Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists
Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists
The basins that form the Lake Wyangan Wetlands just north of Griffith NSW give us the opportunity to see the variety of wetland types that are typical of the region. In geographical terms, the wetlands are on the Cobar Peneplain. This plain is characterised by the fact that it has no drainage system for the whole area. Any accumulated runoff collects in ground depressions. The vegetation types associated with these depressions is determined by the depth of the collected water and the frequency of the flooding. Irrigation practices, farming practices, drought and development pressures are all taking their toll on the area and time will tell how well they survive.
The South Lake is the deepest of the water bodies and is used for year round water storage. Pumping mechanisms exist to transfer water back into the irrigation channels, or to pump water away into the drainage system if the levels ever get too high as they did in 1989 when the causeway was flooded for many months. With the deeper water comes the birds that prefer that habitat and there are frequent recorded sightings of White-bellied Sea Eagles.
The Jack Carson Reserve is an area that has had attempts to revegetate through various programs and is the site of Griffith's first golf course. As a result, there is an interesting mixture of vegetation and remnant land use. The co-ordinates given will take you to the parking area. Sometimes the gate is open, sometimes it is not. Animals have created inventive ways to get through the fence and can be followed if needed.
Jack Carson Reserve E 34 12 954
S 146 00 901
The North Lake is what most locals know as Lake Wyangan and it has many recreational uses. Part of the lake was once a gypsum mine and is the deepest part of the lake. At the time of writing, 2008, the water levels are up to 2m lower than what would once have been considered normal. The overall shallowness of the lake is now evident, and has created vast areas of extreme shallows for freshwater waders who would normally spend winters at Campbell's or Nericon Swamps nearby. The low water levels, combined with hot summers has produced long periods of time when the lake is closed to recreation as a result of blue green algae infestations. That may be bad news for the boat owners fisherfolk and sailors, but means good news for the birdwatchers.
There are great picnic facilites at the public area on the north west shore of the lake. Free electric barbeques and tiolets are available. Armed with a pair of binoculars and a picnic basket, you can while away a good afternoon. There is also a sanctuary for a variety of introduced species which are a delight to young children.
The area up to the 'high water mark' all around the lake is Crown Land. There are numerous gaps in the fencing of the south west corner of the north lake that provide access to the foreshore.
There is a public boat ramp and free camp ground for visitors who don't mind not having grass to camp on. There are toilets and showers at the camp site.
Picnic Area E 34 12 664
S 146 00 973
One of the best vantage points for birdwatching is from the causeway between the two lakes. There is a bit of room for pulling off the road. There are tall reeds on either side of the road hiding Purple Swamp Hens and Little Grass Birds. But beyond this, you can easily see both the revealed mudflats of the north lake and the vantage points of roosting cormorants and other deeper water birds.
Causeway E 34 13 863
S 146 01 220
Campbell's Swamp is a small ex Black Box depression subject to irregular flooding. There is a bird hide constructed and maintained by MFN and a boardwalk to get to it. It is possible to walk all the way around the swamp and see a variety of waders and shore birds. Campbell's Swamp relies on rainfall and environmental flows for its water, so in bad years can have no water at all and remain dry. In good years, the swamp is a noisy cacophany of breeding birds and a pleasure to see.
An interesting and good little walk is to cross the western fence of the swamp (or go around) into the crown land and head to the old cattle yards and the ring of Bimble Box trees. This minor land depression is edged with a single line of Bimble Box and is an example of what local ephemeral flood depressions looked like before they became long term storages.
This writer also has a special place for the Bimble Box ring. One very cold July morning she walked to that ring and was followed by a cloud of 60 - 80 Black and Whistling Kites that had come from their roosts in the dead box trees in the south Lake. A truly magical experience.
Campbell's Swamp E 34 13 787
S 146 02 105
Two kilometres up the road and on the eastern side is Nericon Swamp. Nericon also provides a carpark and a bird hide. For the birds, the swamp's physical make up - an old dam with associated banking - proivided nesting areas for birds away from 'swim shy' foxes and other preditors. Nericon Swamp contains extremely localised drainage from the surrounding farms. There was a time when the swamp always had water and always had birds. Better irrigation practices and increased cost of water has resulted in less drainage and less birds. At present there is no infrastructure to allow environmental inflow of water, so remains dry.
Nericon Swamp E 34 13 158
S 146 02 169
©2008 MFN
This site maintained by jbotman.com