Mersey-Forth Water Management Review

Mersey-Forth Water
Management Review
Newsletter
Issue #3 – November 2012
Where we are in the Mersey-Forth
Water Management Review Process
Hydro Tasmania is undertaking a
Water Management Review in the
Mersey and Forth catchments with
the aim of achieving more sustainable
land and water management practices.
The process incorporates four stages:
Information Review, Stakeholder
Consultation, Technical and Social
Studies, and Program Development
and Implementation.
A Stakeholder Feedback Survey was circulated
in July 2012 asking for your feedback on the
consultation process and whether the report,
and the social and technical studies, reflected what
you had told us. The survey revealed that 92%
of respondents considered that the Stakeholder
Consultation Report appropriately reflected the
values and issues they had raised. In addition,
88% of respondents indicated that the social
and technical studies would address their issues.
Thank you for providing responses to the survey.
Stage 1 culminated in the development of a
Mersey-Forth Water Management Review
Report which consolidated available information
on operations, environmental data and known
issues in the catchments. This report is available
on our website www.hydro.com.au/MFWMR.
Stage 3 is the Technical and Social Studies
phase and it commenced in July 2012. In the
July 2012 issue of this newsletter we outlined
the 14 Technical and Social Studies that have
been initiated to investigate the issues raised
and to assess mitigation opportunities and
management options. These studies will be
undertaken over the next one to three years and
we will provide regular updates on the status of
the studies as they progress. An update on some
of the studies is provided here.
Stage 2 is the Stakeholder Consultation phase and
is aimed at obtaining a greater understanding of
stakeholder values and issues. This phase was
concluded with a Stakeholder Consultation Report
which is also available on our website.
Pests and Pathogens Management in the
Mersey-Forth Catchments
The aim of the project is for Hydro
Tasmania to work collaboratively
to disseminate information to raise
awareness of pest and pathogens and
deliver hygiene training.
Simon Gartenstein, Environmental Scientist
and Mersey-Forth Project Manager,
reports that good progress has been made.
A mobile wash down unit has been built and
will be available as an awareness raising tool
at events and expos, for wash down during
recreational events and for on-site field
activities. Pest and pathogen awareness
material has been distributed at the Devonport
Junior Anglers Day, Cressy Trout Expo and
the Liawenee Open Day. Simon continues to
deliver hygiene training to Hydro Tasmania
staff providing them with an understanding
Lake Mackenzie
Lake Rowallan
Lake Parangana
Lake Barrington
Lake Gairdner
Lake Paloona
Lake Cethana
Mersey River
Forth River
Wilmot River
Fisher River
Contact Us:
Alison Howman or
Simon Gartenstein
Mersey-Forth Water Management
Review Project Team
[email protected]
1300 360 441
www.hydro.com.au/MFWMR
Simon Gartenstein demonstrating Hydro Tasmania’s
new wash down trailer.
of the key pest and pathogen disease threats
facing Tasmania and demonstrating how to
apply the hygiene protocols.
Mersey-Forth Water Management Review Newsletter
Recreational Releases
The Recreational Releases study was
prompted by kayaking and canoeing
group concerns regarding the
efficiency and reliability of recreational
releases. Hydro Tasmania initiated a
state-wide review of its processes for
recreational releases aiming to identify
opportunities for improvement.
In September 2012 Kirsten Kuns, Senior
Modelling Analyst and the Hydro Tasmania
Officer responsible for managing recreational
water releases, was invited to join a white
water rafting guide course. The course,
based at the Arm River Camp, was run by Alex
Wilson as part of the Tasmanian Polytechnic
Certificate 3 for Outdoor Education.
For Kirsten, this presented a great opportunity
to meet people involved in white water rafting,
see how recreational users take advantage of
water releases and to address concerns raised
during stakeholder consultation.
The group of 30+ rafters comprised of rafting
trainers, reaccrediting rafting guides (both
local and interstate) and students training to
be guides. Many of the group already engage
with Hydro Tasmania for water releases and it
was an opportunity to put names to faces.
Kirsten provided the rafters with an overview
of hydropower operations in their playground.
She discussed:
• The nature of the Tasmanian hydropower
system;
• The characteristics of Tasmanian energy
usage and demand profiles;
White water rafting guide training on the Mersey River at Alum Cliffs.
