The 2023 Econd® score for Native Vegetation is estimated to be 52.1. The Econd® scores for each assessment unit were approximately equal, with Gibber Transition Shrublands (AU5) scoring the highest at 52.6 and North-west Floodplain Woodlands (AU3) scoring the lowest at 48.6. The overall condition is consistent with expectations based on the land use history within the project area.

For all Assessment Units, site context and non-native cover were the highest scoring indicators, reflecting the intactness of the native vegetation asset in the area on and surrounding Salt Lake. Across the assessment units, indicators related to trees (ie Tree Basal Area, Large Trees, Tree Richness and recruitment of canopy species) were consistently among the lowest scoring indicators. Low scores for these indicators (particularly tree basal area and large trees) are expected within regenerating systems.

While recruitment of canopy species is low, there is evidence of recruitment of shrubs species (239 individual plants <1m tall, across 37 of the 48 surveyed plots). 

Shrub basal area scores substantially higher than tree basal area in all assessment units. Seven plots across the account are being penalised for having more than 200% of the benchmark score for basal area of shrubs, with four of these being in Assessment unit 4, which has the lowest shrub basal area condition score.

The observed trend of higher shrub basal area and shrub recruitment and lower tree basal area and recruitment of canopy species is expected to be due to the natural succession of vegetation in a regenerating system. Native shrub species (such as Eremophila sturtii, Senna artemisioides and Dodonaea viscosa) are expected to initially colonise the area before senescing and allowing larger longer-lived species to colonise such as Casuarina species, Eucalyptus species and larger Acacia species. Progress of these indicators will be a focus of ongoing monitoring.