Winton Wetlands | a wetlands restoration project of ...



-314325-33909000Winton Wetlands Research and Deciding on the Research QuestionYou will be conducting fieldwork at Winton Wetlands near Benalla to record primary data. You will need to complete research to: decide on your research question gather background information for the introduction of your reportdesign fieldwork methods to obtain primary data that will help answer the research question.Winton Wetlands is the current area that was once occupied by a reservoir called Lake Mokoan. Contents:Fieldwork aimsYour PlannerHomeworkClass discussion about homeworkMappingUseful Apps for phones and tabletsResearching the past and present about Winton Wetlands and its relationship in the regionAs a class, review and modify the following aims for your fieldwork. Fieldwork Aims: To gather evidence of past and current land uses at Winton Wetlands Reserve and surrounds. To collect data on the diversity and health of wetland habitats (aquatic and terrestrial) using techniques similar to those used in the restoration program. To investigate the impacts on the wetland ecosystem from the commissioning of Lake Mokoan.To evaluate the extent to which the wetlands were degraded due to the commissioning of Lake Mokoan. To identify connections between Winton Wetlands and the surrounding region and the impacts of those connections. To identify current and future challenges to the restoration of the wetland ecosystem. To identify and describe strategies used to restore the wetlands. To evaluate the extent to which the restoration program at Winton Wetlands Reserve has been successful to date. Your Planner Plan the next couple of months using a planner. The most important dates on your planner will include the dates of your field trip and the date your final report must be handed in. Your teacher will also provide dates when drafts need to be submitted for comment. Homework Download a copy of the Student Homework on the Winton Wetland Geography Unit 3 page. It has a list of links to access and view a number of videos:Read the questions on the worksheetAnswer the first questionWatch some of the videos until you think you have enough information to answer the rest of the questions.Class discussion after completing homeworkStarting with the answers written by the class for homework, discuss what was found out about Winton Wetlands. What is different about the current Winton Wetland compared with Lake Mokoan?How is the land used?What can students recall about the current values of Winton Wetlands?What is unusual about the landscape?What might we expect when visiting an ephemeral wetland?What are some of the things we might want to find out about Winton Wetlands and its relationship to the surrounding region?How might maps help us find out more about change, distance, distribution, movement, place, process, region, scale, special association and sustainability?Mapping There are various ways of accessing maps as hard copy or electronic of Winton Wetlands and its surroundings.Mapping alternatives:Purchase hard copy maps from Melbourne Map Centre, 738-740 Waverly Road, Malvern East, Victoria 3145 397510129540000Obtain maps of the Winton Wetland catchment and region from DPI Vicmap - Topographic Mapping GDA94 )Teachers can download and pay for topographic PDF map from Vicmap. Open the link and find the button on the rights that says ‘start and order’ There are a number of searches. Select Benalla Council or the appropriate mapset number. After purchasing, teachers can provide a copy to each students’ phone or tablet device. The map can be read by an App called Avenza PDF Map. It is free and can be used on both apple and android tablets and phones. Go to this web link to find the location for the App for your device This will be like a mini GIS system. You will be able to use it at school as part of your research and in the field. Useful features might include (Copied from website ): Plot placemarks, change pin colors, position and label names, enter attribute data and notesTrack real-time movement with GPS (includes speed and elevation statistics) - save, export and import tracks (as KML)Use the compass to view true or magnetic north (iPad and iPhone only)Save placemarks and quickly navigate to placemarks from a list view. Save associated placemark attribute data as KML, CSV, or GPX files and export to iTunes (iOS only), save to SD card (Android only), e-mail or sync with Dropbox.Import placemarks (in KML/KMZ format) from SD card (Android only), Dropbox or the web.Display coordinates in a number of systems including Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)/United States National Grid (USNG)Easily find the coordinates of any location in the map; including the ability to type in a coordinate to search.View the coordinates of the current position and of any placemark and open it in the Maps or Google Maps appSearch for points of interest on any map. Places are based on search engine results. Save places as placemarks that can be visible or hidden as required.Measure distances and areas -?save measurements to line data with the ability to import and export lines (as KML)Optionally render a map in higher resolution (iOS)Biodiversity interactive Map – 3.2 has many online features to produce a layered map and can be saved as a PDF file. The example below has only one layer added for floodways. To enable EVC to function, the map has to be zoomed in far enough for it operate. Aerial maps such as Google Earth is useful. Note the date the Aerial photos were taken and you may be able to use this to gather data about change. Google earth can be used to make profiles of the topography. Use add path to draw a line. Save with any name you think is appropriate. In the left collumn find your file name and right click on it. Go down to show elevation and click on it. There is now a national map using