Like many wetlands in north-central Victoria, Reed Bed Swamp near Koondrook has deteriorated over the past century on the back of climate change, river regulation reducing the frequency and duration of flood flows, and impacts of historic land management practices.
As its name suggests, Reed Bed Swamp was once home to beds of rushes and reeds, and other aquatic vegetation, providing a refuge, feeding, and breeding spot for frogs, turtles, and waterbirds, such as the endangered Australasian bittern.
However, the vegetation that gives Reed Bed Swamp its name has not been seen in the wetland since the height of the millennium drought.
The North Central Catchment Management Authority has been working alongside local Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wemba First Nations people since 2015 to reverse the decline, improve the wetland, and protect it for the future.
“Reeds and other aquatic vegetation such as old man weed are important culturally as well as ecologically,” North Central CMA’s Rachel Murphy said.
“So, to be able to get to the stage we are at now with vegetation doing so well out there, is a great result.”
The next stage in the protection of that vegetation is follow-up water for the environment, which began flowing into Reed Bed Swamp from temporary pumps on the nearby Murray River in mid-August.
“Maintaining that habitat as we come into spring is really important for a whole range of animals,” Ms Murphy said.
“We’ll be aiming for a shallow fill, up to about 60cm in the deeper parts, which is the right amount of water at the right time of the year to support native vegetation.”
9°C