Council of the areas in question to determine what they think will be best for the long term helath of their lands. The fact that the RFA Assessment Report referred to indigenous consultation in such a scant fashion is a very serious flaw in the entire process and on confirms my suspicions that the RFA is being rushed through in order to supply woodchip companies with raw resources.

p113 Increased stream sedimentation is regarded as a threat to species such as the Spotted Tree Frog and Giant Burrowing Frog. Therefore management prescriptions, including special requirements, are in place for stream buffers, roads and stream crossings in catchments containing these species.

p179 Biodiversity Technical Report lists insecta

p198 Twenty-one freshwater fish have been recorded in the Gippsland RFA Region to date, and 15 are known or suspected to migrate as part of their life cycle. There are insufficient date to estimate the total number of macroinvertebrate species in the Gippsland region

p199 Fish surveys - 135 (40%) were located on private land and other areas of public land (eg stream frontages) and 121 sites (36%) have been located in state forests .

p199 There are no significant data gaps in fish distributional data from the Gippsland Region following the RFA research and survey program. However, significant data gaps exist on life history and population characteristics for all priority fish species. The most significant gaps relate to spawning behaviour, including induction cues and location of egg laying sites, both within the catchment and within the stream. There is also limited data on cues for migration, preferred larval habitats, and reactions of priority fish species to disturbances, particulary increased sediment and turbidity.

p199 There are still considerable gaps in the knowledge of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Gippsland RFA Region. The lack of adequate distributional and historical data makes it almost impossible to identify other taxa that may qualify for inclusion in a priority list. Almost no comprehensive data are available for life histories of priority aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa (and most other macroinvertebrate taxa as well).

p199 Of the 21 native freshwater fish species recorded from Gippsland, 7 are listed as threatened fauna in Victoria (NRE 1999b), five of which are listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and one of which is listed under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992.

p199 Eight aquatic macroinvertebrate species known from Gippsland are listed as threatened in Victoria (CNR 1995f), with two of these listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988

p200 Priority Aquatic Fauna Species Occurring in Gippsland

Mountain Galaxias, Dwarf Galaxias (FFG), Striped Gudgeon, Cox's Gudgeon (FFG), Macquarie Perch (FFG), Australian Mudfish (FFG), Australian Grayling (FFG/ESP), Lilly Pilly Burrowing Cray, Narracan Burrowing Cray (FFG), Strzelecki Burrowing Cray, Alpine Spiny Gray, South Gippsland Sping Gray, Dragonfly (FFG), Caddisfly, Stonefly

p200 The most common environmental change caused by land use activities in the catchments is an increase in sediment input to rivers and streams. Increased levels of sediment can adversely affect all aspects of freshwater ecosystems by reducing water quality and degrading or destroying habitat. Increased turbidity or suspended sediment can have adverse physical, physiological and behavioural effects on stream-dwelling flora and fauna

p201 While the potential impacts of these activities and associated environmental changes are well established, few scientifically derived data are available that directly relate the impact of most activities to any of the priority aquatic species. Therefore, in most cases, the impact on priority species in Gippsland needs to be predicted from the results of studies conducted elsewhere. While specific date relating activities or disturbances and the impacts on priority species may not exist, sufficient information is available to adequately predict the likely impacts on priority species in the Region.

p201

Activity	Major environmental change
Clearing of Vegetation	Increased stream bed and bank degradation
	Increased sedimentation and turbidity
	Increased nutrient concentrations in water
	Increased pesticide concentrations in water
Roading	Increased stream bed and bank degradation
	Increased sedimentation and turbidity
Timber Harvesting	Increased sedimentation and turbidity
	Increased nutrient concentrations in water

p202 Following the Land Conservation Council's (LCC) Rivers and Streams Special Investigation, the corridors of the Mitta Mitta (above Lake Dartmouth), the Mitchell and Wonnangatta Rivers and the Thomson River below the dam and above Cowarr weir) were declared to be Heritage River Areas under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 . . . Draft management plans for these heritage rivers have been produced abd include strategies to protect significant environmental values in each river.

Timber harvesting is excluded from the seven Natural Catchment Areas in the Gippsland Region declared under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992.

General conservation measures to protect riparian and instream values are also key elements of the Code of Forest Practices .....

p235 A precautionary approach to forest management is adopted through a range of planning processes . . .

p236 Private landholders are responsible for controlling activities on their land. Native Vegetation Retention Controls, Flora and Fauna Guarantee and the Code provide mechanisms for protecting environmental values on private land, however, their implementation lacks coordination

Heritage Rivers Act 1992

Threatened Fauna of Victoria DCNR 1995

Threatened Verebrate Fauna in Victoria 1999 DNRE

Heritage Rivers and natural catchment areas: draft management plan Vol 4 Gippsland DNRE

Daily flow rates to mainatain optimum habitat for fish assemblages in the Tambo River, Gippsland: a preliminary assessment. P.N. Hall & D.J. Harrington - Feb 1991 - Flora and Fauna Division, Vic.

