Riparian vegetation limited to introduced grasses.
Minor bank erosion.
Area map
About the location
Tatiara Creek is a moderately sized stream in the upper South East with a catchment area over 430 km2. It rises in western Victoria in the Lillimur area and flows in a westerly direction through Bordertown and Poocher Swamp before disappearing underground several kilometres west of Bordertown. The major land uses are grazing and cropping.
The monitoring site was located on Senior Road, about four kilometres north from Bordertown.
The creek was given a Poor rating because the site sampled showed evidence of major changes in ecosystem structure and moderate changes to the way the ecosystem functions. There was considerable evidence of human disturbance, including the poor riparian habitat and extensive vegetation clearance in the surrounding landscape.
Findings
The creek was dry in autumn and spring 2009, so macroinvertebrate and water quality data were not available for the site inspected.
The sediments were dominated by clay, detritus, sand and silt; samples taken from below the surface were aerobic and not obviously blackened or anaerobic. Some minor bank erosion was recorded, presumably caused by stock accessing the creek.
No aquatic plants were growing in the channel or on the water’s edge.
The only plants growing in the riparian zone were introduced grasses. Bare soil extended over more than 50% of the banks and contributed to the small areas of erosion noted during the spring inspection. The surrounding vegetation at the site was cropping land.
Special environmental features
None detected.
Pressures and management responses
Pressures
Management responses
Drought
Through ground and surface water allocation planning and the South East Regional NRM Plan water affecting activity permit process the NRM Board seeks to manage water for environmental, social and economic purposes in a range of climatic scenarios.
Livestock have direct access at the site and upstream, causing sediment erosion and adding excessive nutrients (which leads to habitat disturbance, algal growth and aquatic weeds).
The South East NRM Board supports targeted projects that provide opportunities for landholders to access grants for fencing for stock exclusion from time to time for priority catchments.
Limited riparian zone vegetation at the site and upstream, providing minimal buffer protection from catchment landuses (reducing habitat quality).
The South East NRM Board assists landholders to access targeted grant opportunities for revegetation and ecosystem protection when funding is available. The Board also works closely with landholders consistent with the Board’s Regional Pest Management Plan to control weeds on their property and to assist in halting their spread to other properties.