 Estuary
Management Planning Burrill lake - 2005
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Burrill Lake
| 2005 Indicator description
What does the Data tell us for 2005
Environmental Overview
Environmental attributes
Environmental issues
Environmental Pressures
Natural Resource Management Plan
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 innate conditions 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.
Burrill Lake entrance closed for the first time since 1987 in
January 2005 following a coastal storm event. The lake closure triggered
elevated lake levels being maintained for a number of months and a significantly
increased the community awareness of the natural dynamics of the lake.
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Environmental attributes include:
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 include:
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;
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The poor flushing capacity of the northern and southern
basins of the lake, and their possible future water quality implications;
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The management of agricultural activities in the
catchment, in particular riparian management and effluent management;
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The impact of urban stormwater on water quality in the
lake;
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The impact of the causeway 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:
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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;
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Commercial fishing in Burrill Lake was ceased in 2002.
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;
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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;
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Introduced animals, including foxes, domestic and feral
cats and dogs, black rats and rabbits, threaten native animal and plant
populations;
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Weeds are prevalent in some areas where they threaten
native plant communities;
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Dumping of garden refuse and other material causes damage
to bushland and continues to be an issue;
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There is some unauthorized damage and clearance of
vegetation on foreshores and other areas;
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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 the 15/10/2002. It acknowledges past environmental management,
attempts to integrate current programs and proposes some new approaches. We are
doing this to safeguard the ecology of the waterways and their catchments, to
balance potentially competing uses and to provide a framework for future
planning.
Key implementation actions in progress or
completed in partnership with SCC and DIPNR and funded under the
Estuary Program projects include:
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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, construction scheduled for November 2005;
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2004-2005 McDonalds Parade Reserve $50,000: foreshore
remediation and public education project installation completed in November
2004;
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2004-2005 Foreshore Reserve Rehabilitation Plan
development $20,000 in draft stage; and
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2005-2006 Entrance Management Policy $25,000 consultants
brief under review
Flood Program
Stormwater
Management
Bushfire
Management
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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.
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Surface
water quality Burrill Lake
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Burrill Lake
| 2005 |