• Specific characteristics of the
Mersey-Forth Scheme;
• Challenges of generating to demand;
• Operational constraints in the MerseyForth; and
• How these constraints impact Hydro
Tasmania’s ability to support
recreational water release requests.
Feedback indicated that people appreciated
the technical overview and the opportunity
to discuss various concerns associated with
recreational releases. Alex Wilson, the course
coordinator, happily imparted his knowledge
to Kirsten regarding different paddling
activities and the experience obtained for the
different activities by different flow releases at
various locations.
Kirsten thanks Alex and his team for a fantastic
experience. All involved gained improved
understanding and a more personal connection
with respect to the handling and resolving of
requests for recreational water releases.
Kirsten has since provided a similar talk to the
Lake Barrington Recreational Management
Committee and now has plans to meet
members of the canoeing community at the
Forth River slalom site. We aim to provide her
insights on the Hydro Tasmania website.
Mersey-Forth Aboriginal Heritage Study
Through this project, Hydro Tasmania
will work collaboratively with the
Aboriginal community to gain a better
understanding of the Aboriginal
heritage values on Hydro Tasmania
owned land in the Mersey-Forth
catchments, and to investigate
management options.
of the Mersey-Forth catchments were
reviewed, along with information held on
the Tasmanian Aboriginal Site Index (TASI).
Aboriginal community organisations and
individuals were contacted. A report has been
produced providing a brief discussion of the
legislative framework and presenting current
knowledge of Aboriginal heritage in the
following areas:
Sandra Hogue, Environment and Heritage
Manager, states that the first stage of the
project is almost complete. Background
research and consultation with the Aboriginal
community has been undertaken. Reports and
papers of relevance to the Aboriginal heritage
• Lake Mackenzie-Fisher River;
• Lake Rowallan-upper Mersey River;
• Lake Parangana-Fisher River-upper Mersey River;
• Lake Cethana-upper Forth River;
• Lake Gairdner-Wilmot River;
• Lake Barrington-upper Forth River-Lake Paloona; and
• The lower Mersey-Forth non-Hydro catchment is discussed briefly.
The report will be used to assist with further
Aboriginal community consultations in the
next stage of the project which will identify
specific sites in which to do on-ground surveys
and develop management options.
Issue #3 – November 2012
Fish Migration in
the Mersey-Forth
Catchments
The Fish Migration study will
investigate options to facilitate fish
migration and dispersal of native fish
species throughout the Mersey-Forth
catchments.
Dams are barriers to fish migration and there
are currently no mechanisms in place that
allow native fish migrating up the Forth,
Mersey and Wilmot rivers to progress beyond
the associated dam walls.
Freshwater native fish species (adults and
juveniles) that are known to occur in the
catchments include:
• Short-finned Eels (Anguilla australis)*;
• Climbing Galaxias (Galaxias brevipinnis)*;
• Spotted Galaxias (Galaxias truttaceus)*;
• Tasmanian Whitebait (Lovettia sealii)*;
• Short-headed Lamprey (Mordacia mordax)*;
• Pouched Lamprey (Geotria australis)*;
• Common Galaxias (Galaxias maculatus)*;
• Sandy (Pseudaphritis urvilli);
• Tasmanian Mudfish (Neochanna
cleaveri); and
• Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena).
Species marked with an asterisk* are known to
accumulate, or are likely to accumulate, at the
base of the dams during the spring/summer
migration period.
Investigations are underway to evaluate
Juvenile Eels (Elvers).
potential fish trap and translocation sites
downstream of Paloona, Wilmot and
Parangana Dams. In addition, to assist in
the study Caroline Whalley, Environmental
Scientist, has circulated a survey to
fishers aimed at obtaining information on
migratory fish accumulation sites within
the Mersey-Forth catchments that would
complement our existing knowledge.
Caroline hopes that this information will
assist in identifying how we can help to
facilitate fish migration in the catchment.
The survey is now available to complete
online via the Hydro Tasmania website
at www.hydro.com.au/MFWMR/ and will
close on 1 April 2013. All fishers are invited
to provide us with information on their
sightings.
Kevin Macfarlane holding a Pouched Lamprey.
