Looking After Toorale's Wildlife and Plants

Flock of ibis on Western Floodplain Western on ibis of Flock Toorale on machinery Agricultural painted snipe, and Australasian bittern. bittern. Australasian and snipe, painted Summary of longer-term outcomes

threatened bird species like the Australian Australian the like species bird threatened Environmental water under the Basin-wide Environmental

egrets, pelicans, brolgas, and nationally nationally and brolgas, pelicans, egrets, Watering Strategy

birdlife such as ibis, freckled ducks, spoonbills, spoonbills, ducks, freckled ibis, as such birdlife is dedicated to

Seasonal wetlands support an abundance of of abundance an support wetlands Seasonal Increase freshes and bank-full events in

which comes to life after rain and flooding. flooding. and rain after life to comes which improving the health of the Barwon-Darling. These help drown out Toorale is part of a boom and bust landscape, landscape, bust and boom a of part is Toorale weirs to allow animals and material to our rivers, floodplains move up and down the river (longitudinal

aquatic insects. insects. aquatic connectivity) and also connect the river

array of frogs, fish, plants, waterbirds and and waterbirds plants, fish, frogs, of array and wetlands

and in-stream habitat features such as

diverse habitats and ecosystems for a vast vast a for ecosystems and habitats diverse Western Floodplain during drought

benches, large wood, anabranches and

are important as together they provide provide they together as important are the floodplain (lateral connectivity).

Western Floodplain. These three features features three These Floodplain. Western Commonwealth

Darling Rivers, and includes the Warrego River River Warrego the includes and Rivers, Darling environmental water is Toorale is at the junction of the Warrego and and Warrego the of junction the at is Toorale A fresh event describes an increase in

levels of the river beyond base flow, but the Kurnu-Baakandji. Kurnu-Baakandji. the managed in partnership with

does not fill the river channel or go over

Service and Traditional Owners, Owners, Traditional and Service state government and local the bank. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Wildlife and Parks National NSW delivery partners to improve

Maintain current forest and woodland and is jointly managed by the the by managed jointly is and connections between rivers, vegetation, including river red gum,

blackbox, coolibah, lignum shrublands

and State Conservation Area, Area, Conservation State and floodplains and wetlands.

and non-woody vegetation communities.

Toorale is now a National Park Park National a now is Toorale

middens, burials, stone arrangements and and arrangements stone burials, middens, Increase growth for vegetation

practices throughout Toorale’s history. Toorale’s throughout practices stones, worked quarries, trees, scar including

values and water recovery. recovery. water and values Commonwealth environmental water is communities within river corridors,

Kangaroos on Western Floodplain

have lived, worked and continued cultural cultural continued and worked lived, have

over 500 known Aboriginal cultural sites, sites, cultural Aboriginal known 500 over particularly used in sites that support nationally wetlands and low-lying floodplains.

agricultural, environmental environmental agricultural,

then, changed hands many times. The Kurnu Kurnu The times. many hands changed then,

and cultural practices. On Toorale there are are there Toorale On practices. cultural and threatened species under the Environmental

Maintain the diversity of waterbirds and family-owned for over 50 years, and since since and years, 50 over for family-owned stories dreaming Kurnu to central are Floodplain

heritage, both Aboriginal and and Aboriginal both heritage, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

increase the population through

Australia to install electric lighting. Toorale was was Toorale lighting. electric install to Australia

The Warrego and Darling rivers and Western Western and rivers Darling and Warrego The 1999 and state-based legislation, as well as

the government in 2008 for its its for 2008 in government the improved breeding opportunities.

including having the first shearing shed in in shed shearing first the having including

significant to the Kurnu-Baakandji people. people. Kurnu-Baakandji the to significant migratory birds protected under international

history of pastoral and irrigation development, development, irrigation and pastoral of history highly are Toorale of animals and plants

Toorale Station was bought by by bought was Station Toorale agreements. We are also working toward Restore and maintain the conditions

stations along the Darling River. It has a long long a has It River. Darling the along stations

non-indigenous heritage. The land, water, water, land, The heritage. non-indigenous achieving environmental outcomes as needed for native fish spawning,

also one of the former legendary pastoral pastoral legendary former the of one also Toorale is also rich in Aboriginal and and Aboriginal in rich also is Toorale outlined in the Basin-wide Environmental Water movement between areas, and healthy

pastoral communities communities pastoral Toorale, which began operating in 1850, was was 1850, in operating began which Toorale, Strategy (part of the implementation of the fish communities.

