Cuba Dam
Cuba Dam (Image: Fin Martin, Lachlan CMA, February 2011)
Cuba Dam is located about 37-km west of Booligal, NSW. The wetland is about 1680 ha and is located in the middle reaches of Merrowie Creek, which is a distributary of the Lachlan River. Cuba Dam is one of about a dozen dams built on Merrowie Creek for stock and domestic purposes, with the regulator at Gonowila Weir capable of diverting 150 ML/d into Merrowie Creek. Despite these modifications it is still a good example of a relatively natural wetland. The impoundment of this wetland has made it suitable for ibis, which have been known to form large colonies in the wetland and are what makes this wetland a site of national significance (refer to Directory of Important Wetlands for details on significant ecological values and functions). It also contains large areas of Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florenta), Nitre Goosefoot (Chenopodium nitrariaceum), Canegrass (Eragrostis australascia) and Black Box.
