Watervalley Wetlands (26318)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Watervalley Wetlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -36.2907, Longitude: 139.9292
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 5 to 46
Area of KBA (km2): 131.08518
Protected area coverage (%): 8.42
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Watervalley Wetlands IBA consists of the contiguous wetlands of Mandina Marshes, Cortina Lakes, Mandina Lake, Mrs Whites Lagoon, Caora and South Flagstaff. These wetlands form a chain between relict dune systems inland of the Coorong in the upper south-east of South Australia, approximately 250km south-east of Adelaide. Additional neighbouring wetlands may also qualify as extensions to this IBA but survey data are lacking. Water varies from fresh to saline according to seasonal conditions. The climate is typically Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Annual rainfall averages 450 to 500 mm. The wetlands are dependent on flows of freshwater from the catchment to the south and east, and salinity gradually increases as the water dries back. Drains constructed under the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood Management Program affect the wetlands, and instead of natural flows all future inflows will be managed via the drains. As the region has been in drought since the mid-1990s, the full impact of the drainage scheme on the wetlands is unknown.
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: The wetlands regularly support more than 20,000 waterbirds (DEWHA 2008); these numbers are believed to have been maintained throughout the 2000s. Sixty-seven species (and 37 breeding species) of waterbird have been recorded. Birds of conservation significance which are present at the wetlands but whose numbers do not reach threshold or are not quantified: Australian Little Bittern, Australasian Bittern, Freckled Duck, Australasian Shoveler, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Latham's Snipe, Baillon's Crake, Spotless Crake, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Southern Emu-wren, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Diamond Firetail and Beautiful Firetail. The wetlands support very large (estimated to include more than 7500 nests) breeding colonies of ibis (three species), egrets (two species), both spoonbills and cormorants (two species) (Harper and Weinert 1992). The IBA functions as a valuable drought refuge for waterbirds and supports regionally-important breeding colonies of ibis, egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. Mandina Lake has supported threshold numbers of Chestnut Teal (2500 in 2003) and Banded Stilt (2330 in 2003) when inundated (Gosbell et al. 2003). Non-bird biodiversity: Red-necked Wallaby and Common Wombat are of interest in that they are at the extreme west of their distribution and are commonly seen. Rosenbergs Goanna is frequently seen and the Southern Bell Frog and Yarra Pygmy Perch were present until the wetlands dried back and salinity increased because of the drought.
Other site values: The majority of the land is owned by Wetlands and Wildlife (1st Floor, 187 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000) with the rest owned by TK and PA Brinkworth of Kingston SA. All will, in due course, become the property of Wetlands and Wildlife. Access to the Watervalley Wetlands can be obtained by contacting the Manager, Watervalley Wetlands at Morella, Salt Creek (08 8575 7041), Michael Lewis, Secretary of Wetlands and Wildlife (08 8232 1133) or Janice White (08 8379 7467).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 31 | |
| Shrubland | 7 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 6 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 56 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Environmental flows of freshwater from the upper catchment, which includes areas of the lower south-east of South Australia and western Victoria, must be maintained if the wetlands are to avoid increasing levels of salinity.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Watervalley Wetlands - SA064. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed October 2008. Harper, M. and Weinert, M. (1992) Watervalley Wetlands Management Plan. Adelaide: Department for Environment and Heritage. Revised as White, J.M. (1999, 2007) Watervalley Wetlands and Habitat and Wildlife Management Areas Management Plan. Jaensch, R. and Auricht, C. (1989) Waterbirds in the south-east of South Australia, 1981. Adelaide: South Australian Ornithological Association. Roetman, J. (2006) Environmental analysis of the Watervalley Wetlands 2005-2006: monitoring report year 1. Report to Upper South East Program and Wetlands & Wildlife. Roetman, J. (2007). Environmental analysis of the Watervalley Wetlands 2006-2007: monitoring report year 2. Report to Upper South East Program and Wetlands & Wildlife. White, J.M. and Brake, L.A. (1995) Description, history and water chemistry of the recently restored Watervalley Wetlands in the southeast of South Australia. Wetlands 15: 247-257. White, J.M. and White, T.C.R. (2005) Macro-invertebrates captured in artificial substrates in the restored Watervalley Wetlands in South Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 129: 25-38.
Contributors: Nomination written by Janice White, Research Associate University of South Australia, and Director of Wetlands and Wildlife. Lynn Brake, Julia Roetman, Michael Jervois and other staff and students from the University of South Australia have assisted with surveys. Further information and support have been provided by Mark de Jong and Peter Hughes (South East Water Conservation and Drainage Board), Paul Wainwright and Brenton Grear (DEH) and mapping is by Claire Harding (DEH).