Water targets
The health of all ACT water ecosystems is consistently the best of all Australian capital cities and their catchments
8. Water supply catchments
The intention of this target is to protect and rehabilitate catchments that are used for potable water supply. Recovery of the catchments after the fires of 2003 is continuing and efforts to improve groundcover to reduce sediment run-off from erosion will continue to use natural processes in ensuring that relevant water quality standards are met. This work will complement efforts to enhance biodiversity in these catchments.
| OUTCOMES | OUTPUTS | ACTIONS |
|---|---|---|
|
Intermediate Revegetation and better road management in the lower Cotter results in sediment movement to streams in the lower Cotter catchment stabilised at below pre-bushfire levels (2015) Ensure water supply security that results in water restrictions limited to one in every 20 years or less than 5% of the time (2015) Long-term The excellent condition of all ACT water supply catchments provides resilience to loss of water quality in parts of the catchment due to periodic bushfires or other periodic disturbance (2030) |
Area of catchment restored (ha) Land is protected from erosion Development of an ACT region water strategy based on the current ACT water strategy, Think water act water Related plans Draft Lower Cotter Strategic Management Plan Environment and Protection Act 1997, republication November 2004 Think water, act water Water2Water Water Resources Act 2007 ACT Aquatic Species and Riparian Zone Conservation Strategy Action Plan 20 ACT Planning and Land Authority Water Use and Catchment Code Forestry Code of Practice |
Foundation Choose an index of stream condition and catchment health (e.g. the MDBC Sustainable Rivers Audit) for use and to trigger action points so that adaptive management can be activated to address water quality or erosion problems Develop a geographic information system (GIS) data system for integrated water quality and stream health that combines agency and accredited Waterwatch monitoring and AUSRIVAS data On-ground Encourage Government endorsement of the integrated Lower Cotter Strategic Management Plan Rehabilitate priority subcatchments, including in-stream habitat, consistent with vegetation communities classification. Work prioritised according to condition and available funding Put erosion protection measures in place in priority subcatchments Increase Waterwatch involvement in monitoring progress towards restoration of water supply catchments Develop an agreement with stakeholders about supply of potable water from the Murrumbidgee and Queanbeyan rivers |
