Site description:

Physical features:

The site includes peatlands, forest, shrub and open bogs within drainage depressions on sandstones and quartzite's of the Burra group and Emeroo subgroup. Soil types: Clay loam. Mean Annual Rainfall 1000 mm.

Hydrological features:

The main water source is from seasonal drainage lines originating from the north, with possible spring intrusion. Water runoff from surrounding slopes is also substantial. Water Chemistry on 28/08/01: pH 6.73; Conductivity 215 uS/cm; Turbidity 5.37 NTU; Dissolved oxygen 7.4 mg/L; Water temperature 9.3 C.

Ecological features:

Dominant riparian vegetation includes Acacia retinodes, Leptospermum lanigerum, Gahnia sieberiana, Juncus pallidus and Blechnum minus. Dominant buffer vegetation includes Eucalyptus obliqua, E. fasciculosa, Lepidosperma semiteres, Hakea rostrata, Pultenaea daphnoides, Acrotriche serrulata and Hibbertia exutiacies. Aquatic vegetation class: rooted vascular.

Significance:

The reserve conserves an intact Eucalyptus obliqua open forest of which < 1 % of the pre-european extent remains in the Mt Lofty Ranges. The drainage lines contain several species of conservation significance.

Notable flora:

Baumea tetragona (square twig-rush) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Blechnum minus (Soft Water-fern) - Uncommon, Southern Lofty, Carex fascicularis (Tassel sedge) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Empodisma minus (Tangled rope-rush) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Gahnia sieberiana (Red-fruit cutting-grass) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Gleichenia microphylla (Coral fern) - Sr and Rare Southern Lofty, Leptospermum lanigerum (Silky tea-tree) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Lindsaea linearis (Screw fern) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Patersonia occidentalis (Long purple-flag) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Aphelia gracilis (Slender aphelia) - Rare Southern Lofty, Schizea fistulosus (Narrow comb-fern) - Sv and Endangered Southern Lofty, Triglochin procerum (Water-ribbons) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Villarsia umbricola var. umbricola (Lax marsh-flower) - Uncommon Southern Lofty.
Buffer vegetation includes Acacia verniciflua (Varnish wattle) - Uncommon Southern Lofty, Acrotriche fasciculiflora (Mount Lofty ground-berry) - Uncommon Southern Lofty.

Notable fauna:

Possible habitat for Isoodon obesulus obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot) which is rated as endangered at a national level and vulnerable at a State level and is present in neighbouring wetland areas. The following birds of conservation status have been observed:
Chrysococcyx lucidus (Golden bronze-cuckoo) -Sr and Rare Mount Lofty Ranges
Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged chough) - Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested cockatoo) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Calyptorhynchus funereus (Yellow-tailed black cockatoo) - Vulnerable State and Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Strepera versicolor (Grey currawong) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Myiagra inquieta (Restless flycatcher) - Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Microeca leucophaea (Jacky winter) - Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted pardalote) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Pardalotus xanthopygus (Yellow-rumped pardalote) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Melanodryas cucullata (Hooded robin) - Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Petroica goodenovii (Red-capped robin) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Petroica multicolor (Scarlet robin) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Senicornis frontalis (White-browed scrub-wren) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges
Falcunculus frontatus (Crested shrike-tit) - Vulnerable State and Vulnerable Mount Lofty Ranges
Climacteris leucophaea (White-throated treecreeper) - Uncommon Mount Lofty Ranges

Other Fauna:

Invertebrate: Chironomidae spp. (Non-biting midge larve).

Social and Cultural values:

Recreation and tourism: The Heysen trail passes through the reserve. Also a popular educational site and demonstration site for bushland and wetland conservation and minimum disturbance approach.

Land tenure:

Tenure on site: Private - Owned by the National Trust of South Australia (donated in 1964 by Mr and Mrs Engel). Tenure surrounding: Mostly private (nature reserve, residential housing and agricultural).

Current land use:

Current land use on site: Nature Reserve. Surrounding land use: nature reserve, residential housing and agriculture.

Disturbance or threat:

Past/present: Invasive plants and pest vertebrate. Invasive plants include: Acacia longifolia var. longifolia (Sallow wattle), Aira cupaniana (Small hair-grass), Alisma lanceolatum (Water plantain), Briza maxima (Large quaking-grass), Centaurium sp. (Centaury), Cotula coronopifolia (Water buttons), Cyperus eragrostis (Drain flat-sedge), Cytisus scoparius (English broom), Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot), Ehrharta erecta (Panic veldt-grass), Erica arborea (Tree heath), Genista monspessulana (Montpellier broom), Iris germanica (Flag iris), Juncus capitatus (Dwarf rush), Lotus uliginosus (Greater bird?s foot trefoil), Monadenia bracteata (Monadenia), Phalaris aquatica (Phalaris), Plantago lanceolata var. lanceolata (Ribwort), Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Watercress), Rubus laciniatus (Cut-leaved blackberry), Rubus sp. (Blackberry), Salix sp. (Willow), Senecio pterophorus var. pterophorus (African daisy), Sonchus oleraceus (Common sow-thistle), Stellaria palustris var. palustris (Swamp starwort), Trifolium sp. (Clover), Ulex europaeus (Gorse), Vulpia sp. (Fescue), Watsonia merian cv. bulbillifera (Bulbil watsonia).
Vertebrate pests include: Vulpes vulpes (European red fox), Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit)
Recreational threats include domestic dogs and motorbikes (on occasions). Threats from adjoining properties include garden weed escapes and other weeds.

Conservation measures taken:

Conservation measures - National Trust Reserve (Heritage agreement no. HA 514). Scientific research - Seaman (2002d), and Conservation Strategies. Also on the Register of the National Estate and working bees are held twice per month to remove environmental weeds. Vegetation condition mapping has been done in the past and is planned for the near future. Current conservation education - Interpretive brochure available and regular tertiary student working days (weed control) are undertaken.

Management authority and jurisdiction:

National Trust of South Australia.

References:

(Long 1999; Seaman 2002d), See SA Reference List

Compiler & date:

28/08/01, Russell Seaman, National Parks & Wildlife. Updated, G Anderson SA Department for Environment and Heritage, 30/5/05.

Drainage: