GunbowerForest
1
2
Icon sites of the River M
urray
Printed on 100% recycled paper. February 2007.
Barm
ah–M
illewa Forest
Au
stralia’s largest River R
ed Gu
m Forest.
The Barmah–M
illewa Forest is the largest R
iver R
ed Gum
forest in Australia, covering 66,000
hectares of floodplain.
Many threatened native plants, birds, fish
and reptiles make this w
etland their home.
Spring floods keep River R
ed Gum
s healthy, and provide habitat and breeding sites for vast num
bers of colonial waterbirds, including
threatened Egret species. Photo: Keith Ward.
Gu
nbow
er–Koon
drook–Perricoota ForestA
ustralia’s secon
d largest River
Red G
um
Forest.
The Gunbow
er–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest
covers around 50,000 hectares and is home to
many threatened native plants and anim
als. The forest w
etlands are important breeding
places for waterbirds and native fish. The area is
also an essential destination for waterbirds listed
under treaties with Japan and C
hina to protect endangered m
igratory birds. Photo: North Central CM
A.
Hattah
Lakes A
un
ique collection
of semi-perm
anen
t fresh
water lakes.
The 17 semi-perm
anent freshwater lakes form
the H
attah Lakes system support R
iver Red G
um
comm
unities and a variety of native plants and anim
als. The lakes are also important breeding
places for waterbirds. Photo: A
ndy Wise.
Ch
owilla Floodplain
and
Linsday–W
allpolla islands
A sign
ificant sem
i-arid floodplain ecosystem
.
Chow
illa Floodplain is one of the only reaches of the low
er Murray floodplain not used for
irrigation, preserving much of its natural
character. Covering 17,700 hectares, it is an area
of national significance because of the unique occurrence of w
etlands in the normally sem
i-dry environm
ent.
The Lindsay–Wallpolla islands cover alm
ost 20,000 hectares of floodplain and support m
any threatened plants and anim
als, and a number of
native fish. Photo: Caroline Fisher.
Lower Lakes,
Cooron
g and M
urray M
outh
O
ne of A
ustralia’s m
ost un
ique
and sign
ificant estu
aries.
The Lower Lakes, C
oorong and Murray M
outh include an area of approxim
ately 140,000 hectares, covering 23 different w
etland types, from
very fresh to more saline than the sea.
This icon site is where the R
iver Murray m
eets the sea, is one of the 10 m
ajor havens for large concentrations of w
aterbirds in Australia, and is
one of the few havens found south of the Tropic of
Capricorn. Thirty-three of the bird species found
here are listed under international treaties to protect endangered m
igratory birds.
The Coorong is 140 km
long and ranked among
the top six waterbird sites in A
ustralia based on the diversity and num
ber of species found there. H
owever, a lack of w
ater flowing to this area has
severely impacted upon its health, w
ith only one-quarter of the ecological system
still supporting its native fish, birds and plants. Photo: John Baker.
River M
urray C
han
nel
The artery th
at conn
ects th
e wh
ole River system
.
The River M
urray channel is the ‘main artery’
of the river and extends over 2,150 km (river
distance) from the H
ume D
am to W
ellington in South A
ustralia. It includes the River bed and
banks, in-stream habitat, and anabranches and
wetlands that are not part of other icon sites.
Photo: John Baker.
Mu
rray-Darlin
g Basin
Com
mission
GPO
Box 409, Canberra, A
CT 2601
tel. 02 6279 0100em
ail. thelivingmurray@
mdbc.gov.au
ww
w.thelivingm
urray.mdbc.gov.au
The Livin
g Mu
rray program w
as established in
20
02
in respon
se to eviden
ce that th
e health
of the R
iver Mu
rray system w
as in declin
e. Th
e Living M
urray’s first stage focu
ses on im
proving th
e environ
men
t at six ‘icon
sites’ along th
e River.
The sites w
ere chosen for their high ecological value—
m
ost are listed as internationally significant wetlands
under the Ram
sar Convention—
and also their cultural significance to Indigenous people and the broader com
munity.
Through The Living Murray program
, action is underway to provide w
ater to these sites and support natural environm
ents unique to the Australian
landscape.
3
Murray River Reserves
Gunbower State Forest and Torrumbarry to EchucaThe Murray River, with its majestic River Red Gums, sandy beaches and a large variety of
wildlife, provides the ideal backdrop for camping and a range of water-based recreation.
A rich human history
For thousands of years, local indigenous people have lived along the Murray River. When exploring you may discover shell middens (kitchen hearths), burials and scar trees testifying to a rich human history spanning more than 10,000 years. Please respect these Australian heritage sites – they are protected by law.
Enjoying the park Fishing for Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Redfin is a popular pastime.
A current NSW Freshwater Recreation Fishing Licence is required for the Murray River. A Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence is required for fishing in waters south of the Murray River.
Camping - There are designated camping areas at Wills Bend near Echuca with toilets provided between Christmas and Easter. All other areas have basic bush camping. Boating and canoeing are popular on the Murray River. The canoe trail at Safes Lagoon is a great spot for canoeing.
Swimming is a popular activity, particularly at the numerous sandy river bend beaches.
Note: Take care when swimming - cold water and fast currents can be hazardous and there may be submerged logs. Diving or jumping into the water can be dangerous.
Walking – There are many short and long walks throughout the area. A circuit walk of Gunbower Island will take 7-8 hours.
Scenic drives along the river are also popular.
A haven for plants and animals The Murray River Parklands, with their majestic River Red Gums and forests provide an important habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Kangaroos and emus are common along the reserve. Keep an eye out for some of the koalas that have been released here.
Over 200 species of birds have been recorded and the river is one of the largest breeding grounds for waterbirds in Victoria. The river is also a breeding ground for native fish species such as the Murray Cod and Golden Perch.
Gunbower Island, near Cohuna, has a water frontage of 130 kilometres and the 20,000ha state forest covers about 80 percent of the island. Until damming, the red gum and box forests were flooded every year and today still depend on the occasional inundation. The island supports protected populations of kangaroos, emus, goannas, possums, snakes and 160 different species of birds. The island is a RAMSAR listed wetland.
Hunting for pest animals on Gunbower Island is permitted only in areas outside of the sanctuary, provided you have a current permit to hunt on Crown Land.
Accommodation The nearby towns of Koondrook, Cohuna, Gunbower, Torrumbarry and Echuca all have caravan parks, motels and bed and breakfast accommodation options.
How to get there Gunbower State Forest and Torrumbarry to Echuca are along the Murray River between Echuca and Koondrook around 250km north of Melbourne. Access to the major entrances is via the Murray Valley Highway.
December 2006
Printed on Australian-made 100% recycled paper
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5
Environmental W
atering in Victoria 2007/08 | 9
GU
NB
OW
ER FO
RES
T
Gunbow
er Forest is a River R
ed Gum
floodplain ecosystem
of the River M
urray in central northern Victoria. The forest is on an island of about 20,000ha betw
een the River
Murray and G
unbower C
reek.
The Need for W
ater
River R
ed Gum
forests provide unique and im
portant wetland habitats. The
forests’ deepest depressions also include sem
i-permanent w
etlands.
These wetlands are highly productive
habitats with diverse plant com
munities
and a variety of invertebrates, fish, frogs and w
aterbirds. Because of their seclusion
and the food they provide, these wetlands
are the main breeding sites for colonial
nesting waterbirds on the R
iver Murray.
During the prolonged drought, m
ost forest w
etlands in Victoria and New
South
Wales have dried out. W
etland animals
have fewer places to find food and breed.
Fish, turtles and waterbird populations
are declining and are relying on refuge habitats to survive the drought.
In 2007, the number of w
aterbirds in south-eastern A
ustralia was less than
one third of that in an average year.
6
10 | Environmental W
atering in Victoria 2007/08
Watering A
ims
Environmental w
ater was delivered to
Gunbow
er Forest in 2007/08 to protect critical w
etland refuge areas.
A small num
ber of Gunbow
er Forest’s diverse w
etlands are close to their natural state, m
aking them an ecological reference
point for the condition of wetlands across
the whole R
iver Murray floodplain.
Watering in the past has m
aintained these im
portant wetlands, keeping the R
iver R
ed Gum
trees that fringe them healthy,
maintaining the plant com
munities and
supporting waterbird breeding events.
