Paradise+Dam

The site for the Dam lies 131.2 km (AMTD) upstream of the mouth of the Burnett River. The reservoir will be integrated into the water supply system for the Lower Burnett Region in general and into the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme in particular. The BWSS is one of the largest irrigation areas in Queensland with a total area exceeding 40,000 ha. The proposed dam is intended to provide water to supplement existing supplies which cannot meet current and future demand. The dam site is located about 80km south west of Bundaberg and about 20km north west of Biggenden. The catchment area of the Burnett River upstream of the site is 30,785 square kilometres. The township of Gayndah lies upstream of the tailwater of the reservoir. Dallarnil, on the Isis Highway, 14 km to the east of the site, is the closest settlement to the site. Location - GPS Co-ordinates - South 25 deg - 58.430' East 152 deg- 55.258' Elevation - 61.8m
 * Where is Paradise Dam?**
 * Burnett Water (part of SunWater) background:**

http://www.sunwater.com.au/burnettwater_paradisedam.htm http://www.sunwater.com.au/burnettwater_paradisedam_facts.htm

ABC Radio Story: http://www.abc.net.au/widebay/stories/s1528719.htm Trouble in Paradise Website: http://www.stoppress.com.au/damtour/paradise-dam/index.htm Farmer are for the water that was once to dear - http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,,21687869-3102,00.html Lung Fish Concerns: http://www.pr.mq.edu.au/macnews/showitem.asp?ItemID=494 Paradise Lost - http://econews.org.au/story4_13b.php
 * To dam or not to dam?**

Paradise Dam Environmental Impact Statement - http://www.sunwater.com.au/burnettwater_docs.htm DPI&F - Fishweb Link -Freshwater Fish species targeted by anglers - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/14518.html

Mary River Turtle - http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/mary_river_turtle.htm http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64389 Lungfish - http://www.amonline.net.au/FISHES/fishfacts/fish/nforsteri.htm http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/lungfish.html The Burnett River Snapping Turtle - aerg.canberra.edu.au/reprints/ 2005_Thomson_etal_Burnett_Elseya.pdf http://www.abc.net.au/widebay/stories/s764931.htm Other species Barramundi - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/1948.html Jungle Perch - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2579.html and http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/far/13485.html Rainbow Fish - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2214.html and Mouth Almighty - http://www.nativefish.asn.au/mouth-almighty.html Eel Tailed Catfish - http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2171.html
 * Species of Significance**

Impacts of Pest Species - http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/pest_animals/impacts_pest_animals.html** Red Eyed Slider Turtle - http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/pest_animals/declared/red_eared_slider.html Exotic Water Plants - http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=form.tpl&state=qld&s=&region=seq&form=water Weeds on the edge of Paradise - Identification methods - http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/pests/weeds/plant_identification.html http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=region.tpl&state=qld&region=seq
 * Pest Species

Electrical Conductivity - 150 uS/cm - 2007 Data Total Reactive Phosphates - 10.45ppm - 2007 Data Sourced from SunWater Environmental Noise - 42.5 dB (quite still and quiet - background bird noise only)
 * Water Quality from Paradise Dam**
 * Parameters || 2007 (15 May - 1:30pm) || 2008 (22 April 11:30am) || 2009 || 2010 ||
 * Air Temperature (degrees Celcius) || 23.4 || 32.3 ||  ||   ||
 * Water Temperature || 26 (25 - 1 metre in) || 26(25 - 1 metre in) ||  ||   ||
 * Relative Humidity || 70.11% || 51.1% ||  ||   ||
 * Rain Accumulation from Jan-Feb || 140 mm || TBA ||  ||   ||
 * Ammonia || 0.2 ppm || 0.25ppm ||  ||   ||
 * Nitrates || 0.3 ppm || 0 ppm ||  ||   ||
 * Nitrites || 0.2 ppm || 0 ppm ||  ||   ||
 * pH || 7.75 || 6 ||  ||   ||
 * Water Turbidity || 57cm || 63cm ||  ||   ||

[|Wetland Care] Assessment
Summary: Using Weland Assessment Technique Manual Version 3.4 Compiled by Che Golus, Cassie Burns, Megan Westlake and Adam Gosling WetlandCare Australia, March 2007 Wetland Health Interpretation Table

2007 Note: Dam at 7% capacity proximity /8 roads /4 area /8 adajacent landuse /8 || 4 4 8 4 71.42% || Assessments made 300m to 600m west of the dam wall Connectivity restricted for fish to up and down stream but there is an extensive process available to all some movement through baskets and pipes || 20% || Most of the disturbances occurred in the original construction process seems to be stable and recovering since this time. || diversity /5 species number /5 weeds /5 || 2 2 0
 * Index || Index Value || Comments ||
 * Connectivity Index
 * Human Disturbance Index || 16
 * Acid Sulfate Soils Index || 75% || Difficult to assessment - no iron stains were present - possibly due to the amount of earth movement in the construction process ||
 * Associated Vegetation Index

13% || Northern Bank: Eucalpyts and Pines (F) and Acacia (R) Southern Bank: Acacia (R) and 15 different species of weeds including No water plants visible in study area || girth circumference /5 peat depth /5 || 0 || No paper barks visible from sample sites || diversity /5 species number /5 weeds /5 width /5 || 2 2 0 1 25% || Weeds are a concern in the fringe areas || erosion /3 pugging /8 bank gradient /4 || 1 5 2.5 56% || Banks looked unsafe in some areas || pH /3 Electricial Conductivity /3 Turbidity /3 Nitrate /3 Ammonia /3 Phosphates /3 ||. . . . 3 3 3 3 3 0 83% || Great Water Quality - Phosphates were extremely high however. || Tidal Regime Change || 0 || Complete tidal restrictions - there are some mechanisms to allow movement of species however. Will not include in calculations due to distance from mouth of river - is not tidal in this section of the river. || Water Invertebrate Index suggests that Water Quality is Fair to Good - with the identification of water mites, damselfly nymphs and freshwater shrimps. || media type="custom" key="689281"
 * Habitat Index || 15 ||  ||
 * Wetland Establishment Index
 * Fringing Vegetation Index
 * Bank Conditions
 * Water Quality -
 * Tidal Restriction
 * Overall Health Rating || 40% || Health Rating is at 40%

2008 Wetland Assessment Health Assessment - 22nd April Dam at 48%

0% || Very Poor - as expected from a man made structure || 2008 Paradise Dam Photographs media type="custom" key="689519"
 * Index || Index Value || Comments ||
 * Connectivity || 71.42% || No change from 2007 ||
 * Human Disturbance || 25 - equates to a score of 0
 * Acid Sulphate Soils || 75% || No change from 2007 ||
 * Associated Vegetation || 46% || Many species of weeds present - covering sample site ||
 * Habitat Index || 15 || no change from 2007 ||
 * Wetland Establishment || 0 || no paperbarks at sample site ||
 * Fringing Vegetation Index || 35% || Weeds are a concern ||
 * Bank Conditions || 56% || No change from 2007 ||
 * Water Quality || 100% || No data on phosphate levels - adjusted values ||
 * Tidal Restriction || n/a ||  ||
 * Health Index Rating || 45% Poor to Average || Water Quality has improved greatly - all parameters were excellent and the Macroinvertebrate Survey found Caddisfly Larva of 2 species; Damselfly nymphs; Freshwater snails, Freshwater shrimp; Water Mites, Water Boatmen, a variety of worms, Whirligig beetles, Freshwater slaters, and Mosquite larva - caddisflys are extremely sensitive to water pollution and this indicates that water quality is excellent. ||