Science + monitoring update
Tony Bernardi conducting instrument maintenance in the field.
A key and unique part of the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative is its comprehensive integrated monitoring plan. This enables the impacts of the rehydration and rehabilitation work to be monitored in the long-term and demonstrate the crucial link between farm productivity, water management, and numerous environmental aspects of landscape repair.
It includes a suite of monitoring activities within the catchment:
surface water (creek)
ground water (soil moisture = plant growth, and deeper aquifers)
flora & fauna
pasture cover
biomass productivity.
The Mulloon Rehydration Initiative is a catchment-scale project that aims to rebuild the natural landscape function of the Mulloon catchment and boost its resilience to climatic extremes for more reliable stream flows, improved ecosystem functioning and enhanced agricultural productivity. It is jointly funded through the Mulloon Institute and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, with support from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust.
DATA COLLECTION
Science team members Tony Bernardi and Susie Miechels have been out in the field over recent months maintaining our monitoring instruments and collecting data from an array of piezometers (measuring groundwater aquifers), soil moisture sensors and stream gauges.
After having battled extended wet conditions over the past two years, this summer presented them with a different challenge – navigating exceptional pasture growth just to reach each instrument site.
As part of the data collection process, they worked closely with TMI partners HydroTerra who are managing the multiple sources of incoming data (digitally telemetred or manually collected in the field) using DataStreamTM. This is an important step in ensuring the data quality for upcoming analysis and reporting.
With rainfall easing over summer and a diminishing La Nina, monitoring the changes to surface and ground water will be of great interest in assessing the benefits of landscape rehydration.
AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES
Dr Paul Cooper from the Australia National University has also been out and about at Mulloon, conducting monthly collections of aquatic macroinvertebrates along the creek, including water quality analysis.
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are an important indicator of the waterway health with results often reflecting water quality and associated habitat. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are an important food source for many other animals and provide a significant role in breaking down organic matter and nutrient cycling. They can be classed into five groups relating to their morphological (shape) and feeding characteristics (shredders, grazers, gatherers, filterers, and predators).
Paul also noted many other animals while out doing his fieldwork, including an impressive brown snake who was potentially looking for a good place to bask in the sun after breakfast.
Dr Paul Cooper (ANU) analysing water quality in Mulloon Creek.