(ii) In the Tambo River system the species of the highest conservation values and the most abundant of the larger native species was the Australian Grayling (prototroctes maraena) a species classified as 'vulnerable' and listed under the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988)

p5 Specimens of four native and one introduced fish species were collected at the four sites . . . 14 native and 3 introduced fish species have been collected from the Tambo system and its main tributaries, during 1969-91 . . . species which have a relatively unrestricted distribution throughout the system. Blackfish, tupong, common galaxias, smelt and both species of eel.

p6 Species which appeared to be primarily restricted to the rivers middle and lower reaches (southern pigmy perch, estuary perch, Australian grayling and both species of lamprey. Species restricted to upper reaches - spotted galaxias, rainbow trout (brown trout).

p9 Preservation of the Tambo River's population of Grayling is of fundamental importance, especially because of lack of understanding of grayling genetics (Brown 1983) and the life cycle which is presumed to include a larval marine phase (Berra 1987). The grayling population of the Tambo River is beleived to be a major breeding population and probably directly influences the distribution and abundance of the species at least across eastern Victorian rivers . . . Of particular importance are the adverse effects of poor water quality during low-flow summer months and maintenance of suitable flows and conditions for spawning and subsequent transfer of larvae to the rivers lower reaches during late autumn.

p10 The Tambo River is also important because it supports a population of Australian Bass at the westerly limit of the species known geographic range. Currently classified in Victoria as potentially threatened, this species depends on seasonal high-flow events and unobstructed passage

p15 fish surveys in Victoria's coastal rivers and streams during the last 20 years indicate that grayling is relatively more abundant and more consistently present in the Tambo River than in other waters surveyed. The Australian grayling is listed under the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act which is a state government committment to maintain important grayling habitat or to restrict processes considered to threaten the species

p15 populations of spotted galaxias - a species classified as potentially threatened in Victoria are believed to occur in tributaries of the Tambo River and are known to have a marine juvenile phase . . .

Management Plan for Freshwater Fisheries in Major Gippsland Rivers.

Water Resource Requirements D.N. Hall Jan 91

p14 Of particular significance to water resource management in the study area is the presence of populations of Australian grayling in the Snowy, Tambo, Mitchell and lower Thomson rivers. The relatively patchy or restricted distribution of grayling now compared with that last century has been ascribed largely to water and land management practices (Jackson and Koehn, 1988).

p16 high priority is therefore directed towards maintenance of grayling habitat, provision of access by migrating larvae and juveniles to and from the estuaries, and maintenance of suitable flows and water temperatures during and immediately following spawning by grayling.

p16 The freshwater populations of the Mitchell (sites 20,21), the Snowy (sites 25-22) and Tambo Rivers (sites 36-40) had the highest conservation values. Safeguarding the Mitchell River was given top priority because fish distributions in the Snowy and Tambo Rivers were deduced largely from fish collections . . . The lower Thomson (site 14) has been assigned a high conservation value because of the presence of grayling . . . Sites between the Thomson Dam and Bruntons Bridge (sites 31-35) were classified at the head of the average category because of their unusually high proporation of large blackfish. The upper Latrobe River and its tributaries (Mowell and upper Tyers Rivers) had relatively high proportions of blackfish, as did the Thomson above Cowwarr (site 15), Glenmaggie Creek (site 18) and the Tanjil River (sites 27-28) . . . The Aberfeldy River (sites 29, 30) was given a higher conservation ranking than would be expected . . . owing to the catchment's excellent condition.

p17 The State of the Environment Report 1988 (Ministry for Environmental Planning 1989) tabled a series of estimates of use (angler/day) for each river catchment across the state . . . the resulting estimates suggest that the Latrobe and Tambo basins each catered for 150 000 angler days per annum, and the Snowy, Mitchell and Thomson basins each catered for 100 000 angler days per annum

p17 The Upper Latrobe River (5-7) contained the best of the 'average' fish populations for anglers . . . The Thomson River downstream from Thomson Reservoir to Brunton's Bridge (31-35) and the Aberfeldy River (29-30) contained fish populations with the highest proportions of 'size' angling species. Better than average angling opportunities were also identified at Glenmaggie Creek and at sites on the Morwell (site 10), Tyers (site 12) and Tanjil (site 28) rivers in the Latrobe River catchment

Preliminary assessment of daily flows required to maintain habitat for fish assemblages in the Latrobe, Mitchell and Snowy Rivers, Gippsland. Douglas N. Hall July 1989. Technical Report Series No. 85

p16 Information on the occurence and distribution of fish species in the Latrobe, Thomson, Mitchell and Snowy Rivers is available from the results of surveys conducted during the 1970's and early 1980's (Tunbridge and Gleane 1982). A systematic fish sampling program was undertaken during the present study to determine the distribution and relative abundance of fish species at each of the 22 flow study sites and an additional 3 fish survey sites nominated by the DWR.

