20120523 fmg canning basin flora and vegetation level 1...

MAY 2012

FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD

CANNING BASIN BOREFIELD AND PIPELINE

SINGLE PHASE FLORA AND VEGETATION ASSESSMENT

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Fortescue Metals Group Ltd

Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Single Phase Flora and Vegetation Assessment

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FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD

CANNING BASIN BOREFIELD AND PIPELINE

SINGLE PHASE FLORA AND VEGETATION ASSESSMENT

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Document Status

Approved for Issue Rev Author Reviewer/s Date

Name Distributed To Date

A M Macdonald

M Campos

Carol Macpherson

30.03.12 Carol Macpherson Shaun Grein, Todd Edwards,

Fortescue Group

30.03.12

1 R Tuckett Carol Macpherson


Fortescue Group

19.04.2012

2 R. Tuckett Carol Macpherson


Fortescue Group

25.05.2012

ecologia Environment (2012). Reproduction of this report in whole or in part by electronic, mechanical or chemical means including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, in any language, is strictly prohibited without the express approval of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and/or ecologia Environment.

Restrictions on Use

This report has been prepared specifically for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Neither the report nor its contents may be referred to or quoted in any statement, study, report, application, prospectus, loan, or other agreement document, without the express approval of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and/or ecologia Environment.

ecologia Environment

1025 Wellington Street

WEST PERTH WA 6005

Phone: 08 9322 1944

Fax: 08 9322 1599

Email: [email protected]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................................3

1.2 SURVEY OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................4

2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................................. 5

2.1 CLIMATE ....................................................................................................................................5

2.2 GEOLOGY, LANDFORMS AND SOILS..........................................................................................6

2.3 LAND USE HISTORY ...................................................................................................................8

2.4 BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS .......................................................................................................8

2.5 LAND SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION...............................................................................................12

2.6 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES AND PRIORITY ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES .....14

2.7 PREVIOUS VEGETATION SURVEYS...........................................................................................14

2.8 CONSERVATION ESTATE..........................................................................................................16

2.9 PREVIOUS RECORDS OF FLORA RECORDED NEAR THE SURVEY AREA ....................................18

3 SURVEY METHODOLOGY................................................................................................. 25

3.1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES...............................................................................................................25

3.2 DATABASE SEARCHES..............................................................................................................25

3.3 VEGETATION AND FLORA ASSESSMENT .................................................................................25

3.4 SITE SELECTION .......................................................................................................................26

3.5 SAMPLING METHODS..............................................................................................................26

3.6 TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE ........................................................................................30

3.7 SURVEY ADEQUACY AND ANALYSIS ........................................................................................30

3.8 SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS..............................................................................31

4 RESULTS VEGETATION..................................................................................................... 33

4.1 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES ............................................................................33

4.2 PRIORITY ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES...................................................................................33

4.3 VEGETATION CONDITION OF THE PROJECT AREA ..................................................................33

4.4 FIRE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT AREA .....................................................................................33

4.5 VEGETATION UNITS OF THE STUDY AREA...............................................................................36

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5 RESULTS FLORA............................................................................................................... 59

5.1 SAMPLING ADEQUACY............................................................................................................59

5.2 FLORA OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE..............................................................................60

5.3 INTRODUCED FLORA ...............................................................................................................66

5.4 SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS..............................................................................72

6 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................... 75

6.1 VEGETATION UNITS CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT................................................................75

6.2 FLORA CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT.....................................................................................78

7 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 81

8 SURVEY TEAM................................................................................................................. 83

9 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................... 85

TABLES

Table 2.1 – Land systems within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ..........................................12

Table 2.2 – Beard Vegetation Associations of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline......................14

Table 2.3 – Species Protected by the EPBC Act and WC Act Recorded in the Pilbara Region................18

Table 2.4 – Priority flora within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.............................20

Table 3.1 – Rainfall in six months preceeding survey in surrounding area ............................................26

Table 3.2 – Vegetation condition criteria (Trudgen 1988) ....................................................................27

Table 3.3 – Declared plant categories for Western Australia ................................................................29

Table 4.1 – Vegetation condition assessment........................................................................................33

Table 4.2 – Time since fire......................................................................................................................33

Table 4.3 – Vegetation Units recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline. ...........................37

Table 5.1 – Taxonomic composition of the flora of the Canning Basin borefiled and pipeline .............59

Table 5.2 – Most frequently recorded taxa............................................................................................59

Table 5.3 – Priority Flora recorded within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ...........................62

Table 5.4 – Potential range extensions from the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline flora survey ...65

Table 5.5 – Introduced flora attributes and locations............................................................................67

Table 5.6 – Introduced flora recorded from Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline...............................68

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Table 5.7 – Survey limitations and constraints.......................................................................................73

Table 6.1 – Land Systems of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.................................................76

Table 6.2 – Beard (1975) Vegetation Associations of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ..........77

Table 6.3 – Representation of Vegetation Communites in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ..77

Table 6.4 – Regional distribution of Priority Flora recorded in Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ..78

Table 8.1 – Flora licenses........................................................................................................................83

FIGURES

Figure 1.1 – Location of Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ................................................................2

Figure 2.1 – Mean monthly rainfall and temperatures for Marble Bar (BOM station 004106, left) and Pardoo (BOM Station, 004028 right), 2012. ........................................................................5

Figure 2.2 – Geology of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ..........................................................7

Figure 2.3 – IBRA Subregions of the Project Area ..................................................................................11

Figure 2.4 – Land Systems of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline................................................13

Figure 2.5 – Beard Vegetation Associations of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ....................15

Figure 2.6 – Conservation Reserves near the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.............................17

Figure 2.7 – Priority Flora within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline...........................24

Figure 3.1 – Quadrat locations in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline .........................................28

Figure 4.1 – Vegetation condition assessment of quadrats rated .........................................................34

Figure 4.2 – Time since fire of the quadrats assessed............................................................................35

Figure 4.3 – Vegetation units of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ...........................................51







Figure 5.1 – Average randomised species accumulation curve (SAC) Sobs (Mao Tau)..........................60

Figure 5.2 – Distribution of Priority Flora within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline .................64

Figure 5.3 – Distribution of introduced species in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline ...............71

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APPENDICES

Appendix A Explanation of Conservation Codes ...................................................................................87

Appendix B Quadrat Locations..............................................................................................................93

Appendix C List of Taxa Recorded.........................................................................................................97

Appendix D Site Descriptions ............................................................................................................. 107

Appendix E Coordinates of Priority Flora........................................................................................... 109

Appendix F Threatened and Priority Flora Report Forms.................................................................. 111

Appendix G Location of Introduced Species....................................................................................... 151

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ACRONYMS

ARRP Act Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (Western Australia)

BIF Banded Ironstone Formation

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)

DEFL DEC’s Threatened Flora Database

DRF Declared Rare Flora (Western Australia) – now Threatened Flora

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

EPA Environmental Protection Authority (Western Australia)

EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Western Australia)

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

FMG Fortescue Metals Group Ltd

GPS Global Positioning System

IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia

NVIS National Vegetation Information System

PEC Priority Ecological Communities

TEC Threatened Ecological Communities

WAHERB Western Australian Herbarium

WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Western Australia)

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (FMG) intends to expand its current operations to include the development of a magnetite deposit, North Star, together with support infrastructure including waste dumps, tailings dam and access corridors. The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline is proposed to provide operational water requirements for the proposed North Star project. The Borefield extends for approximately 350 km2 and the Pipeline runs ca. 145 km south‐west to the Project Area.

Methods

The vegetation and flora of the Canning Basin Study Area were surveyed over 20 person days. A helicopter was available for three days to increase the accessibility and time efficiency. The survey was performed between 12 and 16 October 2011. Seasonal conditions were adequate, with a dry 6‐month period prior to the survey, but a rainy and favourable preceding wet season (2010‐2011).

A total of 109 quadrats with an area of 2500 m2 each were surveyed, distributed throughout the Study Area. Quadrat locations were selected using aerial photography, topographic features and field observations to represent the diversity of vegetation present. Additional opportunistic collections were made of taxa not already located within the quadrats. Locations of any introduced flora, known or potentially conservation significant taxa encountered were also recorded.

Vegetation condition and fire history

The majority of the Canning Basin Study Area is located on Unallocated Crown Land (UCL), with the western portion traversing Wallareenya and Kangan Pastoral Stations. Much of the area is not subject to active grazing, although some grazing from stock in adjacent pastoral leases occurs due to the absence of fencing at boundaries. The majority of quadrats (ca. 80%) were assessed as in excellent or very good condition. The disturbances most commonly observed were grazing and weeds, primarily within drainage channels, with a small number of areas subject to disturbance from previous exploration activities. The majority of the Study Area has not been recently burnt. An estimate of 37% of the areas were burnt between one and five years ago, and 63% of quadrats assessed as burnt more than 5 years ago or with no evidence of fire.

Flora

A total of 282 taxa were recorded from the Study Area. The families and genera represented are considered typical of surveys within the Pilbara during favourable seasonal conditions. Flora sampling adequacy was estimated using species accumulation curve analysis and extrapolation of the curve to the asymptote using Michaelis‐Menten modelling. Using this analysis it is estimated that 79% of the taxa present were recorded in this study.

Species richness within quadrats varied from 3 to 34 taxa, with a mean species richness of 16 0.6 (n=109). The highest species richness of 34 taxa was recorded in Quadrat 044, located within Vegetation Unit ChAaTp (Corymbia hamersleyana open woodland over Acacia ancistrocarpa shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland).

No EPBC listed or State listed Threatened Flora (formerly Declared Rare Flora) taxa were recorded within the Study Area. Four priority listed Flora species were recorded during this survey: one Priority 1 species (Heliotropium muticum), two Priority 3 species (Acacia glaucocaesia and Keraudrenia katatona) and one Priority 4 species (Goodenia nuda). The Priority 1 herb Heliotropium muticum is restricted to the Pilbara Bioregion based on current records.

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One Weed of National Significance (WONS) was recorded in the project area: *Parkinsonia aculeata. This species is also one of the two Declared Weeds that were recorded, the other being *Calotropis procera. Altogether, ten invasive species were recorded within the Study Area.

Two species recorded in the present survey represent range or bioregion extensions to their known distribution. Sclerolaena densiflora is the most northerly known record (170 km North of the nearest record); and Goodenia scaevolina is the first known record in the Great Sandy Desert Bioregion (ca. 60 km East North East from nearest known record).

Vegetation

Based on multivariate analysis, interpretation of aerial imagery and ground truthing, 24 Vegetation Units were described and mapped within the Study Area.

No vegetation or floristic community classified as a Threatened Environmental Community (TEC) or Priority Ecological Community (PEC) has been recorded within 40 km the Study Area. Vegetation Unit Ep described during the current survey appears to be restricted to the Horseflat land system and bears some resemblance to the PEC community Horseflat Land System of the Roebourne Plains (Priority 3iii). However, it is distinguished by the absence of Eragrostis xerophila. It is nevertheless considered to be local significance because it is the only community dominated by tussock grasses present within the Survey Area.

In a local context, vegetation can be considered significant if it is locally uncommon or provides habitats of local significance. The Vegetation Unit AgTp is also considered to be of local significance because it is dominated by the Priority 3 species Acacia glaucocaesia.

The vegetation unit Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland over Melaleuca glomerata, Atalaya hemiglauca and Melaleuca leucadendra sparse tall shrubland over Cyperus vaginatus sedges and Cynodon dactylon grasses (EcMgCd ) has been identified to be a groundwater dependent ecosystem. Potentially Eucalyptus victrix open woodland over Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland (EvCc) is also a groundwater dependent ecosystem. Whether E. victrix is an obligate ground water dependent species is currently unknown, but as it only grow along creek lines in the Pilbara it is likely that at some stage in its life cycle it requires on subterranean water.

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1 INTRODUCTION

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (Fortescue) is developing the North Star project, located approximately 100 km south of Port Hedland and 25 km east of Fortescue’s rail line. The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline is proposed to provide operational water requirements for the proposed North Star project.

The Canning Basin Borefield encompasses approximately 22 x 16 km and the Pipeline runs approximately 145 km South‐West to the North Star Study Area (Figure 1.1).

As part of the environmental approvals process for the project, ecologia Environment (ecologia) has been commissioned by Fortescue to undertake a single‐phase assessment of the vegetation and flora of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Study Area. The survey was a combination of full and brief quadrats with all taxa being collected in both quadrat types. The distinction between the two was the level of detail regarding topography, time since fire and vegetation condition. Maps of the vegetation units and vegetation condition were produced along with maps showing locations of Priority Flora and invasive species recorded. This assessment is required to assess potential impacts and identify appropriate management strategies and will assist with environmental approvals for the proposed Borefield and Pipeline development.

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1.1 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

Federal and State legislation applicable to the conservation of native flora and fauna in Western Australia includes, but is not limited to, the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act) and Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).

The Commonwealth EPBC Act was developed to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of National Environmental Significance, to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources; and to promote the conservation of biodiversity. The EPBC Act includes provisions to protect native species (in particular to prevent the extinction and promote the recovery of threatened species) and to ensure the conservation of migratory species. In addition to the principles outlined in Section 4a of the EP Act, Section 3a of the EPBC Act includes the principle of ecologically sustainable development; that decision‐making processes should effectively integrate both long‐term and short‐term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations.

Section 4a of the Western Australian EP Act requires that developments take into account the following principles applicable to native flora and fauna:

The Precautionary Principle

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

The Principles of Intergenerational Equity

The present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

The Principle of the Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological Integrity

Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration of the project.

Furthermore, floristic surveys undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process are required to address the following:

Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) Position Statement No. 3: Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection (EPA 2002a);

Guidance Statement No. 51: Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2004);

The Western Australian WC Act was developed to provide for the conservation and protection of wildlife in Western Australia. Under Section 14 of this Act, all fauna and flora within Western Australia are protected; however, the Minister may, via a notice published in the Government Gazette, declare a list of flora taxa identified as likely to become extinct, or as rare, or otherwise in need of special protection. The current listing was gazetted on the 17th of August 2010.

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1.2 SURVEY OBJECTIVES

The EPA’s objectives with regard to the management of native flora and vegetation are to:

Avoid adverse impacts on biological diversity comprising the different plants and animals and the ecosystems they form, at the levels of genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

Maintain the abundance, species diversity, geographic distribution and productivity of Vegetation Units.

Protect Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora, DRF) consistent with the provisions of the WC Act.

Protect other flora species of conservation significance.

The primary objective of the biological surveys is to provide sufficient information to the EPA to assess the impact of the development on the vegetation, flora and fauna of the Study Area, thereby ensuring that the EPA objectives will be upheld.

Specifically, this survey was to satisfy the requirements documented in the EPA’s Guidance Statement 51 and Position Statement No. 3, thus providing:

A review of background information (including literature and database searches).

An inventory of vegetation types and flora species occurring in the Study Area, incorporating recent published and unpublished records.

An inventory of species of biological and conservation significance recorded or likely to occur within the Study Area and surrounds.

A map and detailed description of vegetation types occurring in the Study Area.

An appraisal of the current knowledge base for the area, including a review of previous surveys conducted in the area relevant to the current study.

A review of regional and biogeographical significance, including the conservation status of species recorded in the Study Area.

A risk assessment to determine likely impacts of threatening processes on vegetation and flora within the Study Area.

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2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

2.1 CLIMATE

The Study Area is located in the Pilbara, Western Australia, where the climate is semi‐arid to arid with two distinct seasons: a hot summer from October to April and a mild winter from May to September. Rainfall generally occurs between the months of December and March, but can be unpredictable due to cyclonic activity bringing heavy sporadic rainfall. Nearly 75% of the annual rainfall is associated with thunderstorms and cyclonic activity between the months of December and March. Cold fronts can continue to bring rain to the region until June (BOM 2012).

Rainfall is generally low and unpredictable (some years have recorded zero rainfall), and temperatures are high, resulting in annual evaporation exceeding rainfall by as much as 500 mm per year. The majority of the Pilbara has a bimodal rainfall distribution; from January to March rains result from tropical storms producing sporadic thunderstorms. Tropical cyclones moving south also bring heavy rains. From May to June, extensive cold fronts move eastwards across the state and sometimes extend north to the Pilbara. These fronts usually produce only light rains in the Pilbara. Surface water can be found in some pools and springs all year round, although watercourses generally flow intermittently due to the short wet season (Beard 1975).

The nearest meteorological stations for which both rainfall and temperature data are available are Marble Bar (Site No. 004106), approximately 65 km east, and Pardoo Station (Site No. 004028), approximately 58 km north of the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

Pardoo Station and Marble Bar stations have an average annual rainfall of 316 mm and 328 mm respectively (BOM 2012). Both locations demonstrate a typical Pilbara climate of hot summers with sporadic summer storms and warm dry winters (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1 – Mean monthly rainfall and temperatures for Marble Bar (BOM station 004106, left) and Pardoo (BOM Station, 004028 right), 2012.

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2.2 GEOLOGY, LANDFORMS AND SOILS

2.2.1 Geology

The Pilbara is comprised of the granitic terrain of the Pilbara Block in the north with the rugged sedimentary Hamersley Basin in the south and the sedimentary rocks overlain by eolian sands of the Canning Basin to the east. In the northern regions of the Pilbara are Archaean rocks of the East and West Pilbara Granite‐Greenstone Terranes comprised of granitoid rocks, basic and ultrabasic volcanic rocks, and acidic volcanic rocks. Also present in the north are the Archaean shale, siltstone and wacke and granitic intrusions of the Mallina Basin (Tille 2006). In the northern sections of the Hamersley Basin the rocks are collectively known as the Fortescue group and are comprised of Archaean basalt, shale, sandstone, conglomerate, tuff and carbonate of the Northwest and Northeast Pilbara sub‐basins. There is a narrow strip of banded ironstone formation (BIF) and this, together with the Fortescue Group, makes up the Chichester Ranges (Tille 2006). In the southern region of the Hamersley Basin the rocks belong to the Hamersley group and are comprised of late‐Archaean‐Palaeoproterozic metamorphosed BIF, shale, dolerite, carbonate, chert and rhyolite (Tille 2006).

Drainage is mostly via major the river catchments of the De Grey, Turner and Yule rivers in the north, and the Fortescue and Robe rivers in the west and all are exoreic (i.e. flow into the ocean). The exception to this is the Savory Creek which drains eastwards into Lake Disappointment (Van Vreeswyk et al. 2004). The geological stratigraphy in the Pilbara region of WA is relatively continuous, with similar geological processes occurring across the region which have resulted in the enrichment of the iron deposits.

The proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline crosses three underlying geological units (Figure 2.2); A‐g‐PL (metamorphosed undivided granitic rock), A‐g‐PM (metamorphosed undivided granitoid rock) and K‐ca‐sp (very fine‐ to coarse‐grained conglomerate sandstone).

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2.2.2 Landforms

The Pilbara is dominated by rocky hill and stony plains found on the basalt, BIF, and sandstone of the Hamersley basin (Tille 2006). The most notable landforms of the Pilbara are the Chichester and Hamersley Ranges and associated with these mountains are long stony footslopes and plains (Tille 2006). On the Chichester ranges Gilgai plains are formed on the basaltic plateau. On the East and West Pilbara Granite‐Greenstone Terranes are hills and domes with minor sandy plains. Along the coast of the Pilbara there are bare tidal flats backed by low dunes and alluvial plains (Tille 2006).

The proposed Canning Basin Borefield is situated in the extensive sandplains of the northern Great Sandy Desert and Pindanland subregions. The Canning Basin Pipeline also passes through low granite hills and plains, and crosses the De Grey River (just north of the confluence with the Coongan River) and the Shaw River.

2.2.3 Soils

Stony soils dominate the hilly landscape in the Pilbara with additional scattered areas of red shallow loams and red shallow sands. The basaltic plateaus will often have hard cracking clays where the granitic stony plains often have red shallow loams. The alluvial plains have red loamy earths and red clays that can be either cracking or non cracking. The sandy coastal plains have red deep loamy duplexes and red sandy solids.

2.3 LAND USE HISTORY

Although historically pastoralism was the most extensive land use in the Pilbara, the development of the iron ore industry has resulted in activity within the Pilbara increasing from cattle and sheep stations and small coastal ports to a large mining economic base with a commensurate increase in population.

The Pilbara produces approximately 95% of Australia’s iron ore exports, estimated at 157 Mtpa and with a value of over $5.1 billion per year (Pilbara Development Commission, 2009). Development of the iron ore rich deposits was accelerated in the 1960s after the Commonwealth lifted the 1938 export embargo on iron ore.

2.4 BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS

The Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) classifies the Australian continent into regions of similar geology, landform, vegetation, fauna and climate characteristics (DSEWPC 2010). Biogeographic regions (bioregions) each reflect a unifying set of major environmental influences which shape the occurrence of flora and fauna and their interaction with the physical environment across Australia. The proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline crosses three IBRA Bioregions: the Pilbara, Great Sandy Desert and Dampierland (Figure 2.3).

2.4.1 Pilbara Bioregion

The Pilbara bioregion is the largest in Western Australia, with an area of 179,287 km. Other bioregions vary from 2,372 to 423,751 km², most being between 14,000 and 200,000 km². The size of the Pilbara bioregion is fairly typical of bioregions situated in remote arid and semi‐arid areas (Thackway et al. 1995). The Pilbara bioregion is further divided into the Chichester, Fortescue Plains,

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Hamersley and Roebourne subregions. The western section of the Canning Basin Pipeline passes through the Chichester and Roebourne subregions (Figure 2.3).

Dominant limiting factors and constraints for biodiversity conservation in the Pilbara bioregion include the extinction of critical weight range animals (i.e. 35‐5500 g) which are particularly sensitive to change, wildfire, feral animals, weeds, grazing and pastoral activities (Thackway et al. 1995).

Chichester Subregion

The Chichester subregion covers approximately 51% of the Pilbara bioregion. Features of the Chichester subregion are plains supporting a shrub steppe characterised by Acacia inaequilatera over Triodia wiseana hummock grasslands, while Eucalyptus leucophloia tree steppes occur on ranges (Kendrick et al. 2001a).

Roebourne Subregion

The Roebourne subregion covers approximately 12% of the Pilbara bioregion. The Roebourne subregion is characterised by quaternary alluvial and older colluvial coastal and subcoastal plains with a grass savannah of mixed bunch and hummock grasses, and dwarf shrub steppe of Acacia stellaticeps or A. pyrifolia and A. inaequilatera. Uplands are dominated by Triodia spp. hummock grasslands. Ephemeral drainage lines support Eucalyptus victrix or Corymbia hamersleyana woodlands (Kendrick et al. 2001b).

2.4.2 Great Sandy Desert Bioregion

The Great Sandy Desert covers an area of 318,100 km² and is divided into the McLarty subregion in the north and the Mackay subregion in the south. Most of the Canning Basin Borefield and the eastern section of the Canning Basin Pipeline are within the McLarty subregion (Figure 2.3).

McLarty Subregion

The McLarty subregion covers approximately 41% of the Great Sandy Desert bioregion (Graham 2002b).

Vegetation of the McLarty subregion is mainly tree steppe, grading to shrub steppe in south; comprising open hummock grassland of Triodia pungens and Triodia schinzii with scattered trees of Owenia reticulata and Bloodwoods, and shrubs of Acacia spp, Grevillea wickhamii and G. refracta, on Quaternary red longitudinal sand dune fields overlying Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstones of the Canning and Armadeus Basins. Casuarina decaisneana (Desert Oak) occurs in the far east of the region. Gently undulating lateritised uplands support shrub steppe such as Acacia pachycarpa shrublands over Triodia pungens hummock grass. Calcrete and evaporite surfaces are associated with occluded palaeodrainage systems that traverse the desert; these include extensive salt lake chains with samphire low shrublands, and Melaleuca glomerata/M. lasiandra shrublands. The bioregion includes the Mandora Paleoriver System which consists of red‐brown dunefields with finer texture than further south and includes gravely surfaces of Anketell Ridge along its northern margin (Graham 2002b).

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2.4.3 Dampierland Bioregion

The Dampierland bioregion covers an area of 88,130 km² and is divided into the Fitzroy Trough subregion in the east and the Pindanland subregion in the west. The northern limit of the Canning Basin Borefield lies within the Pindanland subregion (Figure 2.3).

Pindanland Subregion

The Pindanland subregion comprises sandplains of the Dampier Peninsular and western part of Dampier Land, including the hinterland of the Eighty Mile Beach. It is a fine‐textured sand‐sheet with subdued dunes and includes the paleodelta of the Fitzroy River. The vegetation is described primarily as pindan. This is the coastal, semi‐arid, north‐western margin of the Canning Basin (Graham 2002a).

The Pindanland subregion covers approximately 41% of the Dampierland subregion. It is characterised by quaternary alluvial plains associated with the Permian and Mesozoic sediments of the Fitzroy Trough which support Eucalyptus microtheca and Lysiphyllum cunninghamii tree savannas over Chrysopogon/Dichanthium grasslands with scattered forests of river gum and cadjeput along drainage lines. Devonian limestones in the north and east of the Trough support tree steppes with understoreys of Triodia intermedia and T. wiseana hummock‐grass. Pindanland is the coastal, semi‐arid, north‐western margin of the Canning Basin, consisting of a quaternary sandplains mantle, over Jurassic and Mesozoic sandstones which support pindan vegetation on the plains and hummock grasslands on hills. Quaternary marine deposits on coastal plains support mangal, samphire, Sporobolus grasslands, Melaleuca acacioides low forests, and Spinifex/Crotalaria strand communities (Graham 2002a).

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Drawn: MMDate: 04/01/2012IBRA Subregions


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LegendCanning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Survey AreaRoadsWaterwaysSea

IBRA SubregionChichester (Pilbara)Roebourne (Pilbara)McLarty (Great Sandy Desert)Pindanland (Dampierland)


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2.5 LAND SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION

Land systems are described using the biophysical characteristics of geology, landforms, vegetation and soils (Vreeswyk et al. 2004). Van Vreeswyk et al. (2004) undertook a regional inventory of the Pilbara region to document land systems present and the condition of each. The area surveyed by Van Vreeswyk et al. (2004) covered 181,723 km², bounded by the Indian Ocean and Roebourne Plains to the north and west, extending to Broome in the north‐east and the Ashburton River catchment in the south.

The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline crosses nine land systems (Table 2.1 and Figure 2.4). The Nita land system covers over 64% of the study area, due to its dominance in the Borefield and eastern portion of the Pipeline. The area within the Survey Area represents over 3.5% of the entire extent. It is characterised by sandplains supporting shrubby soft spinifex grasslands with occasional trees. All other land systems are well represented outside of the rail options with little more than 2% of the area within the Pipeline and Borefield.

Table 2.1 – Land systems within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Land System Description Total Area in Pilbara (km²)

Area in the Study Area

(km²)

Percent of Total Land System

Callawa Highly dissected low hills, mesas and gravelly plains of sandstone and conglomerate supporting soft and hard spinifex grasslands.

1,003 14.09 (2.26%)

1.06%

Horseflat Gilgaied clay plains supporting tussock grasslands and minor grassy snakewood shrublands.

1,261 2.89

(0.49%) 0.23%

Macroy Stony plains and occasional tor fields based on granite supporting hard and soft spinifex grasslands.

13,095 44.82 (7.17%)

0.34%

Mallina Sandy surfaced alluvial plains supporting soft spinifex (and occasionally hard spinifex) grasslands.

2,557 30.34 (4.85%)

1.19%

Nita Sandplains supporting shrubby soft spinifex grasslands with occasional trees.

11,250 400.23 (64.05%)

3.56%

Paradise Alluvial plains supporting soft spinifex grasslands and tussock grasslands.

1,479 31.16 (4.99%)

2.11%

River Active flood plains, major rivers and banks supporting grassy eucalypt woodlands, tussock grasslands and soft spinifex grasslands.

4,088 12.61 (2.02%)

0.31%

Satirist Stony plains and low rises supporting hard spinifex grasslands, and Gilgai plains supporting tussock grasslands.

377 3.99

(0.64%) 1.06%

Uaroo Broad sandy plains supporting shrubby hard and soft spinifex grasslands.

7,681 84.71

(13.56%) 1.10%

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

Nita Land System

Macroy Land SystemRocklea Land System

Uaroo Land System

River Land System

Yamerina Land System

Paradise Land System

Capricorn Land System

River

Mallina Land System

Talga Land System

Anna Land SystemLittoral Land System

Granitic Land System

Little Sandy Land System

Callawa Land System

Boolgeeda Land System

Horseflat Land System

Eighty Mile Land System

Boolaloo Land System

Mine

Lime Land System

Satirist Land System

Taylor Land System

Platform Land System

Mannerie Land System

Billygoat Land System

Black Land System

Roebuck Land System

Pyramid Land System

Calcrete Land System

Bonney Land System

Ruth Land System

Robe Land System

Oakover Land System

Cheerawarra Land System

750000 80000076

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Drawn: MMDate: 04/01/2012Land Systems


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Kilometres1:700,000Absolute Scale -


Landsystem Callawa Land System Horseflat Land System Macroy Land System Mallina Land System Nita Land System Oakover Land System Paradise Land System River Land System Satirist Land System Uaroo Land System


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2.6 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES AND PRIORITY ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

Ecological communities are naturally occurring biological assemblages associated with a particular type of habitat. At a national level, flora and threatened ecological communities (TECs) are protected under the EPBC Act. The Western Australian DEC maintains a list of TECs and a list of Priority Ecological Communities (PECs). PECs include potential TECs that do not meet survey criteria, or that are not adequately defined.

A regional search of TECs and PECs was conducted and none are recorded from within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline (DEC reference: 15‐1011EC).

2.7 PREVIOUS VEGETATION SURVEYS

The Study Area lies within Beard’s (1975) Eremaean Botanical Province. Beard (1975) mapped the Vegetation Units of the Pilbara region at a broad‐scale of 1:1,000,000. Although these maps do not accurately represent the vegetation at a local scale, they can be a useful tool to loosely determine the potential extent of broad Vegetation Units in the region. The vegetation mapping of Beard throughout Western Australia was later reinterpreted and updated to reflect the National Vegetation Information System standards (Shepherd et al. 2002). Six vegetation associations (Shepherd et al. 2002) have been mapped which occur in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline (Table 2.2 and Figure 2.5).

The most extensive Beard Vegetation Associations within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline are Associations 101 (Acacia pachycarpa shrub steppe over soft spinifex hummock grasslands) and 93 (shrub steppe of kanji, Acacia inaequilatera, over soft spinifex hummock grasslands), which occupy over 62% and 25% of the area respectively (Table 2.2). The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline covers over 3% of the mapped extent of vegetation association 101, mostly in the Borefield itself (Figure 2.5). The proposed development covers less than 1% of the other vegetation associations present.

Table 2.2 – Beard Vegetation Associations of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Beard Vegetation Association

Vegetation Description Total Area in Pilbara (km2)

Area in Study Area

(km2)

Percent of Total

Vegetation Type (%)

32 Shrublands, pindan; Acacia shrubland with scattered low trees over Triodia spp.

2454 24.41 (3.91%)

0.99%

93 Hummock grasslands, shrub steppe; kanji over soft spinifex

30462 160.02 (25.61%)

0.53%

101 Hummock grasslands, shrub steppe; Acacia pachycarpa over soft spinifex

12250 390.46 (62.48%)

3.19%

175 Short bunch grassland ‐ savanna/grass plain (Pilbara) 5264 13.44 (2.15%)

0.26%

589 Mosaic: Short bunch grassland ‐ savanna / grass plain (Pilbara) / hummock grasslands, grass steppe; soft spinifex

8096 32.00 (5.12%)

0.40%

619 Medium woodland; river gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

1192 4.57

(0.73%) 0.38%

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93

9393

32

93

93

101

171

587

82 93

589

93

117

32

93

101

589

171

93

589

589

93

175

171

589

82

73

93

93

589

93

127

171

587

173

117

93

171

197

117

197

127

93

117

93

589

93

197

171

93

117

171

197

73

32

93

171

93

101

171

117

619

619

589

619

73

171

619

175

619

619

117

589

587

619

43

171

619

647

41

171

127

1277311732

43

93

619

117

171

41

127 117

587

171

93

117

619

171

619

173

171

589

32

93

619

589

117

43

589

93

93 589

32

93

117

101

589

11743

197

171

619

619

171

93

171

93171

589

117

589

73

175 175

73

41

737373

619

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Beard Vegetation Association3293101175589619


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2.8 CONSERVATION ESTATE

The nearest mainland conservation reserves to the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline are Meentheena Station (acquired for a proposed Conservation Park) approximately 80 km to the south‐east (Figure 2.6), Mungaroona Nature Reserve (90 km south‐west), Millstream‐Chichester National Park (140km south‐west) and Karijini National Park (150 km south‐west).

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Tom Price

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Drawn: MMDate: 12/01/2012Conservation

ReservesCanning Basin A4

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LegendCanning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Survey AreaConservation Reserves


Meentheena StationMillstream Chichester National Park

Mungaroona Range Nature Reserve

Karijini National park

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2.9 PREVIOUS RECORDS OF FLORA RECORDED NEAR THE SURVEY AREA

2.9.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Flora species are protected at a National level under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. The EPBC Act lists species that are considered either ‘Critically Endangered’, ‘Endangered’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Conservation Dependent’, ‘Extinct’ or ‘Extinct in the Wild’ (Appendix A).

