Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is the Lowbidgee Floodplain, which extends from Balranald to near Waradgery Station, about 20 km west of Hay, in south-western New South Wales. The IBA consists of a series of wetlands including Yanga Lake, Kia Swamp, Tala Lake, Lower Murrumbidgee River floodplain, Redbank Weir, Nimming Creek floodplain, Caira Cutting, Talpee Creek floodplain, Pollen Creek, Waugorah Creek and Torry Plains Station. The area is defined as the maximum area of contemporary flooding, which overestimates the area of inundation in most recent years, but which could be achieved with adequate water allocations. The floodplain has been greatly reduced in size from more than 300,000 ha in the early 1900s by the construction of a series of dams and drainage and irrigation systems, with the inflow of water having declined by at least 60% from 1888 to 1998. The reduced inundation of the floodplain has caused waterbird numbers to collapse by 90%, from an average of 140,000 in 1983-86 to 14,000 in 1998-2001. High estimated counts of waterbirds include 650,000 in 1983-1994 and 58,000 in 2005. Yanga Station (approximately 60,000ha) has recently been acquired by NPWS for conservation (partly National Park, State Conservation Area and Aboriginal Reserve) but most of the rest of the IBA is commercial irrigated farmland.
Three species exceed the 1% thresholds on single dates: 29,908 Hardhead estimated for Lachlan-Murrumbidgee confluence in 1996 (Kingsford et al. 2000); 3250 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Torry Plains Station in December 1996 (Birds Australia Murray-Darling Basin waterbird database although this species is not well surveyed from aerial surveys); 12,676 Australian White Ibis at Nimming Creek in 1986, where 9160 in 1983; and 5890 at Pollen Creek in 1990 (Kingsford and Porter 2006); 15,000 Whiskered Tern at Torry Plains Station in December 1996 (Birds Australia Murray-Darling Basin waterbird database). Other high waterbird counts estimated for Lachlan-Murrumbidgee confluence in 1996 include 22,593 Eurasian Coot (Kingsford et al. 2000).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Ensure adequate water inflows including periodic massive flooding. Consider removal of some weirs, levees, channels and other drainage systems which prevent natural flooding.
The IBA overlaps the Toogimbie Indigenous Protected Area and the Yanga National Park.
Mostly private; also state government and indigenous land.
Richard Kingsford provided detailed advice and data.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lowbidgee Floodplain (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lowbidgee-floodplain-iba-australia on 24/11/2024.