blind snake. snake. blind Murray-Darling Basin Plan). Toorale’s land and water. water. and land Toorale’s interior and bat long-eared greater the are

Aboriginal people and and people Aboriginal

of use and management the in have home Toorale call that species significant Other

ongoing role the Kurnu-Baakandji people people Kurnu-Baakandji the role ongoing cod. Murray and perch silver threatened the environment, environment, the

country are today maintained through the the through maintained today are country nationally the and smelt Australian and catfish

to Connections years. of thousands for Hytrl’s perch, golden herring, bony including

Toorale is significant for for significant is Toorale Spoonbill and ibis

A range of native fish species live in the rivers, rivers, the in live species fish native of range A ovens that demonstrate their occupation occupation their demonstrate that ovens

The Commonwealth Environmental Our partners Water Holder acknowledges the Kurnu-Baakandji traditional owners The best approaches to environmental water management involve local and respects their continued T: 1800 803 772 Commonwealth Environmental Water Office knowledge and the latest science. connection to water, land and E: [email protected] community. We pay our respects to W: www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo Following the purchase of Toorale Station, its LOOKING AFTER water entitlements were transferred to the them, and their cultures, and to their @theCEWH elders both past and present. Australian Government, and are managed by Postal address: TOORALE’S the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder in consultation with NSW National Parks and GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 Taking photos of ibis on Western Floodplain WILDLIFE AND Wildlife Service. These water entitlements are now known as environmental water. PLANTS Scientific monitoring of the effects of environmental water at Toorale is conducted by Eco Logical Australia, in partnership with the University of New England and the Department of Primary Industry-Fisheries. These organisations provide advice on what is being achieved with environmental watering. Please contact your local engagement officer, Adrian Clements in Dubbo, NSW to learn more about Commonwealth environmental water use at Toorale. Central netted dragon. Photo: L. Copeland

Adrian Clements Local engagement officer – Dubbo, NSW M: 0437 141 495 E: [email protected]

Toorale is open to visitors who can now experience the environmental benefits that have occurred since becoming a national park Above: Kurnu-Baakandji community members Wayne Knight, and focus on of targeted watering actions. Badger Bates, Dennis Edwards and Bryan Knight in a front of a scar tree identified during a cultural survey of Toorale. For more information on visiting Toorale see: Photo: Sarah Martin www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Cover: Junction of the Warrego and Darling Rivers. Back cover: Toorale’s welcome sign. Brolga. Photo: L. Copeland Monitoring the effects of environmental watering All images by Commonwealth Environmental Water Office © Commonwealth of Australia, 2017 unless noted otherwise. WAT387.0516i

Flock of ibis on Western Floodplain Western on ibis of Flock Toorale on machinery Agricultural

painted snipe, and Australasian bitter Australasian and snipe, painted

n. n. Summary of longer-term outcomes

eatened bir eatened thr

d species like the Australian Australian the like species d Environmental water under the Basin-wide Environmental ets, pelicans, br pelicans, ets, egr

olgas, and nationally nationally and olgas, Watering Strategy

dlife such as ibis, fr ibis, as such dlife bir

eckled ducks, spoonbills, spoonbills, ducks, eckled is dedicated to

Seasonal wetlands support an abundance of of abundance an support wetlands Seasonal Increase freshes and bank-full events in

which comes to life after rain and flooding. flooding. and rain after life to comes which improving the health of the Barwon-Darling. These help drown out

T oorale is part of a boom and bust landscape, landscape, bust and boom a of part is oorale weirs to allow animals and material to our rivers, floodplains move up and down the river (longitudinal

aquatic insects. insects. aquatic connectivity) and also connect the river ogs, fish, plants, waterbir plants, fish, ogs, fr of array

ds and and ds and wetlands

and in-stream habitat features such as diverse habitats and ecosystems for a vast vast a for ecosystems and habitats diverse Western Floodplain during drought

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Service and T and Service raditional Owners, Owners, raditional state government and local the bank.

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ea, ea, floodplains and wetlands.

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values and water r water and values ecovery. ecovery. Commonwealth environmental water is communities within river corridors,

Kangaroos on Western Floodplain

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over 500 known Aboriginal cultural sites, sites, cultural Aboriginal known 500 over particularly used in sites that support nationally wetlands and low-lying floodplains.

