First release of Commonwealth water for the environment
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
March 2009
PDF file
Four sites in South Australia will receive the first Commonwealth water for the environment, purchased through the Australian Government's water buyback program, Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin.
All sites are located on or near the River Murray. Chowilla Floodplain, Katarapko Floodplain, Paiwalla Wetlands and Rocky Gully will receive water during March 2009.
The sites were selected by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) based on proposals put forward by jurisdictions and after receiving advice from the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee.
South Australia will manage the watering at each site and undertake the monitoring of the ecological responses.
Chowilla Floodplain
Chowilla Horseshoe, Chowilla Floodplain
Photo: M. Mohell and DEWHA
The Chowilla floodplain is north of Renmark and on the SA/NSW border. Chowilla is an icon site of The Living Murray Initiative and part of the Riverland Ramsar site. It contains large areas of River Red Gum, Black Box woodland and diverse wetland habitats.
The drought and reduced River Murray flows have resulted in the decline in ecological health and the death of mature River Red Gums. The remaining River Red Gums and understorey vegetation are threatened by depletion of soil moisture and underlying saline groundwater, jeopardising habitats for a diverse range of animals.
The Commonwealth is providing 286 ML (megalitres, i.e. million litres) to four locations on the Chowilla floodplain. In addition, the South Australian Government will provide 350 ML to another site at Chowilla.
Katarapko Floodplain
Carpark Lagoons, Katarapko Floodplain, River Murray National Park
Photo: M. Mohell and DEWHA
The Commonwealth will provide water to the Carpark Lagoons on the Katarapko floodplain which is located in the River Murray National Park, near Berri. Katarapko is a diverse floodplain and wetland habitat for a range of aquatic and terrestrial animals. It is also the site of a river rehabilitation project, known as Katfish reach, a collaborative project between the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the local community and South Australian Government agencies.
The Carpark Lagoons will receive 200 ML of Commonwealth water. The Carpark Lagoons are some of the last wetlands in the area with living mature Red Gums. Watering will aim to prevent the death of these trees.
Paiwalla Wetland
Paiwalla Wetland
Photo: M. Mohell and DEWHA
Paiwalla Wetland is between Lock 1 and Wellington, near Murray Bridge. The wetland is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia. The site contains rare and nationally listed species and is frequented by significant populations of migratory waterbirds.
Paiwalla Wetland will receive 475 ML of Commonwealth water. Commonwealth watering will help maintain the aquatic habitat and avoid threats from salinity and decline in water quality.
Paiwalla Wetland is owned and managed by Wetland Habitats Trust (a local community group), which over the past 10 years has restored the former dairy property to wetlands.
Rocky Gully
Rocky Gully, Murray Bridge
Photo: M. Mohell and DEWHA
Rocky Gully is in the Mannum-Wellington region of the River Murray. Rocky Gully is one of the last remaining refuge sites in the Murray-Darling Basin for the Murray hardyhead, a threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. It is also an important habitat for waterbirds, frogs, macro invertebrates and other native fish.
The site has been allocated 80 ML of Commonwealth water to help maintain the wetland and the fish and wildlife populations.
Future watering
Further announcements of watering events in other states in the Basin will be announced over the next few months.
More information
For more information about the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and environmental watering call 1800 218 478 or visit: www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/cewh
Before you download
Most publications are available as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window