Science & monitoring update
Susie Miechels using the stilling well cleanser extraction tool.
The scientific monitoring team have had another busy period with many monitoring activities in the field, data management, analysis, and reporting for the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative. Tony Bernardi and Susie Miechels have been kept busy with scheduled instrument maintenance and data downloads. While also conducting quality assurance of hydrological data for uploading to DataStream with project partner HydroTerra. And, Dr Paul Cooper (Australian National University) conducted field collections for aquatic macro-invertebrates across the MRI project area to commence the next tranche of sampling over the next 12 months.
Netherlands student, Jochem Meinen joined the science team for 13 weeks as part of his Bachelor in Engineering from the University of Twente. Jochem spent time in the field with Tony and Susie and conducted analysis of groundwater levels and compared with rainfall events and stream water levels.
Thirty-eight groundwater sites, distributed across three transects instrumented with piezometers, were analysed to assess changes in groundwater levels relative to rainfall and stream gauge levels, and assess if and how the rehydration works have had any effect. Many of the groundwater sites have multiple instruments measuring two or three aquifers at different depths indicating that groundwater systems can be complex. Analysis also assessed for connectivity of groundwater aquifers across the floodplains (lateral movement) and connectivity down the floodplain (longitudinal). The analysis produced some interesting insights and further analysis, and investigation is continuing, read the report here:
The Effect of Leaky Weirs on Groundwater Tables in the Mulloon Catchment.
Susie Miechels and Luke Peel conducted another round of Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (RARC) field surveys in October at nearly fifty transects across the Mulloon catchment. The data is collected using a tablet with FastFields for efficient field operations. When next connected to the internet the data is automatically sent to partner HydroTerra for upload into DataStream. The transects consist of four sites and the observations are averaged for the transect. The first and fourth sites of these transects are also frog monitoring sites which were prepped in readiness for the upcoming annual Frog Survey in early November 2022.
Back in the office, the data from the 2021 RARC survey were analysed alongside previous surveys (2017 and 2019) with many promising trends indicating good increases in habitat, cover and native plants at many of the transects. A good result for many transects considering the surveys traverse the extreme drought period and major flood events. The report can be viewed here: 2017-2021 Mulloon Creek RARC Report.
Ben Broadhurst and Rhian Clear from University of Canberra freshwater ecology group have completed the analysis of latest the fish survey conducted in May 2022. This is the second fish survey for the Mulloon catchment with promising results indicating an increase in native fish and a significant reduction of the invasive non-native mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki). We look forward to the third fish survey to be conducted in autumn 2023. The report can be found here: 2022 Mulloon Creek Survey.
* The Mulloon Rehydration Initiative is jointly funded through the Mulloon Institute and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, with assistance from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust.
* Graduate and post-graduate study opportunities cover a broad range of scientific projects in flora, fauna, hydrological, soils and production systems. Enquiries should be directed to Research Coordinator Luke Peel via luke@themullooninstitute.org
Productivity – farm and natural capital, including soil health
Hydrological – surface & sub-surface water balance & quality
Ecological Function – diversity & abundance
Social Capital – people, adapting to change and adopting new methods