Clearing of vegetation
Clearing and degradation of native vegetation has serious impacts on waterways.
The main impacts from general catchment vegetation clearing are increased salinity and an increase in runoff which carries more sediment, nutrients and toxic chemicals into waterways.
Of particular importance is native riparian vegetation. This is the vegetation that is the interface between land and water. Riparian vegetation is needed along waterways to:
- protect the stability of stream beds and banks
- filter out sediment, nutrients, chemicals and other wastes from contaminated surface runoff
- provide shading, shelter and a source of food for aquatic ecosystems
- provide important habitat for land animals and birds and may often be a last refuge.
The Murray Darling Basin Commission's website provides information about changes to land use and the resulting impacts.
Additional information about the relation between vegetation and waterways is available from the Department of Sustainability and Environment's website.