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Home > Water Management > Water for the environment > Wetlands > Wetlands

Wetlands

Far West Region

• Introduction
• Wetlands of the Far West Region
• Environmental Flow Rules
• The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (MWWG)

Introduction

The Far West Region of NSW is larger than Victoria and Tasmania combined. It stretches from the Murray River at Balranald in the south, to the Barwon River at Mungindi in the north, and west to the South Australian Border. It includes an exceptionally large number of important wetlands, including the four terminal drainage basins that drain from southern Queensland into NSW. They are the Narran River which drains into Narran Lakes, the Warrego River which terminates into swamps, the Paroo which drains into the terminal Paroo wetlands and the Bulloo which drains into the Bulloo Overflow. The region also includes a number of other terminal drainage basins such as Cobham Lakes and Lake Bancannia. The region is particularly significant to Aboriginal people, with over 790 sites in the region listed in the Aboriginal sites Register of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The region also includes the Barwon-Darling River system, which although not formally regulated, has flows that are greatly affected by storages and water extraction on its major tributaries in both NSW and Queensland.

A canegrass swamp at dusk, north of Tilpa, 1993
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

Wetlands of the Far West Region

Two wetlands in the Far West Region of NSW are listed as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention. They are Lake Pinaroo and the Narran Lakes Nature Reserve. A further 15 are listed under the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

Wetlands of International Importance

The following information on Ramsar Wetlands has been adapted from the Ramsar Pages of Environment Australia's Website. More information on these wetlands and the reasons for their inclusion as Ramsar wetlands are available on either Environment Australia's Website or The Ramsar Bureau Website.

Lake Pinaroo (D on Map 2)

Lake Pinaroo was accepted as a Ramsar site on the 17/03/96. It has an area of 800 ha and is situated in the Sturt National Park in the arid far west of NSW. It is a large terminal basin consisting of an open lake with muddy margins and very little associated vegetation. The lake fills when associated swamps overflow. Once full, the lake can take up to six years to dry out. The site provides valuable habitat for endangered birds, and supports a substantial number of waterbirds, especially when the level of the lake is high. Numerous species of small mammals and reptiles are common. Human activities include tourism and nature conservation. There is an exceptionally high density and variety of Aboriginal sites within the Lake, including hearths, middens, ceremonial sites, quarries and an abundance of stone artefacts.

Narran Lakes Nature Reserve (Wetland H or No. 11 on Map 2)

Aerial view of the Narran Lakes
Source: DLWC

Narran Lakes Nature Reserve was accepted as a Ramsar site on the 14/06/99. It has an area of 5,531 ha. It covers part of the large terminal wetland of the Narran River in New South Wales at the end of the Condamine River system, which flows south from Queensland. It is of very high traditional, as well as contemporary, social and spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people. It is internationally significant for waterbird breeding and habitat. It supports a number of waterbirds that are listed under the Japan-Australia and China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreements.

Wetlands of National Importance

Fifteen wetlands in the Far West Region of NSW are listed in the 3^rd Edition of the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. The following wetland summaries have been adapted from the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, 3^rd Edition. More information on these wetlands and the reasons for their inclusion in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia can be found on Environment Australia's Website.

Sunset Strip at Lake Menindee
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

Sturt National Park Wetlands (Wetland No. 57 on Map 2)

The Sturt National Park Wetlands comprise freshwater swamps and pans within the dunefields of Sturt National Park. They are seasonally inundated by local runoff. They are dominated by canegrass and are representative of canegrass claypans within dunefields. Lake Pinaroo, which is a Ramsar wetland, is also situated within Sturt National Park.

Paroo Overflow (Wetland No. 17 on Map 2)

Aerial view of the Paroo Overflow
Source: DLWC

The Paroo River runs from central southern Queensland through to north western NSW, flowing through to the Paroo Overflow, south of Wanaaring. The wetlands associated with the Paroo Overflow are significant in terms of their natural cultural, scientific and educational attributes. The wetlands consist of a reticulate system of broad, shallow, flat-bottomed distributary channels of the Paroo River, Cuttaburra Creek and Kulkyne Creek that drain into shallow lateral and sub-terminal swamps, and level floored terminal playa lakes. They include Tongo Lake, Mullawoolka Basin, Yantabangee Lake, Poloko Lake, Gilpoko Lake and Peery Lake. Peery Lake contains mound springs as well as the only known population of Eriocaulon carsonni in NSW. Most of the Lakes can hold water for several years after flooding.

Aerial view of Kulkyne Creek on the Paroo River
Source: DLWC

The Paroo Overflow is a representative example of a large terminal drainage basin. The wetlands provide breeding habitat and drought refuge for a large number and a diverse range of waterbirds . Many of the birds that occur in the wetlands are considered threatened in NSW and/or are listed under the international agreements CAMBA and JAMBA.

