 Estuary
Management Planning Burrill lake - 2004
Home | Water |
Coast and Estuaries |
Burrill
Lake
| 2004
Indicator description
Burrill Lake
Environmental Overview
Environmental issues
Environmental Pressures
Natural Resource Management Plan
Estuary Management Programs
UoW Environmental
Science Research Projects
Environmental Overview
Burrill Lake has a
surface area of around 4 sq km, with an entrance channel 3 km long. One major
tributary, Stoney Creek runs into the lake. The entrance is located between a
rock platform and the beach sand barrier, resulting in a highly constricted
mouth. Burrill Lake is mostly open to the sea, however, it seems likely that it
was closed more frequently in the past. The formation of the northern
and southern basins of the lake result in natural poor flushing.
The Burrill Lake
catchment covers an area of 78 sq km. It is largely covered by dry sclerophyll
forest in the south and west (both National Park and private land) and
agricultural grazing lands to the north. There are five urban areas in the
catchment; Dolphin Point, Burrill Lake, Kings Point, Milton and West Ulladulla.
The 2001 resident population of these areas was around 3000.
An Estuary Management Plan for Burrill Lake
was completed in 2002.
Environmental
attributes
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Significant natural
habitats occur within the catchment;
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The channel flats and shoals are a highly productive
aquatic resource, supporting both fishing and migratory bird populations;
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There are 6 wetlands protected under SEPP 14 on the western
and northern shores of the lake;
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The foreshore vegetation around the lake has been
recognised as one of the most diverse on the South Coast;
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The coastal eucalypt forests are an important habitat for
arboreal mammals, owls and glossy black cockatoos; and
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Approx 12 rainforest remnants have been identified within
the Burrill Lake Catchment. Of particular interest are the remnants of the dry
subtropical rainforest.
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Environmental issues
The following have been
identified as the most significant issues
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The state and management of riparian vegetation, and its
impact on water quality;
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The presence and spread of Caulerpa taxifolia in the
northern and central basins of the lake. This presents a serious threat to the
biological diversity (through smothering of aquatic vegetation), amenity and
economic viability of local tourist industries that depend on healthy coastal
lakes in the Shoalhaven. The infested area of the lake has been closed to net
fishing. . More information can be found on the NSW Fisheries web site -
http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au ;
-
The poor flushing capacity of the northern and southern
basins of the lake, and their possible future water quality implications;
-
The management of agricultural activities in the catchment,
in particular riparian management and effluent management;
-
The impact of urban stormwater on water quality in the
lake;
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The impact of the highway crossing on the water quality,
sedimentation and ecology of the lake;
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The impact of past commercial and ongoing recreational
fishing on fish stocks;
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The absence of native vegetation in the northern half of
the catchment, and the reduction in habitat of native fauna;
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Reduction in the usage and amenity of the urban foreshores
due to reed and sedge expansion;
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The absence of a formalised entrance management policy;
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The absence of a flood risk and flood management study; and
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Poorly vegetated creek banks throughout the agricultural
area, coupled with grazing pressure has lead to varying degrees of erosion
Many other issues
identified by residents and from research are considered in the Burrill Lake
Natural Resource Management Plan.
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Environmental
Pressures
-
The water quality of Burrill Lake and its tributaries is
generally of moderate to high quality. There is, however, increasing
pressure from high pollutant loading from catchment and urban runoff;
-
Commercial fishing in Burrill Lake ceased in 2002 however
recreational fishing continues. There is potential for a decline in fish
and prawn abundance if fishing is not managed;
-
Recreational and boating activities within the catchment
may impact on foreshore stability and bird habitat quality;
-
Informal boat launching sites may decrease bank stability
and may harm aquatic vegetation and its associated ecological community;
-
There is potential for increased erosion from development,
recreation and agriculture. An increase in sediment and nutrient export from
new developments can impact upon water quality and the health of aquatic and
semi-aquatic ecological communities;
-
Introduced animals, including foxes, domestic and feral
cats and dogs, black rats and rabbits threaten native animal and plant
populations;
-
Weeds are prevalent in some areas where they threaten
native plant communities;
-
Dumping of garden refuse and other material causes damage
to bushland and continues to be an issue;
-
There is some unauthorised damage and clearance of
vegetation on foreshores and other areas;
-
Burrill Lake’s riparian vegetation has experienced some
compositional changes since and infestation of noxious weeds in localised
areas; and
-
Localised areas near the entrance and to the north of the
estuary require revegetation.
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Natural
Resource Management Plan
Shoalhaven City Council,
New South Wales and Commonwealth Government agencies, and the community have
prepared and adopted a Natural Resources Management Strategy for Burrill Lake
and its catchment on 15 October 2002. It acknowledges past environmental
management, attempts to integrate current programs and proposes some new
approaches. This is being done to safeguard the ecology of the waterways and
their catchments, to balance potentially competing uses and to provide a
framework for future planning.
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Estuary Management Programs
Key implementation
actions in progress or completed in partnership with Shoalhaven City Council and
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) and funded
under the following programs include:
Estuary Program
-
2002 Causeway and Process Studies completed $80,000;
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2002 Caulerpa mapping completed by NSW
Fisheries;
http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au;
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2002 Fishing Haven Status declared by NSW Fisheries;
http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au;
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2002
Lions Park Foreshore Erosion Study and Concept Design $15,000;
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2003
Lions Park Erosion Remediation Detailed Design & REF $15,000;
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2003 McDonalds Parade Reserve: foreshore
remediation and public education project design;
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2004-2005
Lions Park Erosion Remediation construction $100,000;
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2004-2005 McDonalds Parade Reserve $50,000:
foreshore remediation and public education project installation; and
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2004-2005
Foreshore Reserve Rehabilitation Plan development $20,000
Flood
Program
Stormwater
Management
Bushfire
Management
Waterways Program
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University of
Wollongong Environmental Science Research Projects
Shallow water
seagrass fish communities of Intermittently Open and Closed Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLLs)
of southeastern Australia. Author: Martine Jones
Assessing historical changes in riparian vegetation between 1959 and 2003 in
Burrill Lake, NSW. Author: Michael Parker
Monitoring estuarine wetlands in six coastal lakes in southern NSW. Ocean and
Coastal Research Centre Report Series No. 2002/2.
Author: Meehan, A.J. and West, R.J.
To obtain a full copy of these reports or more information
contact Environmental Science, University of Wollongong.
Surface
water quality Burrill Lake TOP
Home | Water |
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Burrill
Lake
| 2004 |
