The reed beds are back in Reed Bed Swamp in Guttrum State Forest, and the plan is to keep them there.
Like many wetlands in north central Victoria, Reed Bed Swamp near Koondrook has deteriorated over the past century on the back of climate change, river regulation reducing the frequency and duration of flood flows, and impacts of historic land management practices.
As its name suggests, Reed Bed Swamp was once home to beds of rushes and reeds, and other aquatic vegetation, providing a refuge, feeding, and breeding spot for frogs, turtles, and waterbirds, such as the endangered Australasian bittern. However, the vegetation that gives Reed Bed Swamp its name has not been seen in the wetland since the height of the Millennium Drought.
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been working alongside local Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wemba First Nations people to reverse the decline, improve the wetland, and protect it for the future.
“Reeds and other aquatic vegetation such as old man weed are important culturally as well as ecologically,” North Central CMA Program Delivery Executive Manager Rachel Murphy said.
Reed Bed Swamp is one of the target wetlands for the proposed Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project, which aims to help restore key local floodplains while keeping vital irrigation water in the community.
“Reeds and other aquatic vegetation such as old man weed are important culturally as well as ecologically,”
