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2. Water Management

Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapour, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation. Saltwater oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers and lakes 0.6%. Water moves continually through a cycle of evaporation or transpiration, precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the sea. Clean, fresh water is essential to human and other life.

 

Water in Central West NSW

 

 

 

Riparian stabilisation and rehabilitation works in the upper catchment.

 

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Catchment and Management Target Overview till 2016:

Catchment Target (CTW1):

By 2016, improve surface and groundwater system health across the catchments, as measured by:

• A 5% reduction in the modelled result for suspended sediment;
• Temperature to be maintained or restored to within 2 degrees Celsius of median levels (ANZECC guidelines, 1992);
• A reduction in the duration of blue-green algal blooms duration above the high alert level;
• No detection of hazardous chemicals above ANZECC guidelines, 2000;
• Faecal Coliforms reduced below primary contact levels at key sites in catchment;
• Flow rules are in operation to meet the long term extraction limit and environmental water requirements, as defined by Water Sharing Plans. 

 

Management Target (MTW1):

• By 2016, implement an education awareness program for the application of all chemicals and other hazardous substances.

Management Target (MTW2):

• By 2016, 600km of identified priority watercourses will be stabilised and managed to control sediment migration and reduce nutrient input. 

Management Target (MTW3):

• By 2016, reduce the impact of point source pollution in rivers to below ecosystem protection levels. 

Management Target (MTW4):

• By 2016, maintain and improve the health of internationally recognised, nationally listed and other wetlands within the catchment. 

Management Target (MTW5):

• By 2016, water extractions in all systems (surface and groundwater) are managed in line with Water Sharing Plans. 

Management Target (MTW6):

• By 2016, carry out structural works to improve river habitat by eliminating 5 aquatic barriers and reducing thermal pollution from Burrendong Dam. 

Management Target (MTW7):

• By 2016, recover a total of 30,000ML water savings to improve environmental outcomes.

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Targets in Detail:

The components of this target are based on parameters that have been identified as important in describing change within the catchment and reflect improvement in land use and land management practices. The target reflects thresholds for use by industry and human consumption, while also improving the habitat for aquatic ecosystems. The water targets meet the following Natural Resources Commission's Statewide Targets as referenced in the Catchment Action Plan:

• Community Targets - 12, 13, 14;
• Water Targets - 5, 6, 8;
• Biodiversity Targets - 2; 3.

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Catchment Target (CTW1):

• By 2016, improve surface and groundwater system health across the catchments, as measured by: A 5% reduction in the modelled result for suspended sediment; The amount of suspended sediment in surface water has implications for water quality and has impacts on fish populations, water usage and the transport of nutrients. Unlike measures of turbidity, a modelled figure of suspended sediment allows for influences in seasonal conditions on the overall condition. Modelled data through programs such as the Sed Net model has proved effective in reporting changes in suspended sediments based upon changes in land management. This would need to be developed for benchmarking purposes.
• Temperature to be maintained or restored to within 2 degrees Celsius of median levels (ANZECC 1992 guidelines); Temperature fluctuations in surface waters can occur due to modifications such as releases from dams in regulated systems and loss of shade opportunities from streambank vegetation in unregulated systems. A temperature increase/decrease of more than 2 degrees Celsius will have a negative impact on riverine species, particularly native fish.
• This component of the catchment target aims to protect aquatic fauna and improve water quality. The ANZECC Guidelines outline a series of nationwide standard thresholds for monitoring components of water quality. The reference to median temperature levels reflects a target that can be established and monitored using existing monitoring systems in rivers and data already collected.
• A reduction in the duration of blue-green algal blooms duration above the high alert level; Blue-Green Algae occurs as a result of degraded conditions in the stream combined with an influx of nutrients. It has a potentially toxic effect on native fauna, stock, domestic pets and humans. This target intends to reduce the average duration of Blue Green Algae blooms. This will be achieved through management targets that address sediment and nutrient transport and riparian vegetation.
• No detection of hazardous chemicals above ANZECC guidelines, 2000; Hazardous chemicals in surface and groundwater have obvious detrimental effects on humans, stock, native fauna and flora alike.
• This target aims to reduce the appearance of hazardous chemicals in river systems and groundwater supplies across the catchment. Monitoring for hazardous chemicals is being undertaken at point sources along river systems in line with licencing requirements from Department of Environment and Conservation (recently the Environment Protection Authority).
• Diffuse sources of hazardous chemicals may also occur in surface and ground water, proving more difficult to monitor. Subsequent Management Targets will aim to address the diffuse sources of hazardous chemicals through education programs. The thresholds outlined in the ANZECC 2000 guidelines will provide the basis of monitoring progress against the target.

