Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve
Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve, located in the South Western Slopes region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia.[2] The 103 ha (250-acre) reserve is located approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Walbundrie, and 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Albury.[2]
| Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 River Red Gum wetland | |
  Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve | |
| Nearest town or city | Walbundrie |
| Coordinates | 35°40′04″S 146°47′52.5″E |
| Established | 4 April 1996[2] |
| Area | 1.03 km2 (0.4 sq mi)[2] |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Website | Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
History
The reserve lies within Wiradjuri country, however little is known about its historic significance to Aboriginal people.[2] The swamp is likely to have been an important reliable source of water and game.[2]
The area around the reserve was settled during the 1830s by European squatters, with Wiesners Swamp selected as part of Walla Walla Station.[2] In 1883, the area of the nature reserve was excised from Walla Walla Station to become two Crown forest reserves.[2] From the early 1900s, the wetland within the reserve became known as Wiesner Swamps, due to the Wiesner (pronounced ′weezner′) family purchasing the property adjacent to the reserve.[2][3] From 1975 there were proposals to gazette the swamp as a state game reserve or as a nature reserve for its value as a wetland and remnant woodland, with the area proclaimed a nature reserve in April 1996.[2][4]
Environment
The nature reserve comprises a large low-lying area of ephemeral wetland (Wiesners Swamp) and small areas of gently sloping land above regular flood level on the north-western, south-western and north-eastern corners.[2] Wiesners Swamp lies in a depression on the Billabong Creek floodplain, and is located in the headwaters of Simmons Creek, which flows into Billabong Creek.[2]
Most of the swamp is contained within the nature reserve but small areas extend outside on the western, northern and southern boundaries.[2] The swamp fills from drainage lines on the south-eastern and northern boundaries and drains to the west.[2]
The water table beneath the reserve lies about 4 metres (13 ft) below the surface, and is highly saline.[5]
Flora
116 plant species have been recorded within the reserve, of which 48 are introduced.[2] Most of the forest within the reserve is River Red Gum woodland.[2] Other large tree species present within the reserve include white box, grey box, yellow box and Bulloak.[2]
The reserve has limited native vegetation structure in the midstorey and understorey due to historic clearing and livestock grazing.[2][5]
Native aquatic plant species recorded within the reserve include spiny flatsedge, common spikerush, rushes, red water-milfoil, water ribbons, swamp lily and blunt pondweed.[2]
Fauna
Fifty species of birds, have been recorded within the reserve, including Australian reed warbler, Australian white ibis, brown treecreeper, dollarbird, mistletoebird, sacred kingfisher, swamp harrier, tawny frogmouth, white-necked heron, white-plumed honeyeater, yellow-billed spoonbill, zebra finch.[2] Mammal species recorded within the nature reserve include eastern grey kangaroo, common brushtail possum and common ringtail possum.[2] Reptiles and amphibians recorded in the reserve include eastern brown snake, lace monitor, spotted marsh frog and Peron's tree frog.[2]
Introduced pest species found within the reserve include European rabbit, brown hare, European fox, feral cat, common starling, European carp and eastern mosquitofish.[2]
See also
References
- Protected Area Profile for Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve: Plan of management (PDF) (PDF). Government of New South Wales. February 2003. ISBN 0-7313-6948-3. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- "Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve". Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- "Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- English, Pauline; Richardson, Peter; Stauffacher, Mirko (December 2002). Groundwater & Salinity Processes in Simmons Creek sub-catchment, Billabong Creek, NSW (PDF). Canberra: CSIRO. ISSN 1446-6163.