Koondrook–Perricoota Report Card 2020–21

2020-21 Water Summary

D
The forest condition remains poor and large-scale frequent flooding is required for the wetlands and floodplains to recover. Delivery of a small amount of water for the environment to the Pollack swamp and lagoon provided localised benefits for plants, fish and waterbirds.
Overall
D Vegetation
D Waterbirds
D Fish

a simple map of Koondrook–Perricoota Forest

Vegetation

D

Aims

Maintain 80% of permanent and semi-permanent wetlands in a healthy condition
Maintain 30% of river red gum sites in a healthy condition

Outcomes

Dry conditions meant that the small improvements in wetland health from the limited small-scale delivery of water for environment in 2019 were lost. More regular flows are required to improve and support healthy wetlands.
Wetland plants and seedbanks are being lost due to the ongoing dry conditions. Management actions such as re-planting or seedbank transplants may be required to recover these species.
With river regulation and a limited ability to operate water infrastructure to get managed flows into the forest, the floodplain has not received any significant flows since 2016 and the plant and tree species are becoming increasingly stressed.
River red gum condition declined. No sites met the targets for healthy trees, compared to 16% of sites considered healthy in 2019-20 following a small-scale watering in 2019. The small improvements in condition were lost upon a return to dry conditions.
Sites in areas of the forest where water for the environment was delivered in 2019 were in better condition than sites that weren't watered. River red gums at the non-watered sites are highly stressed and will require water every 2 or 3 years over the next decade to recover.

Waterbirds

D

Aims

Successful breeding of thousands of colonial waterbirds at least three years in ten

Outcomes

Due to generally dry conditions, there were no colonial waterbird breeding events in the forest this year. Delivery of water over many years at a larger scale is required to restore habitat before colonial waterbirds are likely to return in large numbers.
Aerial surveys in the forest detected less than one waterbird every 2 kilometres, the lowest number since the annual surveys started in 2014.
There was a small amount of water for the environment delivered to the Pollack for the sixth consecutive year. This provided an important refuge in a dry landscape for waterbirds with over 800 birds from 41 species recorded.
While intermediate egrets were observed at the Pollack, there was no evidence of breeding.

Fish

D

Aims

Protect and enhance viable native fish communities

Outcomes

As most of the forest's creeks and wetlands were dry, fish monitoring was only undertaken in the adjacent River Murray and the Pollack Lagoon.
2,921 fish from 11 species with 9 native species were recorded at the River Murray sites. Native fish represented 30% of the fish count.
At the Pollack over 8,000 small native fish from 4 species were recorded during the spring 2020 survey.
Recovery of native fish populations will require regular delivery of water for the environment to create permanent fish habitat within the forest's creeks and wetlands as well as carp control measures

2.5 GL

water for the environment delivered at this site

2.5 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 surveying culturally significant mounds as part of Cultural hotspot surveys.
(Photo: Dan Hutton)

Community

Community tours to the Pollack provided a great opportunity for locals to learn more about this lagoon and the positive response to water for the environment delivery.
(Photo: Western Murray Land Improvement Group)

Vegetation

At Bullock Head Swamp water for the environment delivered in 2019 is sustaining tree canopies and mudflat plants, however the overall vegetation health of the forest remains poor.
(Photo: Jean Dind, FCNSW)

Waterbirds

At the Pollack, 16 waterbird species, including Australian little bitterns (pictured) successfully bred.
(Photo: Dan Hutton)

Fish

Murray–Darling rainbowfish were among the large numbers of small native fish found at the Pollack.
(Photo: Dan Hutton)

Past reports for Koondrook–Perricoota Forest

Overall

Vegetation

Waterbirds

Fish

Other

2020-21

D

-

2019-20

D

-

2018-19

D

-

2017-18

D

C

D

-

2016-17

C

B

D

-

2015-16

D

C

-

2014-15

D

-

2013-14

D

-

2012-13

D

-

2011-12

D

C

D

-

2010-11

D

-

2009-10

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