Bulloo Overflow / Carypundy Swamp 
(Wetland No. 6 on Map 2)

The Bulloo Overflow / Carypundy Swamp is located east of Tibooburra in Far Western NSW. It is a representative large terminal drainage basin in a relatively natural condition. The Bulloo Overflow is the terminal basin of an entire inland wetland system. When inundated, it supports large numbers of waterbirds including the Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa, which is listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Salisbury Lake (Lake Altibouka) (Wetland No. 7 on Map 2)

Salisbury Lake (Lake Altibouka) is a salt water lake surrounded by sandhills and clay flats, occurring on the southern edge of the Bulloo Overflow, approximately 100 km south-east of Tibooburra. It is a good example of an inland salt lake in relatively natural condition. It is an important waterbird habitat and when flooded supports up to 39 000 waterbirds. Over 53 different waterbird species have reported on the lake.

Green Creek Swamp (Wetland No. 13 on Map 2)

Green Creek is a distributary channel of the Warrego River, located just north-west of Fords Bridge on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plains. It forms a broad flat-bottomed shallow channel that is referred to as Green Creek Swamp. This wetland is highly productive when flooded, supporting a large number and variety of waterbirds. It is also significant for its large population of the Brolga Grus rubicunda.

Talyawalka Anabranch & Teryawynia Creek
(No. 12 on Map 2)

This wetland area comprises the wetlands of the Talyawalka Anabranch of the Darling River, and its distributary Teryawynia Creek. They are located between Wilcannia and Menindee on the Darling Riverine Plains. The system includes Teryawynia, Dry, White Water, Eucalyptus/Waterloo, Victoria, Brummeys, Dennys, Brennans, Sayers, Gum, Boolaboolka, North and Ratcatchers Lakes, plus associated wetlands. It is representative of semi-arid inland floodplain wetland system, that is fringed by Black Box woodland. When inundated, these lakes provide habitat for large numbers of waterbirds.

The Darling Anabranch Lakes (Wetland No. 20 on Map 2)

Popio Lake on the Lower Darling Anabranch, Dec 1993
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

These lakes are located along the Great Darling Anabranch of the Darling River. Included in the complex are Midona Lake, Little Lake, Travellers Lake, Popio Lake, Popiltah Lake, Yeltow Lake, Nialia Lake, Nearie Lake, Milkengay Lake and the associated vegetation. Some lakes in this system retain water for up to 5 years .

When inundated these lakes provide extensive areas of productive waterbird habitat .

The Menindee Lakes (Wetland No. 10 on Map 2)

Aerial view of the Darling River and Menindee Lakes near the township of Menindee
Source: DLWC

The Menindee Lakes are a series of natural ephemeral lakes adjacent to the Darling River near Menindee. They have a combined area of 45 000 ha. The lake system comprises Lake Pamamaroo, Lake Menindee, Lake Cawndilla, Lake Wetherell, Lake Tandou, Lake Balaka, Lake Malta, Lake Bijijie and marginal vegetation. During the 1950s and 1960s the (then) NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission constructed a series of weirs, regulators and levees which is collectively known as the Menindee Lakes storage. The lakes storage was designed and constructed to store and conserve flows in the Darling River to secure water supply for Broken Hill, for irrigation and stock supply to adjacent and downstream users and to encourage development in far-western NSW. The Lakes control flow from 88 percent of the catchment of the Darling River. This includes the major river catchments in both NSW and Queensland. The natural environment of the lakes has been changed dramatically by the storage scheme and in particular by the permanent inundation of the lakes. Many native species have benefited from these changes while others have been disadvantaged. Despite the modification of the Lakes, and partly because of it, these wetlands continue to be a valuable waterfowl habitat. The lakes are also considered to be the most important area of native fish habitat within the entire Darling River system.

Lake Pamamaroo
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

The lakes are also important sites of archaelogical and cultural significance to the Aboriginal people. They also provide a water-based recreational area for western New South Wales.

Lake Burkanoko (Wetland No. 14 on Map 2)

Lake Burkanoko is located approximately 70 km east of Wanaaring on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plain. It is a representative example of an inland hypersaline lake.

Aerial view of the Lower Warrego at Boera Dam
Source: DLWC

Murphys Lake (Wetland No. 16 on Map 2)

Murphys Lake is located approximately 80 km east of Wanaaring on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plain. It is a representative example of a large pan in dunefields. The water of the lake is fresh and the lake can retain water for up to 18 months after a flood. It is an important breeding site for waterbirds.

