Surprising results as we check back in on Glenshera Swamp amidst the drought
As readers living in South Australia or western Victoria will be well aware, we’ve been experiencing a particularly dry patch since at least the start of 2025. In fact, for much of southern Australia, it has been the driest 15 months ON RECORD, and it’s still going! To put that into perspective, national rainfall records have been collected by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) since 1900, so that’s over a century!
We know that wetlands are great for habitat and provide a whole suite of ecosystem services. Importantly, they also replenish groundwater and generally store water in the landscape, which is particularly crucial in times of drought. Unfortunately, many of our wetlands have been historically degraded, and many have drains crisscrossing their surface. These drains quickly take any rising spring water or rain away, robbing the swamp and the landscape of precious water. So, can we get the benefits back from degraded wetland systems, and can they function again?
The answer is yes! We’re now witnessing functioning wetlands in action in the Fleurieu Peninsula. Ben recently revisited Glenshera Swamp, in Stipiturus Conservation Park, to see how it was faring in the drought. Back in March, we reported that it was holding up remarkably well (see the March article here). But now, after a couple more dry months, this remarkable swamp remains a jewel in the landscape, still holding water like a sponge and gradually releasing it, right when it is needed.
Restoration works at Glenshera Swamp, both in Stipiturus Conservation Park and on the neighbouring private property, have increased the surface area of saturated ground closer to its original size. During the wet months, it captured and held surface runoff from rainfall. As the dry period progressed, surface inflows ceased and groundwater provided an increasingly higher proportion of the water entering the swamp, yet the whole swamp remains wet. And now, despite having little to no surface water inputs since before the 2024/25 summer, water is still spilling over the outlet and flowing into the headwaters of Myponga River. This water is contributing to the health of the aquatic ecosystem downstream, such as replenishing waterholes that would otherwise be at high risk of drying up. This is a great example of how wetland restoration can benefit the entire landscape, increasing its resilience in the face of climate change.
If you’d like to be involved in Fleurieu Swamp conservation The Friends of Stipiturus and Hesperilla Conservation Park holds working bees at one or other of the parks on a Sunday between 9am and 12 noon each month – see the here for details.
Our recent hydrological restoration work in Fleurieu Swamps was funded by the Friends of Stipiturus and Hesperilla Conservation Parks through the National Parks and Wildlife Service Friends of Parks ‘Partnership Grants’ Program.
