Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions
Gazetted date:
17 Dec 2004
Profile last updated:
21 Mar 2022
Description
Associated with coastal areas subject to periodic flooding and in which standing fresh water persists for at least part of the year in most years. Typically occurs on silts, muds or humic loams in low-lying parts of floodplains, alluvial flats, depressions, drainage lines, backswamps, lagoons and lakes but may also occur in backbarrier landforms where floodplains adjoin coastal sandplains.
Generally occur below 20 m elevation on level areas. They are dominated by herbaceous plants and have very few woody species. The structure and composition of the community varies both spatially and temporally depending on the water regime:
Those that lack standing water most of the time are usually dominated by dense grassland or sedgeland vegetation, often forming a turf less than 0.5 metre tall and dominated by amphibious plants including Paspalum distichum (water couch), Leersia hexandra (swamp rice-grass), Pseudoraphis spinescens (mud grass) and Carex appressa (tussock sedge).
Where they are subject to regular inundation and drying the vegetation may include large emergent sedges over 1 metre tall, such as Baumea articulata, Eleocharis equisetina and Lepironia articulata, as well as emergent or floating herbs such as Hydrocharis dubia (frogbit), Philydrum lanuginosum (frogsmouth), Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis (water primrose), Marsilea mutica (nardoo) and Myriophyllum spp. (milfoils).
As standing water becomes deeper or more permanent, amphibious and emergent plants become less abundant, while floating and submerged aquatic herbs become more abundant. These latter species include Azolla filiculoides var. rubra, Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort), Hydrilla verticillata (water thyme), Lemna spp. (duckweeds), Nymphaea gigantea (giant waterlily), Nymphoides indica (water snowflake), Ottelia ovalifolia (swamp lily) and Potamageton spp. (pondweeds). The threatened aquatic plants, Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Najas marina, also occur within this community.
For a comprehensive list of species that characterize the community open the Scientific Determination link in the top right box.
Distribution
Known from along the majority of the NSW coast. However, it is distinct from Sydney Freshwater Wetlands which are associated with sandplains in the Sydney Basin bioregion.
Extensively cleared and modified. In the 1990s the extent remaining were: 3% in the NSW North Coast bioregion, 66% in the lower Hunter – Central coast region, 40% on the Cumberland Plain, 70% in the Sydney – South Coast region, and 30% in the Eden region.
There is less than 150 ha remaining on the Tweed lowlands (estimate in 1985); about 10,600 ha on the lower Clarence floodplain (in 1982); about 11,200 ha on the lower Macleay floodplain (in 1983); about 3,500 ha in the lower Hunter – Central Hunter region (in 1990s); less than 2,700 ha on the NSW south coast from Sydney to Moruya (in the mid 1990s), including about 660 ha on the Cumberland Plain (in 1998) and about 100 ha on the Illawarra Plain (in 2001); and less than 1000 ha in the Eden region (in 1990).
Poorly reserved, known to occur in Ukerebagh, Tuckean, Tabbimoble Swamp, Hexham Swamp, Pambalong and Pitt Town Nature Reserves and Bungawalbin, Scheyville and Seven Mile Beach National Parks.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Land clearing
- Changes in hydrological regimes from past and present drainage, and changes in surface water flows through drains, levees and flood gates.
- Flood mitigation and drainage works
- Filling associated with urban and industrial development
- Pollution and eutrophication from urban and agricultural runoff
- Invasion and establishment of aquatic weeds, particularly water hyacinth and salvinia
- Overgrazing, trampling and disturbance caused by livestock
- Soil disturbance by pigs
- Activation of acid sulfate soils
- Dumping of landfill, rubbish and garden refuse
- Native fauna is threatened by predation, particularly by mosquito fish and cane toads
- Continuing fragmentation and degradation
- Agricultural activities such as removing vegetation, water harvesting and draining, planting of species not indigenous to this TEC
- Lack of knowledge and value of the TEC and the lack of understanding about the dynamics of the TEC (e.g. it is still the TEC even during dry periods).
