Booligal Wetlands
The swamps of the Merrowie, Merrimajeel and Muggabah creeks are known collectively as the Booligal Wetlands and encompass between 10–15,000 ha of the lower Lachlan floodplain (Armstrong et al., 2009). The Booligal Wetland inland floodplain swamp complex includes Booligal Swamp, Upper Gum Swamp, Lower Gum Swamp, Merrimajeel Swamp and Murrumbidgil Swamp.
The Booligal Wetlands are listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands due to key ecological assets such as River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florenta), and waterbird breeding.
It consists of low gradient braided channels and covers approximately 5000 ha when flooded. The channels are surrounded by Lignum, and it is considered one of the largest areas of Lignum in the state. Scattered stands of River Red Gums, Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) and River Cooba (Acacia stenophylla) can also be found in the area. Merrimajeel and Muggabah creeks receive water from the Lachlan River via Torrigany Creek but are not included in the areas of operation of the Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Regulated River Water Source (WSP). However, regulators have been constructed at the mouth of both Muggabah Creek and Merrimajeel Creek to improve water delivery to these creeks and their associated wetlands, and to improve the efficiency of delivery of replenishment flows to users on the two creeks. It is monitored as part of the Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows (IMEF) program. Current condition is considered moderate.
