Long Swamp extends for over 15km, from the Glenelg River estuary, south-eastwards to Lake Mombeong and is bounded by coastal dunes to the south and higher undulating ground to the north. This wetland is one of the key environmental features conserved within Discovery Bay Coastal Park, is listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, and forms part of one of the Australian Government’s identified High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem (HEVAE) sites across the country.
Like many wetlands across southern Australia, the hydrology of Long Swamp has been altered (through a range of factors) since European settlement, and there has been growing concern within the local community about the current trends of change within the wetland system.
After the launch of Nature Glenelg Trust in January 2012, we began working in partnership with the local community and the agencies responsible for the management of Long Swamp, to:
- help better understand the current values of the system,
- document the historic and current trajectory of change, and
- articulate future management options that are based around a sound set of principles that are guided by the scientific work undertaken.
The findings of the baseline Long Swamp Fish and Frog Study, commissioned by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA and undertaken by Nature Glenelg Trust in 2012, can be downloaded here: Long Swamp Fish and Frog Survey 2012.
As a result of the this work and other previous studies, Nature Glenelg Trust has been awarded grant funding by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), to undertake a hydrological restoration trial at the Nobles Rocks outlet from Long Swamp, through the installation of temporary sandbag weir structures in 2014/15.
This project has been made possible by the generous support of the Nelson Coastcare Group, Parks Victoria, DEPI, the Glenelg Hopkins CMA and a wide range of other people in the local cross-border community.
Please check the blogs below for the latest updates on the project, as well as a large amount of additional background information.
- Current Vacancy – Management Accountant 07/02/2025Are you passionate about the not-for-profit sector and interested in working for a regional organisation making a difference on the ground? Looking for challenges and the opportunity to embrace a role that helps drive the financial success of an environmental organisation with national reach? If so, this could be the job for you. We are seeking an ...
- Exciting news to start 2025: Help us create the Wirey Swamp Restoration Reserve! 30/01/2025It is fantastic to be able to kick-off our first full newsletter of 2025, with some very exciting news! Nature Glenelg Trust is embarking on creating the Wirey Swamp Restoration Reserve, and we’re asking you to join us! We are very grateful for early contributions by some of NGT’s existing supporters, who – working with us ...
- All the finer details: NGT’s proposed Wirey Swamp Restoration Reserve 30/01/2025Quick facts about the site Wirey Swamp is a deep freshwater marsh located on a 180 acre parcel of land in the Strathdownie district of western Victoria, about a 25 minute drive west of Casterton and also a short distance from one of the region’s most important brolga flocking sites near Kaladbro. The Kaladbro flocking area ...
- Wannon River diversions – your questions answered: Radio interviews, a diagram and video bring the issue into focus 30/01/2025In our recent mid-month special update on the impacts of the Grampians bushfire, we also shared NGT’s perspective on the water needs of the upper Wannon River in its post-fire recovery phase. As we explained in that recent article, since 1971 the river has had much of the flow from its most reliable headwater streams, ...
- Recapping the recent bushfire impacts at Walker Swamp 30/01/2025For anyone who has been on holidays and may have missed it, we sent out a special mid-month edition of the NGT Newsletter a couple of weeks ago, where we took a closer look at the bushfire impacts at Walker Swamp. In the days following that update, I was invited to give interviews on two ...
- New perspectives on the lost floating island of Mt Schank 30/01/2025Last month, we shared the largely forgotten story of the floating island of Mt Schank, and thanks to some feedback and fresh leads from our readers, we have some new perspectives to share this month! It turns out that one of NGT’s very own ecologists based in Mt Gambier, Jess Bourchier, has a dual connection to ...
- Saving Our Native Species – Compelling video highlights conservation of one of Australia’s most threatened fish (Murray Hardyhead) 30/01/2025The Murray Hardyhead is a very small, nationally listed Endangered species that specialises in the wetland habitats of the Murray-Darling system. Altered flow regimes (river regulation), habitat destruction, and the effects of invasive fish, have all contributed to the decline of this species. We’ve been working on this species for a few years with our cross-border ...
- SA’s giant Murray Crays get more media attention 30/01/2025After two successful releases an iconic giant is back in Murray River in South Australia. After an initial release in 2023, a second one in July 2024, and a positive survey result things are looking up for the Murray Crayfish in SA. We have shared the journey of the iconic Murray Crayfish reintroduction project with ...
- Wrapping up hydrological restoration works at Stipiturus CP 30/01/2025When it comes to hydrological restoration works at Stipiturus Conservation Park (Glenshera Swamp) south of Adelaide, which commenced in 2017, it is pretty much “job done”. While there are still some artificial drains affecting site hydrology towards the downstream end of the swamp on private land, the remediation of them would impact land that is ...
- Vale John Brame, a champion of ecological restoration on the Fleurieu Peninsula 30/01/2025The Fleurieu Peninsula (South of Adelaide, and home to critically endangered Fleurieu Swamps) has lost someone of central importance to the restoration of its rare and threatened ecosystems. John Brame died suddenly in December, at home with his partner Andrea Jenkins, aged just 65. John’s business, Fleurieu Natives, has provided the plants for countless revegetation ...
Click here for the full list of blogs related to the restoration trial
Click here for the full list of other archived blogs related to Long Swamp
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