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heritage, both Aboriginal and and Aboriginal both heritage, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

increase the population through

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history of pastoral and irrigation development, development, irrigation and pastoral of history highly e ar oorale T of animals and plants T

oorale Station was bought by by bought was Station oorale agreements. We are also working toward Restore and maintain the conditions

, water land, The heritage. non-indigenous stations along the Darling River Darling the along stations

. It has a long long a has It . achieving environmental outcomes as needed for native fish spawning,

and Aboriginal in rich also is oorale T also one of the for the of one also

mer legendary pastoral pastoral legendary mer outlined in the Basin-wide Environmental Water movement between areas, and healthy

communities communities pastoral

T oorale, which began operating in 1850, was was 1850, in operating began which oorale, Strategy (part of the implementation of the fish communities.

blind snake. snake. blind Murray-Darling Basin Plan). interior and bat ed long-ear eater grar the e . . water and land oorale’s T

Aboriginal people and and people Aboriginal

oorale home home Toorale call that species significant Other of use and management the in have

cod. Murray and ch per silver eatened thr nu-Baakandji people people nu-Baakandji Kur the ole r ongoing onment, onment, envir the

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oorale is significant for for significant is oorale Spoonbill and ibis

occupation their demonstrate that ovens rivers, the in live species fish native of range A

Adrian Clements Local engagement officer – Dubbo, NSW M: 0437 141 495 E: [email protected]

threatened bird species like the Australian Australian the like species bird threatened Environmental water under the Basin-wide Environmental

egrets, pelicans, brolgas, and nationally nationally and brolgas, pelicans, egrets, Watering Strategy

birdlife such as ibis, freckled ducks, spoonbills, spoonbills, ducks, freckled ibis, as such birdlife is dedicated to

Seasonal wetlands support an abundance of of abundance an support wetlands Seasonal Increase freshes and bank-full events in

aquatic insects. insects. aquatic connectivity) and also connect the river

array of frogs, fish, plants, waterbirds and and waterbirds plants, fish, frogs, of array and wetlands

and in-stream habitat features such as

diverse habitats and ecosystems for a vast vast a for ecosystems and habitats diverse Western Floodplain during drought

benches, large wood, anabranches and

are important as together they provide provide they together as important are the floodplain (lateral connectivity).

Western Floodplain. These three features features three These Floodplain. Western Commonwealth

levels of the river beyond base flow, but the Kurnu-Baakandji. Kurnu-Baakandji. the managed in partnership with

does not fill the river channel or go over

Service and Traditional Owners, Owners, Traditional and Service state government and local the bank. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Wildlife and Parks National NSW delivery partners to improve

Maintain current forest and woodland and is jointly managed by the the by managed jointly is and connections between rivers, vegetation, including river red gum,

blackbox, coolibah, lignum shrublands

and State Conservation Area, Area, Conservation State and floodplains and wetlands.

and non-woody vegetation communities.

Toorale is now a National Park Park National a now is Toorale

middens, burials, stone arrangements and and arrangements stone burials, middens, Increase growth for vegetation

including scar trees, quarries, worked stones, stones, worked quarries, trees, scar including practices throughout Toorale’s history. Toorale’s throughout practices

values and water recovery. recovery. water and values Commonwealth environmental water is communities within river corridors,

Kangaroos on Western Floodplain

over 500 known Aboriginal cultural sites, sites, cultural Aboriginal known 500 over

have lived, worked and continued cultural cultural continued and worked lived, have particularly used in sites that support nationally wetlands and low-lying floodplains.

agricultural, environmental environmental agricultural,

and cultural practices. On Toorale there are are there Toorale On practices. cultural and

then, changed hands many times. The Kurnu Kurnu The times. many hands changed then, threatened species under the Environmental

Maintain the diversity of waterbirds and Floodplain are central to Kurnu dreaming stories stories dreaming Kurnu to central are Floodplain family-owned for over 50 years, and since since and years, 50 over for family-owned

heritage, both Aboriginal and and Aboriginal both heritage, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

increase the population through

The Warrego and Darling rivers and Western Western and rivers Darling and Warrego The

Australia to install electric lighting. Toorale was was Toorale lighting. electric install to Australia 1999 and state-based legislation, as well as

the government in 2008 for its its for 2008 in government the improved breeding opportunities.

significant to the Kurnu-Baakandji people. people. Kurnu-Baakandji the to significant

including having the first shearing shed in in shed shearing first the having including migratory birds protected under international

plants and animals of Toorale are highly highly are Toorale of animals and plants history of pastoral and irrigation development, development, irrigation and pastoral of history

Toorale Station was bought by by bought was Station Toorale agreements. We are also working toward Restore and maintain the conditions

water, land, The heritage. non-indigenous

stations along the Darling River. It has a long long a has It River. Darling the along stations achieving environmental outcomes as needed for native fish spawning,

and Aboriginal in rich also is Toorale also one of the former legendary pastoral pastoral legendary former the of one also outlined in the Basin-wide Environmental Water movement between areas, and healthy

pastoral communities communities pastoral Toorale, which began operating in 1850, was was 1850, in operating began which Toorale, Strategy (part of the implementation of the fish communities.

blind snake. snake. blind Murray-Darling Basin Plan). interior and bat long-eared greater the are Toorale’s land and water. water. and land Toorale’s

Aboriginal people and and people Aboriginal

Other significant species that call Toorale home home Toorale call that species significant Other of use and management the in have

cod. Murray and perch silver threatened ongoing role the Kurnu-Baakandji people people Kurnu-Baakandji the role ongoing the environment, environment, the

catfish and Australian smelt and the nationally nationally the and smelt Australian and catfish country are today maintained through the the through maintained today are country

including bony herring, golden perch, Hytrl’s Hytrl’s perch, golden herring, bony including to Connections years. of thousands for

Toorale is significant for for significant is Toorale Spoonbill and ibis

A range of native fish species live in the rivers, rivers, the in live species fish native of range A occupation their demonstrate that ovens

Adrian Clements Local engagement officer – Dubbo, NSW M: 0437 141 495 E: [email protected]

threatened bird species like the Australian Australian the like species bird threatened Environmental water under the Basin-wide Environmental

egrets, pelicans, brolgas, and nationally nationally and brolgas, pelicans, egrets, Watering Strategy

birdlife such as ibis, freckled ducks, spoonbills, spoonbills, ducks, freckled ibis, as such birdlife is dedicated to

Seasonal wetlands support an abundance of of abundance an support wetlands Seasonal Increase freshes and bank-full events in

aquatic insects. insects. aquatic connectivity) and also connect the river

array of frogs, fish, plants, waterbirds and and waterbirds plants, fish, frogs, of array and wetlands

and in-stream habitat features such as

diverse habitats and ecosystems for a vast vast a for ecosystems and habitats diverse Western Floodplain during drought

benches, large wood, anabranches and

are important as together they provide provide they together as important are the floodplain (lateral connectivity).

Western Floodplain. These three features features three These Floodplain. Western Commonwealth

levels of the river beyond base flow, but the Kurnu-Baakandji. Kurnu-Baakandji. the managed in partnership with

does not fill the river channel or go over

Service and Traditional Owners, Owners, Traditional and Service state government and local the bank. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Wildlife and Parks National NSW delivery partners to improve

Maintain current forest and woodland and is jointly managed by the the by managed jointly is and connections between rivers, vegetation, including river red gum,

blackbox, coolibah, lignum shrublands

and State Conservation Area, Area, Conservation State and floodplains and wetlands.

and non-woody vegetation communities.

Toorale is now a National Park Park National a now is Toorale

middens, burials, stone arrangements and and arrangements stone burials, middens, Increase growth for vegetation

including scar trees, quarries, worked stones, stones, worked quarries, trees, scar including practices throughout Toorale’s history. Toorale’s throughout practices

values and water recovery. recovery. water and values Commonwealth environmental water is communities within river corridors,

Kangaroos on Western Floodplain

over 500 known Aboriginal cultural sites, sites, cultural Aboriginal known 500 over

have lived, worked and continued cultural cultural continued and worked lived, have particularly used in sites that support nationally wetlands and low-lying floodplains.

agricultural, environmental environmental agricultural,

and cultural practices. On Toorale there are are there Toorale On practices. cultural and

then, changed hands many times. The Kurnu Kurnu The times. many hands changed then, threatened species under the Environmental

heritage, both Aboriginal and and Aboriginal both heritage, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

increase the population through

The Warrego and Darling rivers and Western Western and rivers Darling and Warrego The

Australia to install electric lighting. Toorale was was Toorale lighting. electric install to Australia 1999 and state-based legislation, as well as

the government in 2008 for its its for 2008 in government the improved breeding opportunities.

significant to the Kurnu-Baakandji people. people. Kurnu-Baakandji the to significant

including having the first shearing shed in in shed shearing first the having including migratory birds protected under international

plants and animals of Toorale are highly highly are Toorale of animals and plants history of pastoral and irrigation development, development, irrigation and pastoral of history