p18 Ten native and four introduced fish species were collected from the Latrobe River and tributary sites. Previously 15 native freshwater fish species have been collected during fish surveys of the Latrobe system including the following species not collected in 1988 - Australian Grayling, broad-finned galaxias, dwarf galaxias, striped gudgeon, blue spot goby and non-parasitic lamprey and 6 introduced species. Species found included Australian smelt, Blackfish, Estuary Perch, Long finned - eel, short finned eel, short headed lamprey, southern pigmy perch and trout, carp, perch, mosquito fish

p20 A depauperate fish fauna - both in species richness and fish numbers was encountered from Rosedale up to Lake Narracan area mainly smelt, carp and english perch

p21 The fish populations of the Latrobe River dowmstream of Lake Narracan have decreased dramatically both in terms of numbers of fish and also biomass over the last 15 years. "The presence of relatively large numbers of blackfish, trout and small species such as smelt and pigmy perch upstream from Lake Narracan - combined with an absence or scarcity of these species and the decreased carrying capacity of the lower section of the river since 1973 . . . indicates that the ecology of the Latrobe downstream from Lake Narracan has undergone a substantial change over the last 15 years

p21 A hypothesis to explain the recently observed distribution of fish in the Lower Latrobe concerns the annual load of suspended solids. Poor land use practices, removal of river bank vegetation and instream debris, substantial daily flow variations induced by stream regulation, meander cuts and a variety of other industrial, agricultural and river management practices have had the cumulative effect of substantially increasing the sediment load of the river. Increased levels of sediment in streams can have a direct effect on fish populations by decreasing the survival rate of demersal embryos (Cooper 1965), by reducing rearing and reproductive habitat for juvenile and adult fish (Bjorn et al, 1977, Berkel and Rabeni 1987), by abrading gill and other tissues, by interfering with determined behavioural responses such as feeding and avoidance, and finally by reducing the stream's capacity to produce or provide food organisms. Recent studies of increased sedimentation in streams have consistently indicated dramatic changes in species composition, diversity and total numbers of invertebrates which can be attributed to the effects of physical abrasion by organisms by suspended sediment, smothering of suitable habitat, reduction in the capacity of smothered areas to produce food organisms and the alteration of behavioural responses like drift (see Hall 1988).

p22 The invertebrate communities of the Latrobe downstream of Narracan are impoverished both in terms of species diversity and biomass. Robinson (1988) attributed changes in the species diversity of aquatic invertebrates downstream of Lake Narracan to increased loads of suspended sediment, altered substrate types and flow regulation practices.

The unstable and mobile nature of the Latrobe river bed below Lake Narracan, combined with the river's load of suspended sediment and subsequent impoverished macro-invertebrate fauna could provide a convenient explanation for the observed numbers of species composition of the fish fauna. Freshwater blackfish and tupong are primarily benthic insect feeders and their absence might be attributed to the lack of suitable food or their inability to locate sufficient food items.

p25 11 native and 4 introduced species were collected from the Thomson River and tributary site. During previous surveys by the Fisheries and Wildlife Department a total of seven native and 3 exotic fish species were recorded in the Thomson River. Found Australian Grayling, Australian Smelt, blackfish, long finned eel, short finned eel, estuary perch, flat headed gudgeon, common galaxias, mountain galaxias, southern pigmy perch, tupong + brown trout, carp, english perch, mosquito fish)

p29 11 species of native freshwater fish were collected from the Mitchell River and no introduced species were encountered. Previously 7 native and 2 exotic species of freshwater fish have been recorded from the Mitchell. Found Australian Grayling, Australian Smelt, blackfish, long finned eel, short finned eel, estuary perch, flat headed gudgeon, short headed lamprey, common galaxias, southern pigmy perch, tupong + brown trout, carp, english perch, mosquito fish).

p36 The behavioural and life history activities of freshwater fish species can be divided into 4 major categories; rearing, resting, spawning and passage. Each of these activities require particular habitat features and are considered seperately.

p37 Rearing habitat is arguably the most critical habitat type to be preserved while considering flow reductions. It invariably emcompesses the largest area of habitat in a river . . . food sources for riverine fish species can be arbitrarily divided into 2 categories - riparian for terrestrial and instream. Riparian habitat generally harbours diverse and abundant terrestrial insect fauna which commonly contribute as fish food by flying, falling or crawling to the surface water and thereby becoming available to fish.

p38 Aquatic invertebrates are the major components of the diet of most native freshwater fish species inhabiting Victorian coastal streams. Clean gravels and cobbles in riffles are often the most productive areas in a river for macroinvertebrates . . . Aletrnatively for those rivers or sections of rivers with predominately sand substrates most invertebrate production is usually associated with instream debris such as rocks, twigs and leaves.

p39 There is very little quantitative information available on the resting habitat requirements of native Australian freshwater fish, or the proportion of time a species rests either daily, seasonally or with age . . .

p95 A period of at least 2 years is a minimum estimate of the time required to generate a comprehensive assessment of instream flow material . . .

SSP Technical Report No 5 - A Review of Australian Studies on the Effects of Forestry Practices on Aquatic Values. TJ Doeg and JD Koehn Fisheries Division September 1990.