- Infiltration of wetland trees such as paperbarks, and terrestrial weed or native plant encroachment along edges due to changes in hydrology
- Climate change, causing changes to water regime including increasing dry periods, and sea level rise impacts
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Instigate enforcement and education campaigns to reduce dumping.
- Instigate pig control programs.
- Install stormwater control mechanisms to prevent off-site impacts from adjacent development.
- Control access of cattle to wetlands by installing fencing.
- Undertake weed control as required using removal methods that will not damage the community.
- Protect and actively manage wetlands through conservation mechanisms such as covenanting and the preparation/implementation of site-specific vegetation management plans.
- Restore natural drainage conditions.
Information sources
- Adam, P. (1992) Wetlands and Wetland Boundaries; Problems, expectations, perceptions and reality. Wetlands (Australia) Vol , pp. 60-67
- Adam, P. and Stricker, J. (1993) Wetlands of the Sydney Region. (Nature Conservation Council, Sydney)
- Bell, S.A.J. (2002) The natural vegetation of the Wyong Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Technical Report. Unpublished Final Report to Wyong Shire Council, Eastcoast Flora Survey.
- Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of the Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Technical Report. Unpublished Final Report to Gosford City Council, Eastcoast Flora Survey 131 pgs
- Bellingen Shire Council (2006) Coastal Vegetation of the Bellingen Local Government Area. A report by Flametree Ecological Consultants for Bellingen Shire Council.
- Benson, D.H. (1986) The vegetation of the Gosford and Lake Macquarie 1:100 000 Vegetation Map Sheet. Cunninghamia 1(4): 467-490.
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (1990) Taken for Granted: The Bushland of Sydney and Its Suburbs. Kangaroo Press, Sydney. 160 pgs + illus bibliog index
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (1993) A strategy for the rehabilitation of the riparian vegetation of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (1994) The natural vegetation of the Sydney 1:100 000 mapsheet. Cunninghamia 3(4): 679-789
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (2000) Sydney’s Bushland — More than Meets the Eye. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
- Beukers, P. and Miles, J. (In prep) () Revision of vegetation mapping for the NSW Far South Coast. DECC Merimbula. NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change (Parks and Wildlife Group), Merimbula
- Boulton, A.J. and Brock, M.A. (1999) Australian freshwater wetlands: processes and management. Gleneagles Publishing, Glen Osmond 300 pgs + illus, tables, bibliog, glossary and index
- Brooker, M. and Kleinig, D. (1990) Field Guide to Eucalypts of South-eastern NSW. Vol 1 and 2. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
- Chafer, C. (1997) Biodiversity in the Illawarra Catchments: an inventory. Illawarra Catchment Management Committee 124 pgs + app
- Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2004) North East NSW Field Key to Forest Ecosystems. Natural Resource Management Field Assessment Guidelines. (DEC NSW, North East Branch, Coffs Harbour)
- Fisher, M., Body, M. and Gill, J. (1996) Vegetation Idenification and Classification of the Coffs Harbour City Council LGA. A report to Coffs Harbour City Council by North East Vegetation Surveys.
- Gellie, N.J.H. (2005) Native Vegetation of the Southern Forests: South-east Highlands, Australian Alps, South-west Slopes, and SE Corner bioregions. Cunninghamia 9(2): 219-253
- Gilmour, P. (2006) Vegetation Communities of the Central Coast Region of NSW. In McCauley, A., DeVries, R., Elith, J. and Gilmour, P. Vegetation of Regional Significance on the NSW Central Coast. (HCR CMA and Hunter Councils Inc. NSW)
- Griffith, S. (2005) NSW North Coast Wetland Vegetation Communities. A preliminary literature review. NSW Dept. of Environment and Conservation. 82 pgs
- Griffith, S.J., Bale C, Adam, P., and Wilson, R. (2003) Wallum and related vegetation on the NSW North Coast: description and phytosociological analysis. Cunninghamia Vol. 8, pp. 202-252.
