Monitoring of remediation works to arrest stream degradation in an agriculture-dominated catchment

Since European settlement many Australian waterways have experienced significant geomorphic andecological change due to modification of flow regimes and catchment land use. Current restoration guidelinesfor waterways place a low priority on rehabilitation in highly degraded stream reaches; it is considered pragmatic to abandon such sites in favour of focussing on threatened sites in better condition. However, amove away from remediation within highly degraded reaches does not address their high incidence in rural catchments, such as the Murrumbidgee. Our project monitored remediation works (channel realignment,levee-bank construction, revegetation) that were undertaken to stabilise severely eroded reaches of UmbangoCreek in southern NSW. Annual assessments (2003-2006) showed a significant increase in percent vegetation cover within the channel despite persistent drought conditions across the catchment and there introduction of cattle into the remediated area. Our results demonstrate that remediation works undertaken on highly degraded streams have the potential to improve vegetation cover and assist in stabilising banks vulnerable to erosion.