Fluvial Geomorphology of the tributaries of Corner Inlet Ramsar site

Corner Inlet, in West Gippsland, includes an internationally listed Ramsar site, contains more than 390 species of indigenous flora and 160 species of fauna and is an important port for fishing and tourism in Victoria. These values are under threat. In 2005 CSIRO identified the accelerated inflow of sediment and nutrients as the major threat to the biodiversity and ecology of Corner Inlet. Alluvium was engaged by the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to investigate the fluvial geomorphology of the Corner Inlet catchment and identify high risk sites for accelerated movement of sediment to Corner Inlet.

Alluvium found that sediment delivery to Corner Inlet has historically been dominated by channel incision of the major tributaries from the estuaries to the headwater streams, exacerbated by land clearing, drainage works and mining. Management recommendations to reduce sediment volumes reaching Corner Inlet include improved land management practices in the upper tributary catchments, controls on channel incision and re-connecting lowland floodplains.