Environmental water delivery aims to address the declining health of wetland ecosystems during prolonged dry periods and to achieve improvements in environmental condition. It seeks to mimic key parts of the natural flow regimes where possible, to create suitable habitat to support breeding and regeneration of key species. Environmental watering in wetlands and floodplains has seen the return of threatened species to particular sites in the region including Murray Hardyhead (Craterocephalus fluviatilis), Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis), Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) and Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii). Long-term scientific monitoring indicates that e-watering can improve the condition of mature River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) trees and increases height and vigour of seedlings and saplings.

Earlier this week, Nature Foundation conducted environmental watering of the Northern Lagoon within Murbpook Nature Reserve in partnership with the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board. The environmental watering contractor set up a small pump system to move water from the River Murray into the Northern Lagoon which is located close to the river. The wetland last received water in May 2024 which slowly evaporated throughout the year, with the basin becoming fully dry by late February 2025. This wetting and drying regime mimics natural wetland processes which would have occurred prior to river regulation, and aids removal of invasive fish species, such as Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), that entered the lagoon during the recent flooding event in 2022-23.

Monitoring is carried out twice a year at the Northern Lagoon to determine the ecological impact of the watering event, including tree health surveys. These surveys monitor the condition of River Red Gum and Black Box trees over time and provide an indication of the overall health of the wetland. Observations of other fauna utilising the wetland such as waterbirds are also noted and recorded.

Aerial photo of Murbpook's Northern Lagoon before environmental watering.