West Barham Catchment - Otway Ranges

p6 Mean stream turbibity (over all samples) was significantly higher in the harvested catchments than in the unharvested sub-catchment of similar size. Mean filterable solids were also significantly higher in samples from the larger disturbed catchments, but not in the smaller subcatchments . . . p7 The intensive post-flood sampling upstream of the monitoring sites suggested that poor drainage from compacted areas such as logging roads, snig tracks and log landings, and the influence of land slides and debris torrents were responsible for the elevated turbidity records in the harvested catchments

p9 In the Picaninny Creek, the concentration of suspended solids increased marginally following clearfelling, but the increase did not persist. Sediment trapped behind the Picaninny weir showed that total export of suspended material increased from 40kg/ha/annum in the pre-treatment phase to a peak of 90 kg/ha/annum in 1974, followed by a rapid return to pre-treatement levels. Additional water samples taken within the catchment showed that the increase in suspended sediment was caused by run-off from a road crossing, and not from the clearfelled area itself.

p12 Although water quality parameters were not measured, soil erosion "increased greatly after the logging operations"

p17 However, suspended sediment concentrations in Strinybark Creek during logging were considerably higher than in other as yet undisturbed catchments, with the actual increases being variable and differing between storms, but in the range of 0 to 300%. Estimates of suspended sediment loads also showed an increase of 150% in the disturbed catchment in the first storm after the start of treatment, but the loads appeared to be reducing towards the end of the logging.

p20 Following clearing of the eucalypt forest, storm run-off increased by an average of 40% compared to the uncleared eucalypt catchment, and more than doubled in one of the cleared pine forest catchments . . .

p28 No changes in flow-weighted mean annual sediment concentrations could be determined in the April Road North Catchments, and only a small increase occurred in the year of logging in the Yerraminnup South catchment (however, larger increases were noted in this year in the control Yerraminnup North catchment). In both cases, buffer strips of 100 m and 50 m respectively had been left along the stream banks . . .

p29 Suspended sediment concentrations were elevated by a factor of 3 to 5 in all four catchments following cutting, reaching a maximum two years after logging, then declining in the following year due to lower rainfall and revegetation.

p32 In the Sutton trial, where the buffer strips were completely removed, there was an increase in organic material accession and sand deposition from road surfaces to the stream, particulary at road crossings. This somewhat altered the flow path and channel morphology in the two years following the trial. Some bank collapse was caused by trees falling across the stream channel during logging. Algal blooms were also noted following the trial

Threatened Fauna in Victoria 1995 - Department Conservation Natural Resources

Gippsland Fish and Macroinvertebrates

Endangered

Freshwater Herring (Potamolosa richmondia)

Vulnerable

Cox's Gudgeon (Gobiomorphus Coxii)

Damselfly (Hemiphlebia mirabilis)

Rare

Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)

Australian Whitebait (Lovetta sealii)

Flora and Fauna Guarantee - Scientific Advisory Committee - Nomination No. 3 Item No. A4041

Final Recommendation on a nomination for Listing

Prototroctes maraena Gunther, 1864 - Australian Grayling

Date of final recommendation: 22/5/91

Criterion 1.2 The taxon is significantly prone to future threats which are likely to result in extinction

Evidence:

What is known of the species' breeding patterns suggest that migration between river and the ocean is required (Hall and Harrington 1989); thus the SAC is satisfied that any threat to the river systems in which the species occurs causes a significant threat to its reproduction. Those few rivers where large populations are known to occur are threatened by possible water storage development which could create barriers to fish passage (Koehn & Morrison 1990) and by other developments, as none of the major catchments are within boundaries of National Parks. Predation by introduced trout is another possible threat (Koehn & O'Connor 1990).

Background Information

-Categorised as "vulnerable" in Victoria by Baker-Gabb (1991), Koehn & Morison (1990) and Cadwallader et al. (1984).

-The species is considered by the Endangered Species Committee of the Total Environment Centre to be one of the most endangered of Australia's freshwater fishes.

-CONCOM recognises the species as endangered (Burbidge & Jenkins 1984)

-Harris (1987) identifies the species as being threatened

-The viable size of Grayling populations within Victoria is not known. Few large populations have been found.

-A congenor of this species declined rapidly to extinction in New Zealand during the 1920's. Prototroctes maraena is therefore the only extant species in the family.

Flora and Fauna Guarantee - Scientific Advisory Committee - Nomination No. 304 Item No. A4155

Final Recommendation on a nomination for Listing

Gobiomorphus coxii Kreft 1864 - Cox's Gudgeon

Sub-criterion 1.2.1 The taxon is very rare in terms of abundance or distribution

Evidence: Only 18 specimens of Gobiomorphus coxii have been collected from a total of 10 sites in the state. The species is restricted to lowland coastal areas in south-eastern Victoria from the Franklin River in South Gippsland eastward to the New South Wales border, north-east of Mallacoota in East Gippsland

-Several potentially threatening processes which have either been listed (The increase in sedimentation input into Victorian rivers and streams due to human activities . . . may represent a threat to Cox's Gudgeon.

Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria

JD Koehn WG O'Connor April 1990

Some other listed fish species from the Gippsland region

Pouched Lamprey (Geotria australis) - Potentially threatened

Freshwater Herring (Potamalosa richmondia) - Endangered

Broad-finned galaxias (Galaxias brevipinnis) - Potentially threatened

Spotted galaxias (Galaxias truttaceus) - Potentially threatened

Dwarf galaxias (Galaxias pusilla) - Potentially threatened

Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) - Potentially threatened

Freshwater Fishes of Australia - Dr Gerald R. Allen

p189 Cox's Gudgeon: Inhabits swift-flowing streams, ofetn in rapids. Spawning occurs in summer. The eggs are deposited on rock surfaces and are guarded by the male until hatching, which requires 3-5 days. The larvae are washed downstream to lowland rivers and estuaries. Upstream migration occurs as the young fish increase in size . . . The species penetrates well inland to altitudes of at least 700 m. Food items include aquatic insects, crustaceans and other fishes.

p47 Australian Grayling: Inhabits creeks and rivers, usually in cool, clear waters over gravel bottoms in sections alternating between pools and rapids. They often form large schools especially prior to spawning. The reproductive period is from late summer to autumn. Each female produces about 25 000 to 68 000 eggs that sink to the bottom just downstream of the spawning site. Hatching occurs in about 10-20 days. The newly hatched larvae are apparently swept downstream to estuaries or the sea where they remain for about 6 months before returning to fresh water to complete their life cycles. . . They eat small crustaceans, insects and their larvae and algae.

Technical Report No 52. - A review of biological information, distribution and status of the Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena) Gunther in Victoria PD Jackson and JD Koehn 1988

(iv) Key stages in the early life history, dynamics of existing populations and habitat requirements of Australian Grayling, especially during the first 6 months of life are poorly documented. It is not known whether discrete stocks of Australian Grayling ascend different freshwater streams or whether there is one stock which ascends streams at random after larvae have mingled in coastal waters. If the latter is the case, spawning may occur only in a few freshwater streams, making the species vulnerable to environmental alteration. None of the major catchments containing Australian Grayling are within boundaries of National Parks, thus no Australian Grayling population in Victoria is adequately protected.

p8 Results from the Tambo River in 1981 show that ripe grayling were present well upstream from the end of April until the end of May.

p9 the eggs settle in interstices of the gravel bottom

p11 the most frequent food items found were immature stages of aquatic insects such as chironoids, trichopterans and ephemopterans, gastropods and abundant plant material

p14 Due to the gaps in our knowledge of the life cycle and population genetics of the species, conclusions of the status of grayling based purely on distributional data should be viewed with considerable caution. Habitat requirements for first 6 months are unknown

p15 not sure whether the species can spawn in heavily silted rivers

p15 'thus there are no totally protected grayling populations in Victoria. All rivers known to contain grayling are susceptible to some form of habitat destruction in the future.

p105 In the Gippsland region, the corridors of the Mitta Mitta, Mitchell and Wonnangatta and Thomson Rivers have been designated as Heritage Rivers and are protected under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992.

p106 Those catchments which have not been subject to physical or biological processes that leave the environment impaired or changed, have been designated as Essentially Natural Catchments. In the Gippsland region, seven catchments were identified and recommended as Essentially Natural Catchments: Avon, Turton and Dolodrook Rivers and Ben Cruachan Creek; Stony Creek, Wongungurra River headwaters, Blue Rag Creek, Pinnacle Creek, Punchen Creek and Mount Vereker Creek . . . A draft management plan for heritage rivers and natural catchments in Gippsland was released for comment in November 1997 (NRE 1997h). . .

p106 The Environment Protection Act 1970 provides for the declaration of State Environment Protection Policies (SEPP) for defined areas in order to maintain environmental quality sufficient to protect existing and anticipated beneficial uses. State Environment Protection Policies relevant to the Gippsland region include: *State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) 1988, including Schedule F5 (The Latrobe and Thomson River Basins and Merriman Creek Catchment and Schedule F3 (Waters of Gippsland Lakes and Catchment) . . .

Forests, Water and Recreational Fishing.

Fact Sheet: 3

Impact of timber harvesting at Goolengook and the Bemm River Catchment.

It has been stated that there are between 50,000 – 99,000 angler days/per annum in East Gippsland. These anglers provide the East Gippsland economy with over $100 million worth of revenue each year. The Bemm River Catchment is a jewel in East Gippsland’s fishing crown.

“Sydenham Inlet is a popular car-based camping spot and is often crowded during holidays over summer. It is also highly regarded by anglers for species such as black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri), estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum), and Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata). (p60 Rivers and Streams – Special Investigation final recommendations LCC June 1991). However, there are personal reports that the Bemm River has become more turbid over recent years. Siltation of Sydenham Inlet could be as much as 30cm over the past 30 years.

The main tribuatories of the Bemm; the Goolengook, Errinundra and Combienbar rivers, have their headwaters on the Errinundra Plateau, which forms the northern boundary of the catchment. Its elevation raises from 1000 to 1200m. These rivers fall steeply over the escarpment, to the south and east, then flow through deeply dissected hills, before forming wider valleys and entering the gentler coastal topography.

Such is the quality of the Bemm River and its tributaries, Goolengook, Arte and Errinundra Rivers that in 1991 the Land Conservation Council recommended that this system be recommended as Victorian Heritage

River status. This included significant values such as rainforest occurrence, long footed potoroo habitat, Australian grayling habitat and native fish diversity in the lower reaches of Sydenham Inlet be protected. However even the LCC acknowledged that recent instances of reduced water quality as a result of turbidity following rain have been reported. The causes should be identified and remedial action taken.

