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

Wetlands

Murrumbidgee Region

• Introduction
• Wetlands of the Murrumbidgee Valley
• Environmental Flow Rules

Introduction

The Murrumbidgee River flows for 1,600 kilometres from its headwaters in the Snowy Mountains to its junction with the Murray River.

The Murrumbidgee Region contains a diverse range of wetlands including extensive floodplains and billabongs in the lower Murrumbidgee Valley.

Wetlands of the Murrumbidgee Valley

Wetlands of National Importance

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

The Lowbidgee Floodplain (Wetland No. 21 on Map 2)

Aerial view of Lowbidgee Floodplain
Source: DLWC

The Lowbidgee wetlands are located on the floodplain of the Murrumbidgee River between Maude and Balranald. They cover an area of over 200, 000 ha.

The Lowbidgee lignum wetlands are some of the largest lignum wetlands in the state. Lignum swamps are highly productive ecosystems, providing habitat for native fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates and other animals. The Lowbidgee wetlands are the most important breeding site in eastern Australia for the Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) (Cross and Keenan, 1988). They also support large numbers of ibis, egrets, cormorants, spoonbills, herons and ducks. They provide an excellent breeding habitat for the Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa), which is listed as a vulnerable species in NSW under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Waterbird nests in Lignum, Lowbidgee Wetlands
Source: DLWC

The Lowbidgee lignum wetlands are also important nursery areas for Silver Perch, Golden Perch, Bony Bream and Murray Cod. Plankton blooms of the floodplain provide an abundant source of food for these fish (Cross and Keenan, 1988).

Mid -Murrumbidgee Wetlands (Wetland No. 52 on Map 2)

River Red Gum woodland, Murrumbidgee River
Source: Dayle Green (DLWC)

The Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands are located along the Murrumbidgee River from Narrandera to Carathool. They include Bulgari Lagoon, Currawananna Lagoon, McKennas Lagoon and Sunshower Lagoon.

These wetlands are reliant on winter/spring flows. The timing and extent of the wetting of these wetlands has changed significantly as a result of over 80 years of water resource development in the Valley. A considerable amount of water is now diverted from the river for irrigation.

The Mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands are a good example of inland river and lagoon wetlands, providing a range of riparian and wetland vegetation. The lagoons rarely dry and therefore are valuable as a drought refuge. Several animals and plants that are listed as endangered or threatened at the State level (Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) have been recorded in these wetlands. Several of these lagoons are also important sites for scientific research.

Tukerbill Swamp (Wetland No. 54 on Map 2)

Tuckerbil Swamp is located in a natural depression on the eastern margin of the Riverine Plain of NSW. It consists of a seasonal brackish swamp surrounded by saline flats, dead tress, cumbungi and couch. It contains water from mid-autumn to early summer. Inflows are from natural runoff, but possibly also from irrigation drainage.

Tuckerbil Swamp is rich in waterbird species and is also of significant cultural value to the Aboriginal people, particularly as a burial site.

Tomneys Plain (Wetland No. 41 on Map 2)

Tomneys Plain is located in the upper Murrumbidgee Catchment approximately 10 km north-east of Tumbarumba. The area consists of well developed sphagnum hummocks with underlying bog peats about 3 m in depth. The peat has developed in a large valley which meanders through relatively undisturbed forest. The status of the community is presently stable since there has been little destructive grazing or trampling (Hope & Southern 1983). Tomneys Plain remains in a relatively natural condition and is considered by Hope & Southern (1983) to represent one of the best examples of terrestrial peatland in NSW.

Micalong Swamp (Wetland No. 68 on Map 2)

Micalong Swamp is located in the Micalong Flora Reserve, 29 km east of Tumut. It is a large montane swamp and is saturated for most of the year. The swamp lies at the headwaters of Micalong Creek, a tributary of the Goodradigbee River (Butz, 1981). Micalong Swamp is predominantly vegetated by sedges (Carex spp.). It is an unusual example of montane peatland and one of the largest remaining on the south-western slopes of NSW. The large number of archaeological sites surrounding the swamp attest to its importance for Aborigines prehistorically and its significance for Australian prehistory.

Lake George (Wetland No. 67 on Map 2)

Source: DLWC

Lake George is located between Goulburn and Canberra within the Lake George Catchment. It is a shallow lake, dammed on its western side by the Cullorin Range fault scarp. It has a small catchment and water levels fluctuate dramatically due to rainfall and evaporation. It has dried several times since 1820, but normally contains at least some water. Salinity ranges from 1.5 to over 40 parts per thousand. One of only two large, shallow freshwater lakes in the uplands of NSW, it provides important refuge habitat for waterbirds during inland droughts. It supports 201 species of birds, 31 mammal species, 29 species of reptiles and 12 amphibian species (Best & Whatman 1982).

Yaouk Swamp (Wetland No. 70 on Map 2)

Yaouk Swamp is a wet tussock wetland typical of those in the area but this one has little to no incision through drainage. It occupies the shallow northern slope of an inter-montane valley draining south-west to the Murrumbidgee. Much of the swamp has been drained for grazing. However, the upper part of the valley remains saturated and supports a reasonable fen vegetation community (Hope & Southern, 1983).

Wetlands of the Upper Murrumbidgee Valley
Source: DLWC

Black Swamp & Coopers Swamp (Wetland No. 42 on Map 2)

Black and Coopers Swamps are located approximately 60 km east of Hay. They are terminal basins of Delta Creek, an intermittent stream on the Riverine Plain. Flooding of these wetland basins occurs, on average, twice per decade. The extent is determined by runoff from upper catchments. These wetlands are a good example of Cane Grass (Eragrostis australasica), Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) and Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) wetland types.

