Environmental water delivered to Moodies Swamp later this month (May) aims to promote breeding habitat for waterbirds and protect nationally threatened plants.
Environmental water delivered to Moodies Swamp later this month (May) aims to promote breeding habitat for waterbirds and protect nationally threatened plants.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Water Project Officer Jo Wood said 120ML of water would be delivered to the 180ha wetland that is off the Benalla-Tocumwal Rd south of Katamatite.
“Moodies is a very important breeding site for brolgas,” Ms Wood said.
“The watering will promote cane grass growth, which brolgas like to nest among in spring, as well as the rigid water milfoil that grows there. Rigid water milfoil is a nationally threatened plant and this population at Moodies is one of the largest in the state, so it’s important we protect it by inundating it at the right time.”
The environmental water will be delivered by Goulburn-Murray Water via Gearys Channel from the Upper Broken Creek and could take up to 15 days.
Ms Wood said the Parks Victoria-managed wetland was a great place to visit.
“We’ve been told that brolgas have already been seen there scoping the area. They usually do this between May and July before breeding from August to December. It’s a little bit early – they may have been attracted by the small amount of water that is sitting there as a result of the recent rain.”
For more about wetlands in the Goulburn Broken Catchment visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au