Lower Forth Flood Response and Recovery Plan
Hydro Tasmania will work
collaboratively with Councils to use
available flood survey information
to develop and operationalise flood
response and recovery plans for the
Forth and Mersey Rivers, as considered
necessary and appropriate.
Central Coast Council is currently reviewing
and updating its Lower Forth Flood Response
and Recovery Plan. Agreement has been
reached between Chris Topham, Hydro
Tasmania’s Dam Portfolio Risk Manager,
and Bevin Eberhardt, Central Coast Council’s
Director of Engineering Services, for Hydro
Tasmania to assist with a flood modelling
study of the Forth Estuary. An assessment
of warning systems on the Wilmot and Forth
rivers will also be undertaken. The review
of the plan is expected to be completed by
June 2013.
Mersey-Forth Water Management Review Newsletter
Dissemination of
Flow and Water Level
Information
This project aims to provide more
information on water levels, flow and
rainfall on Hydro Tasmania’s website
and better ways for this information to
be viewed.
Hydro Tasmania has increased the number
of plots displaying river flows, lake levels
and rainfall. Plots are now on the website
www.hydro.com.au/water/water-flow-andlevels, 14 of which are for the Mersey-Forth
catchments. Greg Carson, Water Operations
Advisor, plans to provide a map interface for
users showing the locations of the monitoring
sites so watch this space.
Issue #3 – November 2012
Iris River at Middlesex Plains
Flow in ML/day
160
140
160
120
140
100
120
80
100
60
80
Oct 31 Nov 1
60
Nov 2
Oct 31 Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 3
0
Oct 31 Nov 1
10
Nov 2
Nov 3
Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 7 Nov 8 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15
Period(31/10/2012 @ 00:00:00 to 15/11/2012 @ 00:00:00)
0
Oct 31 Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 3
Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 7 Nov 8 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15
Period(31/10/2012 @ 00:00:00 to 15/11/2012 @ 00:00:00)
Nov 3
Nov 4
Nov 5
Nov 6
Nov 7
Nov 8
Nov 9
Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15
Period(31/10/2012 @ 00:00:00 to 15/11/2012 @ 00:00:00)
Nov 4
Nov 5
Nov 6
Nov 7
Nov 8
Nov 9
Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15
Period(31/10/2012
@ 00:00:00 to 15/11/2012 @ 00:00:00)
Iris River, Cradle Valley, Lake
Gairdner at Dam
Cumulative Rain in mm
60
50
60
40
50
30
40
20
30
10
20
Major upgrade of Rowallan Dam
Work has begun on an upgrade of
Rowallan Dam. While still safe the dam
wall is more than 40 years old and
the upgrade will bring it up to modern
standards.
The first stage of the project will be to upgrade
the existing concrete spillway. New concrete
walls will be constructed inside the existing
spillway walls, while retaining the existing walls
in position. The new walls will be anchored into
the bedrock beneath the dam using a series of
post-tensioned steel anchors on both sides of
the spillway.
How may this upgrade affect you?
•
There will be no road closures,
however there will be heavy vehicles on the
road during this time so we ask that drivers
take care on the road and be patient;
• Water levels may not reach the level of
full power station output meaning that
‘difficult’ rated kayak courses may be
unavailable (during the upgrade);
• Forestry Tasmania has confirmed that the
Arm River camping site and kayak launch
site will not be affected by this work; and
•
There will still be a supply of water flowing
downstream from the dam. Hydro
Tasmania understands the importance
of keeping a consistent flow of water
downstream for river health and recreation.
For more information please visit the website
www.hydro.com.au/upgrades-maintenance or
contact us.
Investigation work on Rowallan Dam spillway in late 2011.
The Mersey-Forth Water Management
Review Report, Stakeholder Consultation
Report and Newsletters are available
in hard copy upon request, or can be
accessed online at www.hydro.com.au/
MFWMR/.
Updates on the Technical and Social
Studies will continue to be provided
through stakeholder participation
processes, via newsletters and on Hydro
Tasmania’s website.
Hydro Tasmania
Contact Details
Information regarding Hydro Tasmania’s
operations and activities can be obtained at:
www.hydro.com.au/about-us/contact-us
Post:
GPO Box 355, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Call:
1300 360 441 (Australia-wide, local call cost) or
+61 3 6271 6221 (International)