High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem (HEVAE) Instream Value of freshwater rivers in NSW

The [NSW riverine High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem (HEVAE) project](https://www.water.dcceew.nsw.gov.au/our-work/science-data-and-modelling/surface-water-science/river-assessment-tools) aims to identify and define a range of instream values and levels of importance for freshwater river reaches in NSW. These values will assist in the prioritisation of areas for focused water management, to assist with water sharing between water users and the environment. The water management options include assessment of access and trade rules within Water Sharing Plans (WSPs). The HEVAE product enables NSW DCCEEW Water to better meet water management requirements under the Water Management Act 2000 and Murray-Darling Basin Plan 2012.\r\n\r\nThe [HEVAE Framework](https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ae-toolkit-module-3-identifying-hevae.pdf) was developed by the Commonwealth Government as part of the Australian Aquatic Ecosystem Toolkit and has been adopted by NSW DCCEEW Water as a progressive step to replace other NSW instream value assessments with a National approach. Although the HEVAE Framework advocates using five key criteria (Aquatic Ecosystems Task Group 20102a), NSW DCCEEW Water has adopted four criteria, diversity, distinctiveness, naturalness and vital habitat. Vital habitat data not able to be determined in the coastal HEVAE assessment due to lack of suitable data. Lack of State-wide data prevented inclusion of the fifth criterion (representativeness). Each of the four criteria relies on state-wide or regional availability of instream value data, to enable the production of consistent spatial mapping outcomes. Mapping outputs were derived at the river reach scale and the overall HEVAE scores identify where the best instream values occur within a catchment. The overall riverine HEVAE outcomes can be examined to determine which particular individual values (e.g. a threatened fish species in the Distinctiveness criteria) are influencing the final HEVAE scores.\r\n\r\nThis [HEVAE report](https://publications.water.nsw.gov.au/watergroupjspui/bitstream/100/3706/1/applying-the-HEVAE-framework-for-riverine-ecosystems.pdf) provides the rationale and describes the methods adapted from the Commonwealth HEVAE Framework for instream value and for each of the four criteria used. Details are provided on the weightings used, and scoring approaches, providing the overall HEVAE scores for each river reach.\r\n\r\nThis dataset contains polyline features defining NSW freshwater riverine instream value. The dataset enables the inclusion of the most up-to-date instream value or asset information to inform water planning needs in NSW. It also spatially enables the identification of contemporary instream value data at the river reach scale, that can then inform water sharing rules at different scales required (e.g. management zone or surface water source), The dataset facilitates the generation of HEVAE outcomes to inform the risk assessment process and associated strategies in WSPs and WRPs, which are requirements under NSW legislation, as well as the Basin Plan.\r\n\r\n-----------------------------------\r\n\r\nNote: If you would like to ask a question, make any suggestions, or tell us how you are using this dataset, please visit the [NSW Water Hub (within SEED) which has an online forum](https://water-hub.seed.nsw.gov.au/thread/search) you can join.

[新南威尔士州（NSW）河流高生态价值水生生态系统（High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem, HEVAE）项目](https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/science-data-and-modelling/surface-water/monitoring-changes/environmental-value-of-nsw-rivers-hevae)旨在识别并界定新南威尔士州淡水河段的一系列河道内价值及其重要性等级。这些价值将助力重点水资源管理区域的优先排序，以协助平衡用水户与环境之间的水资源分配。水资源管理选项包括评估水资源分配计划（Water Sharing Plans, WSPs）中的取水和交易规则。HEVAE成果可帮助新南威尔士州DCCEEW水务部门更好地满足《2000年水资源管理法》和《2012年墨累-达令盆地计划》下的水资源管理要求。

[HEVAE框架](https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/cewo/monitoring/aquatic-ecosystems-toolkit/module-3-guidelines-identifying-high-ecological-value-aquatic)由联邦政府开发，是澳大利亚水生生态系统工具包的一部分，新南威尔士州DCCEEW水务部门已采用该框架，作为以国家方法替代其他新南威尔士州河道内价值评估的渐进步骤。尽管HEVAE框架提倡使用五项关键标准（Aquatic Ecosystems Task Group 20102a），但新南威尔士州DCCEEW水务部门采用了四项标准：多样性、独特性、自然性和重要栖息地。由于缺乏合适的数据，沿海HEVAE评估无法确定重要栖息地数据；而缺乏全州范围的数据则导致无法纳入第五项标准（代表性）。四项标准中的每一项均依赖全州或区域层面可用的河道内价值数据，以生成一致的空间制图结果。制图输出基于河段尺度，整体HEVAE评分可识别流域内最佳河道内价值所在位置。通过分析河流HEVAE的整体成果，可确定哪些特定的个体价值（例如独特性标准中的受威胁鱼类物种）影响了最终HEVAE评分。

[本HEVAE报告](https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/207055/applying-the-HEVAE-framework-for-riverine-ecosystems.pdf)阐述了从联邦HEVAE框架改编而来的河道内价值评估方法及所采用的四项标准各标准的方法依据。报告提供了权重使用和评分方法的详细信息，以及各河段的整体HEVAE评分。

本数据集包含定义新南威尔士州淡水河流河道内价值的折线要素。该数据集可纳入最新的河道内价值或资产信息，为新南威尔士州的水资源规划需求提供参考；还能从空间上识别河段尺度的当代河道内价值数据，进而为不同尺度（如管理区或地表水源）所需的水资源分配规则提供依据。此外，该数据集有助于生成HEVAE成果，为水资源分配计划（WSPs）和水资源规划（Water Resource Plans, WRPs）中的风险评估流程及相关策略提供参考——这些均是新南威尔士州立法及盆地计划的要求。

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注意：若您有任何问题、建议，或希望告知我们您如何使用本数据集，请访问[新南威尔士州水务中心（位于SEED平台内）](https://water-hub.seed.nsw.gov.au/thread/search)，该中心设有可加入的在线论坛。