the Commonwealth and State databases This may be useful for finding regional data and developing very detailed maps. Click on this link to see a sample National Geographic has its own map maker, but it’s still being developed. Refer to Winton Wetland Master Plan pages 30 and 60 to 67. Many of the other reports also have maps. These other maps may be relevant to some of your investigations. Other online mapsNVIM and Useful Apps you might consider for your fieldwork Discuss with your teacher and class if any current Apps may be useful for your fieldwork.Apps on phones and tablets may be useful for:Identifying GPS points for photos and locations where data has been gatheredUsed in conjunction with an electronic map of Winton WetlandsAnnotating photographs as part of gathering primary dataMeasuring distances and areasAs well as GPS coordinates, adding additional information to photos such as direction photo was takenExamples of Apps‘Avenza PDF Map’ can read PDF maps and has features to add information to the map. It is free and can be used on both apple and android tablets and phones. Go to this web link to find the location for the App for your device Ask your teacher to obtain the PDF map and provide it to the class. ‘Solocator’. This app georeferences photographs, along with latitude and longitude it is also records the direction the phone or tablet was pointed. When being saved, naming photos and notes can be included. Cost: $1.49 ‘PhotoPen’. This allows immediate annotating, labelling and sharing of photographs. ‘Distance Measure’. This allows distances to be measured between two locations on a map. It also calculates area. ‘TPE’ (The Photographer’s Ephemeris) It’s used to find the direction of the sun and moon any time of day for all dates in any location. It brings up google earth as an overlay. It can be used online for free or purchased as an App. Go to the webpage to go directly to the App. Research Researching past and present about Winton Wetlands and its relationship in the regionWinton Wetland PDF documents referred to below should be downloaded from the student geography site. The most relevant text has been highlighted in yellow. Page references that are provided are the PDF file page and not the document page. Overview of change in the past 200 yearsWinton Wetlands has gone through several cycles of change over the past 200 years. The vast area is currently being restored to benefit this environment, provide local employment and enhance cultural and recreational activities. Winton Wetland Master Plan page 15 and 31 (map)Lake Mokoan Cultural Heritage Survey page 16Winton Wetlands Restoration and monitoring strategic plan pages 8 to 11Main features of the current wetlandThe Winton Wetlands is an ephemeral wetland. It dries out during the summer. It fills up over the cooler months to different levels depending on the amount of rain. It is in a relatively small catchment fed by a number of creeks. There are 33 individual wetlands within Winton Wetlands. Across the wetlands are two large lunettes or sand dunes. Master plan, page 13 Lake Mokoan Archaeological Assessment Page 10 Lake Mokoan Historical Archaeological Assessment, page 10 Lake Mokoan Climate History Winton Wetland Master Plan pages 60 to 67Winton Wetlands Restoration and monitoring strategic plan page 44 Traditional owners of the regionThe Yorta Yorta Nation is the traditional owner and their representatives are active partners in the restoration of Winton Wetlands. Their long history has resulted in the area being littered with around a million stone artefacts. Scared trees and mounds can also be observed. Lake Mokoan Cultural Heritage Survey pages 3, 4 17 to 22 and 26.au/indigenous-heritage.au/_literature_134645/Cultural_Heritage_Survey.au/ Winton Wetlands graphic panels JPGsAgriculture and recent settlersIn 1840, farmers from NSW were some of the first people to graze animals anywhere in Victoria. The area of Winton Wetlands was grazed and farmed up until the construction of a dam wall in 1971Lake Mokoan Cultural Heritage Survey page 35.au/european-history .au/LakeMokoan_Historic_Survey%20(2).pdf Winton Wetlands graphic panels JPGsThe Lake Mokoan Reservoir The purpose of the 7.5km long dam wall was to retain water for irrigation and recreational activities. The entire reservoir was called Lake Mokoan. In years of adequate rainfall, water was pumped from Broken River to fill the reservoir. One of the consequences of inundating the area was the death of over 200,000 trees. The lake was very popular for water activities including fishing. However the large shallow lake had extremely high evaporation rates.la Trobe Uni Lake Mokoan Project : Strategy for Macrophyte restoration (read abstract) Winton Wetlands Restoration and monitoring strategic plan page 11 Victorian Environment Assessment Council - Murray Basin 1985. Search PDF for Lake Mokoan search PDF for Lake Mokoan search PDF for Lake MokoanWinton Wetlands graphic panels JPGsReturning Lake Mokoan to a natural environmentWhen the Victorian State Government was investigating ways to increase environmental flows, it found one of the easiest ways was to decommission Lake Mokoan. The Lake was decommissioned in 2010 by the decommissioning is still controversial with a wide range of views for and against.Environment Victoria (not for profit organisation) (read conclusion on page 5 & 6)(1).pdf?phpMyAdmin=8%2CSW0pHXD5tewKNvRRFVgHetb%2Ca ABC Stateline The growing anger in country Victoria over the North South Pipeline and the draining of Lake Mokoan. Border Mail - Mokoan wetland ‘healing sense of loss’ (summary of some local views about the decommissioning) Broken CMA Winton Wetlands graphic panels JPGsSustainable developmentFollowing the decommissioning of Mokoan Lake, a Master Plan and various strategies have been developed. The Winton Wetland is being actively managed and improved by a team of qualified