Two EPBC Act listed species; Lepidium catapycnon and Thryptomene wittweri are known to occur in the Pilbara bioregion. Neither EPBC Act listed species were recorded during the current survey or are expected to occur in the project area.

2.9.2 Wildlife Conservation Act 1950

Flora taxa protected under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice 2010(2) of the WC Act are known as Threatened taxa. This notice lists flora taxa that are extant and considered likely to become extinct or rare, defined as “taxa which have been adequately searched for and deemed to be either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection in the wild”. These taxa are legally protected and their removal or impact to their surroundings cannot be conducted without Ministerial approval, obtained specifically on each occasion for each population (refer to Appendix A for category definitions).

A search of the DEC’s Threatened Flora database indicated that currently, two Threatened (vulnerable) taxa are listed as occurring in the Pilbara region; Lepidium catapycnon and Thryptomene wittweri (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012). The preferred habitat and an assessment of the probability of each species occurring within the Study Area based on distribution and the suitability of habitats present are listed in Table 2.3.

A search of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Threatened Flora Database (DEFL), and the WA Herbarium’s specimen database (DEC search reference: 35‐1011FL) indicates that no Threatened Flora are recorded from within 50 km of the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline. Based on current distributions their presence within the Study Area is considered unlikely.

Table 2.3 – Species Protected by the EPBC Act and WC Act Recorded in the Pilbara Region

EPBC Act Listing

Family Taxa Preferred Habitat Known Distribution Likelihood of Occurrence in the Project Area

T Brassicaceae Lepidium catapycnon

Skeletal soils on hillsides

South‐eastern Pilbara Unlikely

T Myrtaceae Thryptomene wittweri

Skeletal red‐stony soils

Southern Pilbara, Gascoyne and Little

Sandy Desert Unlikely

2.9.3 Priority Flora with Potential to Occur in the Project Area

The DEC maintains a list of Priority Flora taxa, which are considered poorly known, uncommon or under threat but for which there is insufficient justification, based on known distribution and population sizes, for inclusion on the DRF schedule. There are four categories of Priority Flora as defined in Atkins (2008), see Appendix A.

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Currently, 145 Priority Flora taxa are listed as occurring in the Pilbara region (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012).

A search of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Threatened Flora Database (DEFL), and the WA Herbarium’s specimen database (DEC search reference: 35‐1011FL) indicates that 33 priority flora taxa have the potential to occur within the Study Area (Table 2.4). This includes 13 Priority 1 taxa, two Priority 2 taxa, 15 Priority 3 taxa and three Priority 4 taxa (Figure 2.7). Locations of priority flora from the DEC searches are only provided in the DEFL and WA HERB database searches. Search results from the DEC Declared Rare and Priority Flora List do not include localities. Thus, species identified from this search and not identified through the DEFL or WA HERB search are absent from Figure 2.7

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Table 2.4 – Priority flora within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Conservation status

Taxon Family Source Bio‐

region*

Habitat (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012)

Distribution Flowering period

Likelihood of

occurrence

P1 Acacia cyperophylla var. omearana

Fabaceae WAHERB PIL Stony & gritty alluvium. Along drainage lines

Nullagine, Beatons Pool March ‐ April

Possible

P1 Acacia sp. Marble Bar (J.G. &M.H. Simmons 3499)

Fabaceae DEC PIL

Gritty, skeletal red‐grey sandy loam, light orange‐brown gravelly sand, granite

Marble Bar April ‐ May, October

Possible

P1 Atriplex eremitis Chenopodiaceae DEC PIL Saline plain De Grey Station August Unlikely

P1 Desmodium pullenii Fabaceae DEC PIL NK

Lateritic loam or clay over sandstone. Sandplains, woodland

Shay Gap, Mitchell Plateau April Unlikely

P1 Eremophila maculata subsp. filifolia

Scrophulariaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL Spinifex plain Muccan Station ‐ Possible

P1 Fimbristylis sp. Shay Gap (K.R. Newbey 10293)

Cyperaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL Sandy soil. Drainage line Shay Gap June ‐ July Likely

P1 Goodenia pedicellata Goodeniaceae DEC PIL Rocky clayey soils. Rocky slopes and crests of small hills

Telfer June Unlikely

P1 Heliotropium muticum Boraginaceae WAHERB PIL Red silty sand Northern central Pilbara ‐ Possible

P1 Heliotropium parviantrum Boraginaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL DL

Sandy soils. Flats, plains, rocky slopes

De Grey River, Derby February ‐

June Possible

P1 Josephinia sp. Marandoo (M.E. Trudgen 1554)

Pedaliaceae WAHERB PIL Gritty soil, granite. Plains, mixed shrubland of Senna and Acacia

Stevenson Well, Marandoo August Possible

P1 Mimulus clementii Phrymaceae DEC PIL Moist, sunny locations Between Ashburton and De Grey Rivers

‐ Possible

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Conservation status


region*



Likelihood of

occurrence

P1 Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar (G. Woodman & D. Coultas GWDC Opp 4)

Lamiaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL Ironstone hillslopes Marble Bar August Unlikely

P1 Rothia indica subsp. australis Fabaceae WAHERB PIL DL

Sandy soils. Sandhills and sandy flats

Warralong, Manguel Creek Station

April ‐ August

Possible

P2 Euphorbia clementii Euphorbiaceae DEFL

WAHERB PIL

Gravelly hillsides, stony ground

Talga Peak ‐ Likely

P2 Goodenia hartiana Goodeniaceae DEC PIL GSD LSD

Sand. Sand dune swales, sandhills

Rudall River, Telfer, Jimblebar, Warrawagine Station

August Possible

P3 Acacia glaucocaesia Fabaceae DEC DEFL

WAHERB

PIL GSD DL

Red loam, sandy loam, clay. Floodplains

Karratha, Port Hedland, Mardie, Roebourne, De Grey

July, September

Likely

P3 Acacia levata Fabaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL

Sand or sandy loam over granite. Hillslopes

Marble Bar, Woodstock H/S, Hillside

May Possible

P3 Acacia sp. Broome (B.R. Maslin 4918)

Fabaceae WAHERB DL LSD

Rocky clay, red sand. Coastal cliffs, low‐lying areas

One Arm Point, Sandfire Flat Roadhouse, Broome, Well 22, Camballin,

April to June

Unlikely

P3 Croton aridus Fabaceae DEC DL VB

Deep red sand, pindan soil. Sandplains or ridges, spinifex sandplains

Edgar Range, Broome, Shay Gap

August Possible

P3 Eragrostis crateriformis Poaceae DEFL

WAHERB

PIL CAR TAN

Clayey loam or clay. Creek banks, depressions

Port Hedland, Yanrey Station January ‐ May, July

Likely

P3 Euphorbia inappendiculata Euphorbiaceae WAHERB PIL Clay soils. Among broken rocky scree

Millstream ‐ Chichester National Park, Warralong

August Likely

P3 Gomphrena leptophylla Amaranthaceae DEC PIL DL

Sand, sandy to clayey loam, granite, quartzite. Open flats, sandy creek beds, edges salt pans & marshes, stony hillsides.

Yandeyarra, Nerrima Station, Marble Bar

March ‐ September

Possible

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Conservation status


region*



Likelihood of

occurrence

P3 Gymnanthera cunninghamii Apocynaceae DEFL

WAHERB

PIL GSD CAR

Sandy soils along watercourses

Woodstock Station January ‐ December

Possible

P3 Heliotropium murinum Boraginaceae WAHERB PIL Red sand. Plains Eastern Pilbara May,

September Possible

P3 Indigofera ammobia Fabaceae DEC DEFL

WAHERB

PIL GSD OVP

Red sand. Sand dunes Telfer, Great Sandy Desert, Wolfe Creek, Shay Gap

August ‐ September

Possible

P3 Keraudrenia katatona Malvaceae DEC DEFL

WAHERB

GSD DL

Red sand. Desert dunes in pindan, ranges, disturbed areas

Broome, Edgar Range, Wallal Downs, Canning Stock Route

March ‐August

Likely

P3 Nicotiana umbratica Solanaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL

Shallow soils. Rocky outcrops

Newman, Karijini N.P., Marble Bar, Woodstock, Abydos

April ‐ June Possible

P3 Phyllanthus aridus Phyllanthaceae DEC DEFL

WAHERB

PIL GSD DL

CK, NK, OVP, VB

Sandstone, gravel, red sand

West Kimberley, Chichester Range, ‐ West Angelas, Pardoo, Shay Gap, Doongan Homestead, Durack River

May ‐ June Possible

P3 Pterocaulon sp. A Kimberley Flora (B.J. Carter 599)

Asteraceae WAHERB DL Sand. Coastal areas, saline sandy flats, pindan sandplain

Kalumuru, Weedong Lake, Gibb River Road, Sir Graeme Moore Island, Poulton Crossing, Native Well, Isdell Range

April ‐ August

Possible

P3 Tephrosia bidwillii Fabaceae WAHERB PIL GSD CAR

Red‐brown loam North‐eastern Pilbara May, August

Possible

P4 Bulbostylis burbidgeae Cyperaceae DEFL

WAHERB PIL

Granitic soils. Granite outcrops, cliff bases

Mount Edgar, Gorge Creek, Abydos‐ Woodstock

March, June ‐ August

Likely

P4 Goodenia nuda Goodeniaceae WAHERB PIL Sandy soils along drainage lines, watercourses

Widespread in Pilbara April ‐ August

Likely

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Conservation status


region*



Likelihood of

occurrence

P4 Ptilotus mollis Amaranthaceae DEC

WAHERB PIL LSD

Stony hills and screes Warralong Station, Mt Channar, Bamboo, Rudall River, Ripon Hills, Mt Bruce

May, September

Likely

* Bio‐region abbreviations are: CAR, Carnarvon; CK, Central Kimberley; DL, Dampierland; GSD, Great Sandy Desert; LSD, Little Sandy Desert; NK, Northern Kimberley; OVP, Ord‐Victoria Plains; PIL, Pilbara; and VB, Victoria Bonaparte.

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

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Drawn: MMDate: 16/01/2012DEC Priority Flora

RecordsCanning Basin

A4

K0 7 14Kilometres

1:1,000,000Absolute Scale -

LegendPriority Flora

!( Acacia cyperophylla var. omearana P1") Eremophila maculata subsp. filifolia P1#* Fimbristylis sp. Shay Gap (K.R. Newbey 10293) P1$+ Heliotropium muticum P1%, Heliotropium parviantrum P1!. Josephinia sp. Marandoo (M.E. Trudgen 1554) P1"/ Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar (G. Woodman and D. Coultas GWDC Opp 4) P1#0 Rothia indica subsp. australis P1!( Euphorbia clementii P2!( Acacia glaucocaesia P3") Acacia levata P3#* Acacia sp. Broome (B.R. Maslin 4918) P3$+ Eragrostis crateriformis P3

%, Euphorbia inappendiculata P3!. Gymnanthera cunninghamii P3"/ Heliotropium murinum P3#0 Indigofera ammobia P3$1 Keraudrenia katatona P3%2 Nicotiana umbratica P3_̂ Phyllanthus aridus P3XY Pterocaulon sp. A Kimberley Flora (B.J. Carter 599) P3GF Tephrosia bidwillii P3!( Bulbostylis burbidgeae P4") Goodenia nuda P4#* Ptilotus mollis P4

Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Survey Area


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001




May 2012

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3 SURVEY METHODOLOGY

3.1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The survey methods adopted by ecologia were formulated using:

The Western Australian EPA’s position paper on terrestrial biological surveys as an element of biodiversity protection (EPA 2002b);

Guidance Statement 51 (EPA 2004) on terrestrial flora and vegetation surveys for environmental impact assessment; and

Consultation with regional Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and other relevant government officers;

Background research to gather information on the target area (i.e. search of literature, data and map‐based information); and

Guidance Statement 51 recommends the following characteristics for a Level 1 surveys which were incorporated into the survey and reporting design:

Verification of the accuracy of background information;

Further delineate and characterise the flora and the range of vegetation units present in the target area;

Mapping of vegetation at an appropriate scale; and to

Identify potential impacts to the flora and vegetation of the target area.

3.2 DATABASE SEARCHES

A search of the following databases was undertaken in prior to the field survey, to identify species and communities of conservation significance previously recorded in the vicinity of the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

DEC Threatened (Declared Rare) Flora Database (DEFL);

DEC Declared Rare and Priority Flora List (DEC reference: 35‐1011FL);

DEC Western Australian Herbarium Specimen Database (WAHERB);

DEC Threatened Ecological Community and Priority Ecological Communities Databases (DEC reference: 15‐1011EC); and

Department of the Environment and Water Resources Protected Matters Database (EPBC Act).

3.3 VEGETATION AND FLORA ASSESSMENT

The single‐phase, flora and vegetation survey was conducted using a combination of quadrat sampling (2500m2) supplemented by a series of field traverses. Linked traverses are a more time efficient method than quadrats to maximise the floristic inventory and thus increase the probability

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of locating flora of conservation significance. However quadrats allow the vegetation to be consistently and more thoroughly described and analysed using multivariate analysis to delineate vegetation associations. Both methods contributed to the delineation of vegetation units and to a comprehensive floristic inventory of the survey area. A helicopter was used to gain access to the majority of the sites, resulting in a more even and comprehensive coverage, but a reduced number of traverses.

3.3.1 Survey Timing

The flora and vegetation survey of the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline was completed from the 12th to 16th October 2011. In the six months prior to the survey (April to September 2011), very little rain fell in the vicinity of the Study Area as detailed in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 – Rainfall in six months preceeding survey in surrounding area

BOM Station Location relative to

Study Area Rainfall April to September

2011 (mm) Average rainfall April to

September (mm)

Pardoo (004025) 58 km to the north 37.5 88.1

Wallareenya (004038) 45 km north‐west 39.6 80.9

Marble Bar (004106) 65 km south‐east 39.2 87.8

These values are approximately half of the average rainfall for this period. However rainfall in the period from December 2010 to March 2011 was higher than average.

3.4 SITE SELECTION

To ensure that the vegetation units and habitats present within the Study Area were adequately represented, quadrat locations were selected using aerial photography, land systems, topographical features and field observations. Some modifications of the selected locations were necessary due to access constraints.

3.5 SAMPLING METHODS

The survey involved a combination of quadrat based sampling and some additional opportunistic sampling. Quadrats were utilised to record floristic composition within vegetation units. Both methods contributed to the delineation of Vegetation Units and the floristic species inventory for the project area.

3.5.1 Floristic Quadrats

One‐hundred and nine 2,500 m2 quadrats were surveyed over the project area. In areas of linear vegetation, such as along waterways, a longer but narrower quadrat of equivalent area was surveyed. Quadrat locations are shown in Figure 3.1 (and listed in Appendix B).

The following information was recorded at each quadrat:

1. Location (recorded using a hand held GPS unit);

2. Photograph of vegetation structure;

3. Height and percentage cover for each species recorded within the quadrat. Height and percentage cover ranges follow the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) vegetation classifications (ESCAVI 2003).

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4. Structural information describing the vegetation community. Vegetation type, life‐form strata and percentage cover for each stratum were recorded using the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) vegetation classifications (ESCAVI 2003).

In addition, the following attributes were recorded for 29 quadrats:

5. Topography, surface soil composition and colour, and surface lithology;

6. Vegetation condition and the nature of disturbance (vegetation condition was assessed using the criteria outlined in Trudgen (1988), see Table 3.2.

7. The estimated time since the last fire.

Quadrats were described to be ‘full’ if they had all parameters (i.e. 1‐7) recorded and were described to be ‘brief’ if a proportion of the parameters (i.e. 1‐4) were recorded.

Table 3.2 – Vegetation condition criteria (Trudgen 1988)

Vegetation Condition

Criteria

Excellent Pristine or nearly so, no obvious sign of damage caused by European human activities.

Very good Some relatively slight signs of damage caused by the activities of European human activities e.g. damage to tree trunks by repeated fires, the presence of some relatively non‐aggressive weeds or occasional vehicle tracks.

Good More obvious signs of damage caused by the activities of European human activities, including some obvious impact to vegetation structure such as caused by low levels of grazing or by selective logging. Weeds as above, possibly plus some more aggressive ones.

Poor Still retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it after very obvious impacts of European human activities such as grazing or partial clearing or very frequent fires. Presence of some more aggressive weeds.

Very poor Severely impacted by grazing, fire, clearing or a combination of these activities. Scope for some regeneration but not to a state approaching good condition without intensive management. Usually with a number of weeds species including aggressive species.

