FOR the 15 years prior to the 2010-11 floods, caught in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the state’s history, the creeks and forests of Nyah-Vinifera Park remained dry.
Then, with the deluge that devastated much of the rest of the region, the creeks in the newly-created state park were revitalised with a well-needed drink and they saw a resurgence of wildlife and flora, including the health of their iconic river red gum trees.
An environmental watering program has just been completed by Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) to emulate some of the positive outcomes of that natural flood.
From May to the end of June, 1766 ML of environmental water was pumped into the forest (approximately 4000 ML flows through the river every day), which has provided much needed flows through the park.
Mallee CMA project officer Malcolm Thompson said the outcomes were obvious instantaneously — particularly in the Vinifera creek section which was watered for the first time.
“Nearly instantly that night [the program started], frogs were croaking, the birds were loving it, the ducks were loving it,” Mr Thompson said.
“All the insects started breeding on the water, aquatic beetles and plants popped up — [the ecosystem] responded really well.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Frida
