Swamps awake on the back of solid May rains
The signs of two dry years are still lingering but one can’t help but feel optimistic that we might have turned a corner.
With Warrnambool falling just 0.5mm short of achieving its highest May rainfall on record, and similar trends occurring to the north and west, the southwestern Victorian catchments have received some good early priming. The response of wetland plants has been impressive with thick beds of semi-aquatic herbs appearing at most of our restoration sites.
Fast forward a few weeks, and throw in last week’s significant cold front, and the wetlands are starting to hold some surface water. We’re still another month of average rainfall away from seeing some significant swamp filling, but all indicators are that this will be a good year for our swamps and, on the back of a very dry period, a much needed one.
So for now, here are some early shots of our wetlands re-awakening…
Running marsh flower
Emerging water ribbons and milfoil
A carpet of Hydrocotyle
