Wetland management

This component of the Riverine Recovery Project is about identifying high value wetlands along the River Murray that will benefit from the re-introduction of more natural wetting and drying watering cycle.

As well as working with landowners and Aboriginal Nations, developing wetland management plans, and monitoring wetland plants and animals, this project is seeing the construction of infrastructure that attempts to mimic the natural drying and wetting cycles that occurred prior to locks and weirs.

The South Australian Government is engaging landholders, Aboriginal Nations and water users throughout the life of the project.

Benefits to the wetland environment

Reinstating wet and dry events will provide:

• more productive and diverse flora and fauna
• the creation of temporary seasonal habitats
• carbon cycling and additional nutrients in wetlands
• consolidation of wetland bed sediments to reduce wetland turbidity and improve aquatic vegetation growth
• a reduction in the impacts of pest plants and animals, such as the common carp.

Water for the environment savings

The return of more natural wetting and drying cycles will allow us to save water for the environment through reduced evaporation.

Any savings made will contribute to the Riverine Recovery Project target of providing up to 15 gigalitres of water for the environment to the Australian Government to be used for environmental purposes in the southern-connected basin.

Why is wetland management needed?

Read about why we’re taking action to improve the health of the River Murray’s inland wetlands.

The $100 million Riverine Recovery Project is funded by the Australian Government ($89 million) and the Government of South Australia.

Check out our fact sheet on the Riverine Recovery Project’s wetland management for more information.