Help secure environmental water for our River Red Gum forest wetlands

In early July 2010, new Victorian River Red Gum national and regional parks were declared along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens Rivers. You can see Environment Victoria’s Media Release here.

Over the other side of the river, the New South Wales government has announced new River Red Gum national parks too, protecting the largest red gum forest in Australia in an amazing cross-border 70,000 ha Barmah-Millewa National Park, co-operatively managed with Traditional Owners the Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wamba.

The River Red Gum floodplain ecosystems sustain species like the Intermediate Egret, the Growling Grass Frog, the Slender Darling Pea and the hero of our Recue Our Rivers logo, the Trout Cod. But these creatures are having a hard time of it, because the rivers and floodplains they depend upon have not had a good drink of water for over a decade.

The Red Gum forests, rivers and wetlands in these new parks will struggle to survive without enough water. Their loss – for want of a decent drink – would be catastrophic.

In our July Media Release we said that: “We need a plan to safeguard our rivers and wetlands by getting more water into them. It’s time for the state government to listen to voters...”

And here’s a chance for you to tell them what you think.

Join us in our call for the state government to ensure a reliable, secure and adequate water allocation for delivery to Parks from 2012 – for the Red Gum forests, rivers and wetlands.

Sign our online petition today, and send a strong message that you want water returned to our northern rivers. And for our new River Red Gum National and regional parks to be guaranteed a secure environmental water entitlement.

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Authorised by Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO, Environment Victoria, Level 2, 60 Leicester St, Carlton 3053

More info about River Red Gum forests, rivers and wetlands

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Premier Baillieu,

Along its journey to the sea, the mighty Murray River and its tributaries flow through forests unlike any other on the planet, the magnificent River Red Gum wetlands.

The newly created River Red Gum parks are an outstanding conservation asset.

But they are under enormous stress from lack of water. Our ancient red gum forests and wetlands are dying for a drink of water so they can flourish.

For good reason, these forest wetlands are often referred to as the 'The Kakadu of the South', providing the essential breeding and feeding habitats for many species of waterbirds, fish, invertebrates and plants. Species like the Intermediate Egret and Growling Grass Frog depend upon these forest wetlands having enough water.

There’s no two ways about it: the River Red Gum forests, rivers and wetlands are suffering. In some areas of the new parks, 75 per cent of the red gum trees are already stressed, dead or dying.
A healthy river needs healthy forests. Both need adequate water.

Proper management of these new parks is essential to secure their status as an asset for the environment and for the Victorian community.

This means guaranteeing delivery of adequate environmental water to the River Red Gum forests, rivers and wetlands.

I’m calling on you to provide a reliable allocation of water for the new River Red Gum parks, guaranteed for delivery from 2012.

Will you secure and deliver this water?

Yours sincerely,

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Comments

River Redgums

Eucalyptus camaldulensis - redgums to the uninformed - are magnificent trees, iconic to the Australian landscape. These massive, longlived trees support small ecosystems in each individual tree. They contribute not only beauty to the human eye, but allow myriad life forms to co-exist with them. From invertebrates to birds and mammals. Their loss due to insufficient river flows would be a tragedy, since once gone, the system is lost for all time. Let's take a wise, conservative approach, and treasure and hold on to the iconic and unique beauty of the River Redgum forests along the River Murray by ensuring sufficient river flows for their survival.

Wed, 08/09/2010 - 14:35 — Anonymous -

River Redgums.

Dear Premier Brumby

I was pleased that you have declared new parks for Victoria, but I hope that in doing so you will consider the importance of water to the River Red Gums. Water is essential for all trees. I lost my home at Steels Creek in the Black Saturday bush fires. I have now moved to Inverloch, but visit Steels Creek regularly. The scene that saddens me each time that I visit is that of dead trees. Many of these would have regenerated if they had had enough water, but unfortunately we were in drought and there was little that we could do. The River Red Gums will also die if they do not have enough water, but this time, it is within the government's power to stop their death. Please don't let these majestic trees die from lack of water.

Sun, 15/08/2010 - 21:24 — Anonymous -

Water for redgums

Dear Minister
I spent a number of fishng trips on the Murray beneath the redgums in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It has saddened me immensely that the river ecology has been abused so much over the decades since. The redgums are part of the total riverine habitat and they need water. Whle the recent legislation was good, it is not enough to simply declare parks. We need to ensure their health and survival. I read the 300-page book and contributed two submissions to the enquiry. Victoria's rainfall so far in 2010 is almost double that in 2009. The environment needs water as well as humans. We need the riverine redgums and wetlands for our own moral and emotional sustenance. Please exercise leadership on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Bill Hampel PhD

Fri, 06/08/2010 - 14:22 — Anonymous -

Eloquent yet sobering

Dear Mr Hampel,

Thank you for signing our online petition and for your eloquent yet sobering call for water for the floodplain ecosystems.

