Water is flowing into a private wetland in southern NSW attracting birds, frogs and a range of other wildlife.
Morton's Swamp, near Moulamein is a 35 hectare, circular waterbody which fills only when the nearby river is high or with the support of environmental flows.
Since November, DPE Environment Energy and Science has been managing the delivery of 300 megalitres of water for the environment to the site to support habitat health.
The swamp is surrounded by river red gum and areas of lignum. Stretches of Moira grass and tall spike rush are present in shallower areas.
Landholder Jeremy Morton said he was pleased to see water for the environment being used locally to support outcomes in the Moulamein district.
"It's the perfect habitat for frogs including southern bell frogs as well as heaps of different waterbirds," Mr Morton said. "There are night herons and white-necked herons breeding nearby and using this site for foraging.
"I've seen ibis nesting in the river red gums, and eagles too. Quite often we see the birds returning to the wetland at night after feeding in nearby rice crops during the day.
"You can't hear yourself think for the frogs," he said.
Mr Morton runs an irrigated and dryland mixed farming operation including rice, winter crops and livestock.
The swamp has been an oasis for family and friends during dry times, used for grazing and, in the past, to store irrigation water.
"I remember it having heaps of tall spike rush, which is now relatively rare in these parts," he said.
"After just a few weeks of the environmental flow we are seeing a sea of tall spike rush emerge and the character of the swamp is being restored.
"We are providing a more natural wetting and drying regime and have seen the health of the wetland improve as a result. There's still a lot more we can do.
"The environmental water team are practical and pragmatic. They're looking for outcomes and want to work with landholders to achieve them," he said.
Environmental water manager James Dyer said partnerships like this one were critical to achieve positive environmental outcomes like waterbird breeding and expansion of southern bell frog habitat.
"Jeremy has done the work to make this flow happen," Mr Dyer said.
"Tall spike rush need a similar flow regime to river red gums, and they provide the ideal habitat for southern bell frogs which were once prolific throughout the Murray catchment.
"We have used Murray Irrigation infrastructure to deliver these flows not only here at Morton's Swamp but to a range of sites, both public and private, across the mid-Murray area," he said.
Water for this event has been supplied by both the NSW Government and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
