Environmental watering in the Mallowa Wetlands, Gwydir catchment
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Environmental watering 2012-13
For the first time environmental water is being provided to the Mallowa Wetlands to support the ongoing restoration of native wetland plant communities and maintain habitat for native animals.
Jabiru, Gwydir catchment
Photo: Clare d'Arcy © CEWO
The Mallowa Wetlands comprises 1,642 hectares of native coolibah, lignum and river cooba plant communities. These plants have many of their natural processes, such as flowering, seeding and germination, determined by the amount of water that is available to them.
The wetlands provide valuable bird breeding habitat and food for a diverse range of waterbirds, including jabiru, brolga, egret and ibis, and are an important link to the range of habitats provided by the greater Gwydir Wetlands. As well as supporting a number of different types of birds that are listed under international conservation agreements.
The Mallowa Creek system also provides habitat for many different types of threatened native birds. These include Grey-crowned babbler, hooded robin, brown treecreeper, bush stone curlew, square-tailed kite, glossy black cockatoo, Australian bustard, diamond firetail and grey falcon.
The watering action is occurring over summer which is in keeping with the natural seasonality of river flows and the water needs of environmental assets in the Gwydir catchment. The Commonwealth has made available an initial 2,500 megalitres towards the New South Wales watering action. The total volume of Commonwealth environmental water used will depend on seasonal conditions and rainfall.
This watering action has been made possible by the collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders including the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, State Water Corporation, the local environmental water advisory committee and landholders.
Mallowa Wetlands, Gwydir catchment
Photo: Clare d'Arcy © CEWO
What makes this place so special and why is Commonwealth environmental water used here?
The Gwydir catchment is an environmentally significant area because it includes:
- wetlands of national significance and habitat for many different types of native plants and animals
- approximately 111,154 ha of native wetland plant communities, particularly coolibah woodlands, and one of the largest expanses of water couch in NSW
- important cultural sites for the local Gomeroi Indigenous people.
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