Cockrone Lagoon Aquatic Biological Survey-Final Report (PDF File ...

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Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd 7. Conclusion Copacabana, Cockrone Lagoon and MacMasters Beach is another scenic coastal residential and recreational area. This high level of scenic and natural beauty is a major attraction drawing both residents and holiday makers to the area. The area has it all, rocky headlands, beautiful sandy beaches, tranquil Lagoon, rainforests and reserves all located within a high population suburban setting Preliminary surveys of the Lagoon indicated a range of native species present within the Lagoon proper. However, aquatic biological surveys of the catchment area indicate the biodiversity within the freshwater aquatic tributary system is extremely low. As we progressed upstream from the Lagoon proper, biodiversity diminished rapidly. The upper reaches of the catchment were seemingly devoid of aquatic life. The Cockrone Lagoon and surrounding areas aquatic ecosystems consisted of a very poor diversity of aquatic fauna which was very disappointing. Exotic invasive aquatic weeds, however, were absent from the majority of the catchments which was an encouraging sign. The majority of riparian zones were also in good condition with few terrestrial weeds, etc. Most steams were heavily laden with orange brown iron bacteria which was unsightly. This bacteria thrives in low light, low oxygen and high iron environments, it is not toxic but also not inducive to native aquatic ora or fauna and is usually a precursor to exotic weeds that thrive in these conditions. Both Winney Bay and Copacabana creeks are too small and short to sustain much in the way of aquatic biodiversity. The freshwater tributary streams feeding into Cockrone Lagoon are very small with highly urbanized catchments; there just isn’t sufcient catchment or stream ow rates to adequately sustain and ush these short creeks systems. The small catchment size limits the capacity of the system to be self cleansing and this is amplied in drought conditions but wet conditions rapidly ush and clean the system. This uctuation creates unstable conditions not inducive to native species. 8. Recommendations This survey records the current status of the ecological health of streams in the Cockrone Lagoon and Surrounding Catchments. It provides a baseline for future comparison after initiation of any catchment or local remediation strategies. The following recommendations are offered to Gosford City Council for the Cockrone Lagoon and surrounding area. • Continued support and encouragement of local environmental community or landcare groups to continue with riparian regeneration and weed control, etc. • biodiversity monitoring of the freshwater catchment streams on an ongoing basis would also be recommended. To obtain signicant information approximately 5 sites should be monitored for aquatic biodiversity twice per year (winter/summer) on the same day and then over time trends can be seen, etc. • water quality monitoring of the freshwater catchment streams on an ongoing basis would also be recommended. To obtain signicant information approximately 5 sites should be monitored for water quality twice per year (winter/summer) on the same day and then Cockrone Lagoon Catchment Aquatic Biodiversity Report 32
Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd over time trends can be seen, etc. • continue to educate the residents and commercial entities on pollutant reduction at source. • continue to educate the residents and commercial entities on the dangers of exotic ora and fauna and the consequences of escape into the environment. • continue to educate the residents and commercial entities on aquatic weeds and how to identify outbreaks, with monitoring of their local streams to identify outbreaks early. • Gosford City Council has in place a Coastal Lagoon Management Plan that covers the Cockrone Lagoon and catchment. This comprehensive Plan covers most issues and should be promoted and supported to help improve the overall health and prosperity of the catchment systems. 9. Acknowledgements Sponsorship for the Cockrone Lagoon & Surrounding Catchment Project was supported by Gosford City Council under the Ecological Research Grants Program 2010 and we are thankful to Gosford City Council and Michael Ebert, Environment Ofcer, Education and Compliance. Unless otherwise referenced, information presented on Cockrone Lagoon, NSW has arisen from recent biological surveys undertaken as part of the broader Australian Craysh Project & Australian Aquatic Biological Survey and we are thankful to Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd for sponsoring that work and for providing access to laboratory and eld equipment. There are a number of people to thank for their assistance with this report; our thanks to Dr Stephen Keable, Collection Manager, Marine Invertebrates (Natural Science Collections) Australian Museum, for his help, support and assistance with making the Australia Museum collection available for study; Helen Stoddart and Rodger Springthorpe (Australian Museum) for all the work I keep creating for them, I really do appreciate all your efforts, much thanks; Janet Waterhouse, (Australian Museum) for assistance with the conrmation of identication of the freshwater snails in the Gosford LGA; Amanda (Australian Museum) for assistance with Gudgeon identication; Brian Patterson, Palm Grove Ourimbah Creek Landcare Inc., https://sites.google. com/site/palmgroveourimbahcreeklandcare for help with weed/plant identication. All collections were authorized by the NSW Department of Industry and Investment under Scientic Collection Permit P05/0077-4.1. Special thanks to Bill Talbot (Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture) for organizing our permit. All collections were authorized by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, under Scientic Licence S13112. 10. References: Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H., Allen, M., 2002. Field Guide to The Freshwater Fishes of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-7307-5486-3. Australian Craysh Project, 2005 – 2010. Collection records c/- Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd, Karuah NSW Australia. Coastal Lagoons Management Plan, 1995. Gosford City Council, PO Box 21, GOSFORD NSW 2250. Cockrone Lagoon Catchment Aquatic Biodiversity Report 33
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