Completely Degraded

Areas that are completely or almost completely without native vegetation e.g. areas that are cleared or parkland cleared with their flora comprising weed or crop species with isolated native trees or shrubs.

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125124 123

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117116

115114113

112110

116A

987

6532

1

9998

9796

95

9493929190

89888786

858483

82807978

77767574

737271

7069

68 6766

65 64636160

595756

5452

484645

44434140

3837

36343332

30272524

2322201917

161413

1211

138

137135

109108106105

104103

102

750000 80000076

5000

077

0000

077

5000

078

0000

0



Drawn: MMDate: 17/01/2012Quadrat Locations

Canning Basin A4

K0 6 12Kilometres


LegendQuadrat Type

") Brief") Full



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3.5.2 Opportunistic Collections

Opportunistic collections of Priority and introduced flora (and other flora not recorded from quadrats) were made while travelling between quadrats where possible to provide better distribution and abundance data and to contribute to a more comprehensive species inventory. Notes on the distribution of Vegetation Units were also taken to facilitate the mapping of Vegetation Units.

3.5.3 Invasive Species

Weeds of National Significance (WONS)

At a national level there are twenty weed species listed as Weeds of National Significance (WONS). The Commonwealth National Weeds Strategy: A Strategic Approach to Weed Problems of National Significance describes broad goals and objectives to manage these species. Of these species, three are currently recorded within the Pilbara (Mesquite, Prosopis spp.; Athel Pine, Tamarix aphylla; and Parkinsonia, Parkinsonia aculeata).

Declared Weeds

Weeds that are, or have the potential to become, pests to agriculture can be declared formally under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (ARRP Act) as declared plants. Weeds listed under this Act are listed with Standard Control Codes that outline the requirements for their control (DAFWA 2012). Five priority categories exist (P1, P2, P3, P4 or P5) and more than one priority may be assigned to a weed species (Error! Reference source not found.). The status of a declared weed is also determined by locality: some weeds are declared for the whole of Western Australia, while others are only declared in certain local government areas. Landholders having declared plants on their property are obliged to control them at their own expense, and are encouraged to follow the standard control codes (DAFWA 2012).

Table 3.3 – Declared plant categories for Western Australia

Class Conditions

P1 Prohibits movement of plants or their seeds within the State. This prohibits the movement of contaminated machinery and produce including livestock and fodder.

P2 Eradicate infestation to destroy and prevent propagation each year until no plants remain. The infested area must be managed in such a way that prevents the spread of seed or plant parts on or in livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and/or machinery.

P3 Control infestation in such a way that prevents the spread of seed or plant parts within and from the property on or in livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and/or machinery. Treat to destroy and prevent seed set all plants.

P4 Prevent the spread of infestation from the property on or in livestock, fodder, grain, vehicles and/or machinery. Treat to destroy and prevent seed set on all plants.

P5 Infestations on public lands must be controlled.

Environmental Weeds

A third and much more extensive categorisation of weeds has been developed by the DEC, formerly the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) in an Environmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia (CALM 1999). Weed species considered to adversely affect the communities

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they invade are evaluated based on the degree of invasiveness, distribution and environmental impacts.

Weeds listed as Environmental Weeds are ranked into four categories using the above criteria and the scoring system:

High; a species which scores as yes to all three of the above criteria. A rating of high indicates a species that should be prioritised for control and/or research;

Moderate; a species which scores yes for two of the above criteria. A rating of moderate indicates a species which should be monitored. Control or research should be directed to it if funds are available;

Mild; a species which scores yes to one of the criteria. A mild rating indicates monitoring or control if appropriate; and

Low; a species which does not score yes for any of the criteria. A low rating indicates a low requirement for monitoring.

The assessment has recently been expanded to include a number of other criteria, although no revision of the Environmental Rating has been published.

3.6 TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE

Voucher specimens for quadrats and opportunistic collections assigned a unique code for later identification. Identification of specimens was completed by Dr Andrew Craigie and Dr Udani Sirisena with reference to specimens lodged at the Western Australian Herbarium. Nomenclature and taxonomy follow the conventions currently adopted by the Western Australian Herbarium online database, Florabase (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012). Specimens of priority species will be lodged at the Western Australian Herbarium.

3.7 SURVEY ADEQUACY AND ANALYSIS

3.7.1 Species Richness

Species richness is a fundamental measurement of community and regional diversity (Gotelli et al. 2001). It is the simplest representation of species diversity (Fowler et al. 1990) and is the basic indicator of diversity used for this survey.

3.7.2 Randomised Species Accumulation Curves

Species accumulation curves (SAC) provide a theoretical basis for understanding the relationship between sampling effort and the accumulation of species, and therefore provide a means of estimating the survey adequacy. As sampling effort increases with a corresponding increase in survey area and time, the rate at which new species are recorded attenuates and the curve becomes asymptotic. At this point, where there is minimal increase in species inventory with continued sampling effort, the sampling effort is deemed sufficient.

There are three general methods of estimating species richness from sample data: extrapolating species‐accumulation curves (SAC), fitting parametric models of relative abundance, and using non‐parametric estimators (Bunge et al. 1993; Colwell et al. 1994; Gaston 1996). In this report, the level of survey adequacy was estimated using SACs as computed by Mao Tao. To eliminate features

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caused by random or periodic temporal variation, the sample order was randomised 1000 times. The estimator applied to the data set was performed using EstimateS (version 8, Colwell 2009).

3.7.3 Vegetation Units

Vegetation quadrats were sorted into groups of similar structure and composition. These groups form the basis of the descriptions for the Vegetation Units.

3.8 SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

The survey limitations and constraints were analysed following the field trips. The surveys were reviewed for the following aspects:

Sources of information and availability of contextual information;

The scope;

Proportion of flora collected and identified;

Completeness and further work which might be needed;

Mapping reliability;

Timing/ weather season cycle;

Disturbance;

Intensity;

Resources;

Access problems; and

Experience levels.

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4 RESULTS VEGETATION

4.1 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

No Threatened Ecological Communities as listed under the EPBC Act or the WC Act are recorded from within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

4.2 PRIORITY ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

No Priority Ecological Communities as listed by the Western Australian DEC are recorded from within 50 km of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

4.3 VEGETATION CONDITION OF THE PROJECT AREA

The assessments of vegetation condition within the survey area ranged from excellent to very poor. However, almost 80% of quadrats assessed were rated as being in either very good or excellent condition (Table 4.1). Figure 4.1 shows the assigned vegetation condition of the survey area.

Table 4.1 – Vegetation condition assessment

Vegetation Condition Number of Quadrats (%)

Excellent 12 (41.4%)

Very good 11 (37.9%)

Good 2 (6.9%)

Poor 3 (10.3%)

Very poor 1 (3.4%)

4.4 FIRE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT AREA

The majority of the area had either no fire history or had not been burnt in the last five years (Table 2.1). Figure 4.2 shows the locations of quadrats and their estimated time since fire.

Table 4.2 – Time since fire

Time Since Fire Number of Quadrats (%)

< 1 year 0 (0%)

1‐2 years 1 (3.4%)

2‐5 years 10 (34.5%)

> 5 years 11 (37.9%)

No Evidence 7 (24.1%)

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750000 80000076

5000

077

0000

077

5000

078

0000

0



Drawn: MMDate: 17/01/2012Vegetation

ConditionCanning Basin

A4

K0 7 14


LegendVegCond

ExcellentVery GoodGoodPoorVery PoorCanning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Survey Area


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750000 80000076

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Drawn: MMDate: 17/01/2012Time Since Fire

Canning Basin A4

K0 6 12Kilometres


LegendTime Since Fire

") 1-2 years") 2-5 years") > 5 years") No Evidence") Not Assessed



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4.5 VEGETATION UNITS OF THE STUDY AREA

Twenty‐four vegetation units were identified within the Study Area (Table 4.3). The most species rich units are ChTe and ChAaTe with mean species richness per quadrat of 25.3 (± 9.8) and (23.3 ± 3.2) respectively. The least species rich vegetation community is Ep with a mean species richness of 6.5 (± 3.5) species per quadrat. Species richness ranged from 34 (Quadrat 44,ChAaTp) to 3 (Quadrat 63, AiTe).

In addition to the 24 vegetation units, three mosaic communities were also mapped with a total area of 4480 ha (7.2% of the Study Area): AcTe/Ep (311 ha, 0.5%), AiTe/AsTb (837 ha, 1.3%) and ChAaTp/ChTe (3332 ha, 5.3%). These areas represent mixtures of the two vegetation units which are either present in patches too small to be mapped at 1:75,000, or which could not be differentiated from the aerial photography.

The Vegetation Unit CzAtTe (Corymbia zygophylla open woodland over Acacia tumida var. tumida and Acacia ancistrocarpa shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland) covers approximately 41% (26,035 ha) of the entire Study Area (Table 4.3) and is the most widespread vegetation community in the Canning Basin Borefield area and along the north‐eastern section of the Pipeline (see Figures 4.3 to 4.9). The Vegetation Unit AaTe1 (Acacia adsurgens, Acacia ancistrocarpa and Otion simplicifolium shrubland over Aristida holathera var. holathera tussock grasses and Triodia epactia hummock grasses) covers approximately 21% (13,280 ha) of the study area but is confined to the eastern side of the Canning Basin Borefield area.

The vegetation units with the smallest areas are AtTp (Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland) with 83 ha (0.1%) and Ep (Eragrostis parviflora and Panicum decompositum tussock grassland) with 111 ha (0.2%). However Unit Ep is also a component of the AcTe/Ep which covers and additional 0.5%.

Vegetation Unit AgTp (Acacia glaucocaesia open tall shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland), which supports the Priority 3 shrub Acacia glaucocaesia as a dominant within its overstorey, covers 865 ha (1.4% of the Study Area).

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Table 4.3 – Vegetation Units recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

Vegetation code

Vegetation description (NVIS Level III and Level V) Associated species Quadrats Photograph

AaTb

Acacia shrubland

Acacia ancistrocarpa and Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubland over Triodia basedowii hummock grassland

Area: 1029 ha (1.6%)

Mean species richness (n=6): 17.3 (±3.2)

Fire Age (1 quadrat): > 5 years

Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Very Good

Acacia acradenia Acacia tumida Bonamia linearis Bonamia erecta Corchorus parviflorus Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Goodenia microptera Goodenia scaevolina Indigofera monophylla Mollgo molluginea Polycarpea holtzei Ptilotus astrolasius Ptilotus axillaris Ptilotus calostachyus Sporobolus australasicus Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen 11601)

3 5 6 11 25 37

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Vegetation code


AaTe1

Acacia shrubland

Acacia adsurgens, Acacia ancistrocarpa and Otion simplicifolium shrubland over Aristida holathera var. holathera tussock grasses and Triodia epactia hummock grasses

Area: 13,280 ha (21.2%)


Fire Age: N/A

Condition Ranking: N/A

Acacia monticola Bonamia linearis Bulbostylia barbata Calytrix carinata Cassytha filiformis Dodonaea coriacea Eragrostis eriopoda Eriachne lanata Gardenia pyriformis Grevillea eriostachya Keraudrenia velutina Newcastelia cladotricha Ptilotus polystachyus Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Yakirra australiensis

123 124

AaTe2

Acacia open shrubland

Acacia ancistrocarpa tall shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 2495 ha (4.0%)


Fire Age (4 quadrats): 2‐5 years or > 5 years

Condition Ranking (4 quadrat): Excellent‐ Very Good

Acacia colei Acacia inaequilatera Acacia monticola Aristida holathera var. holathera Bonamia linearis Corchorus parviflorus Eriachne ciliata Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Goodenia microptera Hakea lorea subsp. lorea Indigofera monophylla Ipomea muelleri pluchea tetranthera Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen

11601)

14 45 57 60 66 91 113 116A 122 126

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Vegetation code


AcTe

Acacia shrubland

Acacia colei tall shrubland over Cenchrus ciliaris tussock grasses and Triodia epactia hummock grasses

Area: 921 ha (1.6%)


Fire Age (1 quadrat): 2‐5 years

Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Poor

Acacia inaequilatera Bonamia linearis Calotropis procera Carissa lanceolata Cenchrus ciliaris Pluchea tetranthera Senna notabilis Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Sporobolus australasicus

77 79 86 94

AiTw

Triodia hummock grassland

Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

Area: 458 ha (0.7%)



Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Excellent

Aristida contorta Corchorus parviflorus Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Euphorbia boophthona Indigofera monophylla Ptilotus calostachyus Triodia pungens

8 36 137

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Vegetation code


AgTp


Acacia glaucocaesia open tall shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland

Area: 865 ha (1.4%)


Fire Age (3 quadrats): 2‐5 years or >5 years

Condition Ranking (3 quadrats): Very Good ‐ Poor

Cenchrus ciliaris Dichanthium sericeum subsp. humilis Eriachne benthamii Pluchea tetranthera Pterocaulon serrulatum Salsola tragus subsp. tragus Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla Sida trichopoda Sporobolus australasicus Triodia wiseana

9 12 13 27 33

AhTe


Acacia hilliana low open shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 405 ha (0.7%)


Fire Age: N/A


Acacia adoxa var. adoxa Acacia monticola Acacia tumida var. tumida Dodonaea coriacea Eriachne lanata Fimbristylis simulans Goodenia scaevolina Grevillea wickhamii Halgania solanacea Mollgo molluginea Phyllanthus exilis Polygala isingii Ptilotus astrolasius Ptilotus calostachyus Sida arenicola

103 106 109 114 125

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Vegetation code


AiTe


Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 882 ha (1.4%)


Fire Age: N/A


Acacai acradenia Acacia colei Acacia melleodora Bonamia linearis Bonamia media var. villosa Corchorus elachocarpus Corchorus tridens Goodenia scaevolina Goodenia stobbsiana Grevillea pyramidalis Grevillea wickhamii Hakea lorea subsp. lorea Indigofera monophylla Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Sida trichopoda Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen 11601)

63 74 95 98

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Vegetation code


AsTb


Acacia stellaticeps open low shrubland over Triodia basedowii hummock grassland

Area: 160 ha (0.3%)


Fire Age: N/A


Acacia ancistrocarpa Acacia maitlandii Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis Aristida holathera var. holathera Atalaya hemiglauca Bonamia rosea Bulbostylis barbata Corchorus parviflorus Corymbia hamersleyana Dysphania rhadinostachya Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Goodenia stobbsiana Grevillea wickhamii Pluchea tetranthera Polycarpea corymbosa Sporobolus australasicus Triodia longiceps

41 99 136

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Vegetation code


AtCc

Acacia shrubland

Acacia trachycarpa shrubland over Cenchrus ciliaris tussock grassland

Area: 817 ha (1.3%)


Fire Age: N/A


Acacia colei Aerva javanica Melaleuca leucadendra Sida rohlenae subsp. rohlenae Triodia longiceps

34 93 97

AtTp

Acacia shrubland

Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland

Area: 83 ha (0.1%)


Fire Age (1 quadrat): >5 years


Acacia ancistrocarpa Bonamia rosea Corchorus parviflorus Eriachne obtusa Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Grevillea wickhamii Indigofera monophylla Mollgo molluginea Polycarpea corymbosa Triodia basedowii Yakirra australiensis

17 24 38

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Vegetation code


BcTe


Bauhinia cunninghamii open woodland over Pluchea tetranthera shrubs over Cenchrus ciliaris tussock grasses and Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 266 ha (0.4%)


Fire Age: N/A


Achyranthes aspera Atalaya hemiglauca Bonamia linearis Bulbostylis barbata Carissa lanceolata Corchorus walcottii Crotalaria ramosissima Eragrostis eriopoda Eriachne aristidea Euphorbia australis Evolvulus alsinoides var. decumbens Hakea lorea subsp. lorea Polycarpaea corymbosa Senna notabilis Tephrosia supina Vachellia farnesiana

75 80

ChAaTe

Acacia shrubland

Corymbia hamersleyana open woodland over Acacia ancistrocarpa and Acacia tumida var. tumida shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 422 ha (0.7%)


Fire Age (2 quadrats): 2‐5 years

Condition Ranking (2 quadrats): Excellent

Acacia colei Acacia coriacea subsp. sericophylla Acacia monticola Acacia hilliana Eriachen ciliata Eriachne lanata Ptilotus calostachyus Sida arenicola Trachymene oleracea subsp. oleracea

116 118 132

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Vegetation code


ChAaTp

Acacia shrubland

Corymbia hamersleyana open woodland over Acacia ancistrocarpa shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland

Area: 3081 ha (4.9%)


Fire Age (2 quadrats): 2‐5 years and >5 years

Condition Ranking (2 quadrats): Very good

Acacia inaequilatera Cencrus ciliaris Chrysopogon fallax Corchoru parviflorus Eragrostis eriopoda Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Indigofera monophylla Senna notabilis Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Sporobolus australasicus Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen 11601) Tephrosea supina Triodia wiseana Yakirra australiensis

