WETLANDS OF THE Eastern spiny tailed gecko Diplodactylus williamsi Murray–Darling Banrock Station Situated in South Australia’s Riverland, Banrock Station supports BASIN a commercial winery set amongst a restored local wetland which educates visitors on the importance of wetland care. Wetlands are essential for many types of native plants and animals, and for humans. They keep the natural environment healthy, and benefit our social, cultural and economic lives. Many wetlands use both surface water — found in rivers, lakes and streams — and water from below ground. Some wetlands depend on Little Rushy Swamp this groundwater to survive. Wetlands can be Located in Barmah National Park, part of the Barmah–Millewa Forest on the Victoria–New South permanent, semi-permanent or seasonal, and Wales border. Photo: Keith Ward. their size and structure can change over time. Importance Erosion and sedimentation: Erosion is a natural process however it can be increased 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO Wetlands act as sponges, storing water, by changing river flows, loss of riverbank recycling nutrients, trapping sediment vegetation, unrestricted stock access and the and filtering water. Wetlands also FOR WETLAND HEALTH impacts of carp. increase the health of nearby aquatic and Save water: Fresh water is limited and precious. Using terrestrial ecosystems. In channels that are deepened and widened by erosion, larger flows are needed to less water means that more is available to keep rivers Cultural values 1 spill water out of the channel and onto healthy. Aboriginal people view water as being the floodplain. connected to the land, and also view Keep rivers and creeks clean: Prevent litter and themselves as an integral part of the land and Land management: Proper management of livestock grazing reduces negative impacts, chemicals getting into our rivers so that plants, river systems. Because of this, Aboriginal 2 people feel a strong responsibility for the such as erosion of river banks. animals and downstream areas stay healthy. health of rivers and wetlands. Water quality: Water quality can be affected Murray cod (Goodoo) Maccullochella peelii by run-off of chemicals and nutrients from Control pests: Do your bit to control introduced Economic values Endangered. Australias largest freshwater fish; upstream sources, and saline groundwater animals and invasive weeds to prevent the damage it has been recorded up to 1.8 m and 113.5 kg. Wetlands support communities, agriculture entering through the river bed. 3 and the economy by keeping water clean from spreading. and surrounding ecosystems healthy. They Climate change: The impacts of climate provide areas for leisure and recreation for change are uncertain. Unnatural climate Volunteer: There are many ways you can improve local residents and tourists. changes can change water availability and river health and restore local habitats. timing of river flows, which will affect 4 Environmental values wetlands and those who use them. Experience: Learn more about wetlands to help Livestock Grass hoppers Wetlands provide essential habitats for many Management everyone understand their importance different organisms including waterbirds, 5 Humans fish, invertebrates, and plants. They are Managing wetlands can range from small and the challenges facing these unique areas. scale management by local landholders to Kookaburras & Crops habitats for many unique species found only kingshers collaborative government management under Feral pigs in wetlands and provide refuges, food and Visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wetlands/RiversAndWetlands.htm Waterbirds shelter for animals in surrounding areas. international responsibilities. Snakes to get involved. Native plants and animals have adapted to The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) the natural flooding and drying cycle, which is works closely with state governments, local needed for a healthy wetland. councils, catchment management groups and natural resource managers to look after the Little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus Turtle Challenges and threats Basin’s water resources. Threatened. This species feeds on mosquitoes Ducks Frogs snd is pictured at its actual size. Changed river flows: The regulation of Environmental watering river flows through structures such as dams has changed natural flow patterns and has The natural flow patterns of many rivers in Native sh significantly reduced the amount of water the Murray—Darling Basin have been changed Water to provide water for towns, farms and Dragony larvae that flows into wetlands. bugs Carp industries. This means that water-dependent Wetland Invasive species: Introduced fish species Yabbies plants and animals are less likely to survive Floodplain including common carp Cyprinus carpio, shocks such as droughts. goldfish Carassius auratus and eastern gambusia Gambusia holbrooki (‘mosquito fish’) Adding water to wetlands and surrounding Freshwater shrimp Overbank compete with, and prey on, native fish. areas can help restore their health and Insect larvae Water the important functions they perform table Introduced animals such as feral pigs, such as preventing salinity and protecting Animal & plant plankton Tadpoles feral cats and foxes are also threats to water quality. Water that is put aside to be Instream Instream Instream bank River Floodplain native animals. delivered to these important areas is called environmental water. Introduced plants can have major impacts on the natural functions of wetlands, such as For more information on environmental Groundwater Salvinia molesta which can spread rapidly and watering, visit www.mdba.gov.au/what-we- Base ow Water milfoil Dense waterweed Nardoo Sedges/Rushes Ribbonweed bed River smother large areas of wetland. do/environmental-water Food web Wetland cross section Above is a simplified diagram of a wetland food web. Arrows point from prey to predator. The cross section above shows the different levels of river flows in a wetland. The wetland parts shown above will vary in shape and size depending on local conditions. Problematic, non-native species are coloured red. The Murray–Darling Basin has over 30,000 wetlands. Scarred trees and canoe trees are sometimes found around Peron’s tree frog Litoria peronii Inundated grasslands, southern Macquarie Marshes wetland areas. They are glimpses into the lives of Aboriginal Sometimes known as the maniacal cackle frog because of its call. The vast, open landscape of the Macquarie Marshes, NSW, transforms into Australians, who remove the bark to mark significant sites It has destinctive cross-shaped pupils. stunning wetlands during wet conditions. Photo: New South Wales OEH and create canoes and shelters. Nardoo Marsilea drummondi Common in shallow lagoons and damp ground. Aboriginal people prepared the fruits for food. Intermediate egret chicks In the 2010 floods, more than 50,000 pairs of intermediate egrets and 70,000 pairs of straw-necked ibis nested in colonies within the Marshes. Photo: Debbie Love, NSW OEH. THE macquariemarshes WETLAND SYSTEM Macquarie Marshes Challenges and threats: Climate change: Scientific predictions suggest less surface water will be available in future The effects of human settlement and and there will be a change from evenly- development, combined with natural cycles Known as “the Marshes”, this large, semi-permanent wetland filters the water of the distributed rainfall to more summer-dominant such as drought, make it a complex task to Macquarie Marshes at a glance rainfall in the catchment. Macquarie River in central northern New South Wales. The Macquarie Marshes Nature maintain and restore the important features of Visit www.seaci.org for more information. Name: Macquarie Marshes Reserve and State Conservation Area cover 21,927 hectares, with the area of marsh the Marshes. State: NSW expanding up to 200,000 hectares. The Marshes contain a range of wetland types from Altered river flows: The construction of Burrendong Dam (1960s) and Windamere Cyclorana species Size: 20,000—200,000 ha water couch grasslands, reedbeds and river red gum forest, to less frequently filled Dam (1980s) has allowed humans to control Burrowing frogs are common in the Marshes river flows. River water is shared between Catchment: Macquarie wetlands of coolabah and black box woodland. urban areas, irrigated agriculture, mining, industries, rural stock use, households and Route to the sea: Aboriginal cultural values the environment. Macquarie Catchment Barwon The Marshes are the core of the traditional This has changed the timing and rate of river River Darling River Murray country of the Wailwan people. Aboriginal flows entering the Marshes, reducing the health people have lived in the Macquarie Marshes River Southern Ocean of the system and its ability to resist shocks area for tens of thousands of years. The like the “millennium” drought from 1995–2009. Closest towns: area is rich in natural food sources including Quambone, Carinda, Walgett, a plentiful supply of fish, waterbirds and Plant and animal pests: The invasion of exotic kangaroos. Warren, Nyngan, Coonamble species, such as noogoora burr Xanthium occidentale, Bathurst burr Xanthium spinosum Aboriginal cultural values are related to both and lippia Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora Local Government Area: Warren, the long history of interactions with the can impact wetland areas that have dried Coonamble, Walgett Marshes and the interests and aspirations under changed flows or drought conditions. of today’s communities who have custodial During droughts, other species