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Home > Water Management > Water for the environment > Wetlands > Wetlands

Wetlands

Macintyre

• Introduction
• Wetlands of the Macintyre Valley
• Environmental Flow Rules

Introduction

Water from the Macintyre River system, in the far north-west of NSW, supports an irrigation industry and provides income and employment for several communities. As well as producing food for local consumption, it is also a source of agricultural exports for Australia. Water from the Macintyre also supports natural processes and important wetland systems.

Wetlands of the Macintyre Valley

Upper Macintyre Valley Wetlands

In the Upper MacIntyre Valley, wetlands occur along many of the rivers and creeks including the Mole, Beardy and Severn Rivers. These wetlands provide valuable habitat for a range of native fauna.

Lower MacIntyre Valley Wetlands

There are also many wetlands on the Macintyre floodplain downstream of Yetman and Boggabilla. These lower valley floodplain wetlands consist of a series of lagoons and water holes. These lagoons often support diverse populations of water birds, including rare species such as Brolgas, Jabirus and Magpie Geese. The lagoons are the most southerly breeding areas for several northern dwelling species.

The Macintyre Valley wetlands are highly regarded locally. Many lagoons have important cultural significance to the Koori people.

Boobera Lagoon

Boobera Lagoon is located approximately 13.5km west of Boggabilla. It is a permanent water body 10.3km long and 150 m wide. It is considered to be the most important aboriginal site in South Eastern Australia. It is regarded as the home of the Rainbow Serpent by the Boggabilla and Toomelah Aboriginal communities. The lagoon also has significant archaeological value, as it contains several million stone artefacts, including adzed, flake tools and stone grinding implements made from local pebbles and transported silica.

The Boobera Lagoon and Morella watercourse are remnant features of the Macintyre River. In droughts the lagoon serves as a refuge for wildlife and stock. During high flows it helps to mitigate the effects of flooding.

The vegetation associated with the lagoon includes an association of River Red Gum, Collibah and Mixed Bimble Box woodlands. These woodlands support a great range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and freshwater molluscs. In all, 12 mammals, 4 frogs, 18 reptiles and 6 fish have been identified in the lagoon (CALM, 1993). Unfortunately, several introduced animals such as the feral cat, brown hare, house mouse, rabbit, feral pig, fox and carp are included in these figures.

The lagoon has also been used for boating and waterskiing although, these uses are currently under review.

Environmental Flow Rules

Their Relevance to the Wetlands of the Macintyre Valley

In 1998/99 Environmental Flow Rules (EFRs) were introduced into all of the major inland regulated valleys of New South Wales, with the exception of the Murray Valley and the Macintyre Valley (or Border Rivers). An agreement on environmental flow rules is being developed for the Border Rivers between the New South Wales and Queensland governments. As part of the water sharing arrangements between the two states the following rules are being trialled:

Rule 1: Preserve part of tributary inflows to the Border Rivers through to Mungindi
Up to 100 ML/day is protected from extraction between 1 September to 31 March.

Rule 2: Protect natural low flows in the Dumaresq and Severn/Macintyre Rivers
This involves the imposition of cease to pump rules when flows fall below specified levels at various gauging points

Rule 3: Protect moderate flows downstream of Goondiwindi
A minimum of 25% of uncontrolled inflows is protected from extraction.