WICCNews Bunuru Edition 2022

More than 7 months after the opening of the sandbar, Wilson Inlet is still connected to the ocean. The tides together with changes in sea level, swell and atmospheric pressure, causes the inlet water level to fluctuate between 0.05 and 0.3 mAHD. The persistent and widespread stratification that followed the opening in June has not been seen since the beginning of the year and the inlet is now well mixed with healthy oxygen levels throughout the estuary. Similarly, for ammonium which is the preferred nitrogen source for algae and is released from the sediment when stratification occurs. Ammonium levels were regularly much higher in bottom waters between August and December 2021, however are now low throughout the estuary. River flows into the Inlet are currently low, which is typical for summer. This results in less nutrients being washed into the Inlet from the catchment. Environmental Officer Dr. Elke Reichwaldt from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said that we are now seeing lower algal activity due to the lower input of nutrients both, from the catchment and the sediment. See the latest inlet monitoring data HERE DWER drone photo taken 9 February 2022 Nearly all of WA saw lower than average rainfall for December and January and higher than normal temperatures. As a result, the bureau says that our soil moisture for the SW land division ranges from ‘below' to 'very much below’ average. Looking ahead, La Niña has neared its peak bringing more rain to the eastern states. Locally, our climate drivers for SW WA range from neutral (IOD) to positive (SAM) reducing the likelihood of rain events and increasing the potential for hot and dry conditions in March and April. Nutrient Efficiency The Wilson Inlet Grower Group (WIGG) recently met to explore nutrient efficiency with our program agronomist, Graham Mussell. With the price of most fertilisers skyrocketing it has become even more essential to target your paddock requirements with evidence based fertiliser decisions. Nearly 80% of paddocks within the Wilson Inlet Catchment area contain more Phosphorus (P) than what is required for maximum production. We know this following many years of soil testing. This is largely due to the ongoing application of superphosphate over the decades… often when it was not required. This presents an opportunity for growers to lay off the P for a while, especially with the high prices at the moment. Knowing where your soil nutrients are at is essential in order to utilise excess nutrients in your soil. Often fertiliser decisions are based on hunches, routine or very limited soil testing. Some practitioners base their soil testing on only a few soil cores. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends growers take a minimum of 30 cores to represent one soil sample. The data which comes back from a soil test will make most growers scratch their heads, looking something like this…. Fortunately, DPIRD has developed a free nutrient calculator which is available on their website (just google ‘nutrient calculator DPIRD’). DPIRD formulated this calculator based on numerous scientific trials of pasture growth and its relationship to soil test data. When you plug your raw data into the calculator, your data (above) will get indexed against the results of these scientific trials so you know how your soil nutrient levels compare to your pasture requirements. If it comes back GREEN this means that these nutrients or soil characteristics are not limiting your pasture production based on your chosen yield target (90% in this case). A RED highlight means this is a limiting factor in your pasture production. In this case that is pH. Graham will be working with our WIGG members over the coming weeks to help them create their own fertiliser plans using freely accessible tools like the nutrient calculator. There are also calculators available for liming and stocking rates. Visit dpird.wa.gov.au for more resources. WIGG is funded in part by the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program. In addition to several ongoing programs, WICC is launching some exciting new projects in 2022. Here is a snapshot… Green Waste to Net Zero. With funding from the WA government's Future Carbon program, WICC has partnered with Murdoch University, Green Skills and the Shire of Denmark to explore converting the Shire of Denmark’s 800 tonnes of green waste per annum into biochar. Biochar is essentially charcoal, packed full of carbon. Biochar can be fed to livestock improving animal health and reducing enteric methane production. This program will include a trial feeding biochar to dairy cattle which has been shown elsewhere to increase milk production substantially. 4 Partners Community Collaboration Program . This is a State NRM funded feral management program which will sustain our feral management efforts on the Nullaki Peninsula and extend them into Lowland Nature Reserve. WICC has partnered with neighbouring catchment groups and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation to carry out a range of measures to reduce the fox and feral cat populations in our coastal reserves to protect native fauna. Protecting proteaceous rich reserves in Plantagenet. This is weed control program funded by the State NRM office which will be focussing on 4 reserves within the Shire of Plantagenet providing follow up and primary weed control. This will help protect the amazing flora diversity within these unique reserves. Wilson Inlet Winter Active Dung Beetle Initiative. This is a 2 year State NRM funded program looking to identify and plug the gaps in our winter to spring active dung beetles within our catchment. We will be establishing several field cages to mass rear suitable species. Comprehensive monitoring of dung beetles across our catchment will inform where we establish the new colonies of beetles. Smart Farms Soil Extension Activities . This is a federally funded collaboration between Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and catchment groups in the SW. The purpose of the grant is to deliver soil extension activities that promote the importance of soil heath and management as well as educate farmers and land managers to understand the benefits of soil testing and support them in interpreting soil test results. Outfoxing the ferals The WICC/Nullaki Conservation Initiative (NCI) fox baiting program kicked off on 6 Nullaki properties in October 2017. Baiting 2-3 times per year since then, we have conducted 11 more baiting “runs”, the most recent taking place in November 2021. It covered 15 properties, representing approximately 55% of the landmass inside the fence. Operating under strict regulatory guidelines, Gavern House, our feral control expert from Alpha Pest Animal Solutions, uses chicken eggs laced with 1080 and buried in spots where Gavern suspects foxes would frequent. These buried eggs are widely considered the safest method of deploying 1080 baits. Gavern prefers baiting in late spring when fox cubs begin to disperse, and then again in six months, when the females are fattening up for the mating season. This results in the minimum amount of 1080 in the environment for the maximum targeted effect. On a 40 ha block, 2 - 4 baits is typical. When conditions permit, Gavern will also release Calicivirus for rabbit control. So how are we doing? Our bait uptake rate typically varies between 40% - 60%. A dug-up pile of eggshells indicates there is very likely one less fox to worry about. Our trail camera network routinely records a significant decrease in fox sightings after a 1080 session, a clear trend that has repeated over the past 3 years. We are also working collaboratively with outside technical experts to analyse our data scientifically. The success of the program is due to the high uptake by participating Nullaki landholders. WICC covers all costs, including baiting by the licenced contractor, licence fees and processing the paperwork. The landowner has input into where baits are placed, (for example, away from pet dog exercise areas), and can request a map with GPS coordinates of bait locations. Gavern is escorted by Nullaki residents and NCI members David Barr and Craig Carter on all baited properties. To sign up or for more information, contact Shaun Ossinger at [email protected] Pennyroyal ( Mentha pulegium ) Pennyroyal ( Mentha pulegium ) is a perennial noxious invasive herb that is found in poorly drained soils throughout the South West. Native to Europe and western Asia, the herb is one of 21 varieties from the mint family. It flowers in late spring and summer with mauve flowers that are produced in dense clusters. This flower emits a pungent mint aroma and prefers water courses. Pennyroyal seeds can germinate under water and survive prolonged periods of inundation and remains viable and dormant in the soil for many years. This toxic weed can invade pastures, though is unattractive to grazing stock. The herb may cause respiratory problems in cattle. Cultivation during the flowering stage is the best long term removal method, as to reduce the seed bank. Kikuyu grass may be able to supress Pennyroyal as they both prefer moist environments. Chemical control is costly with short-term impacts because of regrowth from the rhizome roots. Herbicides must be applied before the flowering stage. Livestock Feed Appeal DONATE HERE To view all the Festival of Birds events and event program Click HERE To register for the Denmark Exhibition Opening & Presentations evening Click HERE Oyster Harbour Catchment- Red Card Feral Animal Shoot tally breakfast 2022 March feral shoot. Plantagenet 6pm Friday the 25th of March– 6am Saturday the 26th of March. Follow up Tally breakfast 7am. Location to be advised. Register HERE ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The persistent and widespread stratification that followed the opening in June has not been seen since the beginning of the year and the inlet is now well mixed with healthy oxygen levels throughout the estuary. Similarly, for ammonium which is the preferred nitrogen source for algae and is released from the sediment when stratification occurs. Ammonium levels were regularly much higher in bottom waters between August and December 2021, however are now low throughout the estuary.

River flows into the Inlet are currently low, which is typical for summer. This results in less nutrients being washed into the Inlet from the catchment. Environmental Officer Dr. Elke Reichwaldt from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said that we are now seeing lower algal activity due to the lower input of nutrients both, from the catchment and the sediment.

See the latest inlet monitoring data HERE

DWER drone photo taken 9 February 2022

Nearly all of WA saw lower than average rainfall for December and January and higher than normal temperatures. As a result, the bureau says that our soil moisture for the SW land division ranges from ‘below' to 'very much below’ average. Looking ahead, La Niña has neared its peak bringing more rain to the eastern states. Locally, our climate drivers for SW WA range from neutral (IOD) to positive (SAM) reducing the likelihood of rain events and increasing the potential for hot and dry conditions in March and April.

Nutrient Efficiency

The Wilson Inlet Grower Group (WIGG) recently met to explore nutrient efficiency with our program agronomist, Graham Mussell. With the price of most fertilisers skyrocketing it has become even more essential to target your paddock requirements with evidence based fertiliser decisions.

Nearly 80% of paddocks within the Wilson Inlet Catchment area contain more Phosphorus (P) than what is required for maximum production. We know this following many years of soil testing. This is largely due to the ongoing application of superphosphate over the decades… often when it was not required. This presents an opportunity for growers to lay off the P for a while, especially with the high prices at the moment. Knowing where your soil nutrients are at is essential in order to utilise excess nutrients in your soil.

Often fertiliser decisions are based on hunches, routine or very limited soil testing. Some practitioners base their soil testing on only a few soil cores. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends growers take a minimum of 30 cores to represent one soil sample.

The data which comes back from a soil test will make most growers scratch their heads, looking something like this….

Fortunately, DPIRD has developed a free nutrient calculator which is available on their website (just google ‘nutrient calculator DPIRD’). DPIRD formulated this calculator based on numerous scientific trials of pasture growth and its relationship to soil test data. When you plug your raw data into the calculator, your data (above) will get indexed against the results of these scientific trials so you know how your soil nutrient levels compare to your pasture requirements. If it comes back GREEN this means that these nutrients or soil characteristics are not limiting your pasture production based on your chosen yield target (90% in this case). A RED highlight means this is a limiting factor in your pasture production. In this case that is pH.

Graham will be working with our WIGG members over the coming weeks to help them create their own fertiliser plans using freely accessible tools like the nutrient calculator. There are also calculators available for liming and stocking rates. Visit dpird.wa.gov.au for more resources.

WIGG is funded in part by the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program.

In addition to several ongoing programs, WICC is launching some exciting new projects in 2022. Here is a snapshot…

Green Waste to Net Zero. With funding from the WA government's Future Carbon program, WICC has partnered with Murdoch University, Green Skills and the Shire of Denmark to explore converting the Shire of Denmark’s 800 tonnes of green waste per annum into biochar. Biochar is essentially charcoal, packed full of carbon. Biochar can be fed to livestock improving animal health and reducing enteric methane production. This program will include a trial feeding biochar to dairy cattle which has been shown elsewhere to increase milk production substantially.

4 Partners Community Collaboration Program. This is a State NRM funded feral management program which will sustain our feral management efforts on the Nullaki Peninsula and extend them into Lowland Nature Reserve. WICC has partnered with neighbouring catchment groups and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation to carry out a range of measures to reduce the fox and feral cat populations in our coastal reserves to protect native fauna.

Protecting proteaceous rich reserves in Plantagenet. This is weed control program funded by the State NRM office which will be focussing on 4 reserves within the Shire of Plantagenet providing follow up and primary weed control. This will help protect the amazing flora diversity within these unique reserves.

Wilson Inlet Winter Active Dung Beetle Initiative. This is a 2 year State NRM funded program looking to identify and plug the gaps in our winter to spring active dung beetles within our catchment. We will be establishing several field cages to mass rear suitable species. Comprehensive monitoring of dung beetles across our catchment will inform where we establish the new colonies of beetles.

Smart Farms Soil Extension Activities. This is a federally funded collaboration between Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and catchment groups in the SW. The purpose of the grant is to deliver soil extension activities that promote the importance of soil heath and management as well as educate farmers and land managers to understand the benefits of soil testing and support them in interpreting soil test results.

Outfoxing the ferals

The WICC/Nullaki Conservation Initiative (NCI) fox baiting program kicked off on 6 Nullaki properties in October 2017. Baiting 2-3 times per year since then, we have conducted 11 more baiting “runs”, the most recent taking place in November 2021. It covered 15 properties, representing approximately 55% of the landmass inside the fence.

Operating under strict regulatory guidelines, Gavern House, our feral control expert from Alpha Pest Animal Solutions, uses chicken eggs laced with 1080 and buried in spots where Gavern suspects foxes would frequent. These buried eggs are widely considered the safest method of deploying 1080 baits. Gavern prefers baiting in late spring when fox cubs begin to disperse, and then again in six months, when the females are fattening up for the mating season. This results in the minimum amount of 1080 in the environment for the maximum targeted effect. On a 40 ha block, 2 - 4 baits is typical. When conditions permit, Gavern will also release Calicivirus for rabbit control.

So how are we doing? Our bait uptake rate typically varies between 40% - 60%. A dug-up pile of eggshells indicates there is very likely one less fox to worry about. Our trail camera network routinely records a significant decrease in fox sightings after a 1080 session, a clear trend that has repeated over the past 3 years. We are also working collaboratively with outside technical experts to analyse our data scientifically.

The success of the program is due to the high uptake by participating Nullaki landholders. WICC covers all costs, including baiting by the licenced contractor, licence fees and processing the paperwork. The landowner has input into where baits are placed, (for example, away from pet dog exercise areas), and can request a map with GPS coordinates of bait locations. Gavern is escorted by Nullaki residents and NCI members David Barr and Craig Carter on all baited properties. To sign up or for more information, contact Shaun Ossinger at [email protected]

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is a perennial noxious invasive herb that is found in poorly drained soils throughout the South West. Native to Europe and western Asia, the herb is one of 21 varieties from the mint family.

It flowers in late spring and summer with mauve flowers that are produced in dense clusters. This flower emits a pungent mint aroma and prefers water courses. Pennyroyal seeds can germinate under water and survive prolonged periods of inundation and remains viable and dormant in the soil for many years. This toxic weed can invade pastures, though is unattractive to grazing stock. The herb may cause respiratory problems in cattle.

Cultivation during the flowering stage is the best long term removal method, as to reduce the seed bank. Kikuyu grass may be able to supress Pennyroyal as they both prefer moist environments. Chemical control is costly with short-term impacts because of regrowth from the rhizome roots. Herbicides must be applied before the flowering stage.

Livestock Feed Appeal

DONATE HERE

To view all the Festival of Birds events and event program

Click HERE

To register for the Denmark Exhibition Opening & Presentations evening

Click HERE

Oyster Harbour Catchment- Red Card Feral Animal Shoot tally breakfast 2022 March feral shoot.
Plantagenet 6pm Friday the 25th of March– 6am Saturday the 26th of March. Follow up Tally breakfast 7am. Location to be advised.