Duck Hole Wetland - Nature Foundation SA

Water For Nature
Environmental Watering Project
DUCK HOLE WETLAND
Location: Pike-Mundic Floodplain, Riverland, SA
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Water For Nature, an initiative of Nature Foundation SA, works with SA River
Murray communities to deliver environmental water. NFSA works with
private landholders, irrigators, community groups & local government on
smaller sites to complement larger government watering projects. Water For
Nature aims to deliver water effectively for demonstrable environmental,
social and economic benefits, creating ‘green assets’. In a precedent-setting
partnership, NFSA entered an agreement with the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder to deliver up to 50 GL of environmental water
to the South Australian section of the River Murray over 5 years (2012-2016).
Location of Duck Hole Wetland Watering Site
Duck Hole Wetland is a 15 ha wetland within the large Pike-Mundic
floodplain on the east bank of the River Murray, straddling Weir & Lock No 5
at Paringa. The floodplain complex includes communities of red gum forest,
black box woodland and lignum shrubland dissected by anabranches,
temporary creeks, waterholes and billabongs. The vegetation communities
and wetlands have suffered serious decline due to lack of flooding, drought
and saline groundwater intrusion. Environmental watering can help to repair
the ecosystems. The Pike-Mundic floodplain is undergoing major
infrastructure projects which in future will modify the water regime to
benefit regeneration of floodplain vegetation.
Quick Facts
Watering Started: 13 November 2014
 Owner: Department of Environment,
Water and Natural Resources
(DEWNR)
Total Water Delivery (2014-16)
 220 Megalitres (ML) in 2014-15
 117 ML in 2015-16
Water Delivery to date:
220 ML
Key Objectives:
1. encourage survival of red gum, black
box and lignum seedlings which
geminated in response the 2010-12
floods
2. improve condition in mature trees,
including black box, river coobah and
red gum
3. improve cover and condition of
understorey vegetation including
lignum.
Methodology:
utilisation of pump to lift water from
Mundic Channel into feeder creek to fill
15 ha wetland
Outcomes:
 initial positive responses observed in
waterbird numbers and vegetation
health
 monitoring underway by DEWNR
Delivery Partners:
Weir &
Lock No 5
Mundic
Channel
River
Murray
Sponsors
 Thyne Reid Foundation
Duck Hole
Wetland
Water For Nature - an initiative of Nature Foundation SA
admin@nfsa.org.au
 Commonwealth Environmental Water
Office (CEWO) -- provided water
 Department of Environment, Water and
Natural Resources (DEWNR) –
monitoring
 Pike River Land Management Group -local community group of irrigators operations
 SA Water – expertise & equipment
 Murray-Darling Basin Authority – supply
of large pump
www.waterfornature.org.au
April 2015
Objectives for Duck Hole Wetland Project
The Duck Hole Wetland project addresses three key objectives of the
Water For Nature initiative:
 maintain minimum soil moisture to support growth
of seedlings (river red gum, black box, lignum)
until tap roots reach subsurface water sources
 replenish freshwater lenses over saline
groundwater
 maintain healthy mature trees and shrubs to
produce high volumes of seed.
The project applies three key Water For Nature Golden
Rules:
 protect long-lived vegetation
 protect species of high conservation value
 enhance natural benefits of flood.
Young seedlings needing a drink
The current actions in the watering project at Duck Hole Wetland aim to reverse the decline of black box
woodlands, and to sustain extensive regeneration of river red gum, black box and lignum seedlings following
the 2011 and 2012 floods. Watering at Duck Hole Wetland has focussed on filling a well-defined large
wetland to create seasonal habitat for waterbirds and to support riparian vegetation on the adjacent
floodplain.
Watering Methodology
The Duck Hole Wetland project is utilising a large MDBA pump (managed by SA Water) to deliver large
volumes of water into the feeder creek from Mundic Channel. A retention bank has been constructed by
DEWNR across the outlet creek to extend the duration of inundation in the wetland, to support life cycles
in fish, frogs and waterbirds.
MDBA Pump in action at Duck Hole
This environmental watering project has been made possible through the allocation of 50 gigalitres of water
over five years provided from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office to Nature Foundation SA.
www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-water-office/about-commonwealthenvironmental-water
Water For Nature - an initiative of Nature Foundation SA
admin@nfsa.org.au
www.waterfornature.org.au
April 2015
Expected Benefits from Environmental Watering
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increased aquatic habitat and food sources for
waterbirds
enhanced rate of survival of riparian seedlings
germinated in 2010-2012 floods
improved health of mature black box, coobah
and red gum
growth and flowering of mature lignum, plus
post-flood growth of new lignum seedlings and
vegetative clones
germination and healthy growth of native
ground cover
reduced impacts of soil salinisation
partnership with local irrigators group.
Watering commences for 2014-15
Monitoring and Evaluation
Ecological outcomes are being evaluated by monitoring changes in health of mature trees and rates of
survival of seedlings in floodplain vegetation. Aquatic plant and animal species will be monitored during
the wet cycles. This monitoring work is being undertaken by DEWNR staff.
Key Stakeholders and Supporters
NFSA’s Water For Nature program supports local communities to deliver environmental water to
wetlands and floodplains on the Murray River to improve the health of local ecosystems and to create
‘green assets’. Water for Nature appreciates the support of the following key stakeholders and
supporters:
Landholder
Department of Environment, Water
and Natural Resources (DEWNR)
www.environment.sa.gov.au
www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au
Federal Agency
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
www.mdba.com.au
South Australian Government
www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Environment/
SA Water
Regional Partners and Supporters
Pike River Land Management Group
Philanthropic Organisations
Thyne Reid Foundation
Water For Nature - an initiative of Nature Foundation SA
admin@nfsa.org.au
www.waterfornature.org.au
April 2015
Future Projects
Duck Hole Wetland watering is a model that
Water For Nature can adapt to other locations.
Although future sites may pose different
logistical challenges, the critical element for
successful watering events will be the support
of sponsors and cooperation with local
communities.
How can you help?
Delivering environmental water to key sites
requires significant resources. Water For
A very different place after 200ML
Nature is seeking financial support from
corporates, small businesses and individuals to
help deliver more watering projects per year. We also welcome volunteer support in our conservation
programs. Please register your interest to support or volunteer with the Nature Foundation SA office.
Nature Foundation SA
32 Holden Street (PO Box 448)
Hindmarsh SA 5007
Tel: 08 8340 2880
Email: NatureFoundationSA@nfsa.org.au
Water For Nature
Contact: Ian Atkinson
Tel: 08 8340 2880
Email: ian.atkinson@nfsa.org.au
Fundraising and Corporate Sponsorship
Contact: Patrick Mentzel
Ph: 08 8340 2880
Email: patrick.mentzel@nfsa.org.au
Fringing vegetation will benefit greatly
Water For Nature - an initiative of Nature Foundation SA
admin@nfsa.org.au
www.waterfornature.org.au
April 2015