We’ve seen a pretty spectacular response in the fringing wetlands of the Gwydir State Conservation Area, were wetland vegetation species have burst back to life after severe drought followed by back-to-back flooding.
Recognising the dire state of the native Gaygay (Freshwater catfish in Gamilaraay language) in the Gwydir, DPI Fisheries made efforts to boost the Freshwater catfish population in the lower Gwydir by relocating adults from Copeton Dam.
Widespread and enduring inundation of the Gwydir Wetlands has triggered large scale colonial waterbird nesting that is occurring right now in the wetlands for the first time in 10 years!
In September 2019, a wildfire burnt sections of the Gingham Watercourse in the Gwydir Wetlands leaving in its wake roughly 1,600 ha of black scorched earth. We were intrigued about how inundation may influence post-fire regeneration of these wetlands so we devised an experiment to learn more.
2rog and UNE are piloting a program to welcome Cultural Advisors to the Gurnu-Baakandji (Warrego-Darling) and the Gomeroi (Gwydir) Selected Area Flow-MER teams. Employing the knowledge and skills of advisors from each area, we are fortunate to welcome Kevin & Liz to the team. Learn more about Liz Learn more about Kevin
Liz Taylor is our newly appointed Gomeroi (Gwydir) Selected Area Cultural Advisor. This role sits within a pilot project to help guide communication and engagement with Traditional Owners in the land of the Gomeroi People.
Liz Taylor is our newly appointed Gomeroi (Gwydir) Selected Area Cultural Advisor. This role sits within a pilot project to help guide communication and engagement with Traditional Owners in the land of the Gomeroi People. Liz will help us to listen and learn from First Nation communities.
Cycles of ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ periods dominate the Gwydir floodplain. Longer dry periods are often broken by flooding rains. The past several years have been one of those very dry spells for the Gwydir, a bust. However, the current ‘boom’ will help to rejuvenate the landscape and community after the long dry.
Last year we shared an art series produced by Gamilaroi artist, Lakkari Pitt, that beautifully captured the Flow-MER program ecological indicators shown in the image above.
This time we want to share a little more about the artist herself. Lakkari discusses family, connection to Country and traditional knowledge in our feature Q&A that we’re excited to share for NAIDOC week, 2021.
Floods that hit the Gwydir catchment in late March, 2021, brought a mixture of devastation and life to the communities and ecosystems that depend on the catchment’s rivers. As the entire Gwydir catchment was doused with heavy rainfall between March 22 and March 24, downpours quickly translated into a significant, widespread flooding event. We tracked this event, including its volume and extent, as it moved throughout the channels in the Gwydir system and beyond.