They are also especially important due to their remoteness, as they have not been effected by the dumping of irrigation water that occurs in similar wetlands throughout the Riverine plains. Black Swamp is also a breeding site for Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) which is listed as vulnerable in NSW under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Coopers Swamp (Wetland No. 64 on Map 2)

Coopers Swamp is located just west of the Great Dividing Range, about 65 km south-east of Canberra. This is a peat swamp over granite situated at the head of the Queanbeyan River in Tallanganda State Forest. The area is relatively undisturbed and supports large numbers of Tiger Snake. The geology of this wetland makes it a unique site and its ecological value is reflected in the frog numbers which are required to support the large Tiger Snake population.

Big Badja Swamp (Wetland No. 63 on Map 2)

Big Badja Swamp is located on the Big Badja River approximately 40 km north-east of Cooma. The Swamp constitutes the headwaters of the Badja River, a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River (AHC, 1998). It is part of a large complex of swamps which cover a considerable area within the montane region of the catchment. Part of the swamp has been declared a nature reserve under the title of Badja Swamp Nature Reserve. Big Badja Swamp is considered to be a good example of upland peatland.

Other Murrumbidgee Wetlands

Barrenbox Swamp

A human-modified storage system, that supports plant communities that are very similar to what would have occurred naturally.

Environmental Flow Rules

Their Relevance to the Wetlands of the Murrumbidgee Valley

Over the last 100 years the Murrumbidgee River and associated wetlands and floodplains have changed significantly from their natural state with the use of water for agriculture, recreation, industry and domestic needs.

While these diversions of water generate significant economic benefits, including about $343 million of irrigated agricultural products in the Murrumbidgee, there has been evidence of increasing environmental stress within the river. For example, changes in flow, volume and seasonality have led to decreased breeding opportunities for native wildlife and fish populations and increased frequency of algal blooms.

In late 1997, a River Management Committee was established by the NSW Government for the Murrumbidgee to recommend environmental flow rules. The rules were introduced in the 1998/99 water year. The Committee was then asked to advise on the rules for a statutory water sharing plan for the river. The water sharing plan commenced in July 2004 and includes the following environmental rules:

1. Reserve all water above the Plan extraction limit for the environment
   • This means that on a long-term average basis, approximately 56% of yearly flows in the river are protected for the maintenance of environmental health.
2. Protect low flows in the upper reaches
   • Release up to 560 ML per day from Blowering Dam and between 300 and 615 ML per day from Burrinjuck Dam, depending upon inflows into the storages.
3. Provide winter flow variability
   • Release a percentage of Burrinjuck Dam inflows occurring between 22 April and 21 October.
   • The percentage of inflows released at any time is dependent on climatic catchment conditions and Burrinjuck Dam storage level.
4. Environmental Water Allowances
   • Water under three Environmental Water Allowances is to be reserved in the storage.
   • Releases of the allowances may be made to provide water for wetland inundation, fish or bird breeding or water quality management.
   • An Environmental Water Allowance Reference Group is to advise on the release rules.
5. Protect end of system flows
   • For the first 4 years of the Plan (until July 2008), a minimum flow of between 200 and 300 megalitres per day must be maintained downstream of Balranald Weir.
   • After 1 July 2008, these minimum flow requirement increases to reflect a more natural flow pattern.

What do the rules address?

The flow rules for the Murrumbidgee are designed to:

• increase opportunities for fish migration and breeding during winter and spring in the river and its anabranches;
• increase frequency and duration off flooding of low-lying wetlands of the mid-river;
• improve variability of flow to improve natural food production and other processes in the river;
• reduce conditions favourable to algal blooms;
• improve low to medium flows below Maude and Balranald with some increases in the frequency of flooding of wetlands in the lower river.

The Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flow Rules

To assess the response of the riverine ecosystems of Murrumbidgee River to the environmental flow rules, it was seen as essential that a sound scientific assessment of the rules be made.

The NSW Government has implemented the Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows or IMEF in 1997. The environmental side of the program involves the collection of biological, physical and/or chemical data from river sites and wetlands within sections of the river that are affected by the flow rules. The program provides not only additional understanding of the flow responses of riverine ecosystems based on sound scientific methods, but also an opportunity to evaluate the environmental performance of the flow rules themselves.

Monitoring is under-way in the Murrumbidgee Valley to assess the response of the river and associated wetlands to the environmental flow rules. Under the IMEF program 12 wetlands are monitored for:

• Hydrological regimes, inundation timing, volume, surface area, gauge height/depth, number of fillings, connectivity with the river (duration) etc;
• Aquatic macroinvertebrates;
• Aquatic plants;
• Frogs;
• Birds; and
• Water quality.

What have the rules achieved so far?

Environmental releases in the Murrumbidgee in September 1998 resulted in wetlands filling as far downstream as Hay, a distance of 800 km of river. Over 30 wetlands were inundated as a result of a major environmental release, some for the first time in over two years. Approximately 250, 000 ML of water was delivered to the main channel and wetlands of the Murrumbidgee River. The wetlands were reported to have responded almost instantly to inundation with an increase in wetland vegetation as well as frogs, tortoises, waterbirds and other animals.

An environmental allocation of 14,000 ML was released in December 2005. The water inundated up to 10,000 hectares of wetlands, triggering a successful breeding event by waterbirds and other threatened species.

Yarrada Lagoon on the Murrumbidgee River - 1 day after flooding, August 2000
Source: James Maguire (DNR)