Hattah Lakes Report Card 2020–21

2020-21 Water Summary

B
After a two-year planned drying phase, the overall health of Hattah Lakes declined slightly. Water for the environment delivery in autumn 2021, with a follow up watering planned for spring should see the health of the site improve.
Overall
B Vegetation
B Waterbirds
- Fish

Vegetation

B

Aims

Improve the condition and maintain the extent of river red gum, black box and lignum
Improve species richness and abundance of floodplain and wetland vegetation

Outcomes

Following a 2-year planned drying phase, drier climatic conditions and a lack of large-scale floodplain watering, the overall condition of river red gum, black box and lignum declined.
River red gums are just below the target of 70% of trees assessed as healthy, black box is generally in poor condition and lignum condition, while still meeting targets, varies across monitoring sites.
High numbers of river red gums seedlings which germinated in previous watering events did not survive due to the dry conditions. The autumn watering should trigger seed germination and a follow up watering in spring will support growth.
At floodplain sites 77 plant species were recorded, of which 70 were native, including 11 listed as rare or threatened. As expected in the drying phase of a wet-dry cycle, numbers of species were much lower than the previous year.
At wetland sites 94 species were recorded, of which 72 which were native, including 8 listed as rare or threatened. As the lakes were in a planned drying phase for most of 2020-21, it was expected that the numbers and diversity of species were lower than the previous year. Cycling between wet and dry conditions is important to allow different plants to grow and this diversity is essential for sustaining healthy wetlands.

Waterbirds

B

Aims

Provide suitable feeding habitat to support a range of waterbirds species
Provide conditions for successful breeding and fledging of colonial nesters at least 3 times every 10 years
Improve biodiversity by supporting the life cycle of the regent parrot nationally listed vulnerable species

Outcomes

2,656 waterbirds from 28 species were recorded at Lake Kramen, which still held water from the previous year's water delivery and was the only lake that held water at the time of the waterbird surveys.
Lake Kramen supported a large black swan breeding event, with 45 nests observed. This is the first record of swan nesting at Hattah Lakes following the delivery of water for the environment.
Lake Kramen provided suitable refuge and feeding habitat in a very dry landscape for all the target waterbird species including grey teal, hoary-headed grebes and Eurasian coots.
With the main lakes dry until autumn, conditions weren't appropriate for breeding and no waterbird breeding was observed. Colonial nesting waterbirds last bred at Hattah Lakes in 2018-19.
193 threatened regent parrots were observed across woodland bird survey sites which is consistent with the 133 regent parrots detected the previous year.

Fish

-

Aims

Maintain recruitment of populations of small-bodied native fish and the presence of large-bodied native fish.

Outcomes

As the lakes were dry at the time of the annual survey, fish monitoring was only undertaken in the adjacent River Murray.
718 fish from 16 species were recorded, 12 of which were native.
Murray cod numbers were the highest on record, with the majority juveniles indicating successful breeding over a number of consecutive years.
The drying out of the main lakes is an effective way to reduce carp numbers. Refilling the lakes in autumn and the following spring will provide productive and refreshed nursery habitat for native fish.

27.3 GL

water for the environment delivered at this site

27.3 GL

water used at this site

0 GL

flowing back to the river system

Actions

Water for the environment delivered.

Climate conditions

Moderate - Conditions were milder compared to the previous 3 hot, dry years. River flows were around three-quarters of the long-term average.

Works

Are there works at this site?

Works in use this year?

Highlights

First Nations

Traditional Owners and Elders met on-Country as part of a 2-day Cultural Values event which included visits to Lake Kramen, Little Hattah, Lake Bitterang and Lake Woterap.
(Photo: Mallee CMA)

Community

Visitors flocked to enjoy activities such as canoeing after the lakes were filled in autumn 2021 after a 2-year planned drying phase.
(Photo: Mallee CMA)

Vegetation

Planned drying of the main Hattah Lakes resulted in damp lakebeds. This creates ideal conditions for a rich diversity of wetland and floodplain plants to germinate, grow and thrive.
(Photo: Mallee CMA)

Waterbirds

Shallow edges of the drying lakes exposed excellent foraging habitat for birds. Flocks of red-necked avocet, sharp-tailed sandpipers and pied stilt were observed feeding.
(Photo: Mallee CMA)

Fish

62 Murray cod including large numbers of juveniles were recorded at survey sites in the River Murray near Hattah Lakes. This is the highest number ever recorded.
(Photo: Mallee CMA, 2021)

Past reports for Hattah Lakes

Overall

Vegetation

Waterbirds

Fish

Other

2020-21

B

-

2019-20

A

-

2018-19

B

A

-

2017-18

A

-

2016-17

A

B

A

-

2015-16

A

B

A

-

2014-15

A

-

A

-

2013-14

B

A

D

A

-

2012-13

C

B

C

D

-

2011-12

B

D

A

-

2010-11

C

D

A

-

2009-10

D

C

D

-

2008-09

D

-

2007-08

D

-

2006-07

-

Show/hide 5 oldest years

Climate conditions

Grades

Dry	Very Wet
Wet	Moderate

A

B

C

D

-

Excellent

Most (75-100%) of ecological objectives have been met

Good

More than half (50-74%) of ecological objectives have been met

Fair

Fewer than half (25-49%) of ecological objectives have been met

Needs attention

Few (0-24%) of ecological objectives have been met

Data not available

Each year, water is released into the environment depending on the climatic conditions. See the outcomes of water over time for a long-term view of how natural and released water affects the health of rivers.

Follow the science and more information

Report cards are a result of the work we and our partners do with scientists across the Basin, including site monitoring as part of The Living Murray program.

The Living Murray is a joint program funded by New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and the Commonwealth governments.

If you want to know more about our monitoring and the results — read the monitoring reports

Read The Living Murray – Icon site condition report – 10 years of ecological monitoring

Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee Reports