Wetland mapping
Having information about wetlands improves our ability to make informed decisions about the management and conservation of wetlands.
The department coordinates mapping of Western Australia’s wetlands.
As a minimum, mapping identifies the presence of wetlands, but it can also identify the wetland boundary, classification, and values, and assign the wetland to a management category on the basis of its values.
Wetland mapping at an appropriate scale and level of detail is necessary for wetland management and decision making.
Some areas of the state have been mapped at a fine scale, while comprehensive wetland mapping has not been conducted in other areas.
Many different styles of wetland maps exist, developed at different scales, using different techniques for different purposes.
Digital mapping
The department produces and maintains the following digital datasets that contain spatial data and associated attribution.
Wetland mapping can be viewed via Landgate’s public map viewer Locate. Wetland mapping datasets can be downloaded free via the WA government data portal.
Augusta to Walpole
The Geomorphic Wetlands Augusta to Walpole dataset displays the location, boundary and wetland type of wetlands from Augusta to Walpole.
The dataset was originally digitised from the 1997 report, Mapping and classification of wetlands from Augusta to Walpole in the South West of Western Australia (V & C Semeniuk Research Group) available from the Conservation Library.
Wetland mapping can be viewed via Landgate’s public map viewer Locate. Wetland mapping datasets can be downloaded free via the WA government data portal.
Cervantes Eneabba
The Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes Eneabba Stage 1 dataset displays the location, boundary and wetland type of wetlands covering over 360,000 hectares. The area encompasses Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Greenhead, Eneabba and Badgingarra town sites.
Some of the area covered in this dataset, of which the department is the custodian, has been mapped at a finer scale and with more attribution (information) in two more recent datasets:
- Geomorphic wetlands Cervantes South Stage 2 dataset
- Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes Coolimba Coastal Stage 2 dataset.
As a Stage 1 project, the dataset has a number of limitations:
- scale of 1:50,000
- basin, flat and slope wetlands mapped
- channel type wetlands (rivers and creeks) and artificial wetlands not mapped
- no data is available on how many wetlands may have been missed (inclusiveness)
- significant ground truthing for the accuracy of wetland identification, delineation (positional accuracy) and classification (attribute accuracy) has not been conducted
- does not assess the values of wetlands in the project area.
Methodology and results
The Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes Eneabba Stage 1 dataset and associated metadata statement have been endorsed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the Wetland Status Working Group and the Wetlands Coordinating Committee.
Cervantes South
The Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes South Stage 2 dataset displays detailed wetland mapping for a project area of about 1000,000 hectares near Cervantes and Cataby in the Shire of Dandaragan, on the northern Swan Coastal Plain.
The dataset shows the location, boundary and wetland type of 770 wetlands, covering about 20 per cent of total project area.
Methodology and results
The methods and resulting dataset, Wetland mapping and classification Cervantes South and Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes South Stage 2 dataset, have been endorsed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the Wetland Status Working Group and the Wetlands Coordinating Committee.
Darkan-Duranillin
The Geomorphic Wetlands Darkan-Duranillin Stage 2 dataset displays the location, boundary and wetland type for wetlands within an area of about 150,000 hectares near Duranillin in the Shire of West Arthur, in the Wheatbelt region.
The dataset identifies 895 wetlands, covering about 19 per cent of the 150,000 hectare project area.
South coast
The South Coast Significant Wetlands dataset displays the location and boundary of known regionally and internationally significant wetlands across an area of the south coast region.
The dataset can be viewed via Landgate’s public map viewer Locate. The dataset can be downloaded free via the WA government data portal.
The dataset has been derived from data sources (available from the Conservation Library) including:
- A preliminary evaluation of wetlands in the Esperance water resource region (Ecologia 2000)
- Preliminary delineation of consanguineous wetland suites in the Pallinup - North Stirling region, South Western Australia (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 1999)
- Preliminary delineation of consanguineous wetland suites between Walpole and Fitzgerald Inlet, Southern Western Australia (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 1998) reports.
South west wetlands
The department has managed a number of South West Catchment Council funded wetland mapping projects in the South West of Western Australia.
These projects have substantially increased the area for which wetlands have been mapped, classified and evaluated. This information is essential for effective planning and for the management and monitoring of wetlands in these priority areas. Wetland mapping projects include areas near Margaret River, Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge, Donnybrook–Nannup and Manjimup–Northcliffe. Once this information is finalised and endorsed it will be made publicly available
Swan Coastal Plain
Over a quarter of the land between Wedge Island and Dunsborough is wetland. Intact wetlands are exceptionally important ecosystems across this area, supporting an array of unique and important species of plants, animals, algae, fungi and bacteria.