1 16 19 20 30 32 44 135

ChTe


Corymbia hamersleyana open woodland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 1317 ha (2.1%)


Fire Age (1 quadrat): No evidence

Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Excellent

Acacia stellaticep Bonamia lineariss Bulbostylis barbata Indigofera monophylla Pluchea tetranthera Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543) Solanum diversiflorum Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen 11601) Triodia schinzii Yakirra australiensis

54 61 90 104

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Vegetation code


CzAtTe

Acacia shrubland

Corymbia zygophylla open woodland over Acacia tumida var. tumida and Acacia ancistrocarpa shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 26,035 ha (41.7%)


Fire Age (3 quadrats): >5 years and No evidence


Acacia coriacea subsp. sericophylla Acacia stellaticeps Aristida holathera var. holathera Bonamia linearis Bulbostylis barbata Codonocarpus cotinifolius Eragrostis eriopoda Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Erythrophleum chlorostachys Halgania solanacea Polycarpea corymbosa Ptilotus calostachyus Sida arenicola Setaria surgens Yakirra australiensis

102 105 108 110 112 117 127 128 131

CzTe


Corymbia zygophylla open woodland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 320 ha (0.5%)



Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Good

Acacia anaticeps Aristida holathera var. holathera Chrysopogon fallax Eulalia aurea Ipomea muelleri Pluchea tetranthera Triodia schinzii

46 56 67 115 121

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Vegetation code


EcMgCd

Eucalyptus open woodland

Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland over Melaleuca glomerata, Atalaya hemiglauca and Melaleuca leucadendra sparse tall shrubland over Cyperus vaginatus sedges and Cynodon dactylon grasses

Area: 652 ha (1.0%)


Fire Age (1 quadrat): No Evidence

Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Poor

Acacia pyrifolia Acacia trachycarpa Chrysopogon fallax Cyperus vaginatus Eragrostis cumingii Eragrostis tenellula Petalostylis labicheoides Sesbania formosa Stemodia grossa

40 83 89 138

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Vegetation code


Ep

Eragrostis tussock grassland

Eragrostis parviflora and Panicum decompositum tussock grassland

Area: 110 ha (0.2%)



Condition Ranking (2 quadrats): Very Good

Brachyachne convergens Bulbostylis barbata Eragrostis elongata Eriachne glauca Evolvulus alsinoides Ptilotus murrayi Sida trichopoda Yakirra australiensis

69 78

EvCc

Cenchrus open tussock grassland

Eucalyptus victrix open woodland over Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

Area: 185 ha (0.3%)



Condition Ranking (1 quadrat): Very Poor

Acacia inaequilatera Atalaya hemiglauca Carissa lanceolata Chrysopogon fallax Ficus aculeata Goodenia lamprosperma Pluchea tetranthera

7 48 82 84

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Vegetation code


PtTe


Pluchea tetranthera sparse low shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 2744 ha (4.4%)




Acacia inaequilatera Cenchrus ciliaris Corchorus elachocarpus Eragrostis dielsii Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Grevillea wickhamii Mollgo molluginea Pluchea rubelliflora Polycarpea corymbosa Ptilotus murrayi Sida trichopoda Sporobolus australasicus

52 59 65 68 70 76 85 88 96

Tl


Triodia longiceps and Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 280 ha (0.5%)


Fire Age: N/A


Bulbostylis barbata Eragrostis cumingii Evolvulus alsinoides var. villosicalyx Pluchea rubelliflora Pterocaulon sphacelatum Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla Sida trichopoda Sporobolus australasicus Trianthema triquetra

87 92

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Vegetation code


Tp


Triodia pungens hummock grassland

Area: 707 ha (1.1%)




Acacia ancistrocarpa Bonamia media Bulbostylis barbata Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii Euphorbia australis Indigofera monophylla Mollgo molluginea Polycarpea corymbosa Pterocaulon serrulatum Solanum lasiophyllum Sporobolus australasicus

2 22 23 43 64

VfTe


*Vachellia farnesiana open shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Area: 511 ha (0.8%)


Fire Age (1 quadrat): No evidence


Acacia colei Acacia inaequilatera Bulbostylis barbata Eragrostis cumingii Neptunia dimorphantha Pluchea ferdinandi‐muelleri Pluchea tetranthera Pterocaulon sphacelatum Sida trichopoda Sporobolus australasicus

71 72 73 133

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

4.8

4.7

4.5

4.4

4.6

4.9

700000 750000 800000 85000077

0000

077

5000

078

0000

078

5000

0

K0 10 20


LegendFigure

Vegetation UnitAaTb Acacia ancistrocarpa and Acacia inaequilatera

tall shrubland over Triodia basedowii hummock grassland

AaTe1Acacia adsurgens, Acacia ancistrocarpa andOtion simplicifolium shrubland over Aristida holatheravar. holathera tussock grasses and Triodia epactiahummock grasses

AaTe2 Acacia ancistrocarpa tall shrubland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

AcTeAcacia colei tall shrubland overCenchrus ciliaris tussock grasses andTriodia epactia hummock grasses

AcTe/AiTw Mosaic

AiTw Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs overTriodia wiseana hummock grassland

AgTp Acacia glaucocaesia open tall shrublandover Triodia pungens hummock grassland

AhTe Acacia hilliana low open shrubland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

AiTe Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

AiTe/AsTb Mosaic

AsTb Acacia stellaticeps open low shrublandover Triodia basedowii hummock grassland

AtCc Acacia trachycarpa shrubland overCenchrus ciliaris tussock grassland

AtTp Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis shrublandover Triodia pungens hummock grassland

BcTeBauhinia cunninghamii open woodland overPluchea tetranthera shrubs overCenchrus ciliaris tussock grasses andTriodia epactia hummock grassland

ChAaTeCorymbia hamerslyana open woodland overAcacia ancistrocrpa and Acacia tumida var.tumidashrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

ChAaTpCorymbia hamerslyana open woodland overAcacia ancistrocrpa shrubland overTriodia pungens hummock grassland

ChAaTp/ChTe Mosaic

ChTe Corymbia hamerslyana open woodland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

CzAtTeCorymbia zygophylla open woodland overAcacia tumida var. tumida andAcacia ancistrocarpa shrubland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

CzTe Corymbia zygophylla open woodland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland

EcMgCdEucalyptus camaldulensis open woodlandover Melaleuca glomerata, Atalaya hemiglaucaand Melaleuca leucadendra sparse tall shrublandover Cyperus vaginatus sedges andCynodon dactylon grasses

Ep Eragrostis parviflora and Panicum decompositum tussock grassland

EvCc Eucalyptus victrix open woodland overCenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

PtTe Pluchea tetranthera sparse low shrublandover Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Tl Triodia longiceps and Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Tp Triodia pungens hummock grasssland

VfTe Vachellia farnesiana open shrubland overTriodia epactia hummock grassland



Drawn: CPDate: 12/03/2012Canning Basin

Vegetation UnitsA3

Unique Map ID: CP072

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

ChAaTp

AgTp

Tp

ChAaTp

AaTb

AiTw

TpTp

AaTb

AiTw

AgTp

AaTb

AiTw

AgTp

AtTp

AgTp

ChAaTp

ChAaTp

AaTe2

EvCc

AtTp

EcMgCd

AgTp

AiTw

AgTp

AtCc

Tp

AgTp

720000 725000 730000 73500076

7000

076

7500

076

8000

076

8500

076

9000

076

9500

0

K0 0.8 1.6Kilometres


LegendVegetation Unit

AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe


Figure: 4.4Project ID: 1392 Drawn: CP

Date: 12/03/2012Canning BasinVegetation Units

A3


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

Tp

ChAaTp

AaTe2

AaTb

EcMgCd

PtTe

AsTb

AaTe2

PtTe

AiTw

EcMgCd

AgTp

EvCc

AiTw

AiTw

AtCc

AiTw

740000 745000 750000 75500076

8500

076

9000

076

9500

077

0000

077

0500

077

1000

0

K0 1 2



AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe




Vegetation UnitsA3


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

PtTe

ChTe

VfTe

PtTe

PtTe

AiTe

PtTe

PtTe

Ep

AcTe

AcTe/Ep

PtTe

PtTe

AiTe

ChTe

Tl

BcTe

PtTe

CzTe

AiTe

AaTe2

BcTe

PtTe

EvCc

AaTe2

AtCc

PtTe

AaTe2

Tp

EcMgCd

EcMgCd

EvCc

PtTe

EvCc

EvCc

755000 760000 765000 770000 77500077

1500

077

2000

077

2500

077

3000

077

3500

0

K0 1 2



AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe




Vegetation UnitsA3


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

AcTe

AaTe2

CzAtTe

Tl AtCc

AiTe/AsTb

AtCc

PtTe

AiTe

AiTe

ChTe

PtTe

Tl

EcMgCd

775000 780000 785000 79000077

3500

077

4000

077

4500

077

5000

077

5500

0

K0 1 2



AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe




Vegetation UnitsA3


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

CzAtTe

AhTe

ChTe

AhTe

AhTe

795000 800000 805000 81000077

4500

077

5000

077

5500

077

6000

077

6500

077

7000

0

K0 1 2



AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe




Vegetation UnitsA3


660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

CzAtTe

AaTe1

AaTe2

AhTe

AaTe2

AaTe2

AaTe2

AaTe2

AaTe2 ChAaTe

ChAaTe

CzTeCzTe

CzTe

AhTe

AaTe2

CzTe

CzTe

AhTe

ChAaTe

AaTe2

AhTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

AaTe2

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTe

810000 815000 820000 825000 830000 83500077

6000

077

6500

077

7000

077

7500

0


AaTb

AaTe1

AaTe2

AcTe

AcTe/AiTw

AiTw

AgTp

AhTe

AiTe

AiTe/AsTb

AsTb

AtCc

AtTp

BcTe

ChAaTe

ChAaTp

ChAaTp/ChTe

ChTe

CzAtTe

CzTe

EcMgCd

Ep

EvCc

PtTe

Tl

Tp

VfTe

Canning BasinVegetation Units Coordinate System

Name: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50Projection: Transverse MercatorDatum: GDA 1994 A3


Drawn: CPDate: 12/03/2012

K0 1 2



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5 RESULTS FLORA

A total of 282 flora, including subspecies, varieties and hybrids, were identified within the Study Area. A species inventory is detailed in Appendix C. Site descriptions, including location, photograph, and species composition are provided for all quadrats surveyed in Appendix D.

The composition of the flora is summarised in Table 5.1 and Table 5.2.

Table 5.1 – Taxonomic composition of the flora of the Canning Basin borefiled and pipeline

Quadrats Taxa Families Genera Families represented by a single taxon

Genera represented by a

single taxon

109 282 44 129 15 80

The families and genera represented by the greatest number of taxa and the most frequently recorded species in the Study Area are listed in Table 5.2.

Table 5.2 – Most frequently recorded taxa

Most Common Families Most Common Genera Most Frequently Recorded Species

Fabaceae (60 taxa)

Poaceae (52 taxa)

Malvaceae (29 taxa)

Amaranthaceae (18 taxa)

Acacia (29 taxa)

Eragrostis (12 taxa)

Eriachne (11 taxa)

Triodia (10)

Ptilotus (10 taxa)

Sida (9 taxa)

Goodenia (9 taxa)

Triodia epactia (67)

Acacia ancistrocarpa (48)

Bulbostylis barbata (46)

Pluchea tetranthera (38)

Sporobolus australasicus (37)

Acacia inaequilatera (36)

Indigofera monophylla (32)

5.1 SAMPLING ADEQUACY

Using species accumulation curve (SAC) analysis (Colwell 2009) and extrapolation of the curve to the asymptote using Michaelis‐Menten modelling (Figure 5.1), the incidence‐based coverage estimator of species richness (ICE Mean, Chao 2 Mean) was estimated for the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline. The estimated number of species for ICE Mean was 361 and Chao 2 was 362. The total number of taxa collected during the current survey including opportunistic collection was 282, where all potential duplicates not fully identified to subspecies level (and therefore possibly repeats of other taxa) are excluded. Hence it is estimated that approximately 78% of the taxa present in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline were recorded.

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60

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Number of Sites

Number of Species

Figure 5.1 – Average randomised species accumulation curve (SAC) Sobs (Mao Tau)

5.2 FLORA OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE

5.2.1 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (Commonwealth of Australia)

At a Federal level, flora is protected under the EPBC Act 1999. This lists species that are considered Critically Endangered, Endangered, Conservation Dependant, Vulnerable, Extinct, or Extinct in the Wild (Appendix A).

There are two EPBC Act listed taxa known to occur within the Pilbara, Lepidium catapycnon and Thryptomene wittweri (both Vulnerable). Neither species was recorded within the North Star Study Area.

5.2.2 Wildlife Conservation Act, 1950 (Western Australia)

Taxa which have been adequately searched for and are deemed to be in the wild either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection, are gazetted as such (Schedule 1 under the WC Act 1950). Threatened Flora taxa (Schedule 1, December 2010) are further ranked by the Department according to their level of threat using IUCN Red List criteria:

CR: Critically Endangered – considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EN: Endangered – considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild

VU: Vulnerable – considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

These taxa are legally protected and their removal or impact to their surroundings cannot be conducted without Ministerial approval, obtained specifically on each occasion for each population (refer to Appendix A for category definitions).

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There are two State Listed Threatened taxa known to occur within the Pilbara, Lepidium catapycnon and Thryptomene wittweri (both Vulnerable). Neither species was recorded within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

5.2.3 Priority Flora

The DEC maintains a list of Priority Flora taxa, which are considered poorly known, uncommon or under threat but for which there is insufficient justification, based on known distribution and population sizes, for inclusion on the Threatened Flora schedule. A Priority Flora taxon is assigned to one of four priority categories as defined in Appendix A.

Currently, 145 Priority Flora taxa are listed as occurring in the Pilbara region (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012).

Four Priority Flora taxa were recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline during the current survey (Table 5.3). The four Priority species were Acacia glaucocaesia (P3), Goodenia nuda (P4), Heliotropium muticum (P1) and Keraudrenia katatona (P3) and 124, 1, 16 and 1111 individuals recorded respectively. The distribution of records within Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline is illustrated in Figure 5.2 and coordinates of records and Rare Flora Report Forms are provided in Appendices E and F respectively.

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Table 5.3 – Priority Flora recorded within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Conservation Status

Taxon Family

No. of records from study area


Distribution Flowers Photograph (ecologia 2011)

P1

Heliotropium muticum

An open, spreading shrub with white flowers and very short but stiff, spiny hairs, grows to 0.3 m tall.

Boraginaceae 12 Abundant bedrock outcrop, brown sandy loam and red

silty sand

Karratha, Port Headland

‐

P3

Acacia glaucocaesia

Acacia glaucocaesia is a dense, glabrous shrub or tree that ranges from 1.8 to 6 m high with yellow

flowers.

Fabaceae 20 Hard red‐brown clay on flat

plain and stony brown loam

Karratha, Port Headland, Roebourne

Jul to Sep

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Conservation Status

Taxon Family

No. of records from study area


Distribution Flowers Photograph (ecologia 2011)

P3

Keraudrenia katatona

Keraudrenia katatona is an erect, compact

multistemmed shrub to 1m tall with grey leaves and a

purple flower.

Malvaceae 6 Red sand amongst desert dunes in pindan, ranges or

disturbed areas

Broome, Edgar Range, Wallal

Downs, Canning Stock Route

March to

August

P4

Goodenia nuda

Goodenia nuda is an erect spreading herb that has yellow flowers with a

maroon centre.

Goodeniaceae 1 Dry brown‐red sand – loam occasionally in areas of

recent burns

Port Headland, Newman, Onslow

Apr to Aug

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

!(

!(

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5000

077

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077

5000

078

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0



Drawn: MMDate: 17/01/2012Priority Flora


K0 6 12Kilometres


LegendPriority Flora

!( Heliotropium muticum P1!( Acacia glaucocaesia P3!( Keraudrenia katatona P3!( Goodenia nuda P4

Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline Survey Area


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5.2.4 Range Extensions

Two species recorded from the current survey represent possible extensions to their known distribution (Table 5.4), as determined by collection records lodged at the Western Australian Herbarium (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012). The records for Sclerolaena densiflora represent a range extension of over 170 km. The records for Sclerolaena densiflora and Goodenia scaevolina represent the first collection of these species in the Great Sandy Desert IBRA bioregion. There is a paucity of collections of non‐priority flora in this region and these range extensions may reflect a lack of lodgements for that area within the WAHERB.

Table 5.4 – Potential range extensions from the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline flora survey

Species Magnitude and

direction of range or bioregion extension

Bioregions in which species is known to

occur Map

Sclerolaena densiflora

Most northerly known record

Approximately 170km from nearest known herbarium record

First known record in GSD bioregion

PIL

CAR COO CR GAS GD GVD LSD MUR YAL. AW

GS

Goodenia scaevolina

First known record in GSD bioregion

Approximately 60 km from nearest known herbarium record

PIL

GVD LSD TAN

CK DL OVP VB

Bioregion acronyms: AW, Avon Wheatbelt; CAR, Carnarvon; CK, Central Kimberley; COO, Coolgardie; CR, Central Ranges; DL, Dampierland; GAS, Gascoyne; GD, Gibson Desert; GS, Geraldton Sandplains; GSD, Great Sandy Desert; GVD, Great Victoria Desert; LSD, Little Sandy Desert; MUR, Murchison; OVP, Ord‐Victoria Plains; PIL, Pilbara; TAN, Tanami; VB, Victoria Bonaparte; and YAL, Yalgoo.

*Green circles indicate locality of range/bioregion extension.

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5.3 INTRODUCED FLORA

5.3.1 Weeds of National Significance (WONS)

One population of *Parkinsonia aculeata was recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline. *P. aculeata was recorded in the middle section of the pipeline corridor.

5.3.2 Declared Plants

Two declared plants were recorded during this survey; *Parkinsonia aculeata (P1 for whole of Western Australia and P2 for East Pilbara Shire) and *Calotropis procera (P1 and P3 for East Pilbara Shire). Both species were recorded in the middle section of the pipeline corridor.

5.3.3 Environmental Weeds

Ten weeds were recorded within the project area; *Aerva javanica, *Argemone ochroleuca, *Calotropis procera, *Cenchrus ciliaris, *Chloris barbata, *Cynodon dactylon, *Parkinsonia aculeata, *Portulaca oleracea, *Solanum nigrum and *Vachellia farnesiana. *Parkinsonia aculeata is a P1 (prohibits movement) for the whole state of Western Australia and P2 (eradicate infestations) declared weed for the East Pilbara Shire, as well as a Weed of National Significance (WONS). *Calotropis procera is a P1 (prohibit movement) and P3 (control infestation) declared weed for the East Pilbara Shire.

The locations are listed in Appendix G and mapped in Figure 5.3. The characteristics and broad distribution of these species are summarised in Table 5.5 and Table 5.6 (Hussey et al. 2007, Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012, PIER 2011, PlantNET, 2011).

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Table 5.5 – Introduced flora attributes and locations

DEC Attributes within Pilbara

Taxon Environmental risk rating

Current distributio

n Abundance

Ecological impact

Invasiveness Feasibility of control

General trend

Status Quadrats recorded

*Aerva javanica High Moderate Abundant High Rapid High‐

Moderate Increasing Established 13, 34, 83, 86, 97

*Argemone ochroleuca

Mild High ‐ Low Rapid Low ‐ ‐ 86

*Calotropis procera

High ALERT ‐ Moderate Rapid High ‐ ‐ 72, 77, 88

*Cenchrus ciliaris

High High Abundant High Rapid Low Increasing Established

7, 11, 19, 27, 33, 34, 41, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 84, 85, 86, 93, 97, 121, 138

*Chloris barbata Low Moderate Common High Rapid Unknown Increasing Established 70

*Cynodon dactylon

Moderate High Abundant High Rapid Low Increasing Established 19, 40, 72, 82, 83, 89

*Parkinsonia aculeata

Moderate Moderate Common High Rapid Low Increasing Established 83

*Portulaca oleracea

Low ‐ ‐ Low ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 8

*Solanum nigrum

Moderate ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 83

*Vachellia farnesiana

High High Common High Rapid Low Stable Established 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77,

79, 84, 133

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Table 5.6 – Introduced flora recorded from Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Taxon Description

Photograph

*Aerva javanica

Kapok bush

Amaranthaceae

*Aerva javanica is an erect, much‐branched perennial herb that flowers from January to October, 0.4 to 1.6 m high. It is densely covered in short, branched hairs that give it a grey appearance.

*A. javanica occurs often on sandy soils and along drainage lines. It currently spreads from the Kimberley to Canarvon.

It is native to northern Africa and south east Asia, and was introduced to assist with the revegetation of degraded rangelands1.

ecologia (2011)

*Argemone ochroleuca

Mexican poppy

Papaveraceae

*Argemone ochroleuca is an erect, glaucous annual herb from 0.2 to 1 m high. The leaves are deeply divided, often blotched with white and very prickly. Flowers are white‐cream to pale yellow and open from February to March or from July to November.

This species occurs in sandy soils or red‐brown clay loam on creek edges, riverbanks and roadsides. It is distributed in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Carnarvon regions, as well as the South‐west.

Native to central America, *A. ochroleuca became a weed through garden escape.

(Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012)

*Calotropis procera

Catrop

Apocynaceae

*Calotropis procera is a shrub or small tree, growing up to 4 m tall. Its flowers are white or cream in the centre and purple on the tips of the petals.

It occurs often in sandy and clayey soils, and is distributed in areas of the Central and Northern Kimberley, Ord‐Victoria Plains and Victoria Bonaparte.

This species originates from tropical Africa and Asia and in Western Australia it has escaped from gardens and become a serious weed.

*C. procera is a Declared Plant (DP).


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Taxon Description

Photograph

*Cenchrus ciliaris

Buffel grass

Poaceae

*Cenchrus ciliaris is a tufted, often tussock‐forming perennial grass up to 1 m high. The inflorescence is cylindrical, with purple flowers produced from February to October.

This species is found on white, red or brown sand, stony red loam or black cracking clay in the Northern, Eremaean and South‐west regions of Western Australia.

Apart from being widely distributed in Western Australia, it is present in all States and territories of continental Australia.

Native to Africa and India.

ecologia (2011)

*Chloris barbata,

Purple top chloris

Poaceae

*Chloris barbata is an annual or short‐lived perennial up to 0.9 m tall. The flowers are purple and produced in February or from April to October. C. barbata has three awns per spikelet.

This species occurs in sand, loam or clay soil; in river levees, road verges and disturbed sites throughout the Kimberley and in some parts of the Pilbara.

Native to tropical Africa.


*Cynodon dactylon

Couch grass

Poaceae

*Cynodon dactylon is a rhizomatous or stoloniferous prostrate perennial, 5 to 30 cm high.

It invades wetlands and river edges and has been found in virtually all parts of Western Australia.

Native to the Kimberley and the tropics worldwide.


*Parkinsonia aculeata

Parkinsonia

Fabaceae

*Parkinsonia aculeata is a spiny shrub or tree that reaches 8 meters in height. It has pinnate leaves with up to 100 pairs of small leaflets and spikes of yellow flowers in the leaf axils.

This species occurs on sand or clay soils and is often found along watercourses. Its seed pods float and can be dispersed by rivers or floods.

Native to America, it was introduced to Western Australia for shade and ornamental purposes but has become a serious problem, particularly in the Kimberley and Pilbara.

*P. aculeata is a Weed of National Significance (WONS) and a Declared Plant


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Taxon Description

Photograph

(DP).

*Portulaca oleracea

Pig weed, purslane

Portulacaceae

*Portulaca oleracea is a succulent, prostrate to decumbent annual, herb up to 20 cm high. Under water stress the whole plant becomes reddish. It flowers between April and May and the petals are yellow.

This species occurs in clay loam and sands and is often observed in disturbed sites. It is a common and widespread weed of horticulture, paddocks and gardens.

It is distributed widely in Western Australia, in the Northern, Eremaean and South‐west.


*Solanum nigrum

Black nightshade

Solanaceae

*Solanum nigrum is an erect short‐lived perennial herb or shrub ranging from 0.3 to 1 m high. The white, star‐shaped flowers are produced throughout the year.

It is a weed of gardens, crops, pastures, wastelands, creeklines and disturbed areas throughout Western Australia, but especially in the South‐west.

Native to Europe. (Western Australian Herbarium 1998‐2012)

*Vachellia farnesiana

Mimosa bush

Fabaceae

*Vachellia farnesiana is an erect, spreading, thicket‐forming, thorny tree or shrub up to 4 m high. It has dark grey bark and pinnate green leaves. Its flowers are yellow and open from June to August.

This species occurs in various types of soil in disturbed sites in low‐lying areas, river or creek banks in the Kimberley and Eremaean regions of Western Australia and also North of Perth.

ecologia (2011)

660NS-0000-AS-EN-0001

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Drawn: MMDate: 17/01/2012Introduced Flora

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Name!( *Parkinsonia aculeata P1 P2 WONS!( *Calotropis procera P1 P3!( *Aerva javanica") *Argemone ochroleuca#* *Cenchrus ciliaris$+ *Chloris barbata%, *Cynodon dactylon!. *Portulaca oleracea"/ *Solanum nigrum#0 *Vachellia farnesiana


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5.4 SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

According to the EPA Guidance Statement for Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2004), vegetation and flora surveys may be constrained by several aspects, the relevance of which to the current survey is discussed in Table 5.7.

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Table 5.7 – Survey limitations and constraints

Aspect Constraint Comment

Sources of information and availability of contextual information (i.e. pre‐existing background versus new material)

Minor Information regarding vegetation at a regional scale is limited to the mapping of Beard (1975) at a scale of 1:000,000, and subsequently digitised and reinterpreted by Shepherd et al (2002). More recently the Inventory and Assessment of Vegetation Condition in the Pilbara (Van Vreeswyk et al. 2004) provide a good source of regional information on vegetation units and condition, at a scale of 1:250,000.

The scope (i.e. what life forms were sampled)

None All vascular plant taxa were sampled.

Proportion of flora collected and identified (based on sampling, timing and intensity)

Moderate

A total of 1953 specimens were collected during the survey of the Study Area from which 279 taxa were identified to species, subspecies or variety. A species accumulation curve analysis indicated 78% of the total vascular species likely to be present were recorded, which is reflective of the linear nature of the survey, which covers a large distance and many landsystems. The timing of survey was good which is demonstrated in the high number of Amaranthaceae taxa collects (18 species)

Completeness and further work which might be needed (e.g. was the relevant area fully surveyed)

None The Study Area was surveyed at a density of one quadrat per 5.7 km

2. Given the relatively homogenous vegetation over much of the area this density is considered adequate.

Mapping reliability None Colour aerial imagery was used to select sites and to map the vegetation of the project area.

Timing/weather/season/cycle Moderate Rainfall recorded at nearby weather stations (Pardoo Station, Wallareenya and Marble Bar) in the six months preceding survey (April to September 2011) was 35 ‐ 40 mm, less than 50% of the long‐term mean for the same six months (80 ‐ 90 mm). However, the preceding (2010‐11) wet season saw widespread rain across the region and extensive growth and widespread flowering was generally evident.

Disturbances (e.g. fire, flood, accidental human intervention)

None No disturbances were experienced.

Intensity (in retrospect, was the intensity adequate?)

None The survey intensity was evenly distributed across the area and is considered adequate.

Resources None Resources were adequate for the botanical survey; 20 person days were invested in the field survey, and a helicopter was made available for three days, which maximised the coverage in the time available.

Access problems Negligible There were no access constraints due to the use of a helicopter.

Experience levels (e.g. degree of expertise in plant identification to taxon level)

None

The project was overseen and reviewed by the Principal Botanist with 21 years of experience in environmental impact assessment. The four field staff members have between 1 and 12 years experience in conducting botanical surveys. Plant specimens were collected from each quadrat surveyed for verification. The two taxonomists responsible for identification have doctorates in the taxonomy are experienced in identifying the flora of the Pilbara. Cryptic specimens were verified using the resources of the Western Australian Herbarium.

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6 DISCUSSION

6.1 VEGETATION UNITS CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT

The significance of the vegetation of the Study Area has been assessed at four spatial scales; national, state, regional and local.

6.1.1 Vegetation of National Significance

National significance refers to those features of the environment which are recognised under legislation as being of importance to the Australian community. TECs listed under the EPBC Act are regarded as nationally significant. Currently, there are no nationally listed TECs listed under the EPBC Act that are known to occur within the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

6.1.2 Vegetation of State Significance

State significance refers to those features of the environment that are recognised under State legislation as being of importance to the Western Australian community, in particular, communities listed as TECs. Ecological communities with insufficient information available to be considered a TEC, or which are rare but not currently threatened, are placed on the Priority list and referred to as PECs. Currently there are no listed TECs or PECs known to occur in the proposed Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

6.1.3 Vegetation of Regional Significance

Regional significance addresses the representation of species and habitats at a biogeographic regional level. Species or habitat types that are endemic to the bioregion and with limited or unknown distributions are considered regionally significant.

Regional conservation significance of the Vegetation Units of the Study Area has been assessed based upon two sources of information; land systems (Van Vreeswyk et al. 2004) and the digitised dataset of native vegetation (Shepherd et al. 2002) which reinterpreted Beard’s (1975) vegetation mapping. These are the only broad‐scale mapping projects that have been conducted in the vicinity of the Study Area from which the regional extent of each vegetation unit mapped at this scale can be quantified.

Based on the regional distribution (as discussed in Sections 6.1.3.1 and 6.1.3.2 below), it is considered that the broad scale vegetation units recorded in the Study Area are likely to be widespread in neighbouring areas of the Pilbara, Great Sandy Desert and Dampierland bioregions and are therefore not of regional significance.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis and potentially E. victrix are phreatophytic species (i.e. groundwater dependent). The extraction of large quantities of groundwater can cause a lowering of the watertable in both the immediate and surrounding catchment areas. The lowering of the watertable (otherwise referred to as drawdown) may have a negative environmental impact on the surrounding vegetation, and hence on the overall health of local ecosystems. The vegetation unit Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland over Melaleuca glomerata, Atalaya hemiglauca and Melaleuca leucadendra sparse tall shrubland over Cyperus vaginatus sedges and Cynodon dactylon grasses (EcMgCd) and potentially Eucalyptus victrix open woodland over Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland (EvCc) are groundwater dependent ecosystems.

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6.1.3.1 Land System Analysis

The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline has been mapped (Van Vreeswyk et al. 2004) into nine land systems (Table 6.1).

The Nita land system covers over 64% of the study area, due to its dominance in the Borefield and eastern portion of the Pipeline. This represents over 3.5% of the entire extent of the Nita land system. Nita land system is characterised by sandplains supporting shrubby soft spinifex grasslands with occasional trees. All other land systems are well represented outside of the rail options with little more than 2% of the area within the Pipeline and Borefield.

Table 6.1 – Land Systems of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Land system

Total area in WA (km2)

Area in survey area (km2)

Percent of the survey area

Percent of total land system

Callawa 1,003 14.09 2.26% 1.06%

Horseflat 1,261 2.89 0.49% 0.23%

Macroy 13,095 44.82 7.17% 0.34%

Mallina 2,557 30.34 4.85% 1.19%

Nita 11,250 400.23 64.05% 3.56%

Paradise 1,479 31.16 4.99% 2.11%

River 4,088 12.61 2.02% 0.31%

Satirist 377 3.99 0.64% 1.06%

Uaroo 7,681 84.71 13.56% 1.10%

6.1.3.2 Analysis of Beard Vegetation Associations

The vegetation mapping of Beard and Hopkins throughout Western Australia was subsequently digitised and updated to reflect the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) standards (Shepherd et al. 2002). This data set allows the regional extent of units present within the Study Area to be quantified and hence the conservation significance of units within the Study Area to be assessed at a regional level. However the interpretation is limited by the following factors:

The coarse scale of the regional vegetation mapping precludes assessing the regional distribution of communities types identified in the Study Area during the current survey;

Many minor land units including drainage channels present in the Study Area are not mapped and cannot be correlated to the Beard mapping;

As the mapping on which the database is based was completed in 1975, many taxonomic revisions have occurred and some species cited by Beard cannot be universally equated to a current taxon;

The vegetation was mapped by Beard on the basis of the extent assumed to occur prior to European settlement. The areas of each unit do not always reflect current extent or condition, particularly those units which are restricted in occurrence or particularly suited to pastoral or mining use.

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The vegetation of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline has been mapped into six vegetation associations (Shepherd et al. 2002). The most abundant within the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline are Associations 101 (Acacia pachycarpa shrub steppe over soft spinifex hummock grasslands) and 93 (shrub steppe of kanji, Acacia inaequilatera, over soft spinifex hummock grasslands), which occupy over 62% and 25% of the area respectively. The Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline covers over 3% of the mapped extent of Association 101, mostly in the Borefield itself. The proposed development covers less than 1% of the other vegetation associations present.

