Protecting our Rivers, Riparian Vegetation and Aquatic Life

Our catchments and rivers have endured extensive changes to their character and ecological functioning since European settlement. Issues such as sedimentation, nutrients and chemicals entering watercourses and altered flow regimes have impacted upon the fish, macro-invertebrates, frogs and water dependent vegetation in our streams.

Riparian vegetation (the vegetation communities adjacent to and influenced by a watercourse), including aquatic plants in the stream channel, has also been altered by threats such as stock, weeds and modifications to flow regimes. The permanent pools and remnant riparian vegetation that remains in the catchment provide vital habitat for our aquatic life. Features such as woody debris, sedges and rushes in our watercourses provide valuable refuge during times of high flow allowing them to safely migrate along a watercourse. Removal of stock will allow vegetation to regenerate and can reduce nutrient input and creekline erosion.

Improving land management practices may also be required to prevent sedimentation and creekline erosion (see "Managing Our Land And Soils Sustainably"). Restoring riparian vegetation and controlling environmental weeds are also important steps in reviving our rivers.

ELIGIBLITY CRITERIA FOR THESE PROJECTS

- Fences must be placed a minimum of 5m from the edge of a stream bank (if fences are placed too close to the edge of a stream bank, especially if eroded, then it is likely the ground may erode underneath the fence causing it to collapse). Projects proposing to fence out a greater distance than 5m from the edge of the bank will be looked upon favourably.

- Revegetation of watercourses has the same eligibility criteria as revegetation of buffers and corridors (see "Protecting And Restoring Natural Biodiversity") in that is must be greater than 30m in width and use local native species.

- Environmental weed control in remnant riparian areas should use minimum disturbance methods so it doesn't damage existing vegetation. In riparian areas herbicides should not be used where there is permanent water unless cut & swab or drill & fill methods are used and when using these methods Roundup bioactive is the preferred chemical. Most herbicides and the surfactants used with them can have significant impacts upon frogs and some fish populations.

- Projects which fence off sections of watercourse from road to road may be looked upon favourably.

ON-GROUND ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING

On-Ground Activities	Typical Incentive Rate
Fence off watercourse from stock	$3000 / km fence if stock excluded
Fence off dam from stock	$3000 / km fence if stock excluded
Relocation of watering points associated with watercourse/dam fencing	$400 / watering point if property management plan is developed and implemented
Revegetation of watercourses	$500 / ha if stock are excluded
Environmental weed control	50% total costs of contractors reimbursed or 50% of applicants own labour and chemical costs reimbursed (with labour valued at $25/hr)
Other projects which protect rivers and riparian vegetation	Reimbursement negotiated on site or ring the project officer to discuss ideas