 

Clarification of Terms:

SUSPENDED SEDIMENT:

• Undissolved particles remaining in solution.

HIGH ALERT ALGAL BLOOMS:

• Blooms that have a cell count of approximately 15,000 cells/mL or over.

HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS:

• Includes pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers and industrial wastes.

FAECAL COLIFORM:

• An indicator organism present in the faecal material of warm-blooded animals. It is used as a surrogate for the presence of pathogens.
• Faecal Coliforms reduced below primary contact levels at key sites in catchment; The intent of this target is to identify the level of stock and human faecal coliform numbers in the catchment’s water sources and to ensure these levels are reduced to promote riverine health.

FLOW RULES:

• Flow rules are in operation to meet the long term extraction limit and environmental water requirements, as defined by Water Sharing Plans. Water Sharing Plans are designed to establish rules for sharing water between environmental needs of the river and a range of extractive uses such as towns, domestic, stock watering and irrigation needs.
• Water Sharing Plans are currently in place for the main regulated sections of the Macquarie-Cudgegong river system, the unregulated section of the Castlereagh River above Binnaway and for groundwater sources in the lower Macquarie valley.
• It is the intent of this target to ensure that similar rules are in place and operational for other priority streams in the catchment and to ensure that the Water Sharing Plans are achieving their objectives by means of regular review.

LONG TERM EXTRACTION LIMIT:

• The average diversion from the water source that is permitted under the Water Sharing Plan over the long-term (also known as the Plan Limit). This long-term average diversion is estimated using valley scale computer models, known as IQQMs (Integrated Quantity Quality Models), set up to represent the rules in the Water Sharing Plan and (generally) the 1999/00 level of irrigation development. These models use over 100 years of observed climate data to estimate the long-term average diversion.
• The long-term extraction limit is not a limit on diversions in any single year.

COMPLIANCE WITH EXTRACTION LIMIT:

• During the life of the Water Sharing Plan, the long-term average diversion that would occur with the rules in the Plan and the “current” levels of irrigation development is compared to the Plan Limit. The IQQM will be updated to represent the levels of irrigation development for that year, and used to estimate the “current” long-term average diversion.
• If the “current” long-term average diversion is more than 3% over the Plan Limit, or exceeds the Plan Limit for three years in succession, management actions are required to be taken to bring long-term average diversions back within the Plan Limit.

ENVIRONMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS:

• The water regimes and flows needed to sustain the ecological values of aquatic systems at low levels of risk.

 

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Management Target (MTW1):

• By 2016, implement an education awareness program for the application of all chemicals and other hazardous substances. The intent of this target is to reduce the impacts of chemicals and other hazardous materials on: surface water quality from spray drift and irrigation tail water; and groundwater quality, especially in high risk aquifers.

 

Clarification of Terms:

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES:

• Includes pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers and industrial wastes

 

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Management Target (MTW2):

• By 2016, 600km of identified priority watercourses will be stabilised and managed to control sediment migration and reduce nutrient input. Improvement in the stability of bed and banks of streams and gullies, along with well managed riparian vegetation, can enhance water quality and habitat values by reducing sedimentation, turbidity and nutrient loading.
• The intent of this target is to reduce sedimentation of rivers and the associated transfer of nutrients to surface water systems to improve water quality and overall riverine health. Baker’s (2000) study of the catchment’s riverine health included a rapid assessment of the riverbank and bed stability. From this assessment, approximately 4,000km of streams were identified as priority streams for attention.
• Considering the costs of rehabilitation through engineering works and time involved to undertake and monitor such structures, the CMA defined the target of 600km over the 10 year plan as an achievable target given indicative budget and time. The targeted sections of stream would be identified from assessment such as Baker’s to allow effective investment of effort and funds.

 

Clarification of Terms:

PRIORITY WATERCOURSES:

• Sections of rivers, streams and gullies in the catchment that demonstrate high erosion and/or poor riparian vegetation, resulting in the transport of sediment and nutrients into the rivers and decreasing water quality. Such areas very poor or poor stream bank or bed and bar stability, and high contributors of nutrients have been assessed in a study by Baker (2000).