Toorale Station was bought by by bought was Station Toorale agreements. We are also working toward Restore and maintain the conditions

water, land, The heritage. non-indigenous

stations along the Darling River. It has a long long a has It River. Darling the along stations achieving environmental outcomes as needed for native fish spawning,

pastoral communities communities pastoral Toorale, which began operating in 1850, was was 1850, in operating began which Toorale, Strategy (part of the implementation of the fish communities.

blind snake. snake. blind Murray-Darling Basin Plan). interior and bat long-eared greater the are Toorale’s land and water. water. and land Toorale’s

Aboriginal people and and people Aboriginal

Other significant species that call Toorale home home Toorale call that species significant Other of use and management the in have

cod. Murray and perch silver threatened ongoing role the Kurnu-Baakandji people people Kurnu-Baakandji the role ongoing the environment, environment, the

catfish and Australian smelt and the nationally nationally the and smelt Australian and catfish country are today maintained through the the through maintained today are country

including bony herring, golden perch, Hytrl’s Hytrl’s perch, golden herring, bony including to Connections years. of thousands for

Toorale is significant for for significant is Toorale Spoonbill and ibis

A range of native fish species live in the rivers, rivers, the in live species fish native of range A occupation their demonstrate that ovens

Adrian Clements Local engagement officer – Dubbo, NSW M: 0437 141 495 E: [email protected]

W a

W r

r g Toorale Station r e o g R Toorale Toorale Station o iv R er TooraleState Boera Dam iv er! Boera Dam ConservationState ! ConservationArea Area

TOORALE NATIONAL PARK ANDBOURKE ! ^ BOURKE ! Commonwealth Environmental Water Office MENINDEE^ DUBBO STATE CONSERVATION AREA! ! MENINDEE DUBBOSYDNEY ! Booka Dam ! ! ! SYDNEY Environmental! Booka Dam ! There were 87 bird species observed in the Warrego Even though there were only small watering at Toorale Scientific monitoring shows that water delivered at Toorale provides food, habitat River and Western Floodplain zones in 2015-16. environmental flows in the Warrego River in and breeding opportunities for many native fish, waterbirds, frogs, plants and Waterbird numbers and diversity were higher on the 2015-16 there was enough water to provide other wildlife Warrego River than the floodplain, which was not connectivity along the river’s length and with unusual given the dry year. The eastern great egret, the Darling River. These flows resulted in Toorale is located at the Here are some of the key results achieved from environmental watering in recent years. Full monitoring reports are available each year at black fronted dotterel, grey teal, pink eared duck, breeding and recruitment of several native fish herons, brolgas and Australian grebe all benefitted species including golden perch and Hyrtl’s Western www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/catchment/northern-unregulated-rivers/monitoring junctionr of the Darling and W ive from the flooding of the Western Floodplain in 2014-15. catfish. R a

WesternFlood r r Warregoo e Rivers approximately v r i e Plain g R Flood r!re 65 km south-west of Bourke, g Toorale Station a o o g Plain W !re The large amount of rain and runoff during R ! StationToorale Dams r in north-west NSW. It has three i The Warrego River a Homestead Dam winter and spring 2016 flooded a large ve W proportion of the Western Floodplain. This r ! StationState Dams significant features, the Boera Dam Rivers The Warrego River stretches 1000 km from Homestead Dam was the most significant inundation since ! Queensland to Toorale where it joins the Warrego River, Darling River the 2011-12 floods and earlyY amonitoringnd Conservation Toorale a Rivers Darling River, and typically experiences periods ! has found bird and frog breeding and Flood Plain Yand C Area of no flow. When it does flood, water spreads

Dicksand Dam the WarregoToorale River very good plant growth. a r ! National r e Flood Plain out across the large Western Floodplain

C ek

e Land Type supporting a diverse range of plants and

DicksWestern Dam Floodplain. r

NationalPark r v e i animals.