Table 6.2 – Beard (1975) Vegetation Associations of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Beard Vegetation Association

Total Area (km2) Area in survey area

(km2) Percent of the survey area

Percent of total Vegetation Association

32 2454 24.41 3.91% 0.99%

93 30462 160.02 25.61% 0.53%

101 12250 390.46 62.48% 3.19%

175 5264 13.44 2.15% 0.26%

589 8096 32.00 5.12% 0.40%

619 1192 4.57 0.73% 0.38%

6.1.4 Vegetation of Local Significance

Vegetation of local significance is confined to a specialised habitat type that is not common locally and whose disturbance or removal may lead to local extinction of that community type or of a particular taxon of conservation significance.

The areas of community types mapped within the Study Area and consider of local significance are summarised in Table 6.3.

Table 6.3 – Representation of Vegetation Communites in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Vegetation community Landform Vegetation condition

Area within survey area

(ha)

Percent of Survey Area

Ep Eragrostis parviflora and Panicum decompositum tussock grassland Plains Good 111 0.20%

AgTp Acacia glaucocaesia open tall shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland

Undulating plain

Very good 865 1.40%

Unit Ep is considered to be of local significance because it is the only community dominated by tussock grasses that was encountered in this survey and this vegetation unit is locally rare. It appears to be restricted to the Horseflat land system and bears some resemblance to the description of PEC community Horseflat Land System of the Roebourne Plains (Priority 3 iii). However, it is distinguished by the absence of Eragrostis xerophila.

Unit AgTp is considered to be of local significance because it is dominated by the Priority 3 species Acacia glaucophylla. This species is generally associated with floodplains of the northern Pilbara such as those on which AgTp was present.

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The Vegetation Unit with the smallest representation in the Study Area, AtTp (Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis shrubland over Triodia pungens hummock grassland), is not considered to be of local significance because similar vegetation communities are widespread in the Pilbara, including in the adjacent North Star Flora and Vegetation Assessment (Vegetation Unit At: Acacia tumida, Grevillea wickhamii and Indigofera monophylla shrubland) to the immediate south of the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline (ecologia 2012).

6.2 FLORA CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT

The conservation significance of the flora of the Study Area has been assessed at four spatial scales; national, state, regional and local.

6.2.1 Flora of National and State Conservation Significance

National significance refers to those features of the environment which are recognised under legislation as being of importance to the Australian community. In particular species listed under the EPBC Act are regarded as nationally significant.

State significance refers to those features of the environment that are recognised under State legislation as being of importance to the Western Australian community, in particular, species listed as DRF under the WC Act are of state significance.

No species of flora of national or state significance were recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline.

6.2.2 Flora of Regional and Local Conservation Significance

Regional significance addresses the representation of habitats at a biogeographic regional level. Priority Flora taxa that are endemic to a bioregion and whose distributions are limited or unknown are considered regionally significant.

Flora are of local significance when their presence is confined to a specialised habitat type that is not common in the local area and whose disturbance or removal may lead to local extinction.

Four species of regional and local significance were recorded in the project area; Heliotropium muticum, Acacia glaucocaesia, Keraudrenia katatona and Goodenia nuda (Table 6.4). None of these species have been recorded within the conservation estate to date.

Table 6.4 – Regional distribution of Priority Flora recorded in Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline

Species Conservation

Status

Number of records within project area

Number of Individuals recorded within project area

Number of other records

(WA Herb)

Number of known

individuals (WA Herb)

Bioregions in which recorded

Records within conservation

estate

Heliotropium muticum

P1 12 16 7 8 PIL 0

Acacia glaucocaesia

P3 20 124

9 32

DL GSD PIL 0

Keraudrenia katatona

P3 6 1111 19 220 DL GSD 0

Goodenia nuda P4 1 1 11 61 PIL LSD 0

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IBRA Bioregions: DL = Dampierland, GSD = Great Sandy Desert, PIL = Pilbara

Heliotropium muticum has also been recently recorded in the adjacent North Star Study Area (ecologia 2011). This species appears restricted to the north‐west of the Pilbara; the nearest previously known locations were approximately 40 km north and west of the locations in this survey. This species may be overlooked in surveys conducted during less favourable seasons as it becomes very fragile when desiccated, hence its distribution may be more widespread than current records suggest.

Acacia glaucocaesia was also recently recorded in the neighbouring North Star project and (ecologia 2011). This species is restricted to the northern Pilbara and western Dampierland. The current records are approximately 10 km north and west of the nearest previously known location.

Keraudrenia katatona is restricted to the Great Sandy Desert and Dampierland Bioregions, mostly south and east of Broome, but was also known to occur approximately 15 km north of the records from this survey.

Goodenia nuda is widespread in the Pilbara and has also been collected recently in the neighbouring North Star Study Area (ecologia 2011). This record is approximately 60 km east of the nearest previously known location.

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7 CONCLUSIONS

VEGETATION

Of the 24 Vegetation Units described for the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline, two are considered to be of local significance.

Vegetation Unit Ep is considered to be of local significance because it is the only unit dominated by tussock grasses that was encountered in this survey. It appears to be restricted to the Horseflat land system.

The Vegetation Unit AgTp is considered to be of local significance because it is dominated by the Priority 3 species Acacia glaucophylla. This species is generally associated with floodplains of the northern Pilbara.

The vegetation unit Eucalyptus camaldulensis open woodland over Melaleuca glomerata, Atalaya hemiglauca and Melaleuca leucadendra sparse tall shrubland over Cyperus vaginatus sedges and Cynodon dactylon grasses (EcMgCd ) has been identified to be a groundwater dependent ecosystem. Potentially Eucalyptus victrix open woodland over Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland (EvCc) is also a groundwater dependent ecosystem. Whether E. victrix is an obligate ground water dependent species is currently unknown, but as it only grow along creek lines in the Pilbara it is likely that at some stage in its life cycle it requires on subterranean water.

FLORA

A total of 282 taxa were recorded in the Canning Basin Borefield and Pipeline, which represent taxa from 44 families and 129 genera. Species accumulation curve analysis indicated that 78% of the flora taxa estimated to be present in the Study Area were recorded.

Four Priority species were recorded; Heliotropium muticum (P1) was recorded 12 times (16 individuals) from the southern extent of the pipeline, Acacia glaucocaesia (P3) was recorded 20 times (124 individuals) along the pipeline, Keraudrenia katatona (P3) was recorded at six locations (1111 individuals) in the borefield and Goodenia nuda (P4) was recorded once (I individual) on the East Strelley River.

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8 SURVEY TEAM

The vegetation and flora assessment was conducted under the flora licenses provided in Table 8.1.

Table 8.1 – Flora licenses

Licences ‐ “Licence to Take Flora for Scientific Purposes”

The vegetation and flora assessment described in this report was conducted under the authorisation of the following licences issued by the DEC:

Permit Number Valid Until

Andrew Craigie SL009012 30th April, 2012

Matthew Macdonald SL008967 30th April, 2012

Marc Morris SL009455 30th April 2012

Christopher Parker SL009765 5th December 2011

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9 REFERENCES

Atkins, K. J. 2008. Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for Western Australia. Department of Environment and Conservation.

Beard, J. S. 1975. The vegetation of the Pilbara region. Explanatory notes to map sheet 5 of vegetation survey of Western Australia: Pilbara. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.

BOM. 2012. Bureau of Meteorology. Commonwealth of Australia Available at http://www.bom.gov.au.

Bunge, J. and Fitzpatrick, M. 1993. Estimating the number of species: A review. Journal of the American Statistical Association. 88:364‐373.

CALM. 1999. Environmental weed strategy for Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Government of Western Australia.

Colwell, R. K. 2009. EstimateS: Statistical estimation of species richness and shared species from samples. Version 8.

Colwell, R. K. and Coddington, J. A. 1994. Estimating terrestrial biodiversity through extrapolation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Series B). 345:101‐118.

DAFWA. 2012. Declared Plants Database. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australian Government, http://agspsrv95.agric.wa.gov.au/dps/version02/01_plantsearch.asp.

Department of Environmental Protection. 2000. Bush Forever Volume 2: Directory of Bush Forever Sites. Western Australia, Department of Environment Protection, Perth.

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 2010. Maps: Australia's bioregions (IBRA)

ecologia Environment. 2011. Fortescue Metal Group Ltd: North Star vegetation and flora assessment.

ecologia Environment. 2012. North Star flora and vegetation assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Fortescue Metals Group Limited.

Environmental Protection Authority, Government of Western Australia. 2002a. Position Statement No. 3 Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an element of Biodiversity Protection.

Environmental Protection Authority. 2002b. Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection. Position Statement No. 3.

Environmental Protection Authority, Government of Western Australia. 2004. Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Factors No. 51: Terrestrial flora and vegetation surveys for environmental impact assessment in Western Australia.

ESCAVI. 2003. Australian Vegetation Attribute Manual: National Vegetation Information System (NVIS), Version 6.0. . (Executive Steering Committee for Australian Vegetation Information) Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.

Fowler, J. and Cohen, L. 1990. Practical Statistics for Field Biology, Wiley, Chichester, UK.

Gaston, K. J. 1996. Species richness: measure and measurement. In: Biodiversity, a biology of number and difference. Blackwell Science, Cambridge.

Gotelli, N. J. and Colwell, R. K. 2001. Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurement and comparison of species richness. Ecology Letters. 4:379‐391.

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Graham, G. 2002a. Dampierland 2 (DL2 – Pindanland subregion). A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002. Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Graham, G. 2002b. Great Sandy Desert 1 (GSD1 ‐ McLarty subregion). A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002. Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Hussey, B. M. J., Keighery, G. J., Cousens, R. D., Dodd, J., and Lloyd, S. G. 1997. Western Weeds. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia and Agriculture Western Australia, Kensington, W.A.

Kendrick, P. and McKenzie, N. 2001a. Pilbara 1 (PIL1 ‐ Chichester subregion). A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia's 53 Biogeographic Subregions. DEC.

Kendrick, P. and Stanley, F. 2001b. Pilbara 4 (PIL4 ‐ Roeburne subregion). A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia's 53 Biogeographic Subregions. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth.

Peirce, J. R. 2009. Declared plant control handbook‐ recommendations for the control of declared plants in Western Australia. Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.

PIER. 2011. Pacific Island Ecosystems at risk. Institute of pacific Island Forestry. Accessed October 3rd 2011. www.hear.org/pier.

Pilbara Development Commission. 2009. www.pdc.wa.gov.au Government of Western Australia.

PlantNET. 2011. New South Wales Flora Online. Accessed December 2011. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/search/simple.htm.

Shepherd, D. P., Beeston, G. R., and Hopkins, A. J. M. 2002. Native Vegetation in Western Australia. Technical Report 249. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, South Perth.

Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I. D. 1995. An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.

Tille, P. 2006. Soil‐landscapes of Western Australia’s Rangelands and Arid Interior. Department of Agriculture and Food.

1988. A Report on the Flora and Vegetation of the Port Kennedy Area. Unpublished report prepared for Bowman Bishaw and Associates.

Van Vreeswyk, A. M. E., Payne, A. L., Leighton, K. A., and Hennig, P. 2004. An inventory and condition survey of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin. 92.

Western Australian Herbarium. 1998‐2012. FloraBase ‐ The Western Australian Flora. Accessed December 2011. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/.

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APPENDIX A EXPLANATION OF CONSERVATION CODES

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Appendix A‐1: Definitions of categories under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Conservation Code Definition

Extinct (EX) A species is extinct if there is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died.

Extinct in the wild (EW)

A species is categorised as extinct in the wild if it is only known to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population well outside its past range; or if it has not been recorded in its known/expected habitat, at appropriate seasons, anywhere in its past range, despite exhaustive surveys over a time frame appropriate to its life cycle and form.

Critically Endangered (CE) The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.

Endangered (EN)

The species is likely to become extinct unless the circumstances and factors threatening its abundance, survival or evolutionary development cease to operate; or its numbers have been reduced to such a critical level, or its habitats have been so drastically reduced, that it is in immediate danger of extinction.

Vulnerable (VU)

Within the next 25 years, the species is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances and factors threatening its abundance, survival or evolutionary development cease to operate. It is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium‐term future.

Conservation Dependent (CD) The species is the focus of a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the species becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered within a period of five years.

Appendix A‐2: Definition of Schedules under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.

Schedule Definition

Schedule 1 (T)

Threatened Fauna (Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct)

Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora ‐ Extant )

Taxa that have been adequately searched for and are deemed to be in the wild either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection, and have been gazetted as such.

Schedule 2 (X)

Presumed Extinct Fauna

Presumed Extinct Flora (Declared Rare Flora – Extinct)

Taxa which have been adequately searched for and there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died, and have been gazetted as such.

Schedule 3 (IA)

Birds protected under an international agreement

Birds that are subject to an agreement between governments of Australia and Japan relating to the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction.

Schedule 4 (S)

Other specially protected fauna

Fauna that is in need of special protection, otherwise than for the reasons mentioned in the above schedules.

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Appendix A‐3: Definition of DEC Threatened and Priority Codes.

Threatened Definition

Critically Endangered (CR) Considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered (EN) Considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable (VU) Considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Priority Definition

Priority 1 (P1)

Taxa with few, poorly known populations on threatened lands.

Taxa which are known from few specimens or sight records from one or a few localities, on lands not managed for conservation, e.g. agricultural or pastoral lands, urban areas, active mineral leases. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna.

Priority 2 (P2)

Taxa with few, poorly known populations on conservation lands.

Taxa which are known from few specimens or sight records from one or a few localities, on lands not under immediate threat of habitat destruction or degradation, e.g. national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves, State forest, vacant crown land, water reserves, etc. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna.

Priority 3 (P3)

Taxa with several, poorly known populations, some on conservation lands.

Taxa which are known from few specimens or sight records from several localities, some of which are on lands not under immediate threat of habitat destruction or degradation. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna.

Priority 4 (P4)

Taxa in need of monitoring.

Taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and which are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could if present circumstances change. These taxa are usually represented on conservation lands.

Priority 5 (P5)

Taxa in need of monitoring.

Taxa which are not considered threatened but are subject to a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the species becoming threatened within five years.

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Appendix A‐4: Definition of Codes for Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs).


PD: Presumed Totally Destroyed

An ecological community that has been adequately searched for but for which no representative occurrences have been located. The community has been found to be totally destroyed or so extensively modified throughout its range that no occurrence of it is likely to recover its species composition and/or structure in the foreseeable future. An ecological community will be listed as presumed totally destroyed if there are no recent records of the community being extant.

CR: Critically Endangered

An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and found to have been subject to a major contraction in area and/or that was originally of limited distribution and is facing severe modification or destruction throughout its range in the immediate future, or is already severely degraded throughout its range but capable of being substantially restored or rehabilitated. An ecological community will be listed as Critically Endangered when it has been adequately surveyed and is found to be facing an extremely high risk of total destruction in the immediate future.

EN: Endangered

An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and found to have been subject to a major contraction in area and/or was originally of limited distribution and is in danger of significant modification throughout its range or severe modification or destruction over most of its range in the near future. An ecological community will be listed as Endangered when it has been adequately surveyed and is not Critically Endangered but is facing a very high risk of total destruction in the near future.

VU: Vulnerable

An ecological community that has been adequately surveyed and is found to be declining and/or has declined in distribution and/or condition and whose ultimate security has not yet been assured and/or a community that is still widespread but is believed likely to move into a category of higher threat in the near future if threatening processes continue or begin operating throughout its range. An ecological community will be listed as Vulnerable when it has been adequately surveyed and is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of total destruction or significant modification in the medium to long‐term future.

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Appendix A‐5: Definition of Codes for Priority Ecological Communities (PECs).


P1: Priority One

Ecological communities with apparently few, small occurrences, all or most not actively managed for conservation (e.g. within agricultural or Pastoral lands, urban areas, active mineral leases) and for which current threats exist. Communities may be included if they are comparatively well‐known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements, and/or are not well defined, and appear to be under immediate threat from known threatening processes across their range.

P2: Priority Two

Communities that are known from few small occurrences, all or most of which are actively managed for conservation (e.g. within national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves, State forest, unallocated Crown land, water reserves, etc.) and not under imminent threat of destruction or degradation. Communities may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements, and/or are not well defined, and appear to be under threat from known threatening processes.

P3: Priority Three

(i) Communities that are known from several to many occurrences, a significant number or area of which are not under threat of habitat destruction or degradation or:

(ii) Communities known from a few widespread occurrences, which are either large or within significant remaining areas of habitat in which other occurrences may occur, much of it not under imminent threat, or;

(iii) Communities made up of large, and/or widespread occurrences that may or not be represented in the reserve system, but are under threat of modification across much of their range from processes such as grazing by domestic and/or feral stock, and inappropriate fire regimes.

Communities may be included if they are comparatively well known from several localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and/or are not well defined, and known threatening processes exist that could affect them.

P4: Priority Four

Ecological communities that are adequately known, Rare but not threatened or meet criteria for Near Threatened, or that have been recently removed from the threatened list. These communities require regular monitoring.

