Issue 41 Species Benefits of Widespread Inundation in the Gwydir Warrambools

Hydrology is the study of when, where and how galie (water) is delivered into a bagaay (river) channel, floodplain or warrambool (wetland). The Long Term Intervention Monitoring and Flow-MER projects have tracked natural flows and releases of Commonwealth water for the environment into the Gwydir River since July 2014. This delivery of galie directly impacts galie quality and through this defines the living conditions for aquatic species, including gunambaay (waterbirds) andvegetation.

Issue 36 Photo Journal of a Flow-MER Field Assistant

As part of the Flow-MER program, scientists investigate what impact Commonwealth environmental water flows are having on fish, birds, vegetation and river connectivity in the Murray-Darling Basin. Felix Noble works for the University of New England’s Aquatic Ecology Restoration and Research Group as a field technician. Felix Noble composed a photo essay compiled from multiple trips Felix has made with Flow-MER scientists to the Gwydir Wetlands and Toorale National Park.

Gwydir Valley April 2023 Update

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.

Lower Balonne Flow Update – April 2023

The northern Basin has been rapidly drying. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) arranged for large volumes of water to be released during February, this water has provided refreshing flows in the lower Balonne. One benefit of this flow has been successfully ensuring that the wetlands areas have remained wet for waterbird breeding. Among the waterbirds breeding, has been large colonies of pelicans. 
Photo: Pelican colony at Narran Lake. Shot by Harro on behalf of CES, UNSW.

Issue 34 The Lifecycle of Marranii-maa (Dragonflies)

Did you know that there are over 300 species of dragonfly in Australia? These species are divided into eight families, two of which (Hemicorduliidae and Aeshnidae) occur within the Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area. We study these as part of our Food webs indicator because they can tell us a lot about the health of our waterways. In Issue 34 we explain the importance of invertebrates and the dragonflies lifecycle.