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The
picturesque lower Field River has many willing hands helping to enrich
the landscape around Cormorant Reserve, the estuary at Hallett Cove
Beach and the nearby sand dunes. A three year plan has been developed to
help the Friends of Lower Field River preserve a number of critically
important plant species, improve the health of the water and increase
habitat for local birds. Produced in collaboration with the Friends of Lower Field River,
the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board
(the Board) and the City of Marion, this plan is an important tool to
coordinate and fund onground action on watercourse rehabilitation and
biodiversity works. Cormorant Reserve at the mouth of the Field River has plants in it such as Pimelea micrantha (silky rice flower) which is rare, and Pleurosorus rutifolius (blanket fern) which is uncommon, for the Southern Lofty region. Supported
by Jess Mitchell, Project Officer with the Board, one of the first
steps in the plan is to remove exotic vegetation to help protect these
and other native plant species which naturally occur on site, or have
been planted by the Friends group.
David Greenhough of Hallett Cove is just one of 20 volunteers who regularly work on this site. "What we are doing is the start of bringing back native animal and bird life into the area." Native
bird life has started to return to the area, says Mr Greenhough, with
silver eyes, fairy wrens and grey currawongs counted in a bird census
the group conducted late last year, with the Friends of Glenthorne. This
census will form the baseline for future monitoring. The
mouth of the Field River is also an important estuary for fish. The
group is involved in annual fish monitoring programs to gather valuable
spatial information on native fish populations. "We
really enjoy our time doing fish monitoring exercises with the Board's
NRM Education staff and local schools," says Mr Greenhough. "It's a
really valuable exercise which should be maintained." Native
fish are good indicators of the health of a waterway as they require
disease-free and quality oxygenated water. Tube nets are set up to
capture and count fish species and David was heartened to see no
introduced fish in their nets. More woody weed work will occur in grasslands to remove olives which are a big problem. "Hidden
Valley was overrun by olives and thistles and the area is now showing
signs of revitalisation with tall eucalypts, middle and understorey
plants re-establishing themselves," says Mr Greenhough. "Our
group can see the potential of the area to be revitalised with
indigenous species of flora which in turn attract local fauna. This will
then provide an area that will benefit the community and future
generations by preserving the natural environment," says Mr Greenhough.
More volunteers are welcome. Please phone Mr Greenhough on 8387 6227.
For further information contact:
Rita Reitano,
Acting Communications Coordinator; 0438 138 130
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