<< BACK TO CONTENTS Platypus The local platypus population suffered greatly during the Millennium Drought. Environmental water releases in subsequent years have improved water quality for macroinvertebrates — the platypus’ main food source — and have stimulated platypus to explore new habitat and expand their range. “We work with the VEWH to plan and release environmental water, which enables platypus to move around the river and put on the weight they need to be healthy enough to reproduce during the summer breeding season,” Cheryl said. Frogs bouncing back Rivers and wetlands in the central region also support several frog species, which are highly dependent on water to provide habitat at particular stages of their life cycle. Frogs are highly sensitive to changes in the environment and we use this knowledge to plan the delivery of environmental water to rivers and wetlands to replicate the conditions frogs need to reproduce. Monitoring shows that frog populations in rivers and creeks that receive environmental water are larger than those that don’t. A symphony of frogs serenaded visitors to Banyule Billabong, when environmental water in late spring 2016 provided spectacular benefits for those who frequent the area. The billabong lies along one of Melbourne’s most popular recreational trails in Viewbank, near Heidelberg. The Banyule Billabong has one of the most diverse populations of regionally and locally significant wildlife of all the Yarra Valley parkland billabongs. A Melbourne Water investigation of its longterm needs prompted an environmental watering regime to help ensure its ecological future. The month-long trial helped determine the amount of water needed to rehabilitate the billabong’s rich ecosystem, which is home to species like the growling grass frog and to threatened plant species (such as river swamp wallaby grass and ferny azolla). The monitoring showed a rapid response response from frogs and improvements in plant growth. Banyule Billabong after watering in 2016, by Anthea Fleming of the Warringal Conservation Society 41 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder
45 Publizr Home