Potential Effects of Willow (Salix spp.) Removal on Freshwater Ecosystem Dynamics. Key Issue Assessment and Long Term Monitoring Program

"February 2007".

Project Number: Development of a Willow Removal monitoring program - M/BUS/115 (Related to Monitoring the effects of Willow removal - M/BUS/274).

MDFRC item.

63 pages. 1 of 2 reports associated with project see (Potential Effects of Willow (Salix spp.) Removal on Freshwater Ecosystem Dynamics. A Literature Review).

In March 2006, the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre was commissioned and funded by the North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) to develop a literature review and a long term monitoring program detailing the effects of willow removal on freshwater aquatic systems. The literature review was completed in June 2006. The literature review summarised previous literature on willow effects and attempted to predict the potential short and long term effects of willow removal on aquatic ecosystems. This review demonstrated that although anecdotal evidence suggests an overall increase in ‘stream health’ in the long term following willow removal, there is a consistent lack of literature describing the effects of willows and willow removal on Australian aquatic environments. This made accurate predictions on the possible short and long term affects of willow removal difficult and led to the production of this current report. This report has developed a protocol for identifying key issues and a monitoring program associated with potential long term effects of willow removal on aquatic systems. These key issues are based on the knowledge available and their importance to stream ecology. The long term monitoring program is based on these key issues. The literature review and the monitoring program are part of a larger project funded by NECMA which will then apply the monitoring designs to willow removal and reference sites to ascertain the key long term effects of willow removal on aquatic systems.