Wungong Catchment Trial

More Information

	Jarrah forest a century ago
	Wungong Project publications
	State Water Strategy - www.statewaterstrategy.wa.gov.au
	Keep Informed - Use our online form to register your interest in the Wungong Project

Perth's forested catchments consist of mainly regrowth jarrah and marri trees. The catchments are now severely degraded due to forestry activities in the 1930s and later bauxite mining.

Catchment management aims to convert the forest back to a more natural state with mature trees growing [see link: Jarrah forest a century ago].

It is important that we understand the interaction between water, land and biodiversity and to manage this environment. This knowledge will help us to improve the current state of the forested catchments and ensure that they are once again sustainable.

The Water Corporation's Wungong Catchment Trial is a $20-million project that began in 2005 and will span 12 years.

The Trial aims to determine whether by thinning areas of the Wungong Catchment, now an overcrowded jarrah forest, improvements to streamflow (and hence the availability of water to the environment) can be achieved with minimal disturbance to local species.

The Wungong Catchment covers 12,845ha and is located about 60km south-east of Perth in the high rainfall zone.

The project will be trialled in about 62% of the Catchment area where non-commercial thinning will be carried out in accordance with the Conservation Commission's ForestManagement Plan 2004-2013.

Forestry work undertaken as part of the Trial will be done in accordance to the Department of Conservation and Environment's (DEC) three Interim Silvilcultural Guidelines [see link: Wungong Project Publications].

It is aniticipated that an average of 4-6 gigalitres of streamflow will be recovered annually - depending on rainfall. This also will help address the effect of a drying climate in the Catchment.

The Water Corporation has partnered with environmental agencies, universities and research institutions to implement the trial and better understand the relationship between forest health, water production and biodiversity.

More than 20 monitoring and research programs are now being conducted by some of the State's leading scientists. Information on the various research topics appears in the project's newsletter titled Wungong Whispers (see below).

A strong commitment has been given to actively engage key stakeholders and the wider community in understanding the aims of the trial. Results of research and updates on current activities will be made available on this website.

The Water Corporation invites you to complete our on line form and register your interest in the Wungong Trial [see link: Keep Informed].

For more detailed information contact the Project Coordinator Michael Loh on 9420 3728 or email wungong@watercorporation.com.au

Silvicultural Guidelines

Interim Silvicultural Guidelines prescribing the style and the way in which overstorey and understorey vegetation will be treated in the Wungong Catchment Trial are now available [see link: Wungong Project publications].

These guidelines have been prepared for use in the Water Corporation's Wungong Catchment Trial. They are consistent with the Forest Management Plan 2004-2013 and approved by DEC for implementation on a trial basis.

The documents will be used to guide operational practice on an initial trial basis.

After the initial trial period, the Water Corporation and DEC will review the guidelines. As part of the review, a public submission process will be initiated - dependent on the completion date of the trial period. Submission Evaluation Criteria and a timeframe will be advertised following the initial trial basis.

In the meantime, comments on the guidelines can be sent to the Water Corporation before the 2008 review process, however, please be aware that the guidelines may not be amended prior to this time.

Comments can be sent to:

Mr Michael Loh, Project Coordinator, Wungong Catchment Trial

Water Corporation, PO Box 100

Leederville WA 6902

E-mail Michael.loh@watercorporation.com.au