This project was developed to aid the restoration of a five hectare swamp that occurs on a natural watercourse flowing into Fiery Creek. The site provides important water storage in the local drainage network whilst also supporting a high quality remnant red-gum forest that creates important habitat for local bird populations.
Earthworks undertaken by previous owners that included channel excavation and the construction of levee embankments have caused significant modification to the natural wetland area. Since purchasing the property the new owners had noticed changes occurring to the natural inundation zone of the swamp which had historically backed up into the standing red-gums. Concerned that the wetland area was impacted by these past works, the landholders were keen to engage with us to help find a possible solution and develop a remedial response to this issue. After preliminary assessments were undertaken we were able to identify that the recently excavated channels constructed by the previous owners had created a new subsurface drainage pathway for the surface water. The channel excavations had been cut through a shallow depth impervious clay layer in the natural soil structure, subsequently providing an exit route for the surface water to drain through a deeper deposited gravel bed, artificially hastening the loss of water from the wetland system.
On ground works were designed to reduce the depth of the excavated drainage channel by relining the channel bed to effectively reinstate the original confining clay layer. Suitable clay material was sourced on site and a local earthworks contractor was engaged to fill and re-line the drainage channels. To ensure that the capping material was suitably impervious, bentonite clay fines were integrated into the material to increase the sealing effectiveness of the bed material.
This Case Study is the third in a series to illustrate wetland restoration in practice, delivered through Nature Glenelg Trust’s Wetland Restoration Program on Private Land and funded by the Australian Government.
- Wetlands and the carbon store-y 29/08/2024
Regular newsletter readers will know that at NGT we have an interest in understanding the complex role of wetlands in the carbon cycle. We know of course that wetlands are and will continue to be dis-proportionally impacted by changes to climate and the subsequent availability of water, but understanding how wetlands interact with carbon stores ...
- ’11ASM’ Conference showcases NGT’s work on threatened species 29/08/2024
The 11th Australian Stream Management conference was held in Victor Harbor SA over the 11th – 14th August, showcasing both the local region and some of NGT’s sites. NGT senior ecologists Sylvia Zukowski and Ben Taylor were selected to present at the conference and develop a research paper, and Nick Whiterod was selected to do ...
- Restoring lost saltmarsh on the River Derwent in Hobart 29/08/2024
NGT has recently been engaged by the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) to complete an assessment and develop a restoration plan for an area of saltmarsh at Windermere Bay on the shores of the River Derwent at Claremont, north of Hobart. In contrast to many of the restoration projects we get involved in, and particularly ...
- Limestone Coast Bird ID course coming your way 29/08/2024
Have you ever wished to know more about native Australian birds? Or wondered which bird was making that call from out of sight? Well, we have the course for you!
Nature Glenelg Trust is teaming up with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to run a series of comprehensive 10-session bird identification courses. The courses will ...
- Nature Festival bus tour is back! Join us in Adelaide this October 29/08/2024
If you’re based near Adelaide and are interested in learning more about our ecological work restoring rivers, wetlands, and the species they support, then you’re in luck! Our Nature Festival bus tour is back by popular demand.
When: Friday October 11th, 7:45am to 3pm Where: Pickup and drop-off point is Frederick St Unley, near the ...
- Great Southern Bioblitz – Get involved this Spring 29/08/2024
The Great Southern Bioblitz kicked off in 2020, during the heart of the COVID lock-downs and has continued every year since.
Participants from across the Southern Hemisphere will login to the iNaturalist app to record observations of wildlife over the period September 20-23rd.
It’s a great way to participate easily in a global citizen science project. As ...
- The wonderful world of insects – ‘Herding Caterpillars’ in Adelaide and join our new insect workshops in the Limestone Coast 29/08/2024
Could you ever imagine that a butterfly would be helped by an ant to complete its life cycle?! When you consider that ants can be a formidable force in the bush, its amazing to know that ants will tend to a particular special caterpillar species without it ending up as lunch.
The species is the ...
- A new plan for wetland and saltmarsh restoration at Burdens Marsh 29/08/2024
For the past 12 months we have been working on a restoration plan for a special saltmarsh in Tasmania, Burdens Marsh. The saltmarsh is situated on Sloping Main Reserve, one of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s (TLC) newest Reserves, on Turrakana/The Tasman Peninsula. Burdens Marsh has inherited a history of modification from agricultural development – including ...
- Restoration is reviving Rowan Swamp – new water-level data unpacked 29/08/2024
Rowan Swamp is a 150 hectare wetland feature, situated near the township of Lake Rowan, in the Goulburn Broken CMA region, about 40km north of Benalla.
Three years ago NGT began an eco-hydrological assessment of the Rowan Swamp Wildlife Reserve in partnership with Parks Victoria. After an investigation of the history of the wetland and documenting the changes ...
- Muddy waters – alien carp eradication from wetlands to protect native fish 29/08/2024
The removal of almost 300 large Common Carp from Oaklands Wetland near Marion, SA, was recently undertaken by our aquatic ecology team. This annual fish management in the wetland is an important part of not only maintaining cleaner water but also providing a safe home for the native fish species that live there including the ...
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