Hi All,
I was at Hattah over the LWE as part of a rabbit survey with Parks Vic,
Mallee CMA and Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA). The ranger told
us a bit about the environmental water program which is currently happening
at Hattah NP and referred to by Jenny Spry.
Currently the water is at a moderate to high flood and is rising at about
2cm per day. It is planned to keep pumping water until November 2014, at
which time the lake levels will be about 2m higher than at present. This
will completely flood the Hattah campground. Lake Mournpall campground may
not be flooded but will be inaccessible because of flooded roads. The lakes
walking track east of Hattah Lake is already closed due to the flooding as
is the northern half of the walk at Lake Mournpall.
This flood should flood much of the black box country which has not had a
proper drink for at least 25yrs and give a much needed boost to the red gums
that suffered so badly during the drought years. There should also be
sufficient flooded forest to allow for breeding waterbirds and colonial
nesters such as herons, darters and cormorants.
With all this water around the ranger strongly recommended that visitors
check on access to the park when planning a visit. Access conditions are
changing fairly rapidly at the moment.
A canoe may be the best way to get around these wetlands for the next year
or so.
We also found a couple of previously unrecorded Malleefowl mounds during our
rabbit search.
Cheers,
Euan
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