Northern region << BACK TO CONTENTS The central Murray wetlands became a haven for waterbirds in 2016–17, with a return of rare Australasian bitterns as well as magpie geese previously thought to be extinct in this region since 1913. Despite heavy rainfall and flood conditions across northern Victoria, water for the environment was still needed to boost the central Murray wetlands. The water was necessary to replenish important wetlands that remained isolated from natural flooding due to barriers such as channels, roads and levees. Several top-up flows were delivered to Round Lake and Lake Elizabeth to maintain suitable conditions for the Murray hardyhead, a threatened fish species. Richardson’s Lagoon, McDonalds Swamp, Hird Swamp and the Wirra-Lo wetland complex flourished after top-up flows through the year. Dusk at Brolga Swamp at the Wirra-Lo wetland complex, by Jill and Ken Hooper A major win was the ability to water Lake Cullen, which had been dry since 2012. Lake Cullen is an intermittent saline lake that provides food and habitat to a large number and variety of waterbirds. Lake Cullen was due for watering in 2016–17, but due to potential groundwater interactions it was only proposed to top-up the lake if the nearby Avoca marshes and Lake Bael Bael filled first naturally. Heavy rainfall in September and October 2016 saw the Avoca River then Lake Bael Bael flood, allowing water for the environment to be used to partially fill Lake Cullen in spring and topped up in summer and autumn. The floodwater and water for the environment provided feeding and breeding habitats for birds including nationally endangered Australasian bitterns, Australian little bitterns, brolgas and magpie geese. The presence of magpie geese at Lake Cullen and other central Murray wetlands this year is especially exciting as the species has been extinct in this area since 1913 due to predation by foxes and habitat destruction — river regulation and the draining of wetlands. The return of magpie geese is a great sign that we are getting things right and that the species is recolonising some of its old sites. Additionally, Australasian bitterns were recorded in large numbers during autumn, at least 16 in one sighting. This is very significant as there could be as few as 1,000 adults left in the world. Waterway manager: North Central CMA Storage manager: Goulburn-Murray Water 67 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder
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