Narran Wetlands (23845)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Narran Wetlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -29.7950, Longitude: 147.3893
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 120 to 130
Area of KBA (km2): 229.49304
Protected area coverage (%): 35.90
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises the floodplain of three open water areas, Clear Lake, Back Lake (and Long Arm) in the north and Narran Lake in the south, which are connected by expanses of vegetation subject to inundation. The Narran floodplain wetland complex is a terminal system of the Narran River in the Condamine-Balonne Catchment River, in the central north of NSW between Walgett and Brewarrina, in the Murray-Darling Basin. The wetland supports extensive dense stands of Meuhlenbeckia florulenta with, in places, an overstorey of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or Acacia stenophylla, which together comprise the main substrate on which the waterbird breeding colonies form and which require regular inundation for their survival. They are all at risk because of the reduced incidence of inundation because of extraction of water upstream of the wetland for agriculture. A small natural flood in 2008 was extended to allow successful nesting of ibis, by the purchase of 11,000 ML of water from upstream irrigation storages. This was the first breeding event since 1999/2000. The surrounding district is part of the semi-arid pastoral zone and is used mainly for sheep and cattle grazing. The average annual rainfall is 495 mm.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Fifty-seven species of waterbirds have been recorded from the wetlands of which 36 have been recorded breeding. Large numbers of Pied Cormorant (up to 1500), Little Black Cormorant (up to 5000), Freckled Duck (up to 200), Black Swan (up to 3200), Pink-eared Duck (up to 6000), Great Cormorant (up to 800), Glossy Ibis (up to 1323), Whiskered Tern (up to 1200) and Royal Spoonbill (up to 7000) have been recorded (Ley 1988; (Atlas of Australian Birds database). 50-150 pairs of Royal Spoonbills, 50-100 pairs darter and smaller numbers of other waterbirds nested in 2007/8 (Terrill 2008). Other species of national or state conservation concern include Magpie Goose, Blue-billed Duck, Brolga, Latham's Snipe, Grey Falcon, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Barking Owl and White-throated Treecreeper. 400,000 Straw-necked Ibis were reported in 1983 (Lindsey 1985). Non-bird biodiversity: The site supports world-class stands of Phragmites and Lignum.
Other site values: Leasehold properties (Narran Lake and Rosscommon Stations) and the NPWS.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The upstream water abstraction must be regulated (vastly reduced) to ensure that the lignum and other swamp vegetation does not die off, and to ensure periodic inundations which are necessary for waterbird nesting events. Until this is achieved, water must be purchased at intervals to adequately flood the wetlands.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (unknown use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Suppression in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Brooker, M.G. (1993) Aerial counts of waterbirds on Narran Lake, New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher 15, 13-18. Ley, A.J. (1998a) Waterbirds at Narran Lake Nature Reserve, New South Wales, in 1996. Australian Bird Watcher 17, 219-233. Ley, A.J. (1998b) The response of waterbirds to the 1997 flood in the Narran Lake Nature Reserve, New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher 17, 337-341. Ley, A.J. (2003) Birds of Narran Lake Nature Reserve, New South Wales. Australian Field Ornithology 20, 38-54. Lindsey, T.R. (1985) New South Wales bird report for 1983. Australian Birds 19: 65-100. Terrill, P. (2008) Narran Lakes Colonial Waterbird Breeding 2008. Unpublished report. Dubbo, NSW: DECC.
Contributors: NPWS have supported the waterbird counts, including use of a plane for aerial counts. Nomination prepared Andrew Ley, BANNG, with contributions from Roger Jaensch (of Wetlands International), Richard Kingsford, Narrabri NPWS, Rosscommon and Narran Lake (Kia-ora) Stations and Freshwater CRC.