One aspect of our work to improve the Victorian Water Act speaks to your statement that "The environment needs water as well as humans."

We're calling for a 'sustainable baseflow' for all Victorian rivers, which will see environmental water and water to meet critical human needs allocated before other entitlements.

Because without securing the health of our rivers, and supporting freshwater ecosystems, our future health and prosperity is in jeopardy. (Information about our work to improve the Act is on the Rescue Our Rivers webpage).

Thank you for joining our call for water for the new parks, and more.

Best Regards,

Amelia.

Tue, 10/08/2010 - 19:43 — amelia.young -

Victoria has an appalling

Victoria has an appalling record of mismanagement when it comes to protecting our natural heritage, despite surveys consistently showing the majority of Victorians want our fauna and flora to be saved for future generations. Many Victorian species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction through the ongoing destruction of our ecosystems, and not giving enough water to our Red River Gums shall cause the death of more of these iconic ecosystems through stealth. The Government should listen to the wishes of its citizens and work more productively to save these ecosystems, or else our natural communities shall all disappear over time (the plight of our birds is already well documented). Environmental water is vital to save the River Gums and the animals that depend on them.

Fri, 06/08/2010 - 13:49 — Anonymous -

We need to get the 1 in 5 to 1 in 20 floods back

Red Gum Forests are aquatic dependant ecosystems. Among other actions, we need to get the 1 in 5 to 1 in 20 floods back. This is critical for the Red Gums along the Murray. We need to coordinate how Eildon, Hume and Dartmouth hold back water for Consumptive use and let a few floods through. Without doubt, this will involve major trade offs. When it comes out, the Basin Plan will need a lot of community support!

Fri, 06/08/2010 - 10:59 — Anonymous -

The Basin Plan and our new River Red Gum Parks

Isn't it interesting to see Prime Minister Gillard today commit to adopting the Basin Plan when it comes out? You can check out our Media Release on Ms Gillard's announcment under the 'NEWSROOM' tab on the menu.

While we hope that the Plan will describe mechanisms for getting a decent amount of water to the new River Red Gum Parks, it's not yet clear this will be the case.

You are right - the plan will need robust community support. Look forward to working with you on delivering those recommendations in the plan that will see a return of the 1 in 5 to 1 in 20 year floods which, as you say, are critical.

In the meantime, and into the future, we're holding the state government accountable for watering these magnificent new parks. Without a drink, and soon, the values for which these parks were declared are at serious risk.

Tue, 10/08/2010 - 19:35 — amelia.young -

Floodplains would be connected to their rivers - normally

In northern Australia i have watched the wonder of rivers operating in an unregulated and natural way. Victoria's rivers don't have this freedom - i know its a very different landscape (this being a very important foodbowl)- but those floodplains and their billabongs need a drink... Imagine the Murray's iconic wetlands seasonally abundant with birdlife just like a Kakadu floodplain. Then the benefits of a healthy ecosystem - Ibis (known as both 'the farmers friend' and the 'Policemen of the paddocks') would be an asset to the predicted locust plague this spring. Thats the potential!

Fri, 06/08/2010 - 10:13 — Anonymous -

Murray-Darling

I have recently driven along the Murray from Swan Hill to Renmark and up the Darling to Brewarrina. For a system supposedly "in flood" I was appalled at the state of the river, its banks and the local fauna and flora. I was impressed that the NSW government was re-snagging the Darling from Bourke to Brewarrina to encourage the native fish. Re-vegetation is also needed.

But the state of the river near the junction needs attention, both to help the current trees to survive and to introduce more growth. I have been impressed at how the trees, mainly river red gums, along the road from Glenrowan to Oxley and Milawa have improved with the recent rains. I thought that they were beyond help. But the water is doing its job and the same can be done for the Barmah and surrounding areas. It is not YET too late.

Thu, 05/08/2010 - 17:18 — Anonymous -

A little bit of environmental water

It's amazing what a little drink can do for these floodplaing ecosystems, isn't it? Do you have photos from your trip you'd like to share with us? If so, you can send them to me by email at amelia.young@environmentvictoria.org.au

Co-incidentially, I have written about the environmental watering at Barmah in my most recent blog posting - you can have a read under the 'BLOG' tab on the menu.

You are right - it is not YET too late, but we need to move fast, which is why we've make watering the new River Red Gum parks our priority ask this state election.

Thanks so much for signing our online petition and joining the call for water, before it's too late.

Tue, 10/08/2010 - 19:29 — amelia.young -

Help secure environmental water for our River Red Gum forest wetlands | Environment Victoria