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

Wetlands

Murray Region

• Introduction
• Wetlands of the Murray Valley
  • Wetlands of International Importance
  • Wetlands of National Importance
  • Some other Murray Wetlands
• Specific Wetland Management Issues in the Murray
• Environmental Flow Rules
• The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group

Introduction

The Murray River, the region's and State's southern border, is part of one of the largest river systems in the world. The Murray River is 2 530 kilometres in length. The river flows from its source in the Eastern Highlands, 40 kilometres south of Mt Kosciusko to Encounter Bay in South Australia. The Murray River has existed for approximately 60 million years. For the last 500 000 years, periods of wetting and drying have characterised the climate of the region. For the last 40 000 years, the area has supported Aborigines. The wetlands of the Murray Valley include lakes, swamps, lagoons, creeks, marshes and billabongs.

Wetlands of the Murray Valley

Pressey (1986) identified over 7000 individual wetlands in a study of wetlands between Hume Dam and the Murray Mouth. Of these, 3624 were identified within the NSW portion of the Murray Valley (Table 1M). Approximately 83% of the wetlands identified are small, covering 10 ha or less. Only 27 wetlands were found to exceed 500 ha in area.

Approximately 85% of all Murray wetlands lie within state forests.

Table 1M: The number and area of wetlands below Hume Weir

State	Number of wetlands	Area of wetlands (ha)
NSW	3 624	53 388
VIC	1 721	31 039
SA	1 685	138 290
Total	7 036	222 717

Source: Pressey, 1986

Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)

To date, no wetlands in the NSW section of the Murray Valley have been included under the Ramsar Convention. However, the Millewa Forest which falls within the NSW section of the Murray Valley adjoins Victoria's Barmah Forest which is listed as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention.

Wetlands of National Importance

Four wetlands in the NSW section of the Murray Valley are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, 3^rd Edition. They are the Millewa Forest, the Koondrook and Perricoota Forests, the Wakool-Tullakool evaporation basins and Werai Forest.

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.

Millewa Forest (Wetland No. 53 on Map 2)

The Millewa Forest which covers an area of 33,636 ha is contiguous with Victoria's Barmah Forest (23, 500ha). It is located from approximately 20 km downstream of Tocumwal to Barmah (along the Murray River) as well as along the Edward River upstream of Deniliquin. The wetland comprises the floodplains of both the Murray and Edward Rivers. Higher areas are forested with River Red Gum while low lying marshes are dominated by Giant Spike Rush, with dense emergent growth of Water Spike Rush and Mud Grass. Major uses of the land include logging, charcoal production, grazing, bee keeping and recreation.

More information on the Barmah-Millewa Forest complex is provided below.

Koondrook and Perricoota Forests (Wetland No. 46 on Map 2)

The Koondrook and Perricoota Forests are located on the floodplain of the central Murray River from approximately 40km downstream of Moama to Barham. They cover an area of 31,150 ha. The River Red Gums which characterise the higher floodplain areas represent a substantial proportion of the River Red Gum forest in NSW. The lower lying areas are dominated by Giant Spike Rush, with dense emergent growth of Water Milfoil, Spike Rush and Mud Grass. When flooded the forests support large numbers of waterbirds. The main uses of the area are forestry, beekeeping, grazing, charcoal production and recreation.

Wetland: Wakool-Tullakool Evaporation Basins (Wetland No. 55 on Map 2)

The Wakool-Tullakool evaporation basins were established in the 1980s as areas for the disposal for saline groundwater. The saline groundwater comes via a series of tubewells. The basins which are located approximately 70 Km west of Deniliquin, cover am area of 2,100 ha. The basins are some of the largest of their type in Australia. They provide a large range of habitats for vegetation and waterfowl.

Wetland: Werai Forest (Wetland No. 56 on Map 2)

The Werai Forest covers an area of 11,234 ha and is located along the Edward and Niemur Rivers between Yadabal Lagoon and Morago. The high floodplain areas of this forest are vegetated with River Red Gum. Lower lying areas are typically dominated by Giant Rush, with a dense emergent growth of Water Milfoil, Spike Rush and Mud Grass. The forest contains a large number of Aboriginal sites. When flooded the forest supports large numbers of waterbirds. Major uses of the forest include logging, firewood, charcoal production, bee keeping and recreation.

Some other Murray Wetlands

The Barmah - Millewa Forest

As noted above, the Millewa Forest is contiguous with Victoria's Barmah Forest. Together the forest complex is called the Barmah-Millewa Forest. This forest complex is the largest River Red Gum forest in Australia, covering an area of about 60,000 hectares located adjacent to the Murray River and the Edward River on the state border of NSW and Victoria. The ecology and productivity of the forest has been significantly affected by the changed seasonal flow patterns and reduced incidence of flooding as a result of river regulation. The forest has high environmental, social, cultural, economic and recreational values.

The Department of Natural Resources has worked with the Murray Darling Basin Commission and other NSW and Victorian state agencies to develop the Barmah-Millewa Forest Management Strategy. This includes a Forest environmental water entitlement of 100 gigalitres per year to be supplied equally from New South Wales and Victoria.

The Barmah Forest is listed under the Ramsar Convention and is also registered under the National Estate.

Wanganella Swamps

The Wanganella Swamps can be found just south of Wanganella near Billabong Creek, in southern NSW. The area is actually one swamp divided into two sections by the Cobb Highway. The swamps are dominated by cumbungi and sedges. Although comparatively small in area, the swamps are considered to support significant waterbird populations.

Moira Lake & Gulpa Creek

Moira Lake and Gulpa Creek are the two of the most important wetlands remaining within the Barmah-Millewa Forest complex. Gulpa Creek is the main source of water to Gulpa Island State Forest. The Gulpa Creek wetlands consist of both the Reed Beds Swamp and Duck Lagoon, which together cover an area of 580 hectares (Richardson 1998). A number of waterbirds have been observed breeding at the site.

Moira Lake is a large body of open water surrounded by beds of giant rush (Juncus ingens). The wetland covers an area of about 1,500 hectares. The surrounding area is dominated by River Red Gum forest. The lake has been degraded by unseasonal and prolonged inundation from regulated river flows over summer, which have disrupted the seasonal drying cycle of the lake. The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (MWWG) is working with NSW State Forests and the Department Natural Resources to rehabilitate Moira Lake.

Edward-Wakool System

This extensive area of wetland habitat is associated with the Wakool River floodplain, which extends up to 3 km from the river. Much of the system is dominated by River Red Gum forest.

Wee Wee Creek Complex

This complex is situated at the junction of the Murray and Wakool Rivers. The creek is lined with River Red Gum. Black Box woodland occurs further out on the floodplain. A colony of Regent Parrot has been recorded at the Murray River and Wee Wee Creek junction. The Regent Parrot is listed as endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Poon Boon

The Poon Boon Lakes system is a series of interconnected permanent and semi-permanent lakes that lie approximately 10 km south of Tooleybuc. The system covers an area of 1600 ha. A variety of habitats occur in the system including open water, River Red Gum forest and wet grassland. The lakes are significant in that to a certain extent they have retained a natural wetting and drying cycle.

Euston Lakes System

This lake system lies adjacent to Euston Weir and has significant cultural and environmental values. There is evidence of Aboriginal occupation with middens and fireplaces recorded on the northern side of Lake Benanee. The surrounding floodplain woodland also provides important habitat for species such as the endangered Regent Parrot.

Specific Wetland Management Issues in the Murray

There are many activities that place further pressure on the health of the Murray wetlands. They include river regulation, floodplain development, reduced groundwater supply, inflow of poor quality water, sedimentation, draining and reclamation, irrigation, urban development, overgrazing, inappropriate cropping and introduced pests. These issues are discussed in more detail below.

