Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semi-arid Australia
Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker, with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Biodiversity Unit
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, 1995
14. Refugia in New South Wales (continued)
14.6. Reference number NSW6
Refuge area: Narran Lakes
Biogeographic region: Darling Riverine Plains
Type of refuge: Wetlands
Lat./Long. 29°45’S / 147°25’E
Quality of refuge: Significant (1)
Area (km²): <1,000
Chief refuge value
A wetland providing breeding habitat and a major drought refuge for waterbirds.
General description
The wetland comprises the terminal drainage basin of the Narran River, a distributary of the Balonne River, north-west of Walgett. It consists of gilgai overflow swamps through which flows the Narran to terminate in the Lake. Vegetation consists of dense lignum Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii and river cooba Acacia stenophylla. Flooding induces a large influx of waterbirds; in addition, the Lake provides drought refuge for birds when other areas of the inland are dry1, 2, 3.
ANZECC-listed species
None identified.
Regional endemics
None identified.
Relict species
None identified.
Other significant species
None identified.
Key threats
Off-take of water for agriculture.
Land tenure
Narran Lake Nature Reserve, pastoral leases.
Key references
1. Kingsford et al. (1990)
2. Lawler and Briggs (1991)
3. Wettin et al. (1993)
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