In December 1995, the DCNR published “An Assessment of the significance of the fishes and freshwater decapods in three areas in East Gippsland”. In this study numerous sites were sampled between 25 March 1992 and 7 March 1993. The study claimed that “the Upper Bemm system, contains significant acquatic habitat and the highest species diversity values recorded in this study . . .” The highest diversity of nine species was recorded at one site on the Goolengook River, followed by two sites on the Bemm River. Species found in the Goolengook River included the Short finned eel, Long finned eel, River Blackfish, Short-headed Lamprey, Pouched Lamprey (a rare species), Tupong, Australian Smelt, Brown Trout, Gippsland Spiny Cray and the Freshwater Shrimp. Species found in the Little Arte River (Arte Road) included vulnerable and rare species (Galaxias olidus – Mountai Galaxias, Galaxias brevipinnis Broad-finned Galaxias) with no exotic fish present.

In a 1994 study entitled Design of a Sediment Monitoring Program for the Bemm River Catchment, the study found (p2) “Hardwood production did not increase turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations significantly for low flows, but made a significant contribution at high flows.

-Maintenance of the Combienbar Road increased turbidity and suspended sediment concentration on the rising hydrograph at low flows, but not at high flows. Road embankment failures in the past have contributed relatively large quantities of sediment to the fluvial delta. Road widening activities adjacent to streams probably contribute significant amounts of sediment to the system. Fire increased suspended sediment concentration. Suspended sediment in the Bemm River system is very fine. During the flood event, peak values of turbidity and suspended sediment concentration occur in the Combienbar River Valley.

Floods move a greater volume of sediment than base flows. The peak turbidity reading at the Bemm River RWC gauge was recorded approximately 19 hours after the river started to rise during an event which was monitored.

(p3) “The recommended sediment monitoring program comprises of . . . manual measurement of turbidity upstream and downstream of activities which may impact upon water quality, particulary hardwood production activities in the Combienbar River and Goolengook River catchments.

Need to establish a secondary monitoring station on the Goolengook River – responsibility of EGRMB – August 1994.

The Land Systems of Goolengook include (Wat Wat) Roughly north aspects of the Goolengook River both to the west and the east, extending past the Errinundra River. Long, broad, steep ridges, rectangular drainage patterns. Friable red and brown gradational soils above 750m, open forest of candlebark, brown-barrel, alpine ash (above 1100m), shining gum (above 900m), Mountain Grey Gum and Messmate at elevations below 750 m, silvertop open forest. Important for water conservation, hardwood production, nature conservation and recreation. (Bullamalk) Roughly extending along Arte River Catchment on the northern side, taking in Little Arte River and both the east and west sides of the Goolengook River. Running alongside but south to Wt. Long, narrow, ridges and deep v-shaped valleys, slope greater than 20 degrees. Friable red and brown gradational soils above 700m, red and brown gradational soils below 700m. Open forest of Messmate, mountain grey gum and broad leafed peppermint above 700m. Silvertop below 700m. Important as Wt.

(p27) About 5000 cubic metres of soil was washed into the Bemm River system when an embankment along the Errinundra Road adjacent to the Errinundra River slumped in 1991. A similar volume of soil slipped into the Combienbar river during a major event in 1990. (p30) Most common sediment sources identified by stakeholders were; logging coupes, wildfires, the ford of Hensleigh Creek in the Combienbar River valley, the road cuttings along the Combienbar Road at Hensleigh Creek Road. (p40) The most plausible explantation of the significant increase in suspended concentration in the late 1980’s at the Combienbar gauge is the increase in hardwood production activities in the Combienbar catchment between 1985 and 1988. The increase in suspended sediment concentration at the gauge on the Bemm River at the Princes Hwy bridge could also have resulted from road widening activities in the Errinundra and Combienbar catchments which took place during this period. However both of these explanations remain unproven.

Sampling after 1993 flood event: Bemm River – comparisons with results from upstream samples indicates the effects of hardwood production and agriculture in the lower Goolengook and Club Terrace area. (p48) The majority of fine sediment mobilised in the upper catchment will be carried right through the system and deposited on the fluvial delta of Sydenham Inlet. (p51) In 1993, between 6.25am on September 16 and 3 pm September 17, approximately 2000 tonnes of suspended sediment concentration was carried by the Bemm River past the Princes Hwy bridge.

Bibliography

State of the Environment Report 1988. Victoria’s Inland Waters. Office of the Commissioner for the Environment

Managing Sediment Sources and Movement in Forests: The Forest Industry and Water Quality. November 1999. CooperativeResearch Centre for Catchment Hydrology.

Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Flora and Fauna Program. Freshwater Ecology. Training/Information Course Notes

Rip Rap Issue 4. Fauna and the riparian zone. Native Fish need healthy riparian vegetation

Land For Wildlife. Vol 2, No 5. Native fishes - The Broad-finned Galaxias and Spotted Galaxias.

Land for Wildlife News Vol 3, No 7. A day in the life of a Blackfish

Land for Wildlife News Vol 3, No 9. Mayflies - An insect one day wonder

Threats to Victorian native freshwater fish by JD Koehn and WG O’Connor 1990.

Orbost does take water from the Bemm River. The Bemm River station has most of its flow in June. 1220 ml used in the basin each year. 66% (800ml) used for irrigation (pasture crops). 320 ml used for urban and industrial. Pretty good water quality. (p158-164 Water Victoria – A Resource Handbook. Dept of Water Resources 1989. Between 50,000 – 99,000 angler days/per annum in East Gippsland. P 313 (State of the Environment 1988. Victoria’s Inland Waters. Office of the Commissioner for the Environment 1988),

For East Gippsland the Freshwater Herring is endangered. The Australian Grayling is vulnerable. Australian Bass (Freshwater Perch) potentially threatened. Mountain Galaxias (no migration to the sea).

“The acquatic habitat too is significant. The vulnerable Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena) occurs in the Bemm River. The lower reaches of the river and its estuary, Sydenham Inlet, are also important for conserving the diverse range of fish species present” p57 Rivers and Streams – Special Investigation final Recommendations – Land Conservation Council June 1991).

“Vulnerable in Victoria. If the factors causing demise continues to operate, the species will soon move into the endangered category (special management measures required if the taxa have to continue to survive”. Endangered: freshwater herring, trout cod, brown galaxias or ‘mountain galaxias’ Ewens pigmy perch? 313 (State of the Environment 1988. Victoria’s Inland Waters. Office of the Commissioner for the Environment 1988).

Recommendation

A8 Bemm River and its tributaries, Goolengook, Arte and Errinundra Rivers

That the 148km river corridor including the Bemm River and sections of its tributaries shown on map A8 be used in accordance with general recommendations A1—A17 (a) to (l).

Bemm River and its tributaries, Goolengook, Arte and Errinundra Rivers that

(i) the corridor be retained free from impoundments, artificial barriers or structures that impede the passage of in-stream fauna

(ii) any new diversions of water only be permitted if their volumes, timing, and offftake to not significantly impair native fish habitat conditions, adversely affect rainforest and its continuity, or reduce scenic landscape value

the following significant values be protected

rainforest occurences

(ii) long footed potoroo habitat

(iii) Australian grayling habitat, by retaining free passage for migration, and maintaining water quality, flow, and in-stream habitat conditions

(iv) native fish diversity in the lower reaches of Sydenham Inlet

(v) Sydenham Inlet, an estuary of geomorphological significance

other recreation activities continue where permitted in accordance with land status

and that the corridor be managed by the Department of Conservation and Environment, in conjunction with the East Gippsland Rivers Management Board in relation to waterway management.

Notes:

Recent instances of reduced water quality as a result of turbidity following rain have been reported. The causes should be identified and remedial action taken.

2 other points followed – not relevent to rivers/fish (p59-60 Rivers and Streams – Special Investigation final recommendations LCC June 1991).

Flora and Fauna Technical Report 140

An Assessment of the significance of the fishes and freshwater decapods in three areas in East Gippsland

By T.A.Raadik – December 1995

“15 species of fish and decapod crustaceans were considered threatened fauna on a regional (East Gippsland) basis . . . 83% of freshwater native fish species of the coastal river basins found in East Gippsland . . . also important for macroinvertebrates (Doeg 1995) . . . and the Bemm including the Arte and Goolengook Rivers (upper Bemm system) have been recommended as ‘Victorian heritage rivers. . . “

Sites were sampled between 25 March 1992 and 7 March 1993.

(p12) “ . . . Due to the difficulty of access because of their remoteness, and to some degree time constraints, the following streams were not sampled . . . Upper Bemm System: Errinundra (east branch); upper reaches of the Goolengook and Ada Rivers . . . “Gadopsis marnoratus (River Blackfish) appears absent from the entire Arte River and upper Goolengook and Errinundra rivers . . . (p12) Fish were collected from all four estuarine sites, but were absent from 12% of freshwater sites including Goolengook (77) . . . (p39) an additional site was also located on the Upper Little Goolengook River (83), though the small first order stream may not support fish due to its small size

(p36) “ . . . Goolengook River – B for naturalness, B for rarity – apparent absence of non-migratory Gadopsis marnoratus (River Blackfish) from upper system” . . . “(p41) the Bemm River main channel, Errinundra River main channel and east branch, the entire Goolengook river main channel and the Arte river main channel have been proposed as Victorian Heritage Rivers (LCC 1991a). This provides additional protection to acquatic values, but as the defined areas do not include the tribuatories as well . . . the amount of protection provided from potentially threatening processes, which may occur in these areas, such as sediment or toxic substance inputs, is diminished. Consequently, the Upper Bemm system, which contains significant acquatic habitat and the highest species diversity values recorded in this study, has the least amount of acquatic habitat within national parks or other conservation reserves. . .”

Relevant survey sites in the Upper Bemm system; 65, 66, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 82, 83

Bemm River (u/s of Princes Highway) 65 high nature species diversity 8

Bemm River (Combienbar Road) 66 high nature species diversity 8

Goolengook River (Goolengook Road) 75 high native species diversity 9; rare species (Geotria australis) – Pouched Lamprey. (p36) “. . .

(p59) Goolengook River, a tributary of Bemm River

75 (4) upstream of bridge on Goolengook Road.