By area, 20 per cent of wetlands across the Swan Coastal Plain retain high ecological values, making them the highest priority for conservation (conservation management category). About 72 per cent of wetlands have been degraded to the extent that they are not a priority for conservation (multiple use management category).
The Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset displays the location, boundary, wetland typeand management category of wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain.
- Wetlands are mapped at a scale of 1:25,000.
- Parks and Wildlife is the custodian of this dataset
What do the wetland management categories mean?
The wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain have been evaluated, and assigned a management category. Wetland management categories provide guidance on how they should be managed and protected.
| Management category | General description | Management objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation | Wetlands which support a high level of attributes and functions | Highest priority wetlands. Objective is to preserve and protect the existing conservation values of the wetlands through various mechanisms including:
No development or clearing is considered appropriate. These are the most valuable wetlands and any activity that may lead to further loss or degradation is inappropriate. |
| Resource enhancement | Wetlands which may have been partially modified but still support substantial ecological attributes and functions | Priority wetlands Ultimate objective is to manage, restore and protect towards improving their conservation value. These wetlands have the potential to be restored to Conservation category. This can be achieved by restoring wetland function, structure and biodiversity. |
| Multiple use | Wetlands with few remaining important attributes and functions | Use, development and management should be considered in the context of ecologically sustainable development and best management practice catchment planning through landcare. |
Requesting changes to the Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset
The dataset was originally digitised from the 1996 report, Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain Volume 2B Wetland Mapping, Classification and Evaluation: Wetland Atlas (Hill et al.).
As custodian, the department has regularly made changes to the dataset to reflect changes to wetlands.
How to apply for a dataset modification:
- Requests to modify the geomorphic boundary of a wetland within the Swan Coastal Plain dataset should consider the guidance provided in the information sheet.
- Where intended changes to land use are being proposed, it is important to ensure that submissions to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions are made well in advance of submitting proposals to decision making authorities, to ensure adequate time for consideration of the proposed changes, and any changes to be made.
The wetland management category assigned to a Swan Coastal Plain wetland can be reviewed below which includes user-friendly templates for conducting wetland evaluations and site assessments.
Wheatbelt
The Wetlands of the Wheatbelt and other prioritised areas dataset displays the location and boundary of wetlands in the wider Wheatbelt area.
The Wheatbelt basin and granite outcrop wetland evaluations dataset displays the conservation significance assigned to basin and granite outcrop wetlands.
As Stage 1 datasets, a number of limitations apply:
- scale of 1:100,000–1:250,000
- only some wetland types have been identified (varies between the three sub-project areas)
- no data is available on how many wetlands may have been missed (inclusiveness)
- significant ground truthing for the accuracy of wetland identification, delineation (positional accuracy) and classification (attribute accuracy) has not been conducted
- the values of wetlands in the project area are assessed at a very broad scale using desktop data, and conservation significance assigned to wetlands is not suitable for use for any form of detailed planning process.
The methods and resulting dataset have been endorsed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Wetland Status Working Group and the Wetlands Coordinating Committee.
A methodology has been developed to for the detailed assessment of wetland values in the subject area. This methodology has been endorsed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Wetland Status Working Group and the Wetlands Coordinating Committee as a Stage 3 wetland evaluation methodology suitable for application to the subject area.
Non-digital wetland mapping
Broad scale wetland mapping projects have been conducted in various parts of the state.
These older studies have been published in report form rather than in digital datasets and are available from the Conservation Library.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (1994) Ecological Assessment and Evaluation of Wetlands in the System 5 Region. Report to the Australian Heritage Commission.
- Pen, L. (1997) A Systematic Overview of Environmental Values of the Wetlands, Rivers and Estuaries of the Busselton-Walpole Region. Water and Rivers Commission Report # WRAP 7.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (1997) Mapping and Classification of Wetlands from Augusta to Walpole in the South West of Western Australia. Water and Rivers Commission Report # WRT12.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (1998) Preliminary Delineation of Consanguineous Wetland Suites Between Walpole and Fitzgerald Inlet, Southern Western Australia. Unpublished report for the Water and Rivers Commission.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (1999) Preliminary Delineation of Consanguineous Wetland Suites in the Pallinup-North Stirling Region, South Western Australia. Unpublished report for the Water and Rivers Commission.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (2000) Wetlands of the northwestern Great Sandy Desert in the LaGrange hydrological sub-basin. Unpublished report for the Water and Rivers Commission.
- V & C Semeniuk Research Group (2000) Wetlands of the Pilbara Region: description, consanguineous suites, significance. Unpublished report for the Water and Rivers Commission.
- Ecologia Environmental Consultants (2000) A Preliminary Evaluation of Wetlands in the Esperance Water Resource Region. Unpublished report for the Water and Rivers Commission.
