Fox Creek

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Contents

Topography

Vegetation

Riparian Habitat

The following information is summarized from the ACTFR report: Assessing the condition of riparian vegetation in the Burdekin catchment using satellitte imagery and field surveys by Leo Lymburner and John Dowe. 2006. This report can be accessed from the report section below.

iTRARC analysis of Riparian Habitat indicates that this subcatchment was in relatively good condition in the 1970s (B) and has undergone a dramatic reduction in riparian condition to very poor condition in 2004 (D). This reduction has been caused by extensive clearing of the floodplains and riparian zones that form a large part of this subcatchment.

more...

Wetlands

The following information is summarized from the ACTFR report: Assessing the condition of Wetlands in the Burdekin catchment using existing GIS and field knowledge for CCI by Mirjam Maughan, Damien Burrows, Barry Butler, Leo Lymburner and George Lukacs. 2006. This report can be accessed from the report section below.

This sub-division is poorly known ecologically, with even basic knowledge on the number and location of permanent or significant waterbodies, not recorded. The system here includes numerous channels and off-channel waterbodies, and waterholes present are likely to be highly and persistently turbid. Condition is not well known.


Fox Creek wetland condition summary...

Water

SedNet Modelling of Water Quality

The following statistics are summarized from the CSIRO report: Improved SedNet Modelling of Grazing Lands in the Burdekin Catchment by Kinsey-Henderson, A., Sherman, B. and Bartley, R. 2007. This report can be accessed from the report section below.

Model results for the Fox Creek subcatchment are summarized as follows:

  • Subcatchment modelled area 3179 sq. km.
  • Source contributions: Hillslope =64 %; Gully = 26%; Streambank = 11%
  • Area of subcatchment with <50% ground cover: 1,208sq. km or 38% of subcatchment
  • Hillslope sediment supply: 129 kg/ha/yr
  • Total suspended sediment (flow weighted) supply: 64 kt/yr
  • Total suspended sediment supply (flow weighted; normalized to area): 202kg/ha/yr
  • Total suspended sediment end-of-subcatchment (flow weighted) yield: 46 kt/yr
  • Event Mean Concentration (EMC - flow weighted):405 mg/L
  • Mean Annual Flow: 112,696 ML

Hillslope erosion is identified as the major source of sediment and particulate nutrients affecting water quality within the Fox Creek subcatchment (64%), while gully erosion is also identified as a significant contributor (26%) to the total sediment load. The rate of soil loss from all sources (supply) is considered to be low (202 kg/ha/yr) when compared to other sub-catchments. The event mean concentration of sediment is considered quite low (405 mg/L) when compared to other subcatchments. Over 1,200 sq. km. were estimated to have less than 50% ground cover, constituting 38% of the sub-catchment.

Water Quality Monitoring

There are no water quality monitoring data available for this catchment.

Relevant information of Water Quality Monitoring in the Belyando River Basin can be found by following these links:


Environmental Uses and Values

The following summary of environmental uses and values is based on information extracted from the following reports: Social, Economic, Cultural and Environmental Values of Streams and Wetlands in the Burdekin Dry Tropics Region by Greiner, R and Hall, N. 2006 and Burdekin Basin Draft Water Resource Plan by Queensland Dept. of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, 2006, The Greiner and Hall 2006 report may be accessed from the report section below. 


Definition of Environmental Values in the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines


Fish.jpg Aquatic Ecosystems:

The aquatic ecosystem values of an area of the Fox Creek subcatchment, corresponding to the Epping Forest National Park Scientific Area, has been identified as containing High Ecological Value (HEV) waters by the BWQIP ecological values technical panel. The Park contains large areas of the endangered regional ecosystems and the sole remaining natural population of Hairy Nose wombat. The aquatic ecosystem values of other parts of the Fox Creek subcatchment are considered to be Slightly to Moderately Disturbed (SMD) as a consequence of the surrounding land use for cattle grazing.

Fox Creek subcatchment draft HEV water

Cow.jpg Stock Watering:

Water supply for production of healthy livestock.


Swimmer.jpg Primary Recreation:

Swimming has been identified at Fox Creek.


Glass.jpg Drinking Water:

Drinking Water is reported to be used from the Fox Creek using a water spear.


Feet.jpg Cultural and Spirtual:

Custodial use of water by Wangan traditional owners.

