INTERNATIONALLY significant permanent and semi-permanent Gunbower Island wetlands will get a much-needed drink in the coming months, with a flow focused on efficiency and helping the area recover from the inundation of the 2022 floods.
About 20 wetlands, including priority permanent wetlands such as Reedy Lagoon and Barapa Swamp, will begin receiving water for the environment in early July.
The 2022 and 2023 floods provided the Gunbower Forest’s trees and understorey with the long drink they needed, however compared to other years, the wetland plants didn’t respond as well.
The unregulated flooding filled the wetlands and held them full for two consecutive years, preventing the usual wetting and drying regime. This prolonged inundation reduced the establishment of wetland aquatic plants.
North Central Catchment Management Authority chief executive Brad Drust said the 2025 wetland flow would focus on efficiency and effectiveness.
“Using water efficiently to get the best results we can with the available infrastructure and allocations has always been our target,” he said.
“This flow is not a full floodplain watering. It’s a flow designed to connect and fill the wetland complexes, some of which would have had water in them nine out of every 10 years before river regulation.
“This flow will give the plants the ideal conditions to germinate, flower, and set seed, while also supporting frogs, waterbirds and other animals after a dry summer and autumn.”
Mr Drust said the flow would initially come through the Hipwell Road regulator and channel off Gunbower Creek, along the natural creeks and flood runners, and into the wetlands.
“We have an opportunity this year to use the Hipwell Road regulator and channel to reach these wetlands, especially during the off-irrigation season, which will give us great bang for our buck,” he said.
“When irrigation season begins in mid-August, irrigation delivery takes priority. As the irrigation season goes on, the environmental flow will be supplemented by water delivered through the lower forest regulators.
“Given how dry it has been, delivering water this way will be efficient and effective, and it ensures both wetlands and the farmers get the water they need.
“We used the Hipwell Road regulator the same way in 2015 to water the wetlands and we were really happy with the results, especially the vegetation response.”
Mr Drust said the wetland flow was a chance to ensure the resilience of the wetlands as they face the challenges of climate change and provide vital food and habitat for a range of waterbirds and native fish.
“This flow is an opportunity to provide wetlands with the right amount of water at the right time of the year,” he said. “Water for the environment is climate change mitigation in action.
“The whole region loves these wetlands. They are a vital part of the landscape, and the plants and animals they support are the envy of a lot of places around the world.
“Protecting them so they are around for a long time to come is what we are all about.”
For more information about the flow, visit www.nccma.vic.gov.au/wetlandflow.