Watering in 2007/08 aim
ed to provide feeding habitat and help m
aintain w
aterbird populations during the drought. If bird breeding occurred as a result of the w
atering, it would be considered a m
ajor bonus.
Watering D
etails
In 2007/08, 7708ML w
as provided to G
unbower Forest.
It consisted of 5708ML from
the Victorian R
iver Murray Flora and Fauna B
ulk Entitlem
ent and 2000ML from
The Living M
urray program.
The water w
as delivered between A
pril and M
ay 2008.
The Little Gunbow
er Wetland C
omplex
received 2300ML over 12 days, released
from G
unbower C
reek. This achieved a depth of up to 1m
in the complex
and inundated 310ha. The water lasted
throughout spring and into summ
er.
Releasing 5408M
L from G
unbower C
reek to the Little R
eedy Wetland C
omplex filled
the complex and spilled dow
nstream
through the forest to inundate 543ha of the W
histler Wetland C
omplex.
Left: Mel Tranter, North Central Catchment Management Authority. Right: Sharada Ramamurthy, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Opposite page, from top: Sharada Ramamurthy, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Kathryn Stanislawski, North Central Catchment Management Authority.
7
Environmental W
atering in Victoria 2007/08 | 11
Outcom
es
The watering provided a drought refuge
for important plants and anim
als.
Aquatic invertebrates
Aquatic invertebrates are one of the
first food sources to appear in flooded w
etlands. In June 2008, the wetlands
were quickly colonised by a range of
crustaceans and midge larvae. B
y S
eptember, larger invertebrates w
ere com
mon including diving beetles,
caddisfly and yabbies.
Frogs and turtles
Turtles started laying eggs soon after the w
ater was delivered. S
ix frog species have been recorded in the forest in recent years and all w
ere recorded again following
the watering. Three species bred in
Septem
ber: peron’s tree frogs, comm
on froglets and spotted m
arsh frogs.
Fish
Nine species of fish, including five native
species, were present in the w
etlands after the w
atering. Carp screens stopped
large carp entering the Little Gunbow
er W
etland Com
plex, which w
ould have reduced the w
atering’s success.
Native fish w
ere prominent in the
wetlands. Three native species bred after
the watering: carp gudgeon, A
ustralian sm
elt and unspecked hardyhead.
Birds
The wetlands attracted w
aterfowl, w
aders, raptors and colonial nesting w
aterbirds.
Ducks and grebes w
ere the most
abundant with m
ore than 200 birds counted, including m
ountain ducks and hoary-headed grebes. These birds m
ade use of the open w
ater in the wetlands and
the food provided by soft-leaved wetland
plants and aquatic invertebrates.
Breeding behaviour w
as initiated by great egrets but did not continue through to nesting, possibly because the area w
atered was too sm
all.
The Eagle Tree
A unique part of the G
unbower Forest
environmental w
atering program w
as a public w
ater donation to rescue the Eagle Tree (pictured).
The tree is one of the largest and oldest R
iver Red G
ums in the forest. It has a girth
of 11m and is 50m
tall. It is believed to be m
ore than 1000 years old. In the past, w
hite-bellied sea eagles have nested there and m
ore recently the tree has been used by w
edge-tailed eagles for nesting.
The tree has shed most of its leaves
and is in danger of dying because of the drought.
A concerned m
ember of the public
donated 1ML and the com
munity rallied
together to save the tree. Local State
Emergency S
ervice mem
bers created a bank w
ith sandbags to hold the water
around the tree. The Gannaw
arra Shire
provided tankers to cart the water to the
tree between January and A
pril 2008.
Before w
atering, the tree’s canopy had declined to 20 per cent. A
fter the w
atering, the canopy increased to 40 per cent, giving the tree a m
uch greater chance of surviving the drought.
8
77 | The Murray-Darling Basin Balancing the priorities of agriculture and the environment
Part B: What effect does regulating the river KDYH�RQ�LWV�ÀRZ"
�� 8VH�Graph 4.1 to highlight the changes to ULYHUÀRZV�LQ�D�VHFWLRQ�RI�WKH�0XUUD\�5LYHU�RYHU�a year compared to QDWXUDO�ÀRZV. Interpret the graph, and pose questions such as:
±��,Q�ZKDW�PRQWKV�VHDVRQ�DUH�ÀRZV�KLJKHVW�under natural conditions? How does that compare with current conditions? Why has WKLV�FKDQJH�LQ�ÀRZ�RFFXUUHG"
±��,Q�ZKDW�PRQWKV�VHDVRQ�DUH�ÀRZV�ORZHVW�XQGHU�natural conditions? How does that compare with current conditions? Why has this change LQ�ÀRZ�RFFXUUHG"
�� :HLUV�DQG�GDPV�DUH�XVHG�WR�UHJXODWH�ZDWHU��
±��'HVFULEH�WKH�EHQH¿WV�RI�WKHVH�GHYHORSPHQWV�to communities that depend on water for their livelihood.
– Describe potential problems that these developments may cause.
Flow
(ML/
day)
5,000
0
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000 Natural conditionsCurrent conditions
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Courtesy M
urray-Darling B
asin Authority
*UDSK�����0HGLDQ�PRQWKO\�ÀRZV�±�5LYHU�0XUUD\�GRZQVWUHDP�RI�WKH�<DUUDZRQJD�:HLU
9
Challenges
8QGHU�QDWXUDO�FRQGLWLRQV�WKH�ULYHU�ȍRZ�DW�*XQERZHUǞ.RRQGURRNǞ3HUULFRRWD�YDULHG�throughout the year and from year to year. River regulation has altered the hydrology RI�WKH�IRUHVWV��PRVW�QRWDEO\�LQ�UHGXFLQJ�WKH�IUHTXHQF\�RI�PHGLXP�VL]HG�VSULQJ�ȍRRGV��)ORZbUHJXODWLRQ�KDV�EHHQ�LGHQWLȌHG�DV�D�PDMRU�WKUHDW�WR�WKH�KHDOWK�RI�WKLV�VLWH��
7KH�UHGXFWLRQ�LQ�IUHTXHQF\�RI�VPDOO��UHJXODU�ȍRZ�SHDNV�LQ�ODWH�ZLQWHU�DQG�VSULQJ�KDV�FUHDWHG�D�ZDWHU�GHȌFLW�ZKLFK�KDV�FDXVHG�VRPH�SHUPDQHQW�ZHWODQGV�WR�EHFRPH�VHPL�permanent. This has had serious ecological consequences, because permanent water is DQ�LPSRUWDQW�UHTXLUHPHQW�IRU�IDXQD�VXFK�DV�VPDOO�ȌVK�DQG�FRORQLDO�QHVWLQJ�ZDWHUELUGV�
It has been calculated that because of river regulation:
ǩ� WKH�DYHUDJH�YROXPH�RI�PRQWKO\�ȍRZV�KDV�JUHDWO\�UHGXFHG
ǩ� the duration of inundation of river red gum forests has reduced from an average of ȌYH�PRQWKV�WR�WZR�PRQWKV�SHU�\HDU
ǩ� WKH�IUHTXHQF\�RI�PHGLXP�VL]HG�VSULQJ�ȍRRGLQJ�KDV�PRUH�WKDQ�KDOYHG��
ML/d
Year
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
JunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOctSepAugJul
Natural Current
Figure 2.5 Median monthly flows downstream of Torrumbarry Weir under natural and current conditions
T H E L I V I N G M U R R A Y S T O R Y 23
2
10
12WATERING THE ICON SITES — A SNAPSHOT (2011–2012)
Gunbower–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest icon site
Waterbird monitoring in Gunbower Forest in January 2012 (photo by Anna Chatfield North Central CMA)
11
13 Murray–D
arling Basin Authority
WATER
ING
THE ICO
N SITES
—A SN
APSHOT (2011–2012)
The Gunbow
er–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest straddles
the River M
urray and covers about 51,081 hectares. G
unbower Forest is on the southern side in Victoria and
the Koondrook–Perricoota Forest is on the northern side
in New
South Wales. The icon site is a highly significant
conservation area and is listed under the Ram
sar Convention on W
etlands (Gunbow
er Forest and Central M
urray State Forests). It has a diverse range of habitats, including perm
anent and semi-perm
anent wetlands,
creeks and open woodlands and is the second largest river
red gum forest in Australia.
