Skip to main content
Log in

Impacts of deep open drains on water quality and biodiversity of receiving waterways in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia

  • Primary research paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Extensive networks of deep drains are being built in Western Australia to reduce the effects of dryland salinity on agricultural lands. Most of these drains discharge into natural river and wetland systems, with little consideration given to the environmental impacts. This study examined the downstream ecological impacts of one of the oldest deep drain networks in Western Australia, located in the Wakeman subcatchment near Narembeen. Twelve sites were sampled bi-monthly from October 2004 to September 2006. On each occasion, water quality parameters were measured and the macro-invertebrate fauna was sampled. Significant differences in water quality and macro-invertebrates were observed between the untreated sites and those affected by the drain discharge. Surface water at untreated sites was always fresh (<3 ppt), alkaline (pH 7.6–8.9) and turbid (49–600 NTU), whereas treatment sites were always saline (28–147 ppt), acidic (pH 1.9–3.8) and mostly clear (0–100 NTU). No recovery of water quality was observed with distance from discharge point (20 km). Invertebrates reflected differences in water quality, with drain discharge resulting in a sharp decline in species richness, and significant changes in macro-invertebrate community composition. Sites affected by drain discharge were dominated by fly larvae such as Orthocladiinae and Ceratopogonidae. Microcrustaceans were far more abundant at sites unaffected by drainage. The ecological values of Wheatbelt streams are likely to be further compromised by discharge of poor water quality from deep drainage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali, R., T. Hatton, R. George, J. Byrne & G. Hodgson, 2004. Evaluation of the impacts of deep open drains on groundwater levels in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55: 1159–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berezina, N. A., 2001. Influence of ambient pH on freshwater invertebrates under experimental conditions. Russian Journal of Ecology 32: 343–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunn, S. E. & P. M. Davies, 1992. Community structure of the macroinvertebrate fauna and water quality of a saline river system in south-western Australia. Hydrobiologia 248: 143–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R., 1993. Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18: 117–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R. & R. M. Warwick, 1994. Changes in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Natural Environment Research Council, Plymouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, C. J., R. J. George, R. W. Bell & T. J. Hatton, 2002. Dryland salinity in south-western Australia: its origins, remedies, and future research directions. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40: 93–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cranston, P. S., P. D. Cooper, R. A. Hardwick, C. L. Humphrey & P. L. Dostine, 1997. Tropical acid streams—the chironomid (Diptera) response in northern Australia. Freshwater Biology 37: 473–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dogramaci, S. & B. Degens, 2003. Review of Engineering and Safe Disposal Options. Water and Rivers Commission, Salinity and Land Use Impacts Series, Rep. No. SLUI20: 22 pp.

  • Douglas, G. & B. Degens, 2006. A Synopsis of Potential Amendments and Techniques for the Neutralization of Acidic Drainage Waters in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration: 22 pp.

  • Farmer, A. M., 1990. The effects of lake acidification on aquatic macrophytes—a review. Environmental Pollution 65: 219–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, R. S. & E. F. Connor, 1992. The relationship between pH and community structure of invertebrates in streams of the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, U.S.A. Freshwater Biology 27: 261–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, W. R., S. A. Halse, M. D. Scanlon & M. J. Smith, 2001. Distribution and environmental tolerances of aquatic macroinvertebrate families in the agricultural zone of southwestern Australia. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 20: 182–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, P. W., N. W. Galwey & N. G. Alvey, 1988. Genstat 5: An Introduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenat, D. R., 1988. Water quality assessment using a qualitative collection method for benthic macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 7: 222–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulholland, P. J., J. W. Elwood, A. V. Palumbo & R. J. Stevenson, 1986. Effect of stream acidification on periphyton composition, chlorophyll and productivity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43: 1846–1858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ormerod, S. J., K. R. Wade & A. S. Gee, 1987. Macro-floral assemblages in upland Welsh streams in relation to acidity, and their importance to invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 18: 545–557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrin, Z., H. Laudon & B. Malmqvist, 2007. Does freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity along a pH-gradient reflect adaptation to low pH? Freshwater Biology 52: 2172–2183.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinder, A. M., S. A. Halse, J. M. McRae & R. J. Shiel, 2004. Aquatic invertebrate assemblages of wetlands and rivers in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 67: 7–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinder, A. M., S. A. Halse, J. M. McRae & R. J. Shiel, 2005. Occurrence of aquatic invertebrates of the wheatbelt region of Western Australia in relation to salinity. Hydrobiologia 543: 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, S. & R. George, 2005. WA wheatbelt drainage—acidic groundwater, not just a salt issue. Focus on Salt 33: 8–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosemond, A. D., S. R. Reice, J. W. Elwood & P. J. Mulholland, 1992. The effects of stream acidity on benthic invertebrate communities in the south-eastern United States. Freshwater Biology 27: 193–209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. J., W. R. Kay, D. H. D. Edward, P. J. Papas, K. S. J. Richardson, J. C. Simpson, A. M. Pinder, D. J. Cale, P. H. J. Horwitz, J. A. Davis, F. H. Jung, R. H. Norris & S. A. Halse, 1999. AusRivAS: using macroinvertebrates to assess ecological condition in rivers in Western Australia. Freshwater Biology 41: 269–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality through the Engineering Evaluation Initiative managed by the Department of Water (formerly Department of Environment). Geraldine Janicke is thanked for assistance in the field and processing of samples in the laboratory. Drs Riasat Ali and Richard Silberstein are thanked for their input into valuable discussion on the Narembeen deep drainage project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara Stewart.

Additional information

Handling editor: K. Martens

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

MOESM1 (PDF 148 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stewart, B., Strehlow, K. & Davis, J. Impacts of deep open drains on water quality and biodiversity of receiving waterways in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Hydrobiologia 619, 103–118 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9603-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9603-x

Keywords

Navigation