River Regulation

Water flow to wetlands is a major determinant of productivity in wetlands. Significant and prolonged changes to the water regime of wetlands can alter their structure and functions. The inundation patterns of most floodplain wetlands within the Murray Valley are now influenced to a large degree by river regulation. Winter-spring floodwaters that would have passed through the river system before regulation are stored in weirs and dams for release in the drier summer - autumn period for irrigation. This produces a pattern that is the opposite to the natural flow pattern of the river.

River regulation causes the permanent inundation of some wetlands, and prevents the natural flooding of others. It also leads to a reduction in the fluctuation of water levels, which are necessary for the maintenance of biological production and diversity, and the environmental health of wetlands. It is estimated that along the Murray River from Hume Dam to Yarrawonga 70% of wetlands are now permanently inundated. Dead River Red Gums are one of the indicators and consequences of permanent inundation. Other effects of the changed wetting cycle include: a reduction in the primary productivity of aquatic plants and other riparian vegetation; changes to water chemistry; and a competitive advantage to aquatic weeds. The wetting and drying cycle of some wetlands has also been affected by rising saline groundwater (eg. when wetlands are used as evaporation basins for groundwater and irrigation drainage) and the annexation of the river (eg. lakes drained and levees built from the river for agricultural purposes).

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission coordinates the operation of the major storages and weirs on the Murray River. These structures were built for the storage and diversion of water for irrigation. The smaller weirs provide a small pool-like supply of water for irrigation and domestic water. Some incorporate locks to allow continuous navigation between weirs. These and the numerous small structures along the rivers and creeks control flows and affect floods and ultimately determine the supply of water to the wetlands.

Sometimes wetlands only end up receiving water by accident. For example during the irrigation season, water that has been released for irrigation, but has not actually been taken due to say local rainfall may end up flowing into wetlands. These flows, (also called rain rejection flows), usually occur in summer and autumn and end up flooding wetlands that are only just drying from a spring flooding. This causes a significant change to the natural wetting and drying cycle of these wetlands. Regulatory structures have been constructed in the Barmah-Millewa Forest to help prevent summer-autumn irrigation releases affecting the forest wetlands.

Floodplain Development

Flood control works, which are works such as levees, supply channels and roads can affect the behaviour and distribution of floodwaters, and significantly alter the inundation patterns of some wetlands in the Murray Region. These works can block flows to wetlands, or conversely, result in increased inundation.

Grazing

Grazing of domestic stock in and around wetlands is a common practice in the Murray Valley. Grazing of wetlands is attractive to landholders due to the inherent productivity and stock feed potential of these areas. Stock selectively graze, which can reduce the abundance of certain plant species, lead to soil compaction and erosion and prevent regeneration of native species such as river red gum. Despite these potential impacts grazing can be managed sustainably in and around wetlands particularly when appropriate grazing regimes have been established

Cropping

Cropping can cause significant changes to the natural composition of wetland plants as well as the associated loss of natural habitats. This is particularly a problem when some form of clearing is required prior to cropping.

A study of selected lakebeds and associated cultivation/cropping within the Murray-Darling Basin reported in Briggs (1994) suggests that the impacts of lakebed cropping on terrestrial birds may be relatively minimal. It also suggests that the farming of lakebeds may not significantly reduce the number of invertebrates in the soil. Minimal lakebed cropping does occur in the Murray catchment. The main wetland areas affected are around Swan Hill and Murrakool.

Water Quality

Good water quality is important for the maintenance of the integrity and functions of wetland systems. Poor water quality (eg irrigation drainage) can reduce the benefit of inflows to wetland ecosystems and may even lead to degradation of some components of wetland systems. The quality of groundwater also impacts upon the health of wetlands.