Providing environmental w
ater this year will build
on recent environmental and unregulated (natural)
flows to provide native fish w
ith the opportunity to access different habitats and food resources w
ithin Gunbow
er Creek. Seasonal w
atering proposal for the Gunbow
er Forest, G
unbower Creek and Pyram
id Creek 2012–13, N
orth Central CMA
The Gunbow
er–Koondrook–Perricoota icon site depends on
floods to sustain the forest, as rainfall alone is not sufficient. U
nder natural conditions, medium
to high flows in the R
iver M
urray enter Gunbow
er Forest through channels distributing w
ater into the wetlands of the forest. U
nder flood conditions, w
hen volumes of w
ater in the River M
urray flow over the banks,
large scale flooding occurs across the forest floodplain. River
regulation has reduced the frequency of medium
-sized spring floods by m
ore than half.
Prior to the high inflows and floods of 2010–11 only sm
all areas of G
unbower Forest had been inundated since 2001,
and Koondrook–Perricoota forests had not been flooded since
1993. Relatively sm
all volumes of environm
ental water had
been delivered via regulators on Gunbow
er Creek to create critical drought refuge areas and m
aintain wetland vegetation
comm
unities in Gunbow
er Forest. How
ever, the condition of
eucalypts had steadily deteriorated since 2005.
The icon site received its first extensive natural flooding in over ten years during 2010–11. O
verbank flooding of the River
Murray occurred as three m
ajor flooding ‘peaks’ of above 45,000 m
egalitres a day inundated about 9,000 hectares of Gunbow
er Forest, and 27,000 hectares of K
oondrook–Perricoota Forest, betw
een September 2010 and January 2011. R
iver Murray
Unregulated Flow
s were diverted through the G
unbower Creek
system to facilitate the recovery of native fish populations.
Natural flooding occurred again during w
inter to early spring 2011 and M
arch 2012 refilling permanent and sem
i-permanent
wetlands. The M
arch 2012 floods resulted in overbank flow
s into the forest, watering about 14,700 hectares of
Gunbow
er–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest and benefitting
the creeks, forests and wetlands w
hich were still recovering
from the drought.
Progress of the works
New
environmental regulators have been built, and older ones
upgraded, in the Gunbow
er Forest (Victoria) to enable water to be
delivered more efficiently to the low
er forest. They will allow
about 2,500 hectares of the forest to be w
atered.
Further construction, which w
ill allow w
ide-scale watering of up to
4,800 hectares of the forest, will soon com
mence. This w
ill involve constructing a one kilom
etre channel by widening and depending
and existing irrigation channel. A large off-take regulator will also
be constructed to divert the flow of w
ater from G
unbower Creek
into Gunbow
er Forest. These water m
anagement structures w
ill be used to shorten the gaps betw
een natural floods and to ensure that environm
ental water is used m
ore efficiently. Construction is due for com
pletion in spring 2013.
In the Koondrook–Perricoota Forest (N
ew South W
ales) the Torrum
barry Weir provides an opportunity for w
ater to be diverted into the upstream
end of the Koondrook–Perricoota Forest.
Construction of a channel, levees and regulators has comm
enced and is expected to be com
pleted in mid 2013. The structures w
ill enable up to 16,000 hectares of the forest to be w
atered, as well as
allow w
ater to be returned directly to the River M
urray.
12
14W
ATERIN
G TH
E ICON
SITES—
A SNAPSH
OT (2011–2012)
Environmental w
ater delivered to Gunbow
er–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest
in 2011–12D
uring the 2011–12 year, water w
as provided to both Gunbow
er Creek and G
unbower Forest. G
unbower Creek provides an
important route for environm
ental water to enter the G
unbower
Forest and allows native fish to m
ove into and out of the forest. Environm
ental watering included a spring flush, to stim
ulate fish spaw
ning and migration, as w
ell as summ
er watering to
increase the area available for juvenile fish to access food and habitat.
Water source
LocationTim
ingVolum
e (ML)
The Living Murray
Gunbow
er CreekN
ov–Mar
6,056
The Living Murray
Gunbow
er ForestD
ec–Feb 645
Victoria’s unregulated entitlem
ent 1G
unbower Creek
Mar–M
ay 4,935
TOTAL 11,636 M
L
1 This water w
as not from The Living M
urray portfolio, but from Victoria’s
environmental w
ater unregulated entitlement and contributes to environm
ental outcom
es at Gunbow
er Forest
While environm
ental monitoring had show
n that there was a
good diversity of fish species in Gunbow
er Creek the abundance w
as low, indicating the potential for flow
s to improve the overall
number of fish in the creek (Victorian Environm
ental Water
Holder 2012–13). Further m
onitoring in early summ
er 2011 indicated that the environm
ental watering w
as successful in stim
ulating the movem
ent of a range of native fish species, in particular golden perch.
The Living Murray environm
ental water w
as also delivered to G
unbower Forest to top up w
etlands. This was to sustain bird
breeding which had been triggered by natural high flow
s in early spring.
Koondrook–Perricoota Forest received natural flow
s but was
not targeted for environmental w
atering due to the construction of w
ater managem
ent structures.
The Thule Creek regulator (Koondrook–Perricoota Forest) under construction in March 2012 (photo by Jam
ie Hearn, M
urray CMA)
13
Flo
od
plain v
eg
eta
tion p
roc
es
se
s du
ring d
ry ph
as
e (MD
BC
, 20
07
a)
Riv
er Re
d G
um
Fore
sts(S
Q1
& S
Q2)
Inundation for no greater than24 m
onths, unseasonal (Sum
mer-
Autumn) or prolonged flooding
leads to decline.
Riv
er Re
d G
um
Wo
od
land
(SQ
3)Prolonged flooding leads to decline.
Bla
ck B
ox W
oo
dla
nd
Less frequent rainfall favours Black Boxencroachm
ent on River R
ed Gum
Woodlands.
Mo
ira Gra
ss P
lains
Minim
um 2 m
onthsdry in S
umm
er-Autum
n to preventG
iant Rush
Invasion.
Floo
dp
lain D
ep
ression
Marsh
es
Flo
od
plain fa
un
a pro
ce
sse
s du
ring d
ry ph
as
e
Wetla
nd
bird
sD
ry phases allow nutrient accretion to support algae and m
acrophyte growth upon rew
etting.
Essential for habitat value of marshes, especially for w
aterfowl. R
emaining channels and m
arshes
provide drought refuge and support sedentary populations of wetland birds (D
SE, 2005).
FishM
ake refuge movem
ents into deeper waters during low
flow periods. Shelter am
ongst woody
debris provided by forests. Shelter and productivity of floodplain spaw
ning grounds boosted by growth of
algae and terrestrial plants during dry phase (Jones, 2006).
Gian
t Ru
sh &
Re
ed
Be
ds
Maintained in near-
permanent w
etlands.P
ersist through dry phaseas dorm
ant rhizomes on
higher ground.
Ide
al Dryin
g P
ha
se
2-6 months dry in Sum
mer-A
utumn to
maintain M
oira Grass, allow
nutrientaccum
ulation in marshes and prevent
waterlogging and decline of R
iver Red
Gum
s.
14
Flo
od
ing
re
qu
ire
me
nts o
f f
loo
dp
lain
ve
ge
tatio
n a
sso
cia
tio
ns (
MD
BC
, 20
07
a)
Riv
er R
ed
Gu
m F
ore
sts
40-9
2%
of y
ears
for 5
month
s
SQ
2
Flo
od to
lera
nt
gra
ss u
nders
tore
y
Riv
er R
ed
Gu
m W
oo
dla
nd
(S
Q3
)
33-4
6%
of y
ears
for 1
-2 m
onth
s
Bla
ck
Box
Wo
od
lan
d
14-3
3%
of y
ears
1-4
mo
nth
s
Gia
nt R
ush
&
Re
ed
Be
ds
75
-92
% o
f ye
ars
for 5
mo
nth
s
Mo
ira
Gra
ss
Pla
ins
75
-92
% o
f years
for 5
mo
nth
s
Flo
od
pla
in D
ep
re
ssio
n
Ma
rsh
es
SQ
1
Flo
od d
ependant
sedge u
nders
tore
y
Flo
od
pla
in f
au
na
pro
ce
sse
s d
urin
g w
et p
ha
se
We
tla
nd
bir
ds
F
or b
reedin
g o
f colo
nia
l nestin
g w
ate
rbird
s a
flood p
uls
e is
require
d in
Sprin
g. H
igh s
table
w
ate
r levels
should
contin
ue fo
r two m
onth
s w
ith a
gra
dual re
cessio
n. F
lood d
ura
tion m
ust b
e g
reate
r
th
an
four m
onth
s. S
uita
ble
floods m
ust o
ccur w
ithin
lifespan o
f specie
s (D
SE
, 2005). F
loodin
g
in
cre
ases e
cosyste
m p
roductiv
ity s
timula
ting a
rrival o
f mig
rants
and b
reedin
g o
f sedenta
ry w
ate
rbird
s.
Fis
h
F
ish
move in
to o
ff-stre
am
are
as v
ia a
nabra
nches o
n ris
ing flo
ws. W
ate
r tem
pera
ture
and riv
er flo
w ra
tes
p
rovid
e c
ues fo
r these m
ovem
ents
. Flo
od e
xte
nts
and re
gula
tor d
esig
n a
nd o
pera
tion m
ust p
erm
it movem
ent.
F
loo
dpla
ins p
rovid
e h
igh p
roductiv
ity e
nviro
nm
ents
and s
helte
r for s
paw
nin
g a
ctiv
ity a
nd ju
venile
fish (J
ones, 2
006)
Mid
Sp
rin
g in
ide
al f
loo
d e
ve
nt
Flo
od p
uls
e in
late
Win
ter, flo
od p
eak in
Riv
er
Red
Gu
m W
oo
dla
nd, re
cedin
g a
fter 2
month
s.
Ma
rshes a
nd lo
west R
iver R
ed G
um
Fore
sts
inundate
d fo
r 5 m
onth
s
allo
win
g fis
h a
nd w
etla
nd b
irds to
bre
ed.
15
Co
lon
ially
ne
stin
g in
flo
od
ed
Riv
er R
ed
Gu
ms
(P
ied C
orm
ora
nt o
ther C
orm
ora
nts
, Egre
ts)
Co
lon
ially
ne
stin
g in
flo
od
ed
re
ed
be
ds in
Dra
ina
ge
De
pre
ssio
n M
arsh
es (A
ustra
lian W
hite
Ibis
oth
er Ib
is, S
po
on
bills
)
Ne
stin
g in
a L
arg
e R
ive
r R
ed
Gu
m (
Sta
g) (W
hite
-bellie
d S
ea-E
agle
)
Wate
rfow
l, Co
ot a
nd
Greb
es (Paci!c Black D
uck) Shallow
or deeper open water foragers either vegetarian, om
nivorous or feeding on !sh and crustaceans
Pe
lica
n, C
orm
ora
nts, D
arte
r (Australian Pelican, Pied Corm
orant) D
eeper open waters feeding m
ainly on !sh
Ib
is, S
po
on
bills
(Royal Spoonbill , Australian White Ibis) Shallow
water m
ud"ats or wet grasslands, feeding m
ainly on animals (!sh and invertebrates)
Eg
re
ts, H
ero
ns, B
itte
rn
s, C
ra
ne
s (Australian Bittern*)
Shallow w
ater, bare mud and reedbeds, feeding on anim
als (large invertebrates, crustaceans, frogs and !sh)
Cra
ke
s, R
ails
, Wate
r H
en
s, S
nip
e (Australian Painted Snipe)*
In shallow w
ater, within cover of dense em
ergent vegetation or wet grassland. Som
e vegetarian, others mainly take invertebrates, som
e are omnivores
Sh
oreb
ird
s (Black-fronted D
otterel) Shallow
water, bare m
ud and salt marsh Feeding m
ainly on animals (invertebrates and som
e !sh)
Gu
lls, T
ern
s (Silver G
ull ) Terns, over open w
ater feeding on !sh; gulls, opportunistic feeders over a wide range of habitats.
Ra
pto
rs (W
hite-bellied Sea-Eagle) Feed on !sh, carrion and w
ater birds within large hom
e ranges centred on aquatic habitat
So
ng
bir
ds (Australian Reed W
arbler) Feed on invertebrates and nest in dense reed beds
Kin
gfis
he
rs (Azure King!sher) Feed on terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates and large invertebrates. + 2 species less dependent on aquatic habitat.
Bu
sh
Bir
ds (G
alah, Kookaburra) Roost, forage and nest in River Red Gum
s but not truly wetland-dependant
* threatened species.
- incre
ase th
e a
rea o
f fora
gin
g h
abita
t
- ma
inta
in fllo
odpla
in v
eg
eta
tion (fo
ragin
g &
roostin
g h
abita
t)
- rele
ase n
utrie
nts
accum
ula
ted in
dry
pha
se in
to a
qua
tic
foo
d w
ebs
- trigge
r bre
edin
g o
f pre
y s
pecie
s (fis
h a
nd
inve
rteb
rate
s)
- trigge
r mig
ratio
n
- trigge
r colo
nia
l nestin
g, p
rovid
e e
xtra
foo
d re
sou
rce
s
an
d p
rote
ct n
est s
ites
Riv
er R
ed
Gu
m W
oo
dla
nd
s
Riv
er R
ed
Gu
m F
ore
sts
Flo
od
pla
in D
ep
re
ssio
n M
arsh
es
In
Stre
am
Ha
bit
ats
Ne
stin
g H
ab
itat
Fo
ra
gin
g H
ab
itat
Flo
od
Eve
nts
16
TYPES OF WATER MANAGEMENT STRUCTURESRegulators: water-controlling structures that can be opened or closed to produce FRQWUROOHG�ȍRRGLQJ�DQG�GU\LQJ�RI�ZHWODQGV�WR�UHLQVWDWH�PRUH�QDWXUDO�ȍRRG�F\FOHV�
Channels: excavated creeks or waterways, sometimes with containment banks, used to direct water in or out of an area.
Levee banks: earthen embankments that keep water inside a site that is being watered and enable placement of regulators for improved management. Levees SURWHFW�QHLJKERXULQJ�SURSHUWLHV�IURP�ȍRRGLQJ�DQG�HQDEOH�FRQWURO�RI�WKH�ZDWHU�GHSWK��LQXQGDWLRQ�SHULRG�DQG�UDWH�RI�GUDZ�GRZQ�RI�D�ȍRRGLQJ�HYHQW�
Fishways:�VLWH�VSHFLȌF�VWUXFWXUHV�WKDW�DOORZ�ȌVK�WR�SDVV�WKURXJK�RU�DURXQG�physical barriers such as dams, weirs and road crossings. Four types are being used in the Murray:
ǩ� YHUWLFDO�VORW�ȌVKZD\V��ZKLFK�FRQVLVW�RI�D�VHULHV�RI�LQWHUFRQQHFWHG�SRROV�bypassing an obstruction such as a weir
ǩ� ORFN�ȌVKZD\V��ZKLFK�DWWUDFW�ȌVK�WR�D�KROGLQJ�DUHD�DW�WKH�EDVH�RI�WKH�ORFN�ZKLFK�LV�WKHQ�VHDOHG�DQG�ȌOOHG�ZLWK�ZDWHU�WR�UHDFK�WKH�KHLJKW�RI�WKH�ZDWHU�XSVWUHDP�RI�WKH�EDUULHU�VR�WKDW�ȌVK�FDQ�VZLP�RXW�RI�WKH�ORFN
ǩ� URFN�UDPS�ȌVKZD\V��DUWLȌFLDO�UDSLGV�PDGH�IURP�URFNV�ZKLFK�SURYLGH�D�GLYHUVH�ȍRZ�SDWK�DQG�DOORZ�ȌVK�WR�SDVV�RYHU�ORZ�ZHLUV
ǩ� 'HQLO�ȌVKZD\V��ZKLFK�XVH�D�VHULHV�RI�EDIȍHV�WR�UHGXFH�WKH�ȍRZ�RI�ZDWHU��DOORZLQJ�ȌVK�WR�VZLP�DURXQG�WKH�EDUULHU�
Progress so far
The initial focus of the program was mainly on identifying and testing feasible options IRU�ZRUNV�DQG�PHDVXUHV�SURMHFWV�WKDW�ZRXOG�PHHW�RU�PDNH�D�ELJ�FRQWULEXWLRQ�WR�WKH�HQYLURQPHQWDO�ZDWHU�UHTXLUHPHQWV�RI�WKH�VLWHV��7KLV�ZDV�D�VLJQLȌFDQW�H[HUFLVH��ZKLFKbWRRN�WKUHH�WR�IRXU�\HDUV�
The significance of The Living Murray has been identifying and having the chance to complete a range of water management works for improving the efficiency of water management. The budgets just weren’t around to even dare to design or think big. The Living Murray has enabled resource managers at all the icon sites to have a clean slate — ‘What do we actually require?’ — rather than being constrained by minuscule budgets.
