Three neighbouring properties in Brooweena are working together to help protect a regionally prioritised wetland and surrounding Upper Munna and Aramara Creeks.

 

Under the federal governments Reef Rescue initiative the landholders will fence off Upper Munna and Aramara Creeks, and the Upper Munna prioritised Wetlands to protect them from the damaging effects of cattle, whilst also providing off-wetland stock watering points. Unrestricted cattle access to wetlands and creeks can cause damage to the riparian vegetation, increase erosion causing a decline in water quality, and can cause ‘pugging’ of the soil which can alter wetland hydrology and create pools where insects reside and breed.

The wetlands are classed as a freshwater lagoon wetland and contain paperbark and reed fringe vegetation. They provide important habitat for waterbirds and provide good soil stability within the site. They also help to filter on-farm run-off and improve the quality of the water both within and leaving the wetlands.

The site is also severely threatened by the aquatic weed Salvinia molesta, which has concentrated in large numbers, completely covering the freshwater wetland lake. Umbrella weed has then formed dense mats on top of the Salvinia, causing the wetland to be completely smothered. Black swans who seasonally nest in the wetlands have not been able to this season due to the lack of open water, caused by the Salvinia infestation.

 

Salvinia is also present in large numbers in the bordering Munna Creek and within some of the neighbouring farm dams. Salvinia has been a problem weed in the area since the late 1970’s, and the landholders in Brooweena recognise that they are at the highest point upstream where Salvinia continues to reach. All properties above this area are Salvinia free. Salvinia has an amazing growth rate, doubling its dry weight in two and a half days when conditions are right.

The landholders of all affected properties have come together to help tackle the problem and to implement a long term weed management plan for the area.

Peter Brightwell from the Burnett Catchment Care Association, and Rachael Nasplezes from WetlandCare Australia have been working with the landowners to draw the plan. The most effective control for the weed infestation within the sites is to release the Salvinia weevil,
Cyrtobagous salviniae, this will be preceded by manual control of the umbrella sedge in the wetland area. The weevil becomes dormant over the winter period so it will not be released into the sites until spring. The landholders are looking at the option of growing their own weevil
colony, which will allow them to manage the weed in the long term.

 

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