(a) Rare. Ecological communities known from few occurrences that are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and that are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These communities are usually represented on conservation lands.

(b) Near Threatened. Ecological communities that are considered to have been adequately surveyed and that do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but that are close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

(c) Ecological communities that have been removed from the list of threatened communities during the past five years.

P5: Priority Five Ecological communities that are not threatened but are subject to a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the community becoming threatened within five years.

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APPENDIX B QUADRAT LOCATIONS

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Quadrat Zone Easting Northing Date Botanist

1 50 718752 7669215 15/10/2011 Matthew Macdonald

2 50 720103 7669789 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

3 50 721019 7669669 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

5 50 722554 7670545 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

6 50 722192 7671592 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

7 50 721881 7672233 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

8 50 723199 7672222 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


11 50 722764 7674491 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

12 50 723856 7674828 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

13 50 724575 7674969 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


16 50 724818 7676514 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

17 50 724874 7676988 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

19 50 727386 7677619 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


22 50 727787 7680014 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

23 50 728730 7680392 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

24 50 729348 7681469 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


27 50 730763 7683066 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

30 50 734517 7684078 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

32 50 736542 7685674 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


34 50 737556 7687569 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

36 50 740591 7688424 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

37 50 741157 7688440 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


40 50 742664 7690083 15/10/2011 Chris Parker

41 50 742664 7691080 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

43 50 744078 7692498 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie



46 50 746966 7695342 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

48 50 748493 7696675 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

52 50 752155 7701141 14/10/2011 Chris Parker

54 50 753429 7704418 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


57 50 755476 7706076 14/10/2011 Chris Parker

59 50 755674 7707207 14/10/2011 Marc Morris


61 50 755295 7709935 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

63 50 757561 7712810 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

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64 50 758259 7714092 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


66 50 759328 7715809 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

67 50 759320 7716637 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

68 50 758874 7717583 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


70 50 760423 7719133 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

71 50 760720 7719860 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

72 50 761145 7720101 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


74 50 761775 7722437 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

75 50 762915 7722322 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

76 50 762707 7723809 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


78 50 764227 7726067 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

79 50 764729 7726147 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

80 50 764309 7727485 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


83 50 769150 7731203 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

84 50 769282 7732419 14/10/2011 Marc Morris

85 50 770135 7732531 14/10/2011 Chris Parker


87 50 772546 7732817 13/10/2011 Chris Parker

88 50 772946 7733771 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

89 50 774038 7733531 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

90 50 774575 7734515 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


92 50 779176 7737118 13/10/2011 Chris Parker

93 50 780805 7737460 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

94 50 782916 7737189 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

95 50 769282 7732419 13/10/2011 Chris Parker


97 50 786684 7741406 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

98 50 787784 7742950 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

99 50 789823 7744769 13/10/2011 Chris Parker


103 50 800168 7757398 10/12/2011 Andrew Craigie and Marc

Morris


105 50 802909 7762102 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

106 50 804394 7761915 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

108 50 808709 7765876 10/12/2011 MJM/CWP

109 50 810826 7766795 13/10/2011 Chris Parker


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112 51 191039 7771897 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


114 51 193752 7767946 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

115 51 192231 7763946 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

116 51 196550 7766564 16/10/2011 Chris Parker

116A 51 194888 7766260 13/10/2011 Chris Parker

117 51 196673 7769975 16/10/2011 Chris Parker

118 51 196170 7774881 16/10/2011 MJM/CWP


Morris


Morris

123 51 208485 7770751 16/10/2011 Andrew Craigie


125 51 201211 7766590 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

126 51 209283 7763932 16/10/2011 Marc Morris


128 51 191988 7761825 13/10/2011 Marc Morris

131 51 201101 7763267 13/10/2011 Chris Parker


133 50 764334 7725877 14/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

135 50 721019 7669996 15/10/2011 Marc Morris

136 50 722670 7670493 15/10/2011 Chris Parker



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APPENDIX C LIST OF TAXA RECORDED

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Family Taxon Priority Introduced

Trianthema pilosa

Trianthema sp. Aizoaceae

Trianthema triquetra

Achyranthes aspera

Aerva javanica Yes

Alternanthera denticulata

Alternanthera nana

Amaranthus undulatus

Gomphrena canescens

Gomphrena cunninghamii

Gomphrena leptoclada

Ptilotus arthrolasius

Ptilotus astrolasius

Ptilotus axillaris

Ptilotus calostachyus

Ptilotus clementii

Ptilotus exaltatus

Ptilotus fusiformis

Ptilotus murrayi

Ptilotus obovatus

Amaranthaceae

Ptilotus polystachyus

Calotropis procera Yes Apocynaceae

Carissa lanceolata

Araliaceae Trachymene oleracea subsp. oleracea

Blumea tenella

Centipeda minima subsp. macrocephala

Pluchea ferdinandi‐muelleri

Pluchea rubelliflora

Pluchea tetranthera

Pterocaulon serrulatum

Pterocaulon sphacelatum

Pterocaulon sphaeranthoides

Streptoglossa bubakii

Streptoglossa decurrens

Streptoglossa liatroides

Asteraceae

Streptoglossa odora

Ehretia saligna var. saligna

Halgania solanacea

Heliotropium ammophilum

Heliotropium cunninghamii

Heliotropium curassavicum

Heliotropium muticum P1

Heliotropium pachyphyllum

Boraginaceae

Heliotropium skeleton

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Heliotropium sp.

Trichodesma zeylanicum

Brassicaceae Lepidium pholidogynum

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia tumidifructa

Polycarpaea corymbosa

Polycarpaea holtzei Caryophyllaceae

Polycarpaea longiflora

Dysphania rhadinostachya

Dysphania rhadinostachya subsp. rhadinostachya

Salsola australis

Salsola tragus subsp. tragus

Chenopodiaceae

Sclerolaena densiflora

Cleome uncifera Cleomaceae

Cleome viscosa

Bonamia alatisemina

Bonamia erecta

Bonamia linearis

Bonamia media

Bonamia media var. villosa

Bonamia pannosa

Bonamia rosea

Evolvulus alsinoides

Evolvulus alsinoides var. decumbens

Evolvulus alsinoides var. villosicalyx

Ipomoea coptica

Ipomoea muelleri

Convolvulaceae

Polymeria ambigua

Cucurbitaceae Cucumis maderaspatanus

Bulbostylis barbata

Cyperus blakeanus

Cyperus cunninghamii subsp. cunninghamii

Cyperus sp.

Cyperus vaginatus

Fimbristylis microcarya

Fimbristylis simulans

Cyperaceae

Fimbristylis sp.

Bergia ammannioides Elatinaceae

Bergia pedicellaris

Euphorbia alsiniflora

Euphorbia australis

Euphorbia biconvexa

Euphorbia boophthona

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia sp.

Acacia ?dictyophleba Fabaceae

Acacia acradenia

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Acacia adoxa var. adoxa

Acacia adsurgens

Acacia ampliceps

Acacia anaticeps

Acacia ancistrocarpa

Acacia ancistrocarpa x trachycarpa

Acacia bivenosa

Acacia colei

Acacia colei var. colei

Acacia coriacea subsp. sericophylla

Acacia dictyophleba

Acacia elachantha

Acacia glaucocaesia P3

Acacia hilliana

Acacia inaequilatera

Acacia maitlandii

Acacia melleodora

Acacia monticola

Acacia pyrifolia

Acacia pyrifolia

Acacia sp.

Acacia stellaticeps

Acacia synchronicia

Acacia trachycarpa

Acacia tumida

Acacia tumida var. pilbarensis

Acacia tumida var. tumida

Alysicarpus muelleri

Bauhinia cunninghamii

Cajanus cinereus

Cajanus marmoratus

Crotalaria cunninghamii

Crotalaria ramosissima

Cullen leucanthum

Cullen martinii

Erythrophleum chlorostachys

Indigofera monophylla

Indigofera rugosa

Isotropis atropurpurea

Isotropis forrestii

Jacksonia aculeata

Leptosema anomalum

Neptunia dimorphantha

Otion simplicifolium

Parkinsonia aculeata Yes

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Petalostylis labicheoides

Rhynchosia minima

Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla

Senna glutinosa subsp. chatelainiana

Senna glutinosa subsp. glutinosa

Senna notabilis

Senna symonii

Sesbania cannabina

Sesbania formosa

Swainsona formosa

Tephrosia leptoclada

Tephrosia rosea var. clementii

Tephrosia rosea var. rosea

Tephrosia sp. B Kimberley Flora (C.A. Gardner 7300)

Tephrosia sp. Bungaroo Creek (M.E. Trudgen 11601)

Tephrosia supina

Vachellia farnesiana Yes

Vigna lanceolata

Dampiera candicans

Goodenia armitiana

Goodenia azurea

Goodenia iyouta

Goodenia lamprosperma

Goodenia microptera

Goodenia muelleriana

Goodenia nuda P4

Goodenia scaevolina

Goodenia stobbsiana

Scaevola amblyanthera

Scaevola amblyanthera var. centralis

Goodeniaceae

Velleia panduriformis

Codonocarpus cotinifolius Gyrostemonaceae

Gyrostemon tepperi

Basilicum polystachyon

Clerodendrum tomentosum Lamiaceae

Newcastelia cladotricha

Cassytha capillaris Lauraceae

Cassytha filiformis

Abutilon dioicum

Abutilon malvifolium

Abutilon otocarpum

Corchorus elachocarpus

Corchorus parviflorus

Corchorus sidoides

Malvaceae

Corchorus sp.

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Corchorus tridens

Corchorus walcottii

Gossypium australe

Hibiscus austrinus

Hibiscus coatesii

Hibiscus sp.

Hibiscus sturtii

Hibiscus sturtii var. campylochlamys

Keraudrenia katatona P3

Keraudrenia nephrosperma

Keraudrenia velutina

Rulingia loxophylla

Sida arenicola

Sida arsiniata

Sida echinocarpa

Sida rohlenae subsp. rohlenae

Sida sp.

Sida sp. B Kimberley Flora (A.A. Mitchell 2745)

Sida sp. dark green fruit (S. van Leeuwen 2260)

Sida sp. Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 1543)

Sida trichopoda

Triumfetta chaetocarpa

Triumfetta clementii

Triumfetta maconochieana

Triumfetta propinqua

Triumfetta sp.

Waltheria virgata

Marsilea exarata Marsileaceae

Marsilea sp.

Menispermaceae Tinospora smilacina

Molluginaceae Mollugo molluginea

Moraceae Ficus aculeata

Calytrix carinata

Corymbia ? hamersleyana

Corymbia flavescens

Corymbia hamersleyana

Corymbia opaca

Corymbia zygophylla

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Eucalyptus victrix

Melaleuca glomerata

Myrtaceae

Melaleuca leucadendra

Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia coccinea

Papaveraceae Argemone ochroleuca Yes

Phyllanthaceae Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides

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Phyllanthus exilis

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis

Stemodia grossa Plantaginaceae

Stemodia viscosa

Aristida contorta

Aristida holathera

Aristida holathera var. holathera

Aristida inaequiglumis

Aristida latifolia

Aristida sp.

Bothriochloa ewartiana

Brachyachne convergens

Cenchrus ciliaris Yes

Chloris barbata Yes

Chloris sp.

Chrysopogon fallax

Cymbopogon ambiguus

Cymbopogon obtectus

Cynodon dactylon Yes

Dactyloctenium radulans

Dichanthium sericeum subsp. humilius

Enneapogon lindleyanus

Eragrostis ?eriopoda

Eragrostis cumingii

Eragrostis desertorum

Eragrostis dielsii

Eragrostis elongata

Eragrostis eriopoda

Eragrostis falcata

Eragrostis parviflora

Eragrostis sp.

Eragrostis speciosa

Eragrostis tenellula

Eragrostis xerophila

Eriachne aristidea

Eriachne benthamii

Eriachne ciliata

Eriachne glauca

Eriachne helmsii

Eriachne lanata

Eriachne mucronata

Eriachne obtusa

Eriachne pulchella

Eriachne pulchella subsp. dominii

Poaceae

Eriachne sp.

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Eulalia aurea

Iseilema eremaeum

Iseilema membranaceum

Panicum decompositum

Paspalidium clementii

Paspalidium sp.

POACEAE sp. 1

Setaria surgens

Sporobolus australasicus

Themeda triandra

Triodia ? epactia

Triodia ? schinzii

Triodia basedowii

Triodia epactia

Triodia lanigera

Triodia longiceps

Triodia pungens

Triodia schinzii

Triodia sp.

Triodia wiseana

Yakirra australiensis

Yakirra australiensis var. australiensis

Polygalaceae Polygala isingii

Calandrinia pumila Portulacaceae

Portulaca oleracea Yes

Grevillea eriostachya

Grevillea pyramidalis

Grevillea refracta subsp. refracta

Grevillea wickhamii

Proteaceae

Hakea lorea subsp. lorea

Gardenia pyriformis

Oldenlandia crouchiana

Oldenlandia galioides Rubiaceae

Synaptantha tillaeacea var. tillaeacea

Santalaceae Santalum lanceolatum

Atalaya hemiglauca Sapindaceae

Dodonaea coriacea

Solanum diversiflorum

Solanum horridum

Solanum lasiophyllum

Solanum nigrum Yes

Solanum phlomoides

Solanaceae

Solanum sp.

Stylidiaceae Stylidium adenophorum

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea ammocharis

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Violaceae Hybanthus aurantiacus

Tribulopis angustifolia Zygophyllaceae

Tribulus hirsutus

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APPENDIX D SITE DESCRIPTIONS

(Refer to disc)

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APPENDIX E COORDINATES OF PRIORITY FLORA

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Taxon Conservatio

n Code

Number of

plants

Zone

Easting Northin

g Date Collector

Acacia glaucocaesia P3 2 50 720140 7669712 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie









Acacia glaucocaesia P3 3 50 723470 7672954 15/10/2011 Matthew Macdonald

Acacia glaucocaesia P3 4 50 723856 7674827 15/10/2011 Marc Morris



Acacia glaucocaesia P3 3 50 730763 7683063 15/10/2011 Chris Parker






Goodenia nuda P4 1 50 737805 7686046 15/10/2011 Matthew Macdonald

Heliotropium muticum P1 1 50 723175 7672221 15/10/2011 Andrew Craigie












Keraudrenia katatona P3 1 51 191039 7771897 13/10/2011 Andrew Craigie

Keraudrenia katatona P3 1000 51 203330 7770418 13/10/2011 Matthew Macdonald





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APPENDIX F THREATENED AND PRIORITY FLORA REPORT FORMS

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APPENDIX G LOCATION OF INTRODUCED SPECIES

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Taxon Cover % Zone Easting Northing Date Collector

Aerva javanica 5 50 724574 7674968 15‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Aerva javanica 5 50 737556 7687569 15‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker


Aerva javanica 5 50 771317 7732386 13‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald


Argemone ochroleuca 10 50 769149 7731203 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Calotropis procera 10p* 50 761108 7720064 14‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Calotropis procera 5 50 761145 7720101 14‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Calotropis procera 1 50 763299 7724956 14‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald

Calotropis procera 1 50 772946 7733771 13‐Oct‐11 Marc Morris

Cenchrus ciliaris 1 51 209078 7776455 16‐Oct‐11 AC/MM

Cenchrus ciliaris 30 50 721881 7672233 15‐Oct‐11 Marc Morris

Cenchrus ciliaris 5 50 722764 7674491 15‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Cenchrus ciliaris 5 50 727385 7677619 15‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie



Cenchrus ciliaris 5 50 737649 7686051 15‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald



















Chloris barbata 1 50 760422 7719133 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Cynodon dactylon 1 50 727385 7677619 15‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Cynodon dactylon 30 50 742664 7690083 15‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Cynodon dactylon 1 50 761145 7720101 14‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Cynodon dactylon 5 50 767374 7730054 14‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald



Parkinsonia aculeata 5 50 769149 7731203 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Portulaca oleracea 5 50 723198 7672222 15‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

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Taxon Cover % Zone Easting Northing Date Collector

Solanum nigrum 5 50 769149 7731203 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Vachellia farnesiana 1 50 760720 7719860 14‐Oct‐11 Marc Morris

Vachellia farnesiana 10 50 761145 7720101 14‐Oct‐11 Chris Parker

Vachellia farnesiana 5 50 761774 7722436 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie

Vachellia farnesiana 5 50 761908 7721271 14‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald


Vachellia farnesiana 10 50 763299 7724956 14‐Oct‐11 Matthew Macdonald

Vachellia farnesiana 10 50 764333 7725876 14‐Oct‐11 Andrew Craigie



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20120523 fmg canning basin flora and vegetation level 1...

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