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Gunbower Forest Floodplain

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Gunbower Forest

Gunbower Forest spans 20,000 hectares along the Murray River floodplain near Cohuna, downstream from Echuca.

STORY: IT'S TIME TO GIVE THE FOREST A MUCH-NEEDED DRINK

As an internationally important wetland it includes one of the most significant remaining areas of river red gum forest in Australia. It is also Australia’s largest inland island, bounded by the Murray to the north and Gunbower Creek to the south.

The forest is home to many endangered plants and animals, such as the giant banjo frog and the intermediate egret. It contains numerous sites of Aboriginal and post-settlement cultural heritage. These sites indicate peoples ‘strong connection to the forest, both historically and today.

Recreational activities, such as camping, kayaking, fishing, riding and bushwalking are very popular throughout the forest.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority's mission for Gunbower Island is to maintain and improve Gunbower Island by enabling native plants and animals to flourish, restoring the floodplain's health for future generations.

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Watering of the forest

The Flooding for Life project aims to restore regular flooding to Gunbower Forest.

Without the ability to deliver large volumes of environmental water, many of the rare plants and animals of Gunbower Forest will disappear.

The Flooding for Life project incorporates a combination of environmental watering, engineering works, monitoring, indigenous partnership programs and community engagement.

STORY: THE JEWEL IN VICTORIA'S CROWN

The pattern of the Murray River's flow is no longer natural. It is highly controlled through the placement of dams and weirs along its length. 

Regulation of the Murray River has meant that fewer floods occur and, when they do, less water breaks the river's banks and reaches Gunbower Forest. This has impacted on the diverse plant and animal life throughout the forest.

Since 2003, managed floods, using environmental water, have been delivered to Gunbower Forest stimulating many of the environmental benefits of natural floods.

The water provides a refuge for waterbirds and fish in an otherwise parched landscape. It enables wetland plants to complete their lifecycle and replenish their seed banks, improving their resilience.

For further information on how the forest is managed with water for the environment, please go to the Gunbower Forest Environmental Water Management Plan.

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Interested community members in north central Victoria have been invited to turn their knowledge and passion for one of the area’s most significant natural gems into action.

Gunbower Island is an internationally important wetland and includes one of the most significant remaining areas of river red gum forest in Australia.

The forest is home to many endangered plants and animals, such as the giant banjo frog and the intermediate egret, and contains numerous sites of Aboriginal and post-occupation cultural heritage.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) manages projects in the Gunbower Island region, including The Living Murray and the Gunbower and Lower Loddon Native Fish Recovery Plan.

Both these projects benefit the Gunbower Forest and Gunbower Creek and have significant tourist and economic benefits for the region, and there are a range of other projects we are working on, or will soon be, in the area.\

We want the community to be involved, to have their say and to have an input into how all these projects are managed.”

The North Central CMA is inviting community members to be part of the Gunbower Island Community Reference Group.

The CRG enables you to work closely with us, find out as much as possible about these projects and act as a conduit to, and with, the wider community.

We know the importance of local input and local knowledge, and that’s why we want community members to come on board, have their say and contribute.

To find out more, click on the resources below. Locals can also email Ms Piscitelli at sophia.piscitelli@nccma.vic.gov.au

 

Application Form

Terms of Reference

 

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GUNBOWER FOREST FLOODPLAIN FLOW

The message from expert ecologists is clear. Four years without water is impacting the health of some of the iconic red gums on the Gunbower Forest floodplain, and we are taking action to halt their decline.

Click here for more details

FACT SHEET: 2022 FLOODPLAIN WATERING

FAQS: what you need to know about the current watering

Kayaking on the Gunbower Forest Floodplain

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Boat on Gunbower Creek at sunset

FLOODING FOR LIFE NEWSLETTER

The community plays a vital role in the Flooding for Life project. We keep them up to date with the latest news from inside the forest and inside the project through our Flooding for Life newsletter

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Gunbower Forest during 2014 watering

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There is so much more to know about Gunbower Forest. You can start here.

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ENVIRONMENTAL WORKS

Environmental works enable more efficient use of environmental water and include engineering works like flow control regulators, pipes and pumps.

Engineered approaches of this kind can allow us to deliver water to wetlands and floodplains, even in the worst droughts.

These works can achieve similar environmental benefits to a natural flood, using much less water.

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