A PLAN to drop 40 tonnes of giant red gums into the Murray is expected to boost the breeding cycles of native fish, save the river’s ecology and right past environmental wrongs.

Thousands of logs have been pulled from the Murray in recent decades to dredge boating channels, and the Greening Australia group is about to reverse the practice by undertaking the first large scale re-snagging project in South Australia.

Greening Australia state chief Mark Anderson said removing snags had altered breeding habitats and had led to a decline in fish stocks.

In response to overdainage of floodplains on the North Coast, assistance is being supported by extension and advisory services aiming to improve environmental management of acid sulfate soils (ASS) hot spot areas and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on relevant floodplains.

On-ground works to facilitate active management of the floodplains are to include in-drain structures to prevent low-lying areas from overtopping with tidal water, drain shallowing, rehabilitation of ASS scalds and the reintroduction of natural wetting and drying cycles, utilizing seasonally ponded freshwater and the re-establishment of native wetland species. Other floodplain on-ground works include the provision of off-stream watering points and fencing of waterways from livestock.

A degraded wetland has been restored as a viable habitat for frogs and waterbirds, with many local trees and plants planted by volunteers from PACTEC. A number of interesting threatened species have been sighted in the area, including the Black-necked Stork or Jabiru and the Giant Barred Frog. By providing a shallow ledge for frogs and an island for a safe nesting refuge, the group has further enhanced the wildlife values of the adjoining Waterford Wetland area.

Werri Lagoon is a 1Ha wetland at the northern end of Werri Beach, Gerringong, NSW. Approximately 25% of its catchment area is rural floodplain, with a large proportion in dairy farming.

To reduce impacts from grazing practices, several successful management changes were undertaken by a dairy farmer, including the installation of an off-creek watering system. The wetland is now used as a demonstration site.

The restoration of Tom Thumb Lagoon, south of Wollongong, started with the community group, the Friends of Tomb Thumb.

Over the last 15 years the project has picked up and maintained a range of funding partners allowing over 6000 plants to be planted and numerous volunteers to be educated and involved in wetland management.

Works will include the introduction of innovative in-stream rehabilitation works, and associated riparian revegetation. Stream rehabilitation structures have been designed to enhance aquatic habitat, ensuring a diversity of: stream velocities; stream bedforms (pools and riffles); stream substrates (sediment sizes), and large wood debris.