Murrumbidgee Irrigation

Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals and micro-organisms.

MIA EnviroWise has a long term objective to improve the biodiversity and condition of the landscape and vegetation in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area of operations.

INVENTORY

In 2001, some 70 biodiversity sites (2 ha each) were identified within remnant native vegetation on private and crown land reflecting the range and extent of vegetation communities and the size and condition of remnants. These sites have been permanently marked to use for detailed biodiversity benchmarking surveys and ongoing monitoring.

Considerable biological data was collected at these sites over the three years from 2001–2003, to help form a benchmark of biodiversity in the MIA. Ongoing monitoring of key indicators of biodiversity will take place periodically over the next 10 years to help determine the status of biodiversity in the MIA over time and the effectiveness of the MIA EnviroWise program.An inventory of the following information has been collected:

Native Vegetation and Landscape Condition
Revegetation
Birds
Mammals
Reptiles
Frogs
Terrestrial Invertebrates
MIA FaunaWatch
Natural Resources (GIS mapping)
Wetlands

Native Vegetation and Landscape Condition
Vegetation surveys are being conducted at the 2 ha biodiversity sites annually over 3 years with final surveys due for completion in spring 2004. Despite the dry conditions the surveys have provided useful data on flora species at the range of sites. Considerable soil and landscape data has also been collected and all this information will be presented in a baseline report of vegetation and landscape condition in the MIA later in 2004.
See report “Condition and Biodiversity of Vegetation Remnants in the MIA” by David Eldridge 2002, that outlines methods and summarises data for year 1.
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Revegetation
A survey of tree plantations established by landcare members in the MIA has been conducted in a project to determine the location and extent of revegetation efforts carried out to date. More than 400 plantations have been visited over the past 12 months and details such as area, spacings, survival and species were recorded. The aim of the project is to help ensure maximum success of future revegetation efforts and facilitate strategic landscape scale planning. The data collected is linked to the MI GIS mapping program and will provide a basis for ongoing monitoring of revegetation efforts.
See fact sheets “Landcare Plantations in Myall Park” and “Landcare Plantations in Murrami” for a summary of the results.
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Birds
Similar to the vegetation, seasonal and systematic surveys of woodland birds have been conducted at biodiversity sites since 2001. Final surveys will take place during 2004/05, and in the meantime a baseline report is being prepared to summarise diversity and abundance data and explore the relationships of woodland birds and their habitat in the MIA.
See fact sheet “Birds of the MIA Woodland Remnants” for a summary of the project objectives and methods.
Top of page

Mammals
While it is widely known that many small native mammals disappeared from our landscape in the 1800’s, the status of other mammal species remains unknown in the MIA. Existing inventories of mammals in the MIA are incomplete, major fauna databases hold few records of mammals, and very few systematic surveys of mammals have ever been conducted in the MIA or wider Riverina bioregion. Comprehensive surveys of mammals were conducted at a selection of biodiversity sites in 2004/05 to amend this situation. See full report “Biodiversity benchmarking survey of the Mrurumbidgee Irrigation Area: Mammals” (8.9 MB).
Top of page

Reptiles
Consultants from Charles Sturt University conducted surveys of reptiles at 30 biodiversity sites during the spring and summer of 2003. Similar to other fauna groups, few systematic surveys had previously been conducted and the status of many species was unknown. The surveys, based on the active-search method, revealed some 29 of the 49 species of reptiles that you could expect to find in the MIA.
See copy of the full report “Reptile Diversity in the MIA: a baseline survey”. See fact sheet “Reptiles in the MIA” for a summary of the project results.
Top of page

Frogs
Some species of frogs can be sensitive to the condition of their habitat, and surveys of frogs have been used in some cases to provide a simple assessment of the health of aquatic environments. Surveys of frogs were conducted in a range of aquatic environments in the MIA over spring and summer 2003, using audio calls, call playback, and active searches. Wetlands, river lagoons, dams, rain-fed depressions and irrigation infrastructure were surveyed for frogs and water quality and habitat condition were also assessed.
See copy of the full report “Frog Diversity in the MIA: a baseline survey”.
See fact sheet “Frogs in the MIA” for a summary of the project results.
Top of page

Terrestrial Invertebrates
Invertebrates are the biggest group of animals found throughout the world, however they are often overlooked. Comprehensive surveys of terrestrial invertebrates were conducted in a selection of the biodiversity during spring 2004. The results are detailed in the report attached (2.8 MB).
Top of page

MIA FaunaWatch
This program has been developed in conjunction with the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists to record fauna species sighted within the MIA. It aims to encourage greater community involvement in identifying and recording fauna, improve the level of information on biodiversity in the MIA, and foster a greater appreciation of our natural environment. Over 600 records have been made to date of sightings of different birds, reptiles and mammals. Records are shared with the National Parks & Wildlife Service Atlas of NSW Wildlife.
Top of page

Natural Resources (GIS mapping)
Digital layers of natural resource information including flora and fauna data are currently being updated and added to the MI Geographic Information System.
Top of page

Wetlands
Stage 1 of an inventory of wetlands in the MIA (Stage 1: east of Wyvern Station, Stage 2: Wah Wah) has been completed. This inventory illustrates an aerial image of each wetland and compiles all the ecological and hydrological information that is currently known about individual wetlands in the MIA. Management issues are also identified and the inventory will provide the basis from which to prioritise wetland management actions and monitoring requirements.
For further information about this project contact: Biodiversity Officer, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Karen McCann, phone (02) 6962 0200.
Top of page

MIA EnviroWise program has been made possible thanks to funding from the
Australian and NSW Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.


