Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

4 Riparian Monitoring4.1 MethodsRiparian assessments were undertaken by repeating methods defined by HLA (2007)which included taking pedestrian based surveys along sections of North Wambo Creek,South Wambo Creek and Stoney Creek utilising field sheets to give an overall rating ofcreek health.Pedestrian based surveys were undertaken from 7 to 9 September 2010. Two types oftransect were assessed for each of the three streams, these were:• Cross sectional – A marked single line transect across the width of the stream frombank to bank, hereafter referred to as ‘transects’; and• Longitudinal – An unmarked transect along the length of the creek between twotransects, hereafter referred to as ‘sections’.Transect and section locations were established in the field by HLA (2007) and comprisethe length of underground workings, plus at least one site beyond each end of theunderground workings. During 2010 all transect locations were remarked with labelled starpickets. Previously transect start and finish locations were marked with a wooden stakeand a surveyors marker peg however, during 2010 almost all wooden stakes had fallenover or had disappeared, and all surveyors pegs were hidden in long grass.Two types of riparian monitoring were undertaken – bed and bank stability monitoring, andriparian vegetation monitoring.Bed and Bank stabilityBed and bank stability monitoring is undertaken by surveying consultants who undertakereplicate surveys of the three creeks to measure areas of significant erosion and toidentify changes related to water flow. A written assessment was completed of any areasof significant erosion, bare soil and visible subsidence along each creek line.Riparian Vegetation MonitoringThe effects of subsidence and erosion on riparian vegetation were monitored by repetitivesampling of established permanent transects by assessing:• The current erosion status of transects and sections;• Photographing each transect site and any areas of significant erosion or subsidenceimpacts; and• Quantifying vegetative structure and species composition for each transect by:» Completing visual assessment field sheets (see Appendix G) of weightedriparian vegetation characteristics to give an overall rating. Riparian vegetationcomponents assessed included:• Overstorey characteristics;2010 Annual Ecological Monitoring Report, Draft Report, January 2011 Page 24