NCCMA Internet - Living Murray

The Iconic Gunbower Forest

Flooding for Life

Gunbower Forest, situated on the River Murray, is an internationally significant floodplain system and the second largest River Red Gum forest in Victoria. Spanning 20,000 ha, the forest has long been regarded as a valuable natural resource and supports:

Habitat for endangered birds, animals, native fish and plants
Internationally significant Ramsar Wetlands
Indigenous and European cultural heritage sites
River Red Gum, Black Box, and Grey Box communities
Camping, bushwalking, fishing.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) manages the Flooding Enhancement of Gunbower Forest Project, which aims to protect the ecological values of Gunbower through improved management of environmental water.

The future health of the environment is highly dependent on the people in the region, and to that end the North Central CMA actively works with the community and Indigenous groups. Strong partnerships have also been developed throughout the project with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Goulburn-Murray Water and Parks Victoria.

Environmental Achievements using Water

Great Egrets breen in Gunbower Forest
Wetlands 2005. Photo: David Kleinert

During spring 2005, environmental water was delivered to Gunbower Forest to maintain several permanent and semi-permanent wetland complexes, protect and enhance the River Red Gum communities and provide breeding opportunities for colonial water birds

Field inspections identified a colonial waterbird breeding event in November 2005 and water was delivered until February 2006 to support the colony. This was the first significant breeding event of the Great Egret (Ardea alba) since 1999/2000. This species is listed under the Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA), China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA), Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and Bonn Conventions and is endangered in Victoria.

Other significant bird species that utilised Gunbower Forest due to the watering were Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, White-necked Heron, Spoonbills, Darters, Australian White Ibis, the Australasian Grebe and the White-Bellied Sea-Eagle.

River Red Gum trees responded with flushes of new growth and some regeneration of understorey vegetation. It was noted that where environmental watering did not occur, trees still showed signs of leaf size reduction, canopy thinning and die back.

Hundreds of records were made from several frog species including Spotted Marsh Frog, Barking Marsh Frog, Perons Tree Frog, Pobblebonk, and Plain Froglet. All species successfully bred in the flooded areas of the Forest, this was indicated with the presence of juveniles.

Environmental water used for the flooding in Gunbower Forest was provided through surplus flows, or unallocated water, and the existing Murray Flora and Fauna Water Entitlement.

Wavy Marshwort in Gunbower Forest Wetlands. Photo: Brad Drust 2005

Links with The Living Murray

In 2002, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council established the Living Murray Initiative - a long-term program of collective actions aimed at returning the River Murray system to a healthy working river. The vision for the Living Murray Initiative is

... a healthy River Murray system, sustaining communities and preserving unique values.

On the 25th of June 2004, the First Ministers of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, the ACT and the Commonwealth Government signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Addressing Water Over-allocation and Achieving Environmental Objectives in the Murray-Darling Basin.

This gives effect to their decision in August 2003 to commit $500M to the First Step of the Living Murray Initiative which aims to recover 500 GL (500,000 ML) of water to improve environmental flows and achieve ecological objectives at six significant ecological assets along the River Murray.

The six Icon sites which will benefit from the First Step are:

Barmah-Millewa Forests
Gunbower Koondrook-Perricoota Forests
Hattah Lakes
Chowilla Floodplain including Lindsay-Wallpolla,
Lower Lakes , Murray Mouth including the Coorong; and
The main River Murray Channel.

Figure 1: Displays the Six icon Sites Across Victoria,
New South Wales and South Australia. (Source: Living Murray website)

Ibis Chick. Photo: David Kleinert

The interim ecological objectives for the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Icon Site are:

80% of permanent and semi-permanent wetlands in healthy condition;
30% of River Red Gum forest in healthy condition;
Successful breeding of thousands of colonial waterbirds in at least three years out of ten; and
Healthy populations of resident native fish in wetlands.

http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm