Riparian vegetation dominated by terrestrial plants such as pines, wattles and introduced grasses
Area map
About the location
Dry Creek is a small stream in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges that rises at an elevation of about 250 m near Disher Hill, about 5 kilometres north east from Kanmantoo, and flows in a south-easterly direction before discharging into wetland habitats in Monarto Zoo. The creek then flows easterly as Rocky Gully Creek for about 9 kilometres and eventually discharges into the Rocky Gully wetland on the northern boundary of Murray Bridge. The creek rarely holds water outside of winter months and the only permanent water is located in Monarto Zoo where saline groundwater is regularly exposed at the surface within the creekline. The major land uses in the catchment are sheep grazing and cropping. The monitoring site was located off Schenscher Road, about 1 kilometre west from Monarto Zoo and 7.5 kilometres east from Callington.
The creek was given a Poor rating because the site sampled showed evidence of major changes in ecosystem structure, and moderate changes to the way the ecosystem functions. There was considerable evidence of human disturbance including nutrient enrichment, fine sediment deposition and degraded riparian habitats.
Findings
The 5-6 m wide creek was dry in autumn and spring, so macroinvertebrate and water quality measurements were not available for this site.
The sediments were dominated by living and dead detritus, and included smaller amounts of boulder, gravel, sand and clay. Samples taken from below the surface were grey in colour and showed no evidence that the sediments were anaerobic or lacked oxygen. There was evidence of moderate bank erosion affecting more than 10% of the site due to probable damage caused by past flood damage of poorly vegetated banks. The only animal droppings seen near the creek were from kangaroos.
The dominant plants growing in the channel and on the banks were terrestrial species such as introduced grasses and weeds under pines and wattle trees and shrubs. The site lacked any aquatic plants, including rushes and reeds that commonly occur among dry streams in the region; the absence of macrophytes and invasion of the channel by terrestrial plants indicate this stream rarely holds water for any extended period in the reach sampled. The surrounding vegetation at the site was open woodland that graded into more sparsely vegetated sheep grazing country.
Special environmental values
None detected.
Pressures and management responses
Pressures
Management responses
Livestock have direct access to some creeks, causing sediment erosion and adding excessive nutrients (which leads to habitat disturbance, algal growth and aquatic weeds).
Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin acknowledges the significant impacts that livestock have on aquatic environments and seeks to provide free technical advice and incentives to land managers for fencing and other works as funding permits. Funding incentives are limited in value and extent and require land managers to volunteer to be involved.
Limited riparian vegetation at some creeks, providing minimal buffer protection from catchment landuses (reducing habitat quality).
Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin recognises that the management of riparian vegetation requires a long-term, integrated approach to achieve ecosystem benefits. The NRM Board therefore provides free technical advice on a range of topics for land managers and various incentives for works as funding permits.
Insufficient natural water flows resulting from water extraction and climate variability (reducing ecological integrity).
A water allocation plan that guides sustainable water use in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges has been developed by Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin, working with the community and government (particularly the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)). The plan aims to balance social, economic and environmental water needs and is implemented through a system of water licensing and permits for water affecting activities administered by DEWNR.
A key component of the water allocation plan is to provide water to sustain the environment at an acceptable level of risk. Securing low flows for the environment is a key environmental water provision in this area, and Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin is working together with DEWNR, Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges and the community to develop a program to secure low flows across the Mount Lofty Ranges. For more information on water allocation planning and associated projects go to our Water Allocation Planning web page.
Widespread introduced trees and weeds in riparian zones (reducing habitat quality).
Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin recognises the limitations of available funds relative to the scale of the degradation caused by introduced trees and weeds. It provides free technical advice and community education to assist land managers in dealing with the integrated management of aquatic weeds. Natural Resources SA Murray–Darling Basin also has a targeted process, as directed by state government, to strictly prioritise its investment in weed control activities as funds are limited. It actively seeks funding opportunities for weed control; most opportunities are for locations where biodiversity outcomes can be achieved.
Observed Condition
Expected Condition