 

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Management Target (MTW3):

• By 2016, reduce the impact of point source pollution in rivers to below ecosystem protection levels. The intent of this target is to recognise that certain areas of the built environment contribute potentially significant loads of contaminants to aquatic systems. At the catchment scale these levels may be relatively minor but they may have a significant impact on local areas.
• Additionally, these sources of pollution have a greater significance in dry conditions. The ANZECC 2000 Guidelines provide a number of thresholds for point sources of pollution and will be the basis of monitoring progress against the management target.

 

Clarification of Terms:

POINT SOURCE POLLUTION:

• A single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a drain from an industrial site, sewage treatment plant, urban stormwater or irrigation drains.

ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION LEVELS:

• Levels below which contaminants must be maintained to protect the natural environment from harm. Such levels are specified in the ANZECC Guidelines produced in 2000.

 

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Management Target (MTW4):

• By 2016, maintain and improve the health of internationally recognised, nationally listed and other wetlands within the catchment. The intent of the target is to preserve diversity and richness of the flora and fauna species in natural wetlands systems by ensuring Best Management Practices are adopted. The preservation of the wetland ecology will improve water quality by reducing turbidity and nutrient loads entering the down-stream environment. The target recognises the responsibilities for managing wetlands such as the Macquarie Marshes under international agreements like Ramsar Convention, JAMBA and CAMBA.
• The target also highlights the need to manage nationally listed wetlands and other smaller wetlands. These wetlands, primarily located on private property, will continue to be identified over time, as landholders are prepared to undertake rehabilitation and assessed on a case by case basis. This assessment will assist in monitoring against the progress of the target and indicate an improvement in the overall wetland condition.
• This target will be achieved through the implementation of environmental flow rules specified under water sharing plans, actions under specific funding programs such as the NSW Wetland Recovery Program and sustainable management of the wetland areas.

 

Clarification of Terms:

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED:

• Primarily relates to the international agreements such as Ramsar Convention, under which the Macquarie Marshes are listed.

NATIONALLY LISTED:

• Wetlands that are listed under the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

WETLAND HEALTH:

• Refers to the species and structural diversity, quality, extent, richness and condition of the wetlands. Some of these parameters, such as extent, may fluctuate over time according to influences such as climate.

 

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Management Target (MTW5):

• By 2016, water extractions in all systems (surface and groundwater) are managed in line with Water Sharing Plans. The intent of this target is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the surface and groundwater quality and supply within the Central West catchment.
• The target will be achieved by the development and implementation of the water sharing plans that are developed for the various surface and groundwater management areas, and through the management of access licence approvals.

 

Clarification of Terms:

WATER SHARING PLANS:

• Plans designed to establish rules for sharing water between environmental needs of the river or groundwater system and a range of extractive uses such as towns, domestic, stock watering and irrigation needs.

 

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Management Target (MTW6):

• By 2016, carry out structural works to improve river habitat by eliminating 5 aquatic barriers and reducing thermal pollution from Burrendong Dam. This target aims to address the impediments to successful breeding of native fish in rivers. Assessments such as the NSW Weirs Review have identified a number of structures in rivers throughout the catchment as priority for removal or modification. The cost of modifying structures to allow fish passage have been estimated up to $700,000 per structure.
• The target number of 5 structures reflects this cost and a realistic target in view of indicative budgets. Cold water pollution is an additional impediment to the successful breeding of native fish in the Macquarie River.
• A range of options are available to address this issue at the offtake of Burrendong Dam and will be implemented over the life of the CAP.

 

Clarification of Terms:

AQUATIC BARRIERS:

• instream structures that cause difficulties for native fish to swim upstream to breed. An example of such a barrier would be weir structures without suitable fish passage design.

 

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Management Target (MTW7):

• By 2016, recover a total of 30,000ML water savings to improve environmental outcomes. This target reflects the drive to provide water for the environment from applying water efficient systems in agriculture and other industries. This has been the objective through agreements such as the National Water Initiative and funding initiatives such as RiverBank and environmental water trusts.
• There is a risk that, with the onset of a new government approach to the purchase of water for the environment, this target may be exceeded during the progress of the plan. If this is the case, the target will be reviewed at the appropriate time and be modified accordingly.

 

Clarification of Terms:

WATER SAVINGS:

• the amount of water saved within an operation, once water efficient systems and processes are applied.

 

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Further Information:

If you would like more information from the Central West CMA please email: cw@cma.nsw.gov.au