Keith Ward
T H E L I V I N G M U R R A Y S T O R Y 59
17
4mactoss
rop of levee
Compacted till from
channel excavation or local borrow
area.
Pool created by inflows
from Torrum
barry Weir
Natural floodplain
18
19
Fish =..-
FISh Exit
20
OF VICTORIA
Spotted Dove length 30 cm(Introduced Species)
Pied Currawong length 45 cm
House Sparrow length 15 cm(Introduced Species)
Eastern Rosella length 30 cm
Crimson Rosella length 35 cm
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo length 60 cm
Grey Butcherbird length 30 cm
Red Wattlebird length 35 cm
Red-browed Finch length 12 cm Noisy Miner
length 25 cmRainbow Lorikeet length 30 cm
Willie Wagtail length 20 cm
Tawny Frogmouth length 44 cm
LaughingKookaburra length 45 cm
Sulphur-crested Cockatoolength 50 cm
Common Blackbird length 27 cm(Introduced Species)
Common (Indian) Myna length 25 cm(Introduced Species)
Magpie-lark (Pee-wee) length 25 cm
Australian Magpie length 40 cm
Galah length 35 cm
New Holland Honeyeater length 20 cm
Eastern Spinebill length 15 cm
Silvereye length 12 cm
White-plumed Honeyeater length 16 cm
Yellow-rumped Thornbill length 11 cm
Superb Fairy-wren (female and male) length 14 cm
Printed on recycled paper.
For inquiries about birds and domestic gardens, contact:
BIRDS IN BACKYARDS www.birdsinbackyards.net t (02) 9647 1875
BIRDS AUSTRALIA www.birdsaustralia.com.au t 1300 730 07521
24
Birds of our waterways and wetlands
The birdlife of our waterscapes is full of variety and fascination. Over 100 different species use our wetlands and waterways for an important part of their life, perfectly adapted to the different habitats within those environments. Herons stalk in the shallows, swamphens feed on new shoots among the reeds, ducks and cormorants dive in deeper water, while large flocks of small wading birds scurry across the mudflats picking at tiny crustaceans.
22
25
Birds of our wetlands and waterways Name(s):____________________________________________________________ Record the birds you find at your waterbody (with a tick), add notes about what it is doing or where it is (e.g. perched in reeds, wading in shallow water). Waterbirds
Black swan Black Swans are very large birds with a long slender neck and red bill. They are usually seen gracefully gliding on the water or walking on the bank.
□_________________________________
Grey teal These small birds are quick flyers and they can be found in pairs or large flocks feeding on aquatic plants in shallow water. The male’s call is a loud ‘pip’ while the female’s is a long laughing cackle.
□_________________________________
Pacific black duck These ducks can be found on all types of water. They mainly eat seeds of aquatic plants but may also eat small crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects.
□_________________________________
Hardhead Hardheads are dark brown ducks with a distinctive white eye and light blue tipped bill. They inhabit well vegetated swamps and open water areas. They dabble and dive for food such as invertebrates
□_________________________________
23
26
Musk duck* (photo Rohan Clarke) Musk ducks have dark feathers and a short bill. They float low in the water so the tail is often under water. The male has a large lobe beneath the bill. They use their feet to make loud splashing noises when attracting a mate. They are often seen in deeper water where they dive for invertebrates, plants, frogs and fish.
□_________________________________
Australian wood duck Wood ducks have a dark brown head with a short black beak and their call is a nasal ‘mnow’. They are often seen looking for food on grassy areas away from wetlands.
□_________________________________
Eurasian coot Coots are easily recognised by their small dumpy dark bodies and pronounced white bill. They feed in shallow to deep water, diving for plant material, and when they swim their lobed feet cause jerky movements in the water. Their call can vary but is very sharp and noisy.
□_________________________________
Dusky moorhen The Dusky moorhen is another small bird although very shy. When walking it jerks its tail and has a squawky call resembling a ‘kerrk’. They can be seen out in the open, however small flocks are sometimes seen on the open water.
□_________________________________ Purple swamphen Purple swamphens are black on their back and wings with a purple-blue breast, belly and neck and a white under tail. They have a bright red bill and large red legs and feet. They feed on the shoots of reeds (and sometimes frogs and snails) in shallow water or on land.
□_________________________________
24
27
Swamp harrier* (photo Rohan Clarke) Harriers are related to eagles and hawks, which all have a hooked bill, long wings and strong talons. They are a greyish brown colour and lighter outer wing feathers. They glide low over wetlands watching for movements of any small animal to eat (small birds, frogs, fish, small mammals).
□_________________________________ Osprey The Osprey is a medium-sized fish-eating bird of prey. It has dark brown upperparts and pale underparts. Ospreys are found on the coast and estuaries / wetlands near the coast. The Osprey feeds mainly on medium-sized live fish, which it does not swallow whole, but rips apart to eat.
□_________________________________ Hoary-Headed grebe The Hoary-headed grebe is usually found away from the shoreline in large open waters, which may be estuarine, brackish or freshwater. The Hoary-headed Grebe feeds on aquatic invertebrates, mostly caught by deep diving.
□_________________________________
Darter The Darter is a large, slim water bird with a long snake-like neck, sharp pointed bill, and long, rounded tail. It prefers smooth, open waters, for feeding, with tree trunks, branches, stumps or posts fringing the water, for resting and drying its wings. The Darter catches fish with its sharp bill partly open while diving in water deeper than 60 cm..
□_________________________________
Pied cormorant Pied cormorants have black feathers on their back, wings, tail and top of the head, with white underneath. They feed by diving for fish and invertebrates. □_________________________________
25
28
Little black cormorant Often seen with pelicans they often herd fish in groups, diving down to catch them. Unlike most water birds their bodies are not water resistant and so must dry their plumage frequently. They nest in low trees in wetlands and have a hoarse croaking call.
□_________________________________ Australian pelican*(photo Jen Mitchell) Pelicans are very large birds which are mainly white with black and have a long pink bill used for catching fish. Found in both fresh and salt water environments.
□_________________________________
White-faced heron* (photo Jen Mitchell) White-faced heron have a grey body and white face. They are good flyers but not good swimmers as they don’t have webbed feet. They have a long slender beak, perfect for catching small fish, and are perched atop their long slender legs, enabling them to peer through the water.
□_________________________________
Great egret Egrets are large bids with unwebbed feet, long legs and bills. Great egrets have white feathers, a yellow bill and dark legs. They wade in shallow water to feed on fish, frogs, invertebrates and reptiles.
□_________________________________
Yellow-billed spoonbill* (photo Michael Taylor) Yellow-Billed spoonbills are found throughout Australia’s freshwater environments which is their ideal habitat. They have a long, yellow, spoon-shaped bill which they use to catch prey by ‘swishing’ it from side to side in the water.
□_________________________________
26
29
White ibis They have a white body with a black upper neck and unfeathered head. They often feed in large groups and mostly eat invertebrates, but also eat fish, frogs and garbage. Ibis can be found feeding in pastures, built up areas and garbage tips, as well as wetlands.
□_________________________________
Black winged stilt Black-winged stilts are mainly white except for the black neck and wings. They have a long straight bill and long pink legs. They are usually seen in shallow water or on mud picking invertebrates from the surface.
□_________________________________
Greenshank Greenshank are a mix of brown and white on the back and white underneath. They have a long slightly up-turned bill. They feed in shallow water for invertebrates or fish. Greenshank breed in northern Asia (Siberia) and migrate to southern Australia in our spring / summer.
□_________________________________ Silver gull* Normally considered a coastal bird they’re often spotted around wetlands and rivers. Gulls can be very vocal making a variety of loud and soft calls.
□_________________________________
Crested tern Crested terns have a pale yellow bill, scruffy black crest, grey wings and back, and a white neck and underparts. They are aerial feeders that dive into the water to catch their prey.