Introduced Animals

Introduced animals are often a problem in wetlands. Carp are a well-known alien species of the waterways and wetlands within the Murray. The Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) and redfin (Perca fluviatilis) are also known to occur in wetlands and waterways throughout the Murray. They are both alien species - that is, they have established populations in the wild after being brought to Australia from another country. They are thought to contribute to the decline in native fish. They also pose a problem to some frogs as eggs and tadpoles can form part of their diet. Pigs, goats, foxes, rabbits and cats may also be a problem in the wetlands of the Murray Valley. Feral pigs are known to exist in the Millewa Forest and throughout the Forest Creek system.

Water weeds

Wetlands are particularly susceptible to invasion by water weeds (those plants that interfere with or have the potential to interfere with the values or uses of a waterbody), due to their position in the landscape. Lippia (Phyla nodiflora) is spreading on the floodplain in the western section of the region around Nyah (Vic) district and at the end of the Forest Creek system (DLWC, In press). Other introduced water plants include arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) and Elodea (Elodea canadensis).

There are also some native plants that can be pest species in some situations. Species such as Typha can be a problem because it favours stable permanent water levels resulting from flow regulation. It may constrict flow and increase sedimentation.

Wetland Inundation and Vegetation Condition

Approximately 37,000 ha of wetlands along the Murray, or 35% of the total area of wetlands between the Hume Dam and Wellington (SA), have been altered and are now permanently inundated. The effects of permanent inundation extend to wetlands along the Edward and Billabong Creek systems.

Water supply is the most critical issue affecting the condition of wetland vegetation. Winter or spring is the most appropriate time for flooding and satisfies the requirements of the majority of species. Those species that require water to remain over summer, such as cumbungi and common reed, will be found in more permanent wetland sites which are either affected by regulated flows or in areas where natural flooding is retained for long periods (Green 1994a).

Environmental Flow Rules

Their relevance to the Wetlands of the Murray Valley

In 1993 NSW and Victoria jointly agreed to allocate water for the Barmah-Millewa redgum forest. The Barmah section of the forest, which lies within Victoria, is recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. If required, the water is usually released from Hume Dam in spring to flood parts of the Barmah-Millewa redgum forest and to supplement natural flooding in the forest for a number of weeks. Many floodplain plant and bird species have reacted favourably to the flooding. In 2005/2006 following an extended drought period NSW and Victoria made a combined release of 500,000 megalitres to the forest which resulted in promising recovery of river red gum and other wetland and riparian vegetation and triggering bird breeding.

In July 2004 a water sharing plan for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Rivers commenced. This includes the following environmental water rules:

1. Prevent erosion of the water available to the environment as a result of growth in NSW water extractions
   • A limit is set on total water extractions to protect the share of water to the environment.
2. Provide water to the Barmah-Millewa Forest and other wetlands and increase the frequency of high flows during spring and early summer in the Murray
   • Up to 75,000 megalitres (ML) each year is set aside to build up a reserve of water in Hume dam.
   • Release of water from the reserve is made to supplement natural flooding and in conjunction with Victoria.
3. Set aside water for management of blue-green algae in the Lower Darling.
   • Maintain a reserve of 30,000 ML whenever water levels are above those required to meet extraction.
   • Water from the reserve is to be released when a high blue-green algae level has been declared under the Sunraysia Regional Algal Contingency Strategy.
4. Establish two adaptive environmental water access licences.
   • Two access licences with a total share component of 32,027 units will be established to provide additional water for environmental purposes.

The rules are designed to:

• improve opportunities for natural regeneration, breeding cycles and ecological processes,
• increase connectivity between river and floodplain during spring and early summer,
• promote recovery of threatened species, populations and ecological communities,
• contribute to expansion and diversification of river bank habitat and maintenance of bank stability,
• assist in maintenance of ecological health of anabranches and billabongs, and
• contribute to maintenance or improvement of water quality to downstream environments.

The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group (MWWG)

The NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group was established in 1992 as an initiative of the former Murray and Lower Murray-Darling Catchment Management Committees. The working group develops and implements strategic management programs and works for specific wetlands in the region.

The group comprises representatives from Catchment Management Boards as well as Aboriginal communities, NSW government agencies such as the Department and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.