Chowilla Floodplain

Chowilla floodplain is upstream of Renmark, South Australia and extends across the border into New South Wales. The Traditional Owners of the Chowilla Floodplain are the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region (SA) and the Maraura Nation (NSW), with the presence of Aboriginal cultural heritage providing tangible links to both ancestors and Country. The River Murray is believed to be the life blood of Country, bringing First Peoples communities together through living culture.

Chowilla contains the largest remaining natural river red gum forest in the Lower Murray as well as diverse aquatic habitats, wetlands and creeks. It is also home to populations of rare, endangered and threatened native species, including the Murray cod, regent parrot, and southern bell frog.

The floodplain is a popular place to camp, kayak and bushwalk, and its significance is recognised in its inclusion as:

• part of the Chowilla Game Reserve

• part of the Riverland Ramsar wetland of international importance

• one of 6 The Living Murrayicon sites.

Ecological site objectives

Historically, Chowilla Floodplain has depended on flooding from the River Murray to maintain its optimal ecological health. Prior to river regulation, natural flooding across the majority of the floodplain occurred approximately 45 times over a span of 100 years, however now, it this has been reduced to approximately 12 times.

This reduction in natural flooding has resulted in the floodplain’s health declining significantly, as it has caused rising soil salinity, fewer breeding opportunities for floodplain wildlife and a decline in trees, particularly the river red gum and black box.

What is being done to restore the floodplain’s health?

The Living Murray program established high-level ecological objectives to improve the health of each icon site. The objectives for the Chowilla Floodplain are to maintain high biodiversity values, as indicated by maintenance of:

• high-value wetlands
• the current area of river red gum forest
• at least 20% of the original area of black box vegetation.

To achieve these objectives, the Department for Environment and Water are:

• working with Traditional Owners to incorporate their knowledge and cultural values into the site management and protect the site’s heritage
• delivering water for the Chowilla Floodplain to maintain and improve the health of priority wetland sites
• monitoring sites to understand the condition of floodplain plants and animals and how to best manage this precious area.
• engaging with communities to ensure long-term benefits can be achieved and sustained
• operating and managing floodplain infrastructure to enable the best possible use of any available water for the environment.

See The Living Murray story.