□_________________________________
27
30
Bush birds often found near waterbodies Sacred kingfisher Sacred Kingfishers are related to Kookaburras. They are mainly turquoise, with off-white underparts and a cream collar. They feed on crustaceans, reptiles, insects and their larvae and, occasionally, fish. The birds perch on low exposed branch on the lookout for prey.
□_________________________________
Magpie lark (Mudlarks) These birds build their nest from mud, bound and lined with grasses. They mainly feed on insects and other small invertebrates and have a clear ringing “pee-wit” or “pee-o-wit” call which is heard particularly early in the morning.
□_________________________________ Australian ringneck (Twenty eight) The Australian ringneck is a large green parrot with a yellow hind collar. They whistle and make a call that sounds like ‘twenty eight’, hence their common name. When they fly they rise and fall and their food includes eucalypt seeds, flowers and fruits and grasses.
□_________________________________ Galah Galahs are well known for their pink and grey colouring and loud screeches. Galahs form huge, noisy flocks which feed on seeds, mostly from the ground. They mostly nest in tree hollows and form permanent pair bonds.
□_________________________________
Grey fantail Grey fantails are very similar to Willy wagtails in that they are very active and continuously wave their tails. The Grey fantail feeds on flying insects, which it catches by chasing them from the edge of foliage at all levels in the canopy.
□_________________________________
There are many other types of birds that are found in and near wetlands, creeks and rivers. If you see a bird that is not covered here, write or sketch a description and use a website or bird field guide to help you identify it. Try: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/
28
NATIVE FISHES
There are 46 species of native fish in the Murray–D
arling Basin,
ranging from tiny gudgeons and pygm
y perch to the Murray cod
which can reach 1.8 m
and 113.5 kg.
Populations of many native fish species in the B
asin have declined over the past 50 years, m
ainly due to habitat loss or m
odification, barriers to fish movem
ent and the effects of introduced species.
OF THE MURRAY!DARLIN
G BASIN
Murray cod
(Maccullochella peelii)
Endangered. Comm
only 45-65 cm.
Australia’s largest freshwater fish; it has
been recorded up to 1.8 m and 113.5 kg.
Found throughout most of the B
asin, except for upper reaches of the southern tributaries. H
as been introduced into many
lakes and dams.
Un-specked hardyhead
(Craterocephalus stercusm
uscarum fulvus)
Comm
only 5-7 cm. Form
erly widespread, but
has declined and is now threatened. M
ore com
mon in the northern B
asin and patchily found in the m
iddle and lowland sections of
rivers and some tributaries in the south.
Australian smelt (Retropinna sem
oni) Com
monly 4-7 cm
. Has been recorded in m
ost low
land streams of the B
asin, preferring slow-
moving or still w
ater in a variety of habitats.
Murray–D
arling rainbowfish
(Melanotaenia fluviatilis) Com
monly
5-7 cm. G
enerally restricted to backw
aters, billabongs and slow-
flowing areas throughout the B
asin.
Trout cod (Maccullochella m
acquariensis)Com
monly 40-50 cm
. Endangered. Once
widespread but now
reduced to only small
breeding populations, the largest of which
is in the River M
urray between Yarraw
onga and B
armah.
Macquarie perch
(Macquaria australasica)
Threatened. Comm
only 25-35 cm. Typically
found in the cool, upper reaches of the R
iver Murray system
in Vic, NSW
and the ACT. M
ost remaining populations sm
all and isolated.
Western carp gudgeon (H
ypseleotris klunzingeri) Com
monly 3-5 cm
. As a group, carp gudgeons are w
idespread and comm
on at mid-to-low
er altitudes in the central and southern B
asin.
Purple-spotted gudgeon (M
ogurnda adspersa) Com
monly 4-5 cm
. A threatened species m
ostly found in the upper eastern reaches of the B
asin.
Short-finned eel (Anguilla australis) Com
monly 70 cm
. Primarily a fish of
coastal streams outside of the B
asin, although occasionally recorded in inland stream
s.
Olive perchlet (Am
bassis agassizii) Com
monly 4-6 cm
. Formerly
widespread in the M
urray–D
arling Basin, now
largely restricted to the northern B
asin.
Golden perch (M
acquaria ambigua)
Comm
only 25-45 cm.
Widespread throughout low
land, slow flow
ing rivers of the B
asin.
Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)
Threatened. Comm
only 30-45 cm. Form
erly widespread
over much of the B
asin excluding the most upper reaches,
it has declined over most of its range to occasional
populations in the mid-M
urray.
Spangled perch (Leiopotherapon unicolour)
Comm
only 10-20 cm. Australia’s m
ost w
idespread native freshwater fish. In the B
asin it occurs in the north and w
est, primarly north
of Condoblin.
Bony herring (N
ematalosa erebi)
Comm
only 10-20 cm. W
idespread in the m
ajority of Basin’s low
land rivers, w
here they are often the most
abundant native species. Largely absent from
upland rivers.
Freshwater catfish
(Tandanus tandanus) Com
monly 30-45 cm
. W
idespread throughout the M
urray–Darling B
asin, but generally in the low
er, slow-
flowing rivers.
Images:
Gunther Schm
ida, Neil Arm
strong
29
INTRODUCED FISHES
Eleven introduced or alien species of fish have been recorded in the M
urray–Darling B
asin. The range and im
pacts of each species on the environm
ent and on native fish varies. Some
fish were introduced for recreational angling
while others w
ere introduced through the aquarium
trade.
OF THE MURRAY!DARLIN
G BASIN
Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Com
monly 4-5 kg. W
idely distributed in slopes and low
land rivers and creeks as well as upland
streams. Carp often com
prise between 70-90%
of the fish biom
ass in lakes and streams. Carp
can tolerate low oxygen levels and higher levels
of pollutants and turbidity than many native
fish. Their feeding behaviour affects water
quality.
Redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Comm
only 40 cm and 1-2 kg. W
idely distributed throughout the southern part of the B
asin, mainly occurring in slow
-flowing or
still water habitats such as lakes, billabongs
and swam
ps. Redfin are voracious predators of other fish and invertebrates. They carry a virus that affects m
any native fish.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Comm
only 20 cm. W
idespread in the M
urray–Darling B
asin.
Tench (Tinca tinca) U
sually 10-30 cm. Prim
arily restricted to Victoria. Often abundant in off-channel habitats such as backw
aters and lagoons and in deep, sheltered holes.
Eastern gambusia (Gam
busia holbrooki) Fem
ales usually 6 cm, m
ales smaller.
Widely distributed throughout the B
asin, com
monly found in farm
dams, slow
-flow
ing waters and shallow
wetlands.
A high reproductive rate means it often
greatly outnumbers native species.
Oriental weatherloach
(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)
Usually 16-19 cm
. Now
established throughout the entire B
asin. The oriental weatherloach can
burrow to escape predators and m
ove overland to disperse, giving it a com
petitive edge over native species.
Atlantic salmon
(Salmo salar)
Comm
only 1-3 kg. Only found in areas w
here the species has been stocked for recreational fishing.
Brow
n trout (Salmo trutta)
Comm
only 1-4 kg. Forms the basis
of important recreational fisheries in
south-eastern Australia and is widely
distributed in the cool upland streams
and lakes of the Murray–D
arling Basin.
Roach (Rutilus rutilus)
Comm
only 15-20 cm.
Occasionally recorded in the
Victorian waters of the M
urray–D
arling Basin.
Rainbow trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Comm
only 1-4 kg. Popular species for recreational fishing. W
idely distributed in the cooler upland stream
s of the Basin.
Brook char
(Salvelinus fontinalis) Com
monly 80-85 cm
. Not
comm
on in the Murray–
Darling B
asin.
