The human relationship
The Snowy River, the way it should be
The Snowy communities recognise that the Snowy is a regulated river as do all the governments involved, but this is no longer an accepted excuse for the degradation of this wonderful natural asset. The natural environment always has an accompanying human relationship. It is not only river communities but also many other Australians who have been affected by the degradation of the Snowy River.
The human relationship
Snowy River at Jindabyne and Dalgety pre Snowy Scheme
The Snowy River communities have a number of expectations for the future of the Snowy River:
That the channel morphology will reflect the pre-regulation characteristics of channel behaviour, river size and form.
This would mean that the flow of water in the river would have to be powerful enough to scour out the old river bed to form the original pattern of large and deep pools which would return its visual beauty and provide large areas of habitat. The channel morphology is also significant for human usage, both social and economic. The whole gamut of cultural, recreational and tourism values are significantly dependent on the river's size, shape and flow.
The Snowy River can now be stepped over in most places, resembling a small creek rather than a river. The distribution of the sand within the bed has become more uniform, and has created unfavourable and hostile conditions for faunal rejuvenation. These conditions have promoted significant encroachment of exotic and native vegetation.
COAG(3) recommends that the spatial requirements have to be considered as part of the natural ecology.
That the flow regime will be sufficient to maintain geomorphic processes.
It is recognised and supported in certain areas (for example, in places of dense vegetation) in-stream restoration will have to be undertaken initially, and then periodically, to remove established vegetation. This will also be necessary to aid renewed channel formation. However the flow regime should be aimed at restoring and maintaining the whole river's channel morphology.
The geomorphic flows scour pools, flush out sediment and organic matter. Digging the river out (where accessible) might temporarily assist in river bed formation but it does not take into account the natural, more subtle processes that these flows have on stimulating riverine biota. The dynamics of a liquid environment by their very nature are not static, so the sustainability and integrity of a regulated river's ecology depends upon promoting the natural processes rather than 'fixing' them. 'Fixing' the river with engineering works (deepening holes, building groins and so on) whilst required in some areas will not be sufficient to restore it to good health. It is only sufficient water flow that can do this.
That the river will be able to support significant populations of fauna such as trout, Australian bass, blackfish and platypus.
The Snowy River supported large fish and platypus populations which have now virtually disappeared or been drastically reduced.
(Refer to the oral history section and the diary, Down the Snowy by Canoe by Arthur Lee Hunt, published serially in the Sydney Mail from 21 July to 11 August, 1937.)
An Australian Bass. The lower Snowy was well renowned for its Bass fishing
Socially and economically the Snowy River and its tributaries were a fishing paradise, for both native and introduced species. The recreation and tourism that surrounded this magnificent fishery would have to be one of the biggest casualties associated with the damming.
The regional development opportunities of nearly 500 kilometres of big mountain river fishing are incredible. Areas in the world that provide for relatively inexpensive pollution-free fishing are becoming rare. An acclaimed river like the Snowy with all its other unique values and status could pick up a niche in the World market.
(Refer to Professor George Seddon's Snowy Water Inquiry submission.)
That the water quality of the Snowy be returned to pre-damming water quality.
The Snowy River was renowned for its pristine water which among other things was part of its natural beauty. Olive green stagnating pools with muddy bottoms were not representative of the original Snowy River and should not be part of its future. For obvious reasons, the communities would like to see the effluent discharges from Jindabyne and Berridale taken out.
The Snowy River in summer at Dalgety pre regulation, Crystal clear and
pristine
The Snowy River between Jindabyne and Dalgety, the river used to be teeming
with trout
4.2 Community expectations and science.
The scientific material to date suggests that it is reasonable to expect major improvements in the Snowy River after the recommendations of the Expert Panel are implemented. However it is important to note, scientific recommendations are a good starting point, but ultimately the scientific panel (set up under the new Snowy Hydro Act) will determine the adequacy of those flows. Such decisions need to be made in consultation with Snowy communities.
Two important studies have been undertaken to assess flow requirements for the Snowy River. These were the Snowy River Environmental Flow Scoping Study of 1994, and the Expert Panel Report published in 1996.
1. The Snowy River Environmental Flow Scoping Study 1994
This scoping study was prepared by:
This study, prepared by the three governments, essentially modelled a series of different flow regimes recommended by the stakeholders, to assess the likely outcomes.
The Snowy communities 'assessment of the checklist table in the study, could only conclude that 25 per cent of the original flow, seasonally adjusted, is required to significantly improve the appalling state of the Snowy River.
From the checklist, improvements in the river only started to have an impact at 12.5 per cent of the original flow but fell well short of any meaningful outcome. The following list of degree of improvement in a number of areas illustrates this:
Anyone who has seen the highly degraded state of the Snowy River will immediately understand that unless there is significant improvement for the Snowy River, then little will have been achieved. The word 'improvement' is relative to the current state and when you start with a river that is almost non-existent, improvements will have to be significant or very little will change.
2. The Expert Panel Report 1996
This report was prepared by the Snowy Genoa Catchment Management Committee, with contributions from:
Interestingly the Expert Panel Report was a target for criticism by the Snowy Mountains Authority but arrived at similar conclusions as the scoping study in which the Authority played a major role.
The Expert Panel Report 1996 recommended that 28 per cent of the Snowy's original flow should be returned to the river to improve the morphology and habitat of the Snowy River. In addition to this, they recommended that a flood pulse be provided once or twice a year for geomorphic reasons.
Dalgety and District Community Association