Landuse

Principle land uses within the Fox Creek subcatchment as a proportion of total area:

  • Grazing: 99.5%
  • Conservation & minimal use: .40%
  • Water: Limited water activity use identified.
  • Urban & semi urban: Limited urban and semi urban water activity use identified.
  • Irrigated horticulture & cropping: Limited irrigated horticulture & cropping water activity use identified.
  • Mining: Limited mining water activity use identified.


Grazing

Fox Creek is a mediuam sized subcatchment where land use is almost exclusively grazing on natural and modified pastures.

Land Condition
Definition of ABCD land condition framework

Results of a Rapid Land Condition Assessment (adopted from Hassett et al. 2000) are presented below. The assessment has been devised to subjectively characterise condition while traversing the BDT region by vehicle. The data are based on a total of 4666 observations across the Burdekin region between 2004 and 2007.

The data were collected to provide independent information on land condition and provide a regional perspective. Resource assessment data are most useful when interpreted with other sources of data e.g. time-series remote sensing, modelling and water quality monitoring.

The estimated condition of the Fox Creek sub-catchment is proportioned as follows:

  • A Condition: 3%
  • B Condition: 54%
  • C Condition: 43%
  • D Condition: n/a

Data from the Fox Creek sub-catchment is based on 35 observations.

On the basis of the rapid assessment, the Fox Creek sub-catchment is estimated to have the largest proportion of land in fair (B) condition (54%), followed by poor (C) condition (43%) and good (A) condition land (3%). Data not available for (D) condition land.

Ground Cover

Ground Cover in the Fox Creek sub-catchment is proportioned as follows:

  • ( BC) Bare Cover: 0%
  • ( LC) Low Cover: 3%
  • ( MC) Moderate Cover: 29%
  • ( HC) High Cover: 65%
  • (VHC) Very High Cover: 3%

Data from the Fox Creek sub-catchment are based on 34 observations.

On the basis of the rapid assessment (2004-2007), the Fox Creek sub-catchment is estimated to have the highest proportion of land within the high (HC) ground cover category (65%), followed by moderate (MC) cover (29%). 3% of land was estimated to fall into the low (LC) and very high cover (VHC) category.

Resource Condition Summary

Fox Creek is a mediuam sized subcatchment where land use is almost exclusively grazing on natural and modified pastures. Riparian habitat in this subcatchment has undergone a dramatic decline in condition over the last 30 years, principlly as a result of extensive floodplain clearing including riparian forest along the main channel and anabranches, and is currently assessed to be in very poor (D) condition. The subcatchment waterways are poorly known ecologically, with even basic knowledge on the number and location of permanent or significant waterbodies not recorded. The waterways are understood to include numerous channel and off-channel waterbodies that are likely to be highly and persistently turbid.

Hillslope erosion is identified as the major source of sediment and particulate nutrients affecting water quality within the Fox Creek subcatchment, while gully erosion is also identified as a significant contributor to the total sediment load. Both the rate of soil loss and total soil loss from the subcatchment are predicted to be comparatively low. Land condition is assessed as having a very high proportions in fair (B) and poor (C) condition. This is also reflected in the rapid ground cover assessment (2004-07). Analysis of ground cover from satellite imagery (reference) indicates that the mean ground cover declined substantially from 1999 to 2006 and that areas of poor ground cover were common in 2006.

Water quality in the Fox Creek subcatchment is predicted by models to be only slightly impacted by suspended sediment. There are no water quality monitoring data with which to compare the modelled concentrations and loads.

Draft Environmental Values

An area of the Fox Creek subcatchment, corresponding to the Epping Forest National Park Scientific Area, has been identified as containing High Ecological Value (HEV) waters by the BWQIP ecological values technical panel. The Park contains large areas of the endangered regional ecosystems and the sole remaining natural population of Hairy Nose wombat. The aquatic ecosystem values of other parts of the Fox Creek subcatchment are considered to be Slightly to Moderately Disturbed (SMD) as a consequence of the surrounding land use for cattle grazing. The human use Environmental Values of the subcatchment are understood to include primary recreation (swimming), stock watering, drinking water, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Wangan traditional owners.

Maps

  • Fox Creek

  • Fox Creek Landuse (focus on Fox Creek)

  • Fox Creek Wetlands

  • Fox Creek Geology

Please feel free to download the maps in the following formats:

Photos

  • FoxCreek1.jpg
  • FoxCreek2.jpg
  • FoxCreek3.jpg

Reports

Data

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