Images:
Gunther Schm
ida, N
eil Armstrong
Tilapia (Oreochromis m
ossambicus)
Comm
only 20 cm. A hardy, adaptable
and rapid breeder, Tilapia thrives in even highly disturbed w
atercourses. W
ith several established breeding populations in southern Q
ueensland, spread into the B
asin is a high risk.NEW
THREAT
30
31
STREAM
WATC
H
32
�Two�
water�
depth�loggers�
have�recently�
been�installed�in�G
unbower�Forest.�The�loggers�are�linked�
to�the�internet,�allowing�instant�access�to�w
ater�depth�inform
ation.�
The�loggers�will�help�the�N
orth�Central�CMA�gain�a�
better�understanding�
of�water�
levels�across�
Gunbow
er�Forest�during�natural�flooding�events.�In�particular�the�inform
ation�will�be�used�to�learn�
more�about�how
�changing�water�levels�influence�
the�breeding�behavior�of�colonial�waterbirds,�such�
as�Egrets,�Ibis�and�Cormorants.�
“Falling�water�levels�under�colonies�of�breeding�
birds�is�known�to�cause�adult�birds�to�abandon�
nests�which�m
ay�contain�eggs�or�young�chicks.�It�is�thought�tha t�the�falling�w
ater�levels�and�drying�out�of�w
etlands�in�the�forest�is�a�signal�to�the�birds�that�food�resources�are�running�out,”�said�CM
A�Project�
Manager�A
nna�Chatfield.�
The�loggers�have�been�installed�in�a�known�colonial�
waterbird�breeding�area;�Little�G
unbower�W
etland�Com
plex�and�in�Green�Sw
amp.�
Since�the�major�flooding�of�G
unbower�Forest�in�
2010/11�the�forest�has�received�further�natural�inflow
s�in�the�spring�of�2011�and�in�the�winter�and�
spring�of�2012�from�rises�in�the�M
urray�River.�
This�has�
created�ideal�
conditions�for�
colonial�waterbirds�to�again�breed�in�the�spring�and�sum
mer�
of�2012.�
“This�spring�and�summer�w
e�will�be�in�the�forest�
monitoring�the�breeding�birds�and�using�the�w
ater�level�loggers�to�determ
ine�if�environmental�w
ater�is�needed�to�allow
�waterbirds�to�successfully�fledge�
their�young�this�year”�said�Anna.�
Funding�for�the�water�depth�loggers�w
as provided�
by�The�Living�Murray�Initiative.�
� Water�D
epth�logger�installed�in�Little�Gunbow
er�Wetland�Com
plex��(Photo�courtesy�of�Rohan�O
liver)�� Great�egret�chicks�in�G
unbower�Forest�
January�2012��(Photo�courtesy�of�A
nna�Chatfield)�
x Hipw
ell�Road�Weir�and�fishw
ay�–�a�new
�weir�in�G
unbower�Creek�w
ill�be�operated�to�enable�m
aximum
�inflow�
rates�of�1,650�ML/day�to�be�achieved.�
GoulburnͲM
urray�Water�
(GͲM
W)�
will�
manage�the�construction�w
orks.��
According�
to�Gre g�
Watkins,�
GͲM
W�
Construction�Manager,�sm
all�construction�tasks�w
ill�commence�late�this�year,�w
ith�the�major�construction�activity�com
mencing�in�
early�2013.�
The�Offtake�
Regulator�and�
channel�will�be�constructed�first,�follow
ed�by�the�bridge�and�w
eir�in�Gunbow
er�Creek.�Construction�is�expected�to�be�com
pleted�by�late�2013.��
�For�updates�on�construction�visit�the�North�
Central�CMA�website�
www.nccm
a.vic.gov.au �
�����
������������������������������������
��������������
The�MurrayͲD
arling�Basin�Authority�(M
DBA
)�has�approved�a�$13.5�m
illion�package�of�works�for�
the�construction�of�the�Hipw
ell�Road�Channel.�
This�represents�
a�major�
milestone�
in�the�
Gunbow
er�Forest�Flooding�for�Life�Project�which�
has�been�investigating�the�most�efficient�and�
effective�way�
to�deliver�
large�volum
es�of�
environmental�w
ater�to�the�forest�for�th e�past�12�years.�
The�package�of�works�involves�the�follow
ing�engineering�structures:�
x Hipw
ell�Road�Channel�Ͳ�a�one�kilometre�
channel�near�
Hipw
ell�Road�
connecting�Gunbow
er�Creek�to�Gunbow
er�Forest�
x Island�
Road�Bridge�
Ͳ�a�
bridge�where�
Cohuna�Island�
Road�crosses�
the�Hipw
ell�Road�Channel�
x Offtake�
Regulator�and�
fish�lock�
–�a�
regulator�that�controls�fl ows�entering�the�
new�channel�and�forest.�
COMMUNITY
NEW
SLETTER
North�Central�CM
A�
Reception�Ph:�03�5448�7124��Melanie�Tranter�
Gunbow
er�Forest�Manager�
Email:�
melanie.tranter@
nccma.vic.gov.au�
�Anna�Chatfield�
Gunbow
er�Forest�Project�Manager
Email:�
anna.chatfield@nccm
a.vic.gov.au�
�
Edition�1�Novem
ber�2012
��
�����Artist’s�im
pression�of�the�Hipw
ell�Road�Channel�Package�of�Works�
Welcom
e�to�the�first�‘Flooding�for�Life’�com
munity�new
sletter!�
This�quarterly�newsletter�w
ill�be�used�to�keep�you�upͲtoͲdate�with�the�N
orth�Central�Catchm
ent�Managem
ent�Authority’s�Flooding�for�Life�Project�at�G
unbower�Forest.�
New
sletters�will�be�sent�to�households�around�G
unbower�Forest.�W
e�hope�you�enjoy�it!��
Upcom
ing�event:�Cohuna�Festival�(Austoberfest)�
Saturday�3�Novem
ber�2012�Visit�the�G
unbower�Forest�‘Flooding�for�Life’�inform
ation�tent�to�meet�the�team
�who�w
ork�on�the�project�and�learn�m
ore�about�what�they�get�up�to�in�the�forest!�The�‘Flooding�for�Life’�inform
ation�tent�w
ill�be�located�at�the�main�A
ustoberfest�site�in�Garden�Park.�
New
sletter�authors:�Anna�Chatfield,�M
elanie�Tranter�and�Britt�Gregory�
This�newsletter�is�m
ade�possible�by�funding�provided�by�The�Living�Murray�initiative�of�the�M
urrayͲDarling�Basin�A
uthority.�
This�publication�may�be�of�assistance�to�you,�but�the�N
orth�Central�Catchment�M
anagement�A
uthority�and�its�employees�do�not�guarantee�that�the�publication�is�
without�flaw
�of�any�kind,�or�is�wholly�appropriate�for�your�particular�purposes�and�therefore�disclaim
s�all�liability�for�any�error,�loss�or�other�consequence�which�m
ay�arise�from
�you�relying�on�information�in�this�publication.�
The�Living�Murray�is�a�joint�initiative�funded�by�the�N
ew�South�W
ales,�Victorian,�South Australian,�Australian�Capital�Territory�and Com
monw
ealth�governments,�
coordinated�by�the�Murray–D
arling�Basin�Authority.�
$13.5 Million M
ilestone Success
Monitoring U
pdate
Forest Water D
epth Loggers Installed
33
�
Environmental�w
ater�has�been�flowing�through�
Gunbow
er�Creek�since�July�this�year.��
An�allocation�of�environm
ental�water�w
as�reserved�for�the�creek�from
�a�combination�of�entitlem
ents�held�by�The�Living�M
urray�and�Commonw
ealth�Environm
ental�Water�H
older.��
“The�aim�of�the�environm
ental�water�is�to�provide�
better�conditions�for�native�fish�in�the�creek,”�said�North�Central�CM
A�M
anager,�Melanie�Tranter.���
“Under�
normal�
operations,�GoulburnͲM
urray�Water�drains�G
unbower�Creek�once�the�irrigation�
season�ends.�This�helps�to�check�the�growth�of�the�
invasive�water�lily�by�exposing�it�to�frost,�but�
disrupts�the�life�cycle�of�native�fish�that�rely�on�winter�flow
s.”�
“This�year�after�the�creek�was�drained�and�a�few
�frosts�had�hit�the�w
ater�lil y�we�began�delivering�
water�to�the�creek�to�assist�native�fish�prepare�for�
spawning�in�spring.”�
“Juvenile�fish�do�not�carry�a�lot�of�body�reserves�during�w
inter�so�it�is�really�important�that�a�food�
supply�is�maintained�or�they�w
ill�starve.�The�adult�fish�eat�the�sm
aller�fish�to�survive�and�draw�on�
their�own�reserves,�how
ever�the�loss�of�condition�
affects�their�ability�to�spawn�in�the�subsequent�
