Serpentine National Park - Department of Environment and ...

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7. CLIMATE MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION The objective is to consider the effects climate will have on all aspects of planning and operation. The Park experiences a Mediterranean climate with characteristically hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Two weather stations are located close to the Park boundary and have records dating back many years - Serpentine town site (1905-1994) and Jarrahdale town site (1882-1994). Mean maximum temperatures vary from 30 C in February to 7 C in July. From the foot of the Scarp to the top, rainfall increases rapidly, with the annual rainfall for Serpentine approximately 951 mm and Jarrahdale 1187 mm. June and July are the wettest months and about 80% of annual rainfall falls in the six months from May to October. The average monthly rainfall varies from 199 mm and 234 mm in July to 9 mm and 11 mm in February for Serpentine and Jarrahdale respectfully (records supplied by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology 1994). The possible effects of long-term climatic changes during the life of this plan are unlikely to have significant implications for the Park's flora and fauna. STRATEGIES 1. Consider available weather data, when developing management strategies for the Park, particularly: high rainfall and the implication for erosion from earthworks, wind speed and direction at times of high fire risk. (L) 2. Locate and design recreational facilities to minimise unpleasant climatic effects. (M) ___________________________________ 8. GEOLOGY, LANDFORM, SOILS AND EROSION RISK The objectives are to: 1. Protect and conserve geological and geomorphological values, features, landforms and soils. 2. Rehabilitate eroded areas. The Park is sited on the western edge of the Darling Plateau, an ancient plateau composed mainly of granite rock with dolerite intrusions and capped with laterite. As a result of past weathering the Park has a number of distinct landscapes, namely lateritic uplands, minor valleys, major valleys and scarps. The landscapes can be grouped into landform mapping units based on topography and soils and have been broadly mapped by Heddle et al (1980). The Park's 11 Management for Conservation soils are influenced by the granite bedrock and physical geological processes. Within the Park, the soils are sharply divided into those that are developed on site from either dolerite or granite. Plant communities are closely linked to landforms and soils (Beard 1979). Landform units have relevance to: • firebreaks, walk tracks and road construction and maintenance; • siting of recreation facilities and activities; • prescribed burning; • conservation values; • visitor education and interpretation; • site drainage structures; and • distributions of biotic components (vegetation, flora and fauna). The erosion risk (or how susceptible each landform unit is to erosion) is based on the interaction between soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity, slope steepness and length, vegetative cover and site management (King and Wells, 1990). Steepness and length of slope are two major factors contributing to erosion in the Park. The Park varies from 60 m to 300 m above sea level and features steep slopes (some greater than 5:1) associated with the scarp and incised valleys of the Serpentine River and Gooralong Brook (Figure 4). Granite outcrops have a high conservation value because of the diverse and unique fauna and flora communities associated with them. Granite outcrops shed large amounts of water from their surfaces and erosion can be a major problem if vegetation is disturbed or uncontrolled access allowed. Disturbance to the fragile granite outcrops and boulders should be minimised during all operations or activities. STRATEGIES 1. Identify and protect geological sites and landform features that have scientific and educational values. (M) 2. Develop and maintain stable access routes to major destinations within the Park, realigning or upgrading sections causing erosion or damage to geological and landform features (see Access and Parking). (H) 3. Monitor the effectiveness of erosion control techniques, and incorporate new practices where appropriate. (M) 4. Control recreation activities in areas of high erosion risk. (H)
SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY LANDFORM: SLOPE 1 0 1 2 km National Park < 3% 3% - 10% 10% - 20% > 20% Scale JARRAHDALE
Page 2: MANAGEMENT PLAN Serpentine National
Page 5 and 6: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Planning Team w
Page 7 and 8: Page IMPLEMENTATION 40. Management
Page 9 and 10: INDIAN Marmion Marine Park OCEAN FR
Page 11 and 12: Workshop The planning process comme
Page 13 and 14: SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY SERPENTINE 26
Page 15 and 16: Rural (accommodation on lots of aro
Page 17: SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY SERPENTINE Re
Page 21 and 22: SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY 1 0 1 2 km Na
Page 23 and 24: Management for Conservation The eas
Page 25 and 26: Management for Conservation The Dar
Page 27 and 28: Management for Conservation 12. FAU
Page 29 and 30: SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY SERPENTINE DI
Page 31 and 32: Management for Conservation • Con
Page 33 and 34: SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY FIRE MANAGEME
Page 35 and 36: Management for Conservation acting
Page 38 and 39: 20. REGIONAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITI
Page 40 and 41: 23. RECREATION AREAS AND EXISTING U
Page 42 and 43: 23.1 Serpentine Falls Recreation Ar
Page 46 and 47: 24. NATURE OBSERVATION AND SIGHTSEE
Page 48 and 49: 27. ORIENTEERING, ROGAINING AND CRO
Page 50 and 51: 3. Horse riding by individuals will
Page 52 and 53: 34. LIAISON AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEME
Page 54 and 55: Implementation 37. RAW MATERIAL EXT
Page 56 and 57: 40. MANAGEMENT AND STAFF RESOURCES
Page 58 and 59: HIGH PRIORITY cont. 51 Bibliography
Page 60 and 61: 53 Bibliography HIGH PRIORITY cont.
Page 62 and 63: 55 Bibliography MEDIUM PRIORITY 5.
Page 64 and 65: 57 Bibliography MEDIUM PRIORITY con
Page 66: Australia ICOMOS (1988). The Austra

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