Restoring bogs in the Namadgi National Park after firestorm

The names 'Cotter Bog', 'Rotten Swamp' or 'Big Creamy Bog' aren't flattering.

And they don't do justice to the vital alpine mossy vegetation in the Australian Capital Territory's Namadgi National Park, which serve as a water storage and filter for the region's water supply.

Funding

These fragile ecosystems, called Sphagnum Moss bogs, are the focus of a three year restoration project funded with around $55,000 through the Australian and State Government-funded National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. The aim is to help restore 55 to 100 per cent of the bog surface affected by the destructive 2003 bushfires.

While many of the bogs will eventually recover, some have been severely burnt and are at risk because water now flows over the surface. This creates streams that cut down into the peat layers, instead of being absorbed by the bog and slowly released.

Activities

The bogs are important because they intercept and store water, releasing it slowly into waterways, as well as removing sediments and nutrients. Project manager, Murray Evans, said that without intervention, the crucial function of the bogs was likely to be lost and with it, habitat for the endangered Corroboree Frog and the rare, herbivorous Broad-toothed Rat.

To retain pool and spread water within the bog systems, Namadgi National Park staff and volunteers have built dams using 99 per cent guaranteed weed free straw bales, prefabricated erosion control coir logs and locally sourced rocks placed across drainage lines. Existing pools have been reinforced and water diverted into areas of burnt Sphagnum using logs and straw bales.

To boost Sphagnum Moss recovery and minimise any further peat loss, handfuls of straw are used for shade cover.

Achievements

"Despite the ongoing drought, there has been encouraging recovery," Murray said. "With the exception of some smaller bogs that have small catchments, treated sites are now much wetter either side of drainage lines compared with initial post-fire assessment. In all these sites, we have reduced stream incision, flow is much slower and there is more ponding of water.

Murray said that vegetation was starting to cover some Sphagnum hummocks, living Sphagnum was increasing and new moss appearing.

"Sphagnum transplants along the former ANU Forestry trench in West Ginini Wetlands have been very successful and shaded moss has now survived two summers," he said. "At all sites shrubs are re-sprouting and new seedlings appearing."

More information

1. Murray Evans, project manager: (02) 6207 2118 or murray.evans@act.gov.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | Australian Government  | NAP  | NHT 
NRM, NHT and NAP are jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts