CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Table 5 Summary of Key Threats to the Ecological Character of the Corner Inlet Ramsar Site Threat Potential impacts to wetlands Timing Likelihood Consequence Risk Recreational activities Short to long term Medium Moderate Medium Natural resource utilisation Short to medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium Direct and indirect effects to habitats due to recreational activities (boat wash; anchor damage to seagrass; water quality impacts) Development impacts for tourism infrastructure developments Grazing impacts to vegetation Changes to fish stocks due to recreational and commercial fishing Modifications to habitats due to fishing practices Altered environmental process linked to river flows; including spawning and migrations of fish Loss of seagrass and associated impairment of ecological functions Increase in algae Changes in biological assemblages term Short to long term Medium Major High Medium to high Modified flow regimes Pollutant (sediment and nutrients) inputs affecting water quality on Short to long term Medium t oH igh Moderate to major (depending location and degree of flushing) Medium to long Low to medium Moderate to major Medium to high term Removal of vegetation and habitats Changes to water quality and hydrodynamics Interruption of surface water groundwater flow paths Water quality degradation and associated fish kills; or impairment to ecosystem functions Injury fatality of marine species and communities Medium term Low Moderate to major Low to medium Short to long term Low to medium Major Medium to high Future infrastructure development Acid sulphate soils Oil spill marine incident Habitat loss resulting from seawalls and urban development Climate change Medium to long Medium Moderate to major Medium to high Loss of habitat Pollutants in stormwater runoff and sewage Weeds and pest fauna term Long term Medium to high Major High Weeds Reduction of freshwater species Reduction of suitable fauna habitat Greater fire risk Increase in disturbance due to storm surge Reduced regeneration of native flora Disturbance of birds and other fauna; resulting in impairment to ecological functions (such as bird breeding and feeding) Predation of native fauna Modification of marine fauna assemblages due to competition Medium term Medium Moderate Medium Exotic pest fauna Short to Medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium term ( ) identified as a key hazard for the site by Carey et al. (2007) CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Large tourism developments would have the potential to place additional pressures on the marine environment of Corner Inlet.
The Gippsland coastal dune systems are erosion prone; and a number of climate change processes could lead to further erosion including increases in sea level; more severe storm surges and high wave actions.
While attention to date in terms of climate change in the region has focussed on sea level rise and coastal inundation; other potential climate change impacts are also relevant for the Ramsar site.
Particular issues include . increased extreme r ainfall e vents associated with climate c hange given t he dom inant contribution to extreme water levels and water chemistry is due to elevated stream flow . lower freshwater inputs . increased drought and higher temperature between major rainfall events leading to increased evaporation; which could expose and oxidise acid sulphate soils and exacerbate salinity in the shallow marsh environments.
CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Table 5 Summary of Key Threats to the Ecological Character of the Corner Inlet Ramsar Site Threat Potential impacts to wetlands Timing Likelihood Consequence Risk Recreational activities Short to long term Medium Moderate Medium Natural resource utilisation Short to medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium Direct and indirect effects to habitats due to recreational activities (boat wash; anchor damage to seagrass; water quality impacts) Development impacts for tourism infrastructure developments Grazing impacts to vegetation Changes to fish stocks due to recreational and commercial fishing Modifications to habitats due to fishing practices Altered environmental process linked to river flows; including spawning and migrations of fish Loss of seagrass and associated impairment of ecological functions Increase in algae Changes in biological assemblages term Short to long term Medium Major High Medium to high Modified flow regimes Pollutant (sediment and nutrients) inputs affecting water quality on Short to long term Medium t oH igh Moderate to major (depending location and degree of flushing) Medium to long Low to medium Moderate to major Medium to high term Removal of vegetation and habitats Changes to water quality and hydrodynamics Interruption of surface water groundwater flow paths Water quality degradation and associated fish kills; or impairment to ecosystem functions Injury fatality of marine species and communities Medium term Low Moderate to major Low to medium Short to long term Low to medium Major Medium to high Future infrastructure development Acid sulphate soils Oil spill marine incident Habitat loss resulting from seawalls and urban development Climate change Medium to long Medium Moderate to major Medium to high Loss of habitat Pollutants in stormwater runoff and sewage Weeds and pest fauna term Long term Medium to high Major High Weeds Reduction of freshwater species Reduction of suitable fauna habitat Greater fire risk Increase in disturbance due to storm surge Reduced regeneration of native flora Disturbance of birds and other fauna; resulting in impairment to ecological functions (such as bird breeding and feeding) Predation of native fauna Modification of marine fauna assemblages due to competition Medium term Medium Moderate Medium Exotic pest fauna Short to Medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium term ( ) identified as a key hazard for the site by Carey et al. (2007) CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Large tourism developments would have the potential to place additional pressures on the marine environment of Corner Inlet.
The Gippsland coastal dune systems are erosion prone; and a number of climate change processes could lead to further erosion including increases in sea level; more severe storm surges and high wave actions.
While attention to date in terms of climate change in the region has focussed on sea level rise and coastal inundation; other potential climate change impacts are also relevant for the Ramsar site.
Particular issues include . increased extreme r ainfall e vents associated with climate c hange given t he dom inant contribution to extreme water levels and water chemistry is due to elevated stream flow . lower freshwater inputs . increased drought and higher temperature between major rainfall events leading to increased evaporation; which could expose and oxidise acid sulphate soils and exacerbate salinity in the shallow marsh environments.

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