Home Meet our Pobblebonk Frog Biodiversity Contact Us & Links Education & courses FarmWise courses What is MIA EnviroWise?		MIA ENVIROWISE — Biodiversity Monitoring

		Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals and micro-organisms. MIA EnviroWise has a long term objective to improve the biodiversity and condition of the landscape and vegetation in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area of operations. INVENTORY In 2001, some 70 biodiversity sites (2 ha each) were identified within remnant native vegetation on private and crown land reflecting the range and extent of vegetation communities and the size and condition of remnants. These sites have been permanently marked to use for detailed biodiversity benchmarking surveys and ongoing monitoring. Considerable biological data was collected at these sites over the three years from 2001–2003, to help form a benchmark of biodiversity in the MIA. Ongoing monitoring of key indicators of biodiversity will take place periodically over the next 10 years to help determine the status of biodiversity in the MIA over time and the effectiveness of the MIA EnviroWise program.An inventory of the following information has been collected: Native Vegetation and Landscape Condition Revegetation Birds Mammals Reptiles Frogs Terrestrial Invertebrates MIA FaunaWatch Natural Resources (GIS mapping) Wetlands Native Vegetation and Landscape Condition Vegetation surveys are being conducted at the 2 ha biodiversity sites annually over 3 years with final surveys due for completion in spring 2004. Despite the dry conditions the surveys have provided useful data on flora species at the range of sites. Considerable soil and landscape data has also been collected and all this information will be presented in a baseline report of vegetation and landscape condition in the MIA later in 2004. See report “Condition and Biodiversity of Vegetation Remnants in the MIA” by David Eldridge 2002, that outlines methods and summarises data for year 1. Top of page Revegetation A survey of tree plantations established by landcare members in the MIA has been conducted in a project to determine the location and extent of revegetation efforts carried out to date. More than 400 plantations have been visited over the past 12 months and details such as area, spacings, survival and species were recorded. The aim of the project is to help ensure maximum success of future revegetation efforts and facilitate strategic landscape scale planning. The data collected is linked to the MI GIS mapping program and will provide a basis for ongoing monitoring of revegetation efforts. See fact sheets “Landcare Plantations in Myall Park” and “Landcare Plantations in Murrami” for a summary of the results. Top of page Birds Similar to the vegetation, seasonal and systematic surveys of woodland birds have been conducted at biodiversity sites since 2001. Final surveys will take place during 2004/05, and in the meantime a baseline report is being prepared to summarise diversity and abundance data and explore the relationships of woodland birds and their habitat in the MIA. See fact sheet “Birds of the MIA Woodland Remnants” for a summary of the project objectives and methods. Top of page Mammals While it is widely known that many small native mammals disappeared from our landscape in the 1800’s, the status of other mammal species remains unknown in the MIA. Existing inventories of mammals in the MIA are incomplete, major fauna databases hold few records of mammals, and very few systematic surveys of mammals have ever been conducted in the MIA or wider Riverina bioregion. Comprehensive surveys of mammals were conducted at a selection of biodiversity sites in 2004/05 to amend this situation. See full report “Biodiversity benchmarking survey of the Mrurumbidgee Irrigation Area: Mammals” (8.9 MB). Top of page Reptiles Consultants from Charles Sturt University conducted surveys of reptiles at 30 biodiversity sites during the spring and summer of 2003. Similar to other fauna groups, few systematic surveys had previously been conducted and the status of many species was unknown. The surveys, based on the active-search method, revealed some 29 of the 49 species of reptiles that you could expect to find in the MIA. See copy of the full report “Reptile Diversity in the MIA: a baseline survey”. See fact sheet “Reptiles in the MIA” for a summary of the project results. Top of page Frogs Some species of frogs can be sensitive to the condition of their habitat, and surveys of frogs have been used in some cases to provide a simple assessment of the health of aquatic environments. Surveys of frogs were conducted in a range of aquatic environments in the MIA over spring and summer 2003, using audio calls, call playback, and active searches. Wetlands, river lagoons, dams, rain-fed depressions and irrigation infrastructure were surveyed for frogs and water quality and habitat condition were also assessed. See copy of the full report “Frog Diversity in the MIA: a baseline survey”. See fact sheet “Frogs in the MIA” for a summary of the project results. Top of page Terrestrial Invertebrates Invertebrates are the biggest group of animals found throughout the world, however they are often overlooked. Comprehensive surveys of terrestrial invertebrates were conducted in a selection of the biodiversity during spring 2004. The results are detailed in the report attached (2.8 MB). Top of page MIA FaunaWatch This program has been developed in conjunction with the Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists to record fauna species sighted within the MIA. It aims to encourage greater community involvement in identifying and recording fauna, improve the level of information on biodiversity in the MIA, and foster a greater appreciation of our natural environment. Over 600 records have been made to date of sightings of different birds, reptiles and mammals. Records are shared with the National Parks & Wildlife Service Atlas of NSW Wildlife. Top of page Natural Resources (GIS mapping) Digital layers of natural resource information including flora and fauna data are currently being updated and added to the MI Geographic Information System. Top of page Wetlands Stage 1 of an inventory of wetlands in the MIA (Stage 1: east of Wyvern Station, Stage 2: Wah Wah) has been completed. This inventory illustrates an aerial image of each wetland and compiles all the ecological and hydrological information that is currently known about individual wetlands in the MIA. Management issues are also identified and the inventory will provide the basis from which to prioritise wetland management actions and monitoring requirements. For further information about this project contact: Biodiversity Officer, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Karen McCann, phone (02) 6962 0200. Top of page MIA EnviroWise program has been made possible thanks to funding from the Australian and NSW Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.


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