Division 8Artificial barriers and openings

## Division 8 Artificial barriers and openings Division 8 Artificial barriers and openings | Five year target | Why is it needed? | What are the expected outcomes? | | Target 23 Review of all licensed weirs on 3rd order and larger rivers completed, a review of unlicensed structures on these rivers substantially progressed, a priority listing prepared, and action taken to:Target 23a Ensure that there is no net increase in the number or total capacity of weirs in each water management areaTarget 23b Remove at least 10, and structurally modify 15 of the priority weirs recommended for action across the State (eg install fishways)Target 23c Establish improved operational protocols for priority operable weirs that will reduce their environmental impacts | • To restore water level variability within weir pools (RFOs 6,7)• To improve habitat conditions within weir pools (RFO 9)• To restore wetting and drying cycles within adjacent wetlands and riparian land (RFO 5)• To improve base (dry period) flows (RFO 2)• To improve water quality• To reduce the incidents of blue green algal blooms• To increase the transfer of organic (food) inputs down rivers• To restore the movement of fish up and down rivers (RFO 9) | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Incidents of problem blue green algal blooms affecting essential water supplies and recreational values reduced | | Target 24 Review of all existing tidal barriers completed, and action taken to remove, or partially, or periodically open at least 100 tidal barriers/gates | • To restore wetting and drying cycles within coastal wetlands (RFO 4)• To reduce the incidence of acid drainage• To restore the movement of fish between estuaries and coastal rivers and floodplains.• To improve water quality downstream of dams | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored | | Target 25 Action taken to (re)connect at least 60 percent of the natural 1 in 5 year flooded area to the river for 11 key rural floodplains by ensuring:Target 25a The major flood paths and flood dependent ecosystems are mappedTarget 25b The significant barriers to flooding are identified and action to deal with the major barriers commenced | • To restore inundation frequency and duration in floodplain wetlands (RFO 4)• To sustain flood-dependent vegetation eg river red gums• To restore groundwater recharge events• To restore the connection between floodplain wetlands and rivers for transfer of organic matter, invertebrates and fish | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored• Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dependencies on, and cultural association with water protected and improved | | Target 26 Dams responsible for cold water pollution identified, a priority listing prepared, and action initiated to ensure that the temperature regime below these dams is kept within the 20th to 80th natural percentile range for each month (or within bounds determined by site specific investigations), by ensuring:Target 26a Structural modification of at least 2 priority damsTarget 26b. Improved operational protocols established for priority dams with existing temperature management infrastructure | • To restore natural temperature regimes in rivers (RFO 9)• To address the impact of cold water on the reproduction, survival and growth rates of native fish and the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate communities | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored | | Target 27 Frequency of artificial manipulations of coastal lagoon entrances reduced, and management strategies to improve natural flow dynamics recognising their consequences on ecosystems and social assets | • To maintain natural salinity regimes of coastal lagoons• To improve patterns of water inundation in coastal wetlands (RFO 12) | • Primary ecological production maintained or improved• Degraded wetlands improved and significant wetlands protected and restored• Diversity and abundance of native aquatic animals and plants protected and restored |