DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report
Callitris glaucophylla forest - associated species Corymbia tessellaris, Eucalyptus populnea
subsp. bimbil and Eucalyptus coolabah. The understorey contains Paspalidium jubiflorum;
Eucalyptus coolabah / Casuarina cristata woodland - in Boomi West with an understorey
containing Paspalidium jubiflorum.
Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve
The Macquarie Marshes Crown Land was first declared a game reserve in 1900 and then
declared a sanctuary (Birds and Animals Protection Act 1918-1930 and Fauna Protection Act
1980). The reserve covers an area of 18 143 hectares and is divided into two sections: the
Northern Marsh and Southern Marsh. The importance of the Marshes has been recognised by
its inclusion in several agreements and registers including the Ramsar Convention, JAMBA
and CAMBA. The plant communities in this reserve are described in Section 3.3.4.
The Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve protects part of the internationally important
Macquarie Marshes, one of the largest remaining inland semi-permanent wetlands in south
eastern Australia. The Marshes contain the largest area of reeds (Phragmites sp.) in south
eastern Australia. The Nature Reserve includes significant stands of river red gum
(Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and coolibah (E. coolabah). They are important to nine migratory
bird species listed in the Japan-Australia and China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreements and
eighteen endangered bird species. The Marshes are also a refuge for many native animals and
are the western limit of the known distribution of Gould’s long eared bat (Nyctophilus
gouldii) in NSW.
A range of significant Aboriginal sites including oven mounds, surface campsites, scarred
trees and artefacts exist within the Nature Reserve.
Narran Lake Nature Reserve
Narran Lake Nature Reserve is located between Brewarrina and Walgett in northern New
South Wales and includes part of the terminal wetlands of the Narran River. The 5 538 ha
reserve was dedicated in 1988 and an additional 3 547 ha adjoining the reserve is owned by
the NPWS and managed as part of the reserve. The reserve covers the north-eastern third of
the Narran Lake wetland system and does not include Narran Lake itself (NPWS 2000a).
This Reserve is listed on the national estate and recognised as a wetland of international
importance under the Ramsar convention. Approximately half of the nature reserve consists
of wetlands subject to inundation by the Narran River, including two small lakes, Back and
Clear Lakes, and extensive surrounding channelised wetlands. Aeolian lunettes and sandy
levees border the wetlands. The other half of the reserve has gently undulating sandy and
rocky ridges with several semi-saline playa lakes and drainage depressions.
Aboriginal camp sites are present around the lake and the area also contains oven mounds and
shell middens, scatters of stone artefacts associated with clay ground ovens and several small
silcrete quarries on the colluvial ridge system.
There are six dominant vegetation communities:
Muehlenbeckia florulenta thickets - dense shrublands in the littoral zone of Clear and Back
Lake; small areas of Phragmites australis between the lignum and sedges, ephemeral herbs
and grasses grow on playa lakes and the main lake beds after floodwaters recede.
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