Substrate: sand. Land Use: forest. Stream flow: pool. Max Width: 9m. Max Depth: 2m. Ave Depth 0.6m

Species	number
Anguilla australis (Short finned eel)	6
Anguilla reinhardttii (Long finned eel)	3
Gadopsis marmoratus (River Blackfish)	1
Geotria australis (pouched lamprey)	6
Mordacia mordax (Short-headed Lamprey)	8
Pseudaphritis urvillii (Tupong)	4
Retropinna semoni (Australian Smelt)	5
Salmo trutta (Brown Trout)	3
Euastacus kershawi (Gippsland Spiny Cray)	13
Paratya australiensis (Freshwater Shrimp)	30

76 (3) off unnamed track off Goolengook Road

Anguilla australis (Short finned eel)	4
Mordacia mordax (Short-headed Lamprey)	3
Salmo trutta (Brown Trout)	4
Euastacus kershawi (Gippsland Spiny Cray)	10
Paratya australiensis (Freshwater Shrimp)	5

82 (2) a tributary, upstream and downstream of bridge track off Goolengook Road

Salmo trutta (Brown Trout)

Euastacus kershawi (Gippsland Spiny Cray)

Paratya australiensis (Freshwater Shrimp)

77 (1) a tributary of, upstream of culvert on Green Road, 1.5km north of Ellery Camp

Little Arte River (Arte Road) 80 small stream with high native species diversity 4; vulnerable and rare species (Galaxias olidus – Mountai Galaxias, Galaxias brevipinnis Broad-finned Galaxias), no exotic fish present.

East Gippsland River Management Board – DCNR. Design of a Sediment Monitoring Program for the Bemm River Catchment. May 1994. Ian Drummond and Associates.

(p2) “Hardwood production did not increase turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations significantly for low flows, but made a significant contribution at high flows.

-Maintenance of the Combienbar Road increased turbidity and suspended sediment concentration on the rising hydrograph at low flows, but not at high flows.

-Road embankment failures in the past have contributed relatively large quantities of sediment to the fluvial delta.

-Road widening activities adjacent to streams probably contribute significant amounts of sediment to the system.

-Fire increased suspended sediment concentration.

-Suspended sediment in the Bemm River system is very fine.

-During the flood event, peak values of turbidity and suspended sediment concentration occur in the Combienbar River Valley.

-Floods move a greater volume of sediment than base flows.

-The peak turbidity reading at the Bemm River RWC gauge was recorded approximately 19 hours after the river started to rise during an event which was monitored.

Need to establish a secondary monitoring station on the Goolengook River – responsibility of EGRMB – August 1994.

(p11) Victorian Parliament recently acknowledged the environmental value of the Bemm River by classifying the Bemm and some of its tribuataries, the Goolengook, Arte and Errinundra Rivers with Heritage River Status.

Personal reports that the Bemm River has become more turbid over recent years. Siltation of Sydenham Inlet could be as much as 30cm over the past 30 years. (Don Cunningham – Bemm River resident).

(p14) main tribuatories of the Bemm; the Goolengook, Errinundra and Combienbar rivers, have their headwaters on the Errinundra Plateau, which forms the northern boundary of the catchment. Its elevation raises from 1000 to 1200m. These rivers fall stepply over the escarpment, to the south and east, then flow through deeply dissected hills, before forming wider valleys and entering the gentler coastal topography.

(p17) the Errinundra River would havee a slighty higher annual discharge at its confluence with the Bemm River then the Goolengook and Combienbar Rivers.

Land Systems

Wt: (Wat Wat) Roughly north aspects of the Goolengook River both to the west and the east, extending past the Errinundra River. Long, broad, steep ridges, rectangular drainage patterns. Friable red and brown gradational soils above 750m, open forest of candlebark, brown-barrel, alpine ash (above 1100m), shining gum (above 900m), Mountain Grey Gum and Messmate at elevations below 750 m, silvertop open forest. Important for water conservation, hardwood production, nature conservation and recreation.

Bk: (Bullamalk) Roughly extending along Arte River Catchment on the northern side, taking in Little Arte River and both the east and west sides of the Goolengook River. Running alongside but south to Wt. Long, narrow, ridges and deep v-shaped valleys, slope greater than 20 degrees. Friable red and brown gradational soils above 700m, red and brown gradational soils below 700m. Open forest of Messmate, mountain grey gum and broad leafed peppermint above 700m. Silvertop below 700m. Important as Wt.

Plot of annual discharge:

Goolengook (230ML/per square km).

Bemm at the Princes Hwy. (260 ML/per square km).

(p30) Most common sediment sources identified by stakeholders were; logging coupes, wildfires, the ford of Hensleigh Creek in the Combienbar River valley, the road cuttings along the Combienbar Road at Hensleigh Creek Road.

(p40) The most plausible explantation of the significant increase in suspended concentration in the late 1980’s at the Combienbar gauge is the increase in hardwood production activities in the Combienbar catchment between 1985 and 1988. The increase in suspended sediment concentration at the gauge on the Bemm River at the Princes Hwy bridge could also have resulted from road widening activities in the Errinundra and Combienbar catchments which took place during this period. However both of these explanations remain unproven.

(p48) The majority of fine sediment mobilised in the upper catchment will be carried right through the system and deposited on the fluvial delta of Sydenham Inlet.

(p51) In 1993, between 6.25am on September 16 and 3 pm September 17, approximately 2000 tonnes of suspended sediment concentration was carried by the Bemm River past the Princes Hwy bridge.

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