Chowilla floodplain facts for kids
The Chowilla floodplain is a special area of land next to the Murray River in Australia. It's located upstream from a town called Renmark. This floodplain stretches across the border into New South Wales. It's also home to the Chowilla Game Reserve, a place where wildlife is protected.
A floodplain is a flat area of land next to a river. When the river floods, this land gets covered with water. This brings nutrients and helps plants and animals thrive.
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History of Chowilla
People from Europe first settled in the Chowilla area in the 1840s. These early settlers were often "pastoