Waterway
habitat
KEY FINDINGS FROM OUR 2024 REPORT CARD
Waterway habitat is graded in the Report Card by measuring changes to the extent of vegetation types along our waterways over the previous two reporting years. Types of vegetation measured are riparian vegetation, wetland vegetation, mangroves, and saltmarsh.
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Areas of riparian vegetation remain stable in the Ross Basin in both the freshwater (upstream) and estuarine (downstream) environments but have decreased notably in the Black Basin estuarine environment.
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This year’s Report shows that riparian extent has remained ‘moderate’ in the Ross freshwater environment and ‘good’ in the Ross estuarine environment.
The Black Basin however, while recording a slight increase of riparian vegetation in the freshwater environment, saw grades fall from ‘good’ to ‘very poor’ in its estuarine environment. This was due to a decrease in riparian vegetation extent.
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In the Black Basin estuarine (downstream) environment, the opposite is true for mangrove and saltmarsh extent.
In the estuarine environment, the Black Basin recorded its first increase in mangrove and saltmarsh vegetation, whereas mangrove and saltmarsh in the Ross Basin decreased.
Why river habitat matters
Waterway vegetation plays a crucial role in supporting the health and function of aquatic ecosystems by stabilising creek banks, improving water quality, regulating water temperature, providing habitat, and enhancing floodplain functionality. Established vegetation also defends our homes and towns in times of flood, cyclone, and rough coastal weather.
Protecting and restoring riparian, mangrove, and saltmarsh vegetation is essential for maintaining the health and resilience of waterways and the ecosystems and communities they support.
