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Download Mark Bachmann – The Role of Wetland Restoration on Private Land
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• The site that proved what was possible, from my previous job. May 2007 July June 2007 2012 The “X Factor” of wetland restoration Self-sustaining recovery NGT Staff / Committee NGT – Filling the gaps between: Academia Practice Policy “The Thinkers” “The Doers” “The Planners” SW Vic example zone: Pre-European wetland extent Current wetland extent Rainfall Impacts on water resources and wetlands Plantations Drainage Development Irrigation NGT restoration sites – addressing drainage in south western Victoria Case Study Sites Site attributes: • Straddles Private and Public land • Interconnected in-stream floodplain wetlands of the Wannon River, and the terminus of an artificial drainage network • Drained below natural river depth, but still subject to flooding Gooseneck Swamp Dunkeld district major restoration sites Glenthompson Dunkeld Brady Swamp Site attributes: • Private land (owned by Dunkeld Pastoral Co.) • Drained and developed • Top of a closed catchment • One artificial outlet Scale Swamp Green Swamp Site attributes: • Straddles Private and Public land • Drained to reduce inundation depth and duration • Situated mid-catchment in an artificial drainage network • One artificial outlet Scale Swamp 1940s Evidence of early drainage Present Evidence of more comprehensive drainage Present with DEM (LiDAR) Scale Swamp Outlet Restoration Works August 2014 – February Pre-works Before: After: October 2016 Green Swamp 1940s Present DEM based on LiDAR Property-wide wetland restoration planning Restoration Works Looking towards the new outlet spillway and earthen levee Reverse View – looking towards the swamp September 2016 Maximum level before works After works: September 2016 Brady Swamp Restoration Trial – MARCH 2014 AUGUST 2014 – Walker Swamp MARCH 2014 – Brady Swamp AUGUST 2013 – Gooseneck Swamp Brady Swamp Permanent Restoration November 2014 April 2015 Sept 2014 April 2015 Gooseneck Swamp DECEMBER 2014 FEBRUARY 2015 SEPTEMBER 2016 Gooseneck Swamp A few of the species to benefit so far… Glenthompson Dunkeld Brady Swamp Scale Swamp Green Swamp But what to do when wetland restoration at a highly strategic site would have a whole-of-property impact? Mt Burr Swamp – current condition and impact of drains Key threatened or significant species that will benefit Dwarf Galaxias – Galaxiella pusilla Southern Brown Bandicoot – Isoodon obesulus Growling Grass Frog – Litoria raniformis Red-tailed Black Cockatoo – Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne Australasian Bittern - Botaurus poiciloptilus Southern Bent-wing Bat – Miniopterus orianae bassanii Brolga – Grus rubicunda Outlet drain before Outlet drain after early works Autumn 2016 Winter 2016 Spring 2016 Key points • Wetlands are capable of rapid ecological recovery in degraded landscapes • Threatened species will directly benefit from most projects, and make good indicator species or focal species for reintroductions • Value of modern GIS and historical resources • Trials are a great way to build confidence before making works permanent • Water often forces you to think outside of linear property boundaries (and single tenure) – embrace this challenge! • Take the time to get to know people and find the common ground (people often value wetlands for very different reasons, but can come together for the same goal). • Wetland restoration allows you to explore the ‘shades of grey’ in a way that truly makes this method of recovery unique. • Finally, this story has not been told from the threatened species perspective, or intensive interventions… …it is about re-setting hydrological conditions and letting nature (sometimes with a helping hand) do the rest! Spring 2016 Self-sustaining aquatic threatened species recovery on private land: NGT’s Mt Burr Swamp – Immediate response in 2016 from two key aquatic species Major supporters of the southern Grampians restoration case studies presented today Private landholders: Dunkeld Pastoral Co., Roger and Todd Burger, Doug Craig, Charles Cay and Vic Carroll. Contact: [email protected]
