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Assessing the ecological values of rivers: an application of a multi-criteria approach to rivers of the South Coast Region, Western Australia

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Abstract

There is a growing awareness that in the light of increased threats, Australia’s freshwater ecosystems of highest value need to be protected. This implies that a consistent and comprehensive system for the classification of freshwater systems in terms of their ecological values is required for conservation planning. Despite earlier steps taken to develop appropriate methodologies for prioritising Australian waterways for protection, there is, as yet, no nationally agreed method for prioritising waterways in Australia based on their ecological values. Using the core criteria of naturalness, representativeness, diversity, rarity and special features, this paper describes the development of a framework of criteria, indicators and measures for the identification of high conservation value aquatic ecosystems, and trials this system by undertaking a comparative assessment of the ecological values of river systems in the South Coast region, Western Australia. A total of 33 river systems located in two aquatic bioregions were successfully ranked according to their ecological value, confirming that the development and implementation of a relatively simple system for assessing ecological values of Australian rivers shows promise, and that core criteria identified previously in the literature provide a good starting point for assessing ecological values of Australian aquatic ecosystems.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by the Department of Water, Western Australian government, and South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc., and I thank both organizations for the opportunity to increase our understanding of ecological values of waterways in the South Cast region. Field work and sample processing in the laboratory was assisted by Geraldine and Steve Janicke, Susan Blandford, Caroline Versteeg, Joselyn Berkelaar and Cassie Bell. Thanks to Dr Paul Close for confirming fish identifications. I am also grateful to the numerous landholders that kindly allowed access to waterways on their properties, many of whom assisted with anecdotal information, and in some cases assisted with ‘live picks’ and guided tours to sample sites. These include Mr George Toovey, Goundrey Wines, Mr Len Handasyde, ITC Plantation ‘Peaceful Valley’, Mr Charlie Gill, Rocky Horror Vineyard, Trevor & Phyllis Barker, Mr Roger Sweetman, Mr Richard Kratochvill, Mr Peter Walmsley, Greening Australia Gondwana Link, Paula Deegan, Angela Sanders, Fred Powell, Mr Ernest and Terri Jaekel, Sandalwood Farm, Mr Stuart and Leanne Bee, Mr Darryl Spinks, Mr Andy Chapman, C & N Wisewould, and Mr Alan & Bec Hoggart.

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  1. Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 5771, Albany, WA, 6332, Australia

    Barbara A. Stewart

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Correspondence to Barbara A. Stewart.

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Stewart, B.A. Assessing the ecological values of rivers: an application of a multi-criteria approach to rivers of the South Coast Region, Western Australia. Biodivers Conserv 20, 3165–3188 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0111-3

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