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Site description (2008 baseline):

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.

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.

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.

List of Completed Research Projects and other Publications. • Arnold, S. (1995) A study to identify the options for nature based tourism and other outdoor activities in the Watervalley Wetlands, South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by Uni-SA and Wetlands and Wildlife (W & W). • Birrell, M.A. Experimental manipulation of temporary wetlands for the rehabilitation of wildlife habitat in the Watervalley Wetlands, Upper South East of South Australia. Degree of Master of Applied Science. University of South Australia. Funded by Natural Heritage Trust, WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Cardello, M. (1992) Macro-invertebrates as bio-indicators of water quality in the Watervalley Wetlands South East, South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by Wildlife Conservation Fund SA (WCFSA), Uni-SA and W & W. • De Jong, M (1994) The effects of altering the diversity of the structure of habitat in a seasonal swamp in the Watervalley Wetlands upper south east of South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • McKenzie-McHarg, Alastair (1998) Small vertebrate assemblages associated with riparian zones of the Watervalley Wetlands in the upper south east of South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Sharrad, R.D. (1999) Assessing the impacts of drains on native vegetation at Watervalley in the upper south east. Funded by the Native Vegetation Council of SA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Tesoriero, J. (1998) Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) in the upper south east of South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Thompson, D. (1997) The spatial distribution of the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) and several environmental variables on the Watervalley properties in the upper south east of South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Wainwright, P. (1997) The dispersal of plant propagules by ducks in the Watervalley Wetlands of the upper south-east of South Australia. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Walton, A. (1994) The distribution of wetland associated plants in the Watervalley Wetlands upper south east of South Australia and a program for monitoring the distribution and composition of wetland vegetation. Thesis for Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours). School of Environmental and Recreation Management. University of South Australia. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • Roetman, J. (2006, 2007) Environmental Analysis of the Watervalley Wetlands 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. Funded by Upper South East Program and Wetlands and Wildlife. • White, J. M. (1999) Seasonal variation in salinity in the Watervalley wetlands in the south east of South Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 123: 77-80. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • 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. Funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and W & W. • White, J.M, Burnard, J.R. and Sharrad R.D. (2001) Fire and the management of species of conservation significance in the Bonneys Camp Heritage Area in the Upper South East. Funded by the Native Vegetation Council of SA, Uni-SA and W & W. • White, J.M. (1998) The Watervalley Wetlands of South Australia: Nomination as Wetlands of International Importance. Wetlands and Wildlife. Funded by Wetlands and Wildlife and the Natural Heritage Trust. • 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: 25-38. • Whitten, S.M. and Bennett, J.W. Private and social values of wetlands. PhD Thesis, University of NSW. Funded by Environment Australia, LLRRDC, and the University of New South Wales. Projects in Progress. • Jervois, M. Environmental Monitoring of the Watervalley Wetlands. Funded by USE Program and Wetlands and Wildlife. • Roetman, J. Feeding Ecology of the Australasian Shoveler on the Watervalley Wetlands of SA. PhD Study funded by WCFSA, Uni-SA and Wetlands and Wildlife.

The IBA overlaps a site of Heritage Agreement #1005.

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).

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).

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Watervalley Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/watervalley-wetlands-iba-australia on 24/12/2024.