Lake Nichebulka (Wetland No. 15 on Map 2)

Lake Nichebulka is located approximately 70 km east of Wanaaring on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plain. It is a representative example of an inland hypersaline lake. In 1988 the Lake supported over 10,000 Banded Stilts (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus).

Yantabulla Swamp (Cuttaburra Basin)
(Wetland No. 19 on Map 2)

Yantabulla Swamp is located along Cuttaburra Creek, approximately 80 km north-east of Wanaaring on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plains. It is a representative example of a Cuttaburra system waterhole. The more permanent waterholes in this wetland system provide an important drought refuge for waterbirds.

Willeroo Lake (Wetland No. 18 on Map 2)

Willeroo Lake is located approximately 120 km east of Wannaring, on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plains. It is a representative example of a Cuttaburra system waterhole. It retains water for long periods after flooding and therefore an important breeding area and drought refuge for waterbirds.

The Salt Lake (Wetland No. 58 on Map 2)

A terminal salina with an extensive catchment located approximately 80 km south of Tibooburra. It is more often dry than wet. The water is saline and becomes hypersaline as the lake dries up. Over 70,000 waterbirds have been recorded on the lake when in flood.

Environmental Flow Rules

Their Relevance to the Wetlands of the Barwon-Darling River System

Over the last 50 years the Barwon-Darling has been increasingly affected by the growing use of water for agriculture, industry and stock and domestic needs between Mungindi and Menindee Lakes, as have its tributary streams in New South Wales and Queensland. The use of water on the Barwon-Darling contributes more than $50 million to the agricultural output of the Far West of NSW, and is now an important component of the local economy. But there is also clear evidence that the stress on the River is now high.

The algal bloom of the early 1990s was perhaps the most widely reported symptom of poor river health we have seen in this country. There are also other important indicators such as fish and wetland declines.

The long term economic viability of the valley depends on the continued health of the river. The river also provides habitat for many species of fish and other wildlife and water for large areas of wetlands, important features in an otherwise very arid area.

In late 1997, a River Management Committee (RMC) was established for the Barwon-Darling to recommend environmental flow rules. Click here to view a PDF of the River Management Committees Report on Environmental Flow Rules for the Barwon-Darling River System.

The Rules were not implemented until late 2000, due to delays in the establishment of five new streamflow gauging stations, critical to the full implementation of the rules.

None of the flow rules are specifically designed to benefit the wetlands of the system, although they may provide some indirect benefit to wetlands. The rules are as follows:

The Rules:

Rule 1. New commence to pump conditions applied to all water users in the Barwon-Darling from 2000/2001 onward.

Rule 2. The Unregulated Flow Management Plan for the North-West will continue to operate. This plan covers all rivers in the north-west and the Barwon-Darling River. It seeks to ensure minimum flows for the protection of basic river health as well as protecting high flows for algal suppression and fish migration.

What wetland specific or related issues are the current rules supposed to address?

The major impact on flows in the Barwon-Darling comes from dams and use of water on the streams which feed the River. The effect of use on the Barwon-Darling itself is greatest in low flow times. The initial emphasis of the environmental flow rules has, therefore, been on the low flow regime.

An ephemeral wetland on the Barwon River near Walgett
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

The Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flow Rules

In order to adequately assess the response of the riverine ecosystems of Barwon-Darling River system to the environmental flow rules, it was seen as essential that a sound scientific assessment of the rules be made.

The NSW Government established a major scientific program to address this need. This program is referred to as the Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows or IMEF. The environmental side of the program involves the collection of biological, physical and/or chemical data from river sites and/or wetlands within sections of the river that are affected by the flow rules. The program is designed to provide not only additional understanding of the flow responses of riverine ecosystems based on sound scientific methods, but also an opportunity to evaluate the environmental performance of the flow rules themselves. The IMEF program commenced in 1997.

Monitoring in the Barwon-Darling River system is designed to assess the response of the river and associated wetlands to the environmental flow rules.

The Development of a Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling.

Now that the Barwon-Darling Cap Management Strategy is being implemented, a water sharing plan can be developed. The strategy will set a limit on water extractions in order to ensure that water is retained in the river for the environment. As part of the development of the water sharing plan, the current environmental flow rules will be reviewed.

The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (MWWG)

The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group was established in 1992 to develop and implement strategic management programs for specific wetlands in the Murray and Lower Darling regions. The wetlands of the Lower Darling River fall within the Far West Region of NSW.

The group comprises representatives from Catchment Management Authorities as well as Aboriginal communities, NSW government agencies such as DNR and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Further details on the activities and projects of Murray Wetlands Working Group are available on the Murray Wetlands Working Group Website.