- Harden, G. (ed) (2002) Flora of NSW. NSW University Press Vol. 1-4
- Harty, C. (2001) A planning methodology for protecting saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass wetlands in NSW and Victoria. Wetlands (Australia) 19(2): 103-109
- Hnatuik, R.J., Thackway, R. and Walker, J. (2003) Vegetation - Guidelines for site-based survey. Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences 111pgs
- House, S (2003) Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Technical Report, Digital Aerial Photo Interpretation & Updated Extant Vegetation Community Map. Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy, Callaghan, NSW.
- Howell, J. and Benson, D. (2005) Seasonal and year-to-year changes in vegetation of freshwater wetlands on the Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplains. Wetlands (Australia) Vol 23(1), pp 20-36
- Howell, J., McDougall, L. and Benson, D. (1995) Riverside Plants of the Hawkesbury-Nepean. (Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- James, T. McDougall, L. and Benson, D.H. (1999) Rare Bushland Plants of Western Sydney. Second edition. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- Keith, D.A. (1996) Fire-driven mechanisms of extinction in vascular plants: a review of empirical and theoretical evidence in Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 116: 37-78
- Keith, D.A. (2004) Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes - The native vegetation of NSW and the ACT. Dept. of Environment and Conservation (NSW) 353 pgs
- Keith, D.A. and Bedward, M. (1999) Vegetation of the South East Forests region, Eden, NSW (Eden CRA). Cunninghamia Vol 6, pp 1-218
- Keith, D.A. and Scott, J. (2005) Native Vegetation of Coastal Floodplains - a diagnosis of the major plant communities in New South Wales. Pacific Conservation Biology 11(2): 81-104
- Kendall and Kendall Ecological Consultants (2003) Nambucca Catchment Vegetation Survey. Report prepared for Nambucca Vegetation Sub-committee.
- Kingsford, R.T., Brandis, K., Thomas, R.F., Crighton, P., Knowles, E. and Gale, E. (2004) Classifying landform at broad spatial scales: the distribution and conservation of wetlands in NSW, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 55: 17-31
- Lovett, S. and Price, P. (eds) (2007) Principles for riparian lands management. Land and Water Australia, Canberra. 200 pgs
- McCauley, A., DeVries, R., Elith, J. and Gilmore, P. (2006) Vegetation of Regional Significance on the NSW Central Coast. Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Hunter Councils Inc. NSW. 308 pgs + appendices
- McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F., Speight, J.G., Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (1990) Australian soil and land survey. Field handbook. Second edition. Inkata Press, Melbourne. pp. 9-57
- McRae, R.H.D. & Cooper, M.G. (1985) Vegetation of the Merriwa area, New South Wales. Cunninghamia Vol. 1, pp. 351-369.
- Miles, J. (2007) Recognition and Management of Endangered Ecological Communities in the South East Corner of NSW. (Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Bega)
- Mills, K. (2003) The natural vegetation in the municipality of Kiama, NSW. A report prepared by Kevin Mills and Associates for Kiama Municipal Council.
- Nature Conservation Council of NSW (1999) Towards an Illawarra Regional Vegetation Management Plan. (NCC NSW, Sydney)
- NGH Environmental (2007) Endangered Ecological Communities Survey and Mapping in Eurobodalla Shire. A report prepared by NGH Environmental for Eurobodalla Shire Council.
- NPWS (1999) Forest Ecosystem Classification and mapping for upper and lower north east CRA regions. CRA Unit, Northern Zone, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour. 36 pgs + appendices
- NPWS (2000) Forest ecosystem classification and mapping for the Hunter Sub-Region in the Lower North East Comprehensive Regional Assessment. CRA Unit, Sydney Zone, National Parks and Wildlife Service.
- NPWS (2002) Native vegetation of the Illawarra Escarpment and Coastal Plain. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney 242 pgs
- Pressey, R.L. (1981) A review of Literature on the Floodplain Welands of Coastal NSW. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney
- Pressey, R.L. (1987) A Survey of Wetlands on the Lower Clarence Floodplain, NSW. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney 43 pgs
- Pressey, R.L. (1987) A Survey of Wetlands on the Lower Hunter Floodplain, NSW. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney 52 pgs
- Pressey, R.L. (1987) A Survey of Wetlands on the Lower Macleay Floodplain, NSW. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney 52 pgs
- Pressey, R.L. and Griffith, S.J. (1987) Coastal wetlands and associated communities in Tweed Shire, Northern NSW. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney 22 pgs + maps and appendices
- Pressey, R.L. and Griffith, S.J. (1992) Vegetation of the coastal lowlands of Tweed shire, northern New South Wales, species and conservation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW Vol. 113, pp. 203-243.
