Wetlands and Floodplains
The Berri Barmera Local Action Planning Committee has five key strategies to manage and improve the health and diversity of the eight wetland complexes in the region. These are:
To find out more infomation about each of the wetlands in the Berri Barmera area, or to see what has been achieved, click on the appropriate wetland as shown in the list below.
This wetland complex lies just to the south of Berri, with a large proportion lying within the Murray River National Park. A significant amount of work is currently underway or planned for this area, under the banner of the Katfish Reach project, which is being managed by the Department for Environment and Natural Resources.
Berri Basin is utilized as a drainage disposal / evaporation basin, collecting excess drainage water from the Berri Irrigation District. Drainage water is also pumped from Berri Basin out to the Noora Evaporation Basin.
Lake Bonney is a shallow lake connected to the River Murray via Chambers Creek. It is around 7km long and 3.5kmwide, and covers an area of about 1700ha. The volume of the lake, at River pool level, is about 59,000ML.
Loch Luna covers an area of around 1905ha, of which 220ha is permanently inundated with water. The wetland complex comprises a range of water bodies, including permanent wetlands, narrow creeks, shallow swamps and floodplain. The area is protected by the Loch Luna Game Reserve, managed by DENR.
Whilst a large number of reports and studies have been done on Lake Bonney / Loch Luna, at this point in time there is still no clear direction or agreement about what form any future management will take.
Loveday Lagoons Wetlands Complex is located on the eastern side of the River Murray approximately 4km south of the Cobdogla township. The complex is situated between mainstream Weirs 3 & 4.
The Loveday Lagoons Wetland Complex has been an important location for both Aboriginal and European people. The LLWC was inhabited by the Ngawit people; their relationship to this area was significant as one of the largest Aboriginal burial sites in the region Dowling (1990) in Sutherland & Lloyd (1993).
European use of the area began in 1830 following Captain Sturt's exploratory tour of the Murray River. In 1838 the northern side of the River was used as a stocking route bringing animals into South Australia from New South Wales. By 1846 the Loveday Wetlands area was formally licensed to John Chambers who incorporated it into his 'Cobdogla' Station, Sutherland & Lloyd (1993).
The main socio-economic value for the Loveday Lagoons Wetland Complex is as a site for recreational duck hunting by members of the South Australian Field & Game Association (Barmera-Moorook region). This recreational activity forms the major thrust of environmental restoration on the property, with the main focus of rehabilitation being the creation of habitats suitable for waterfowl.
The Loveday Lagoons Wetland Complex is considered part of the River Corridor Regional Ecological Area and the River Corridor Threatened Habitat Area as defined by Kahrimanis et al (2001). Previous studies have given the LLWC high or moderate to high conservation values based on their shoreline complexity, species present and representativeness of the wetland type within the River Murray system Thompson (1986), Jensen et al (1993) and Morelli and de Jong (1996).
Outline (Timeframe) of activities: Completed
Proposed future Activities
Above: Little Muscle Dry
Above: Little Muscle Wet
Martin Bend is located approximately 2km east of Berri in South Australia at an approximate river distance of 528km from the Murray Mouth.
Martin Bend is an area of high social value, incorporating various recreational activities including - a formal campground, water skiing (with the Berri Ski Club having a club facility in the area), boat ramp and marina, fishing, swimming, cycling, picnic areas and a well established walking trail.
The wetland and floodplain habitat at Martin Bend is considered to be of high ecological significance, providing habitat for various faunal and aquatic species. The floodplain has good areas of healthy tea tree (Melaleuca lanceolata), salt bush (Atriplex sp.), black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) and lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) with river red gum (Euc. Camaldulensis) and river coobah (Acacia stenophylla) areas fringing the permanent wetland and river channel.
Outline (Timeframe) of activities: Completed
Proposed future Activities
Martin Bend Wetland Management Plan (pdf)
Beginning of walkway?
Martin Bend Bridge
Upstream of Martin Bend bridge
Overland Corner is located adjacent to the River Murray immediately downstream of Lock 3, and is approximately 5km north of Kingston on Murray.
Overland Corner represents a site with very high cultural and social values. Local community and visitors regularly use the National Trust section of Overland Corner for camping, bushwalking, bird watching, fishing and boating. Overland Corner also represents a site where there has been significant investment in wetland conservation and management by the local community, in particular the Overland Corner Wetland Group.
Visitors and local community members are also attracted to the historic Overland Corner Hotel, which is located on the edge of the floodplain. The National Trust of SA owns the heritage listed Hotel, which was established in 1860 during the pioneering days in the Riverland.
The wetland and floodplain habitat at Overland Corner is considered to be of high ecological value due to its size and the native flora and fauna communities it supports Jensen et al (1996). Overland Corner was identified as a wetland of high priority for management in the Wetlands Atlas of South Australian Murray Valley Jensen et al (1996) and in River Murray Wetlands: their characteristics, significance and management Thompson (1986). The area contains a number of temporary wetlands, which are not connected to the River Murray under normal flow conditions (i.e. wetlands not connected at pool level). However, the commitment of local community members and the government to wetland conservation has resulted in artificial flood events by pumping environmental water into the Overland Corner area.
Overland Corner is also included within the Riverland Biosphere Reserve, which was previously known as the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve.
A number of threatened fauna and flora species occur at Overland Corner, including the nationally vulnerable Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) and the Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus).
Proposed future Activities
Overland Corner Wetland Management Plan (pdf)
The Spectacle Lakes Wetland Complex is located on the eastern side of the Murray River between the townships of Gerard and Loveday, and opposite the settlement of New Residence. It is a moderately large Complex covering an area of approximately 10 km long on the upland edge and borders the river for a distance of approximately 12km. The Complex is managed by two lessees - one for the Spectacle Lakes and upstream area, and one for the downstream and inlet channel area (Beldora Station).
The wetland complex contains both permanent and temporary areas and has one permanent connection with the river. The area has a good diversity of habitats, ranging from the permanent inlet channel to semi permanent lakes, temporary upstream wetlands, black box woodlands, grass and pigface groundcover and a good coverage of riparian and aquatic vegetation Wetland Care Australia (1998).
The complex is considered important at a National, Basin and Murray valley level Jensen et al (1996).
Proposed future Activities
Spectacle Lakes Wetland Managment Plan (pdf)
The BBLAP Committee conducts community wetland monitoring at 4 wetlands:
Each wetland is monitored 4 times per year (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) for Groundwater and Surface Water quality, and vegetation health. Fish, frogs and Birds are generally monitored once or twice a year, depending on the season and the amount of water in the wetland.
Community members are welcome to register for and attend any of our wetland monitoring days. Dates and times are listed in the monitoring calendar below. Please contact the LAP office at least 3 days prior to the event to let us know you are coming.
2011 WETLAND MONITORING SCHEDULE
MARTIN BEND
Thursday 3rd March at 5:30pm (BBQ tea)
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OVERLAND CORNER
Saturday 5th March |
SPECTACLE LAKES/BELDORA
Sunday 20th March |
LOVEDAY WETLANDS
Sunday 27th March |
Hot Weather Policy - If the forecast temperature for Berri on WIN News the night before is 36 or above the monitoring day will be cancelled or postponed.
For catering and operational purposes please RSVP at least 3 days prior to the monitoring day.
Bird Monitoring Week: 17th - 21st October
Frog Monitoring Week 5th - 9th September and 5th - 9th December
Fish Monitoring Week: 10th - 14th October
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