Biodiversity Maps
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The Biodiversity maps below assist Beyond Bolac CAG make strategic decisions for the H11 H12 sub-catchment. They visually represent the biodiversity information for the sub-catchment and are a quick reference tool for the group to use when applying for funding, holding discussions with stakeholders or assisting land managers with grant projects. The data has been sourced from the State Government of Victoria and will need to be updated as new data layers are released.
Map 1. The Beyond Bolac Catchment Action Group Area
The Beyond Bolac CAG area covers approximately 168,000 ha and stretches from Hexham in the south to Raglan and Buangor in the north. The area corresponds to the sub-catchment of H11 & H12 of the Upper Hopkins River Basin. The Fiery and Salt Creeks are the major waterways of this sub-catchment, with Lake Bolac being a major lake. Fiery Creek flows into Lake Bolac from the north, and the overflow from Lake Bolac enters Salt Creek and flows south to the Hopkins River. There are numerous other permanent and temporary lakes and wetlands dotted across this landscape
Map 2. Modelled Native Vegetation 2005 Extent
This map shows the most current extent of native vegetation and major water-based habitat across the H11 H12 sub-catchment. The dataset categorises the landscape into native woody, native grassy and major native wetland cover together with probability ratings, ranging from “highly likely native vegetation cover” through to “unlikely to support native vegetation”. It is a combination of a number of spatial datasets such as tree cover, rainfall and temperature together with time-series LANDSAT imagery and ground-truthed site data. For the H11 H12 sub-catchment, this maps shows that native vegetation is highly likely to be present mainly in public parks or reserves as well as along the Fiery Creek, particularly in the north and some parts of Salt Creek. It also shows that there are a number of patches across the catchment which could possibly be native vegetation.
Map 2 Native Vegetation Extent H12
Map 3. Native Vegetation Pre 1750 Ecological Vegetation Classes
This map shows the estimated modelled extent of vegetation at EVC level prior to European settlement. It is based on field data, environmental spatial data (soils, rainfall, topography etc.) and historical records such as Parish plans. For the H11 H12 sub-catchment, prior to European Settlement, it is believed that there were a total of 56 different EVC’s which existed and supported a large variety of plants and animals.
Map 3 Native Vegetation Pre 1750 EVC H12
Map 3 Native Vegetation Pre 1750 EVC H11
Map 4. Native Vegetation 2005 Ecological Vegetation Classes
This map shows the most current estimated extent of vegetation at EVC level from expert analysis and interpretation of statistical and spatial information undertaken in 2005. This map shows a total of 67 different EVC’s existing in 2005.
Map 4 2005 modelled Native Vegetation EVC H12
Map 4 2005 modelled Native Vegetation EVC H11
Map 5. Bioregional Conservation Status 2005
This map shows the Bioregional Conservation status of the EVC’s which currently exist across the catchment. The combination of EVC and bioregion is used to determine the bioregional conservation status (BCS) of an EVC. This is a measure of the current extent and quality for each EVC, when compared to it’s original (pre-1750) extent and condition. Each EVC is categorised as either being endangered, vulnerable or depleted.
This map is derived from a combination of the Victorian bioregions, pre-1750 EVCs, native vegetation extent and the vegetation quality datasets from the Victorian Government. Throughout the H11 sub-catchment, all the EVC’s present have been classed as endangered or vulnerable, in the far north of H12 sub catchment there are some large areas of depleted EVC’s.
Map 5 2005 EVC Bioregional Conservation Significance H12
Map 5 2005 EVC Bioregional Conservation Significance H11
Map 6. Threatened Flora and Fauna 2015
This map contains a snapshot in time of flora and fauna taxa records from the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA). The VBA for flora incorporates data from the Flora Information System and Victorian Rare or Threatened Population database. These include records from Victorian Government Departmental surveys, botanists, herbarium, field naturalists, consultants, universities, and the general public. The VBA for fauna incorporates the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Aquatic Fauna Database, Subtidal Reef Monitoring Program and Intertidal Reef Monitoring Program data and include records from Victorian Government Departmental surveys, Museum of Victoria specimens, Birds Australia atlas, environmental consultants and field naturalists groups.
This map shows the number of threatened flora and fauna records across the catchment, and also what their status is. There are only a few fauna species present with H11 that are listed as critically endangered, the majority of fauna species within the sub-catchment have been listed as vulnerable. While the flora records show many species are listed as endangered or vulnerable, with a few rare species being present throughout.
Map 6 Threatened Flora & Fauna H12
Map 6 Threatened Flora & Fauna H11
Map 7. Hydrology 2016
This map shows the natural and man-made hydrographic features across catchment, as well as the wetland types. The hydrological features have been categorised into Watercourses, such as channels, rivers and streams and connectors, such as drains. The wetlands layer shows the extent and type pf wetlands present. The wetlands are classified into primary categories based on wetland system type, salinity regime, water regime, water source, dominant vegetation and wetland origin. The H11 sub-catchment has a large number of wetlands present, many of which are ephemeral.
Map 8. Index of Stream Condition 2010
This map is a depiction of the 2010 Index of Stream Condition assessment which was undertaken across Victoria by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries. The map shows which rivers within the sub-catchment were included in the assessment, and what environmental condition they were assessed to be in. Based on this assessment, the Salt Creek and Fiery Creek have been assessed as Very Poor within the H11 sub-catchment, while in the H12 sub-catchment, Wongan Creek and the upper reaches of the Fiery Creek fared better being assessed as Poor.
Map 8 2010 Index of Stream Condition H12
Map 8 2010 Index of Stream Condition H11
Map 9. Land Cover 2014
This map shows the various land cover classifications in 2014 derived from time series analysis of satellite imagery from NASA. Ground data is also collected annually across Victoria using a random sampling approach for validation of the classifications. This maps shows that brassicas, cereals and pasture and grassland are the dominate land cover classifications across the H11 sub-catchment, with cereals being more dominate in the H12 sub-catchment.
Map 10. Cultural Heritage 2016
This map shows areas of cultural heritage sensitivity. These areas are either known to contain, or are likely to contain Aboriginal cultural heritage places and objects and are defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007. Cultural Heritage Sensitivity mainly occurs along waterways and around wetlands, as these areas are where it is most likely to find evidence of aboriginal existence. This map also shows two known aboriginal archaeological sites near Lake Bolac where stone arrangements, animal bones, stone tools and charcoal have been found.
Map 11. Project Achievements 2016
This map shows all funded projects which have been completed within the catchment. The majority of these projects have been implemented by Beyond Bolac CAG; however, some have been implemented by Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Knowing where projects have been undertaken will assist Beyond Bolac CAG plan future projects across the catchment.