Likely to be enriched with nutrients when wet due to the surrounding land uses
Riparian vegetation dominated by introduced grasses and weeds
Sheep grazing land with a pine forest near the creekline
Area map
About the location
Tributary of the Inman River is a small stream in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges that flows in a northerly direction before discharging into the Inman River, about 3 km upstream from Glacier Rock. The monitoring site was located off Prouse Road, about 3 km east from Inman Valley on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The major land use in the 187 hectare catchment is softwood forestry, with smaller areas of remnant native vegetation, stock grazing, cropping, and roads.
The creek was given a Poor rating because the site sampled showed evidence of major changes in ecosystem structure, and moderate changes to the way the ecosystem functions. There was considerable evidence of human disturbance in terms of the degraded vegetation found throughout the creek’s catchment.
Findings
The 2.5 m wide channel was dry in both autumn and spring 2011. No macroinvertebrate or water quality data was consequently available for this site.
The sediments were dominated by detritus, clay and sand. Samples taken from below the surface were grey in colour and showed no evidence of being anaerobic or lacking in oxygen. No sign of any bank erosion was noted during either inspection in 2011.
No aquatic plants were observed in the channel and the narrow riparian zone consisted of introduced grasses and weeds and a few scattered gum trees. The surrounding vegetation was cleared sheep grazing land, and a pine forest was located about 300 m from the site. A dam was also present at the site but was unlikely to significantly affect flow patterns in this creek, given its obvious ephemerality.
Special environmental features
None detected.
Pressures and management responses
Pressures
Management responses
Livestock having direct access at the site and upstream (causing sediment erosion and adding excessive nutrients).
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board’s land management program encourages and promotes managing land to improve water quality. This includes incentives for waterway and wetland fencing to exclude or limit stock from entering riparian zones.
Widespread introduced weeds in the riparian zone at the site and upstream (reducing habitat quality).
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board has several pest plant (weed) mitigation and control programs. They work closely with landholders to control weeds on their property and to help stop the spread to other properties and waterways.
This aquatic ecosystem condition report is based on monitoring data collected by the EPA. It was prepared with and co-funded by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board.
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Observed Condition
Expected Condition
