Ord Irrigation Area (24832)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Ord Irrigation Area
Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.6953, Longitude: 128.7335
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 30 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 216.78268
Protected area coverage (%): 8.36
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA consists of the entire irrigated area on the Ord around Kununurra and the adjacent Lake Kununurra. This perennially wet land supports cumbungi and native wetland grasses, which support much higher numbers of the key birds than the surrounding non-irrigated bush and pastoral land. The Ord irrigation and drainage infrastructure was designed and constructed in the early 1960s, with commercial farming commencing in 1963. The main Ord Dam, damming Lake Argyle, was completed in 1972 and transformed 14,000 ha of cattle grazing land into highly productive agricultural land with an output valued in 2006 at $47-67 million per annum. Farm blocks are typically in the range of 260 to 360 ha in size and have predominantly heavy black cracking clay soils most suited to furrow irrigation. The main crops have been sugarcane, sandalwood, fruit, vegetables and cotton. The most important habitats for Star Finches and Yellow-rumped Mannikins are cumbungi and native grasses, which persist along waterways, around the margins of Lake Kununurra and in agricultural fallows. Annual rainfall for the area is 790 mm, mainly from October to April.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The IBA may also support significant numbers of Brolga and Little Curlew. Australian Little Bittern (up to seven seen) and locally significant numbers of waterbirds on Lake Kununurra. Other notable species recorded occasionally include the near threatened Letter-winged Kite; the restricted-range (endemic) White-quilled Rock-Pigeon; and the biome-restricted Varied Lorikeet, Northern Rosella, Bar-breasted Honeyeater and Banded Honeyeater (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: None recorded.
Other site values: Leasehold agricultural farms. Permission should be requested before entering properties.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced Vegetation | 5 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 85 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Rank grass should be maintained and allowed to seed. Dense grasses and reeds should be maintained along water channels where practicable.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Birchenough, A.C., Douglas, G.W. and Evans, S.M. (2002) The status of Estrilid finches in north-western Australia. Australian Bird Watcher 19:147-160.
Contributors: Dick Passfield of Ord Land and Water has advised on this form and on the consultation process. SEEKS and DEC, Kununurra have provided useful information.