The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is embedding First Nations wisdom and knowledge into The Flow-MER Program – their dedicated science program. This comes after a successful pilot program that took place in the Gwydir and Warrego-Darling catchments. The CEWH shared their latest edition of Rivers, the Veins of Our Country read their article about the success of the pilot program here.
Following another spring of high water flows and water across floodplains, colonial-nesting waterbird breeding occurred for the second time in two years, and only the second time in 10 years. Water for the environment was released to create these large flows and trigger breeding. Since the beginning of 2023 flows have been maintained at steady low flows to minimise the risks to the colonies breeding successes.
With the end of the year fast approaching, we also have another quarter of the year done and dusted. During this quarter we have had a continued La Nina year for the third time, meaning more wet times in the Gwydir. These wet conditions mean that presently neither Commonwealth nor NSW water for the environment is being delivered in the Gwydir.
The return of the flows saw waterbirds flocking to the Gwydir Wetlands for the first large local breeding event in a decade! It is unbelievable that the last time we had a such a spectacular event was 2012.
After a number of dry years, conditions are looking better in the Gwydir. Flows in late 2020 and early 2021 started the process of recovery, with further rainfall, flows and wetland flooding throughout 2021 and 2022. Vegetation is responding well to the flows. Delivering water for the environment during the dry times has helped native plants and animals to hang on. This also helped them to bounce back when wetter conditions returned.
ver the summer of 2020-21, around 23 GL of water for the environment was delivered across the Lower Gwydir, Gingham and Mallowa Creek systems within the Gwydir Valley and downstream.
In combination with natural flows, water for the environment helped improve the condition of the Gwydir Wetlands Ramsar sites located on ‘Old Dromana’ and ‘Goddard’s Lease’. They also provided habitat for a range of waterbirds, fish, frogs, and turtles after an extended dry period.