spring.�It’s�really�the�same�principle� as�m
aking�sure�a�cow
�is�in�good�condition�before�br eeding,”�said�M
elanie.�
A�
further�5�
GL�
of�The�
Living�Murray�
environmental�w
ater�has�been�reserved�for�use�in�Gunbow
er�Forest�this�spring�and�summer.�The�
water�
will�
be�used�
to�provide�
connectivity�betw
een�Gunbow
er�Creek�and�the�River�Murray�
and�to�
provide�topͲup�
flows�
if�requ ired�
to�maintain�a�bird�breeding�event.�
�
Gunbow
er�Creek�
below�Cohuna�
Weir,�
26�Septem
ber�2012�
(Photo�courtesy�
of�Melanie�
Tranter)�
Partnering w
ith Yorta Y
orta Nations A
boriginal Corporation
Yorta�Yorta�representative�Simon�N
icholson�and�SKM�
archeologist�Jeff�Hill�recording�a�scar�tree�near�H
ipwell�
Road�(Photo�courtesy�of�SKM).�
Over�3,200�copies�of�the�coffee�table�book�‘G
unbower�Forest�Ͳ�Flooding�for�Life’�have�been�circulated�throughout�the�
Cohuna,�Leitchville,�Koondrook�and�Gunbow
er�areas.�
The�book�has�provided�a�way�for�the�N
orth�Central�CMA�to�share�the�know
ledge�that�has�been�gained�over�the�past�12�years�through�beautiful�photographs�taken�by�CM
A�staff�and�by�others�that�also�w
ork�in�and�enjoy�the�forest.���
Copies�of�the�book�have�also�been�available�to�visitors�at�the�Gatew
ay�to�Gannaw
arra�Centre�in�Cohuna.�
Colleen�Shay,�Tourism�and�G
ateway�coordinator�says�“The�book�has�been�extrem
ely�popular�with�locals�and�tourists.��
People�are�amazed�by�the�pictures�and�inform
ation�in�the�book�and�they�always�com
ment�on�how
�beautiful�it�is.�School�children�are�also�draw
n�to�the�book�and�so�it�is�also�a�great�educational�tool.”�
Limited�copies�of�the�book�are�still�available.�Contact�the�N
orth�Central�CMA�or�the�G
ateway�to�G
annawarra�Centre�for�
a�copy.�
�����
Over Three Thousand ‘Flooding for Life’ books
The�North�Central�CM
A�Indigenous�Facilitator,�Bam
bi�Lees,�
has�been�
working�
closely�with�
Yorta�Yorta�
Nations,�
GoulburnͲM
urray�Water�
and�archeologists�
from�SKM
�to�develop�a�Cultural�Heritage�M
anagement�
Plan�(CHMP).�
Bambi�said�“The�CH
MP�is�a�legal�requirem
ent�for�construction�
of�the�
environmental�
water�
delivery�structures�at�H
ipwell�Road.�W
e�work�w
ith�Yorta�Yorta�to�
survey�the�
construction�footprint�
and�develop�
managem
ent�recom
mendations�
that�will�
protect�cultural�heritage�during�construction.�The�plan�also�sets�
out�what�
all�the�
parties�must�
do�if�
cultural�heritage�is�found�during�construction.”�
A�team
�of�Yorta�Yorta�cultural�heritage�monitors�w
as�involved�in�the�w
eek�long�survey�of�the�Hipw
ell�Road�area.�D
uring�the�survey�the�team�checked�all�trees�for�
cultural�scars,�
and�exam
ined�the�
ground�for�
any�mounds,�shell�deposits,�hearths,�artefact�scatters�and�
burials.�
�“A�total�of�nine�scar�trees�w
ere�recorded�through�the�survey,�including�coolam
on,�canoe�and�shield�scars,”�said�Bam
bi.�
Prior�to�construction�at�Hipw
ell�Road�commencing�
Yorta�Yorta�
monitors�
will�
be�assisting�
GͲM
W�with�
cultural�heritage�inductions�for�construction�workers.�
Monitors�w
ill�be�on�site�to�implem
ent�the�cultural�heritage�protection�w
orks�during�construction�which�
have�been�agreed�to�in�the�CHMP.��
�
Environmental W
atering Update
The�North�Central�CM
A’s�Ram
sar�Wetlands�
Enhancement�
Project�team
�has�
been�working�tow
ards�protecting�and�enhancing�the�ecological�values�of�the�G
unbower�Forest�
over�the�past�three�years.�
The�North�Central�CM
A�staff�w
ork�closely�with�
the�forest’s�
land�managers,�
Parks�Victoria�
and�Departm
ent�of�
Sustainability�and�Environm
ent�(DSE),�to�set�priorities�for�
pest�plant�
and�anim
al�control�
within�
the�forest.��
Carl�Gray,�
North�
Central�CM
A�Project�
Manager�said�“Bridal�Creeper�has�becom
e�an�increasingly�
common�
weed�
in�Gunbow
er�Forest�and�is�a�high�priority�for�us�this�year.�Seeds�of�bridal�creeper�are�spread�by�birds�and�
also�by�
vehicles�so�
we�
see�large�
infestations�along�
popular�tracks�
in�the�
forest.�Once�
it�gets�
established�Bridal�
Creeper�has�
a�sm
othering�effect�
on�just�
about�anything�
in�its�
path�and�
prevents�native�plant�regeneration.”��
Keeping B
ridal Creeper U
nder Control
The�best�time�to�spray�the�w
eed�is�in�winter�or�
early�spring�when�the�plant�is�flow
ering�so�over�the�last�few
�months�the�w
ork�crews�have�
been targeting�the�w
eed.�Bridal�creeper�is�listed�as�a�W
eed�of�National�Significance.�
So�far�this�year,�the�project�team�has treated�
around�250�
ha�of�
Bridal�Creeper�
along�Gunbow
er�Creek�and�in�Gunbow
er�Forest.
Bridal�Creeper�
infestation�in�
Gunbow
er�Forest�(Photo�courtesy�of�Carl�G
ray)�
Scar�tree�recorded�during�
cultural�heritage�
surveys�at�
Hipw
ell�Road�
(Photo�courtesy�of�SKM
)�
Flows for G
unbower C
reek
34
• Watering has been running for 65 days • Over 37 GL of water has been delivered to the forest through the Hipwell Road Channel • Approx. 3783 Ha of the forest has been inundated, which includes:
o 64% of the forest wetlands o 20% of the red gum forest
• Water begun exiting the forest and returning to the Murray River last week. Flow Summary
• Flow over Gunbower Weir is currently being increased to test the capacity of Gunbower Creek.
• Maximum flow into Hipwell Road Channel will be maintained for the next few weeks. • Flow over Hipwell Road Weir is providing important benefits for native fish. • Fishway on Yarran Creek regulator has been opened to allow native fish in the
Gunbower Creek to move into the forest. Nutrient and carbon rich water entering Gunbower Creek will also help to boost the productivity of the creek, benefiting native fish, crustaceans and aquatic plants.
Location Approx. Flow (ML/d) Gunbower Weir 1200 Hipwell Road Channel 750 Hipwell Road Weir 380 Cohuna Weir 380 Yarran Regulator 25 Koondrook Weir 250 Chinamans Bend (forest outfall) 300 • Natural high Murray River flows
o Murray River has been rising over past few weeks, it peaked at 17,000ML/d and is now receding.
o Water level in the forest is higher than that in the Murray River therefore gates on Murray River regulators (Shillinglaws and Barham Cut) will remain closed for now.
• Blackwater o Some pockets of water that is low in dissolved oxygen (DO) (<3 mg/L) have been
recorded in the forest. o These are in areas where there is little water exchange and are expected. o Generally DO levels across the forest are ranging between 8 – 4 mg/L o Water exiting the forest is mixing with water in Gunbower Creek and the Murray
River. Good dilution is currently occurring , with DO levels at Condidorios bridge around 6mg/L.
Environmental watering update August 2014
GUNBOWER FOREST
35
North Central CMA Reception Ph: 03 5448 7124 Anna Chatfield Gunbower Forest Project Manager Email: [email protected]
Photo1: North Central CMA staff member Amy Russell, taking a dissolved oxygen reading at Dry Swamp Track bridge, where water exits the forest.
Photo2: Water filling Reedy Lagoon
36