ek e Land TypeNational Park

Park v Environmental water from the Warrego River is After heavy rainfall, environmental water flows g i National Park into Toorale from the Warrego and Darling rivers, in State Conservation Area managed within Toorale at Boera Dam. Here, l R BOURKE making it possible to direct water to improve r ! water can be released to flow down the a g in State Conservation Area ^ Warrego River, redirected onto the Western

conditions for Toorale’s birds, frogs, fish and D l r Travelling Stock Reserve Floodplain or split between the river and Peeblesnative Dam vegetation. a DUBBO MENINDEE ! floodplain. ! D Travelling Stock Reserve ! PeeblesSince Damthe purchase of Toorale, environmental SYDNEY ! water has been used to help both the local and ! Booka Dam ! Leaving water in the Warrego River connects waterholes allowing for fish and other animals downstream environments. The amount of Eight frog species were recorded on the water available to use changes with the boom to move, improve water quality, and Western Floodplain in 2015-16. Barking contribute water in the Darling River. Watering and bust cycles experienced across the region. frog, spotted marsh frog, Peron’s tree frog Toorale was dry in 2014–15, so only a small the Western Floodplain increases the habitat and desert frog benefitted from floodplain available for waterbirds, native fish, frogs, amount of environmental water was delivered. inundation in 2014-15. But the large amounts of rain and river flows insects and other wildlife and plant diversity and growth. In large watering events, it can r over winter and spring 2016, has meant more e environmental water was delivered.Western r also increase connection between the iv ive Western Floodplain and the Warrego River. r R g R e This table shows environmental waterFlood used at lin v o r i Toorale since 2008. Plain g Da R r!re ling a The Darling River Dar W ! Station Dams Amount of water used Homestead Dam The Darling River connects the northern and (rounded to whole Rivers southern ends of the Murray-Darling Basin. Year megalitres - ML) Yand It begins upstream of Bourke and eventually ! Toorale a Flood Plain

2016-17 25,845 ML ± C enters the River Murray at Wentworth. Water in

Dicks Dam r the Darling River supports birds, native fish, National r e ek

2015-16 73 ML 0 5 ± 10 e 15 Land Type plants and other wildlife all the way to the

Park v i River Murray. 2014-15 396 ML 0 5 10 15 National Park R Km Inundation of the Western Floodplain in Water left in the Darling River provides 2014-15 helped the survival and breeding ng 2013-14 1,293 ML li State Conservation Area variability in flows, connectivity along the of a diverse and unique range of r Km a

W length of the river and wildlife’s access to D 2012-13 8,823 ML microinvertebrates including copepod a Travelling Stock Reserve habitat. Peebles Dam r crustaceans, seed shrimps and r ! e roundworms, which are the base of g Toorale Station 2011-12 17,826 ML o Toorale’s food web. R Toorale i 2010-11 7,672 ML ve Boera Dam r State 2009-10 37,992 ML ! Conservation Area 2008-09 11,400 ML

Total 111,320 ML r Toorale e iv g R BOURKE lin ! For more information on environmental Dar ^ watering in Toorale, please visit MENINDEE DUBBO ! ! www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/ SYDNEY ! Booka Dam ! catchment/northern-unregulated-rivers 37 hectares of key plant communities on ± the Western Floodplain were inundated in Image credits, clockwise from top middle: 2014-15. This helped plant diversity and 0 5 10 15 cover, including supporting the growth of ■ Brolgas on the Western Floodplain. Western r ive Km Photo: L. Copeland native herb species such as river mint and Flood R o ■ Hyrtl's catfish. Photo: G. Butler slender knotweed. Plain g r!re ■ Junction of the Warrego and Darling Rivers. a W ! Station Dams ■ Darling River at Toorale in early 2016. Homestead Dam Photo: D. McKenzie Rivers Yand ■ 2015 Azolla outbreak on the Darling River. a In 2015-16 Commonwealth From the large rainfall and river ! Toorale Commonwealth environmental water Flood Plain Photo: Ben Vincent C

Dicks Dam r environmental water flowing along flows in winter and spring 2016, National helped break-up anr outbreak of thee

■ Coolibah tree supporting glossy ibis nests with lignum ek

e Land Type the Darling River helped native fish

over 8,000 ML of Commonwealth Park floating aquatic weed,v Azolla, on the in the background on the Western Floodplain. i National Park access habitats such as snags, Photo: Iris Tsoy environmental water was used in the Darling River in springR 2015, preventing benches and anabranches, and ng ■ Seed shrimp. Credit: Eco Logical Australia Darling River to enhance the natural what potentially licould have been a State Conservation Area r maintain good water quality through ■ Spotted marsh frog at Boera Dam. changes in river height. reduction in watera quality. D Travelling Stock Reserve the year. Photo: L. Copeland !Peebles Dam ■ Inundation on the Western Floodplain in December 2016. Photo: B. Martin

r e v www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo R i ling Dar ± 0 5 10 15 Km