staff. The Master Plan highlights environmental, economic and social outcomes over the next decade and into the future. Sustainability: Mater Plan page 31 Winton Wetland Master Plan pages 10, 14, 15, 16, 46, 48, 56, 72 and 73Winton Wetlands Restoration and monitoring strategic plan page 55 Ecological Vegetation Classes at Winton WetlandsWinton Wetlands has 11 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs). The PDF below will provide students with additional information about each EVC. These documents are important for developing your investigation methods. The RegionThe regional town is Benalla which is only a few kilometres from Winton Wetlands. Benalla services one of the richest agricultural areas in Australia. Outside the town of Benalla the main industry is agriculture. There is a serious need to diversify employment opportunities. There are no major tourist attractions in the region around Benalla. Winton Wetland Reports Winton Wetland Master Plan Partnerships: pages 100 to 101Winton Wetland Master Plan page 13 and 14 mapsWinton Wetlands Restoration and monitoring strategic plan page 20Goulburn Broken Catchment management Authority Benalla Rural City Australian Bureau of Statistics – search Benalla links Identifying the research question Your teacher will provide you with a process to identify your research question. The question must reflect your Unit 3 geography assessment requirements. There must be a focus on land use change. Refer to the text book Unit 3 Ganging the Land GTAV page 55 Appendix 1, 2 and 3 at the end of this document has some quotes from Winton Wetlands strategic plans which identify some of the environmental monitoring they aim to do that might be relevant to the development of your question. It must be possible for you and your class to gather adequate primary data along with secondary data to answer the research question. You must keep in mind:How long you will have at the fieldwork site to gather data? Make sure it is possible to gather the data in the time available. If you need datasets to compare your data, do datasets exist?The equipment required is available and students know how to use it.Students can access the areas they want to use and there aren’t restrictions for conservation, flooding or safety reasons. It is actually possible to gather the data at that time of year.The fieldwork can still be carried out if the weather is poor.Once the main question has been decided, three more detailed sub-questions need to be developed. These questions will assist in developing monitoring and data collecting activities. Hypothesis Once your class or groups have their research question, it’s time to decide on your hypothesis. An hypothesis is an attempt to answer the research question about cause and effect. Once the primary and secondary data has been analysed it will be possible to say if the evidence supports the hypothesis. Time to think about how you will gather data?It’s now time to identify what data you will want to collect at Winton Wetlands in the time you have available. How much time will you have at Winton Wetlands?What monitoring methods (activities) will enable you to gather the information you need?The next document you may need to help plan your field work is:Planning fieldwork monitoring and data collection.docAppendix 1In the document Winton Wetlands Restoration and Monitoring Strategic Plan v.1.0 pages 53-54 Ecological Monitoring The WWCoM (Winton Wetlands Committee of Management) needs to be able to answer the question: ‘Is ecological function improving?’ To this end, multiple lines of evidence must be derived from the monitoring program. Indicators of improving ecological function will be shown by: Water quality parameters (particularly nutrients and turbidity) are within acceptable limits for natural aquatic ecosystemsSoil nutrients (particularly N and P, and organic Carbon) decrease to within acceptable limits for soils typical of comparable remnant vegetation A sustained reduction in the cover and abundance of Phalaris and Paspalum A sustained increase in the cover of indigenous perennial grasses (Southern Cane- grass being an indicator species) Wetland vegetation adapted to ephemeral conditions, and providing structural diversity for macro-invertebrates Recruitment of River Red Gum in appropriate locations An increase in the structural diversity of woodland vegetation, indicated by an increase in the diversity and abundance of woodland birds An increase in the abundance of frogs, microbats, Rakali and Long-necked Turtles An appropriate diversity of native fish species, and reduction in exotic fish numbersBreeding by colonial water birdsAppendix 2Winton Wetlands Restoration and Monitoring Strategic Plan v.1.0 pages 47-49Water Monitoring: To better understand the water quality profile of tributaries, including macrophyte and macroinvertebrate communities, and risk of potential negative outcomes (e.g. blue green algal outbreaks, include data on: Macroinvertebrates Macrophytes Turbidity Electrical Conductivity (salinity) Dissolved Oxygen pH Phosphorus and nitrogen Temperature. Winton Wetlands Restoration and Monitoring Strategic Plan v.1.0 pages 58-59Appendix 3Wetland Vegetation Monitoring: To better understand development in vegetation composition in Red Gum Swamps and littoral vegetation; to document recruitment of River Red Gum and Southern Cane-grass; to detect weed invasions Establish permanent transects and photo-points at selected locations on the littoral zone and in Red Gum swamps to record cover and abundance of wetland vegetation on an annual basis (e.g. November each year), particularly recruitment of Southern Cane-grass and River Red Gum. Conduct seasonal surveillance monitoring to identify and document any incursions of designated high priority aquatic and terrestrial weeds. ................
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