- Robinson, L (2003) Field guide to native plants of Sydney revised 3rd edition. Kangaroo Press 448 pgs
- Smith, P. and Smith, J. (1990) Hornsby Shire bushland survey. Report and maps prepared for Hornsby Shire Council. P & J Smith Ecological Consultants, Blaxland.
- Smith, P. and Smith, J. (2006) Native vegetation communities of Hornsby Shire. Report and maps prepared for Hornsby Shire Council. P & J Smith Ecological Consultants, Blaxland. 46 pgs
- Speight, J.G. (1990) Landform. In: 'Australian soil and land survey. Field handbook' Second edition (Eds. RC McDonald, RF Isbell, JG Speight, J, Walker, MS Hopkins). Inkata Press, Melbourne. pp 9-57
- Straw, P. (1999) Hunter River Estuary Wader Habitat Investigation. Unpublished Report to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney
- Straw, P. (2000) Hunter River Estuary Wader Habitat Investigation Stage 2. Unpublished Report to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney.
- Telfor, D. and Kendall, P. (2006) Native Vegetation Mapping and Endangered Ecological Community Mapping, Kempsey LGA east. Report to Kempsey Shire Council.
- Thackway, R., Creswell, I.D. (eds) (1995) An interim biogeographic regionalisation of Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves. Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra.
- Thackway, R., Neldner, J. and Bolton, M.
(2003) Chapter 7. Vegetation - Guidelines for Conducting Surveys. Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences 35 pgs
- Thomas, V., Gellie, N., and Harrison, T. (2000) Forest Ecosystem Classification and Mapping for the Southern Comprehensive Regional Assessment. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queanbeyan)
- Tindall, D., Pennay, C., Tozer, M.G., Turner, K. and Keith, D.A. (2004) Native vegetation map report series No. 4. Araluen, Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Burragorang, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Katoomba, Kiama, Moss Vale, Penrith, Port Hacking, Sydney, Taralga, Ulladulla, Wollongong (Priority 5 Mapping Area - P5MA). (NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney)
- Tozer, M.G. (2003) The native vegetation of the Cumberland Plain, Western Sydney: systematic classification and field identification of communities. Cunninghamia 8(1): 1-75
- Tozer, M.G., Turner, K., Simpson, C., Keith, D.A., Beukers, P., MacKenzie, B., Tindall, D. and Pennay, C. (2006) Native vegetation of south east NSW: a revised classification and map for the coast and eastern tablelands. V1.0. (NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney)
- Troedson, A., Hashimoto, T.R., Jaworksa, J., Malloch, K., Cain, L. (2004) New South Wales Coastal Quaternary Geology. In: NSW Coastal Quaternary Geology Data Package (on CD-Rom), Troesdson, A., Hashimoto, T.R. (eds). NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, Mineral Resources, Geological Survey of NSW, Maitland. 108 pgs
- WetlandCare Australia (2006) Sustainable Wetlands on NSW Coastal Landscapes. Hunter Central Rivers, Catchment Management Authority region. CD-rom (WetlandCare Australia, Ballina, NSW)
- WetlandCare Australia (2006) Sustainable Wetlands on NSW Coastal Landscapes. Northern Rivers, Catchment Management Authority region. CD-rom (WetlandCare Australia, Ballina, NSW)
- Williams, R.J. and Watford, F.A. (1996) An inventory of impediments to tidal flow in NSW estuarine fish habitats. Wetlands (Australia) Vol. 15, pp. 44-54
- Winning, G.B. (2006) Vegetation changes in a large estuarine wetland subsequent to construction of floodgates: Hexham Swamp in the Lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Thesis (Masters). Australian Catholic University.
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