TWO important wetlands in the Nyah-Vinifera Park are teeming with life after environmental watering projects inundated some billabongs for only the fourth time in more than a decade.
Pumping finished this week to deliver the second environmental watering for Nyah and Vinifera wetlands over the last six months.
The 913-hectare Nyah floodplain received 740ML of environmental water during October, while the 638-hectare Vinifera floodplain received 400ML.
It was the fourth environmental flow in ten years for Nyah and only the second watering at Vinifera — prior to river regulation, the wetlands within Nyah-Vinifera Park would have been inundated every year.
The watering was coordinated by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA), whose chair Sharyon Peart said the ecological response has been incredible.
“When the pumping starts and the water begins flowing, the wetland comes to life almost immediately — the frogs are there overnight,” Ms Peart said.
“They’re followed by the aquatic bugs and insects, then the birds, bats and snakes reappear and later the mammals like sugar gliders and wallabies move in.
“It has been an amazing transformation from dry and dusty billabong beds to thriving wetlands carrying literally thousands of ducks and waterbirds who are now breeding — it’s an absolute picture.”
Ms Peart said in only one month since watering began, the wetlands, forests and woodlands in both areas had responded quickly.
“The red gums have responded strongly with beautiful, lush green growth and will keep drawing the benefit of an inundation like this for many months to come,” she said.
Mallee CMA has produced a short film showcasing the results of the Nyah-Vinifera watering, which can be found on the website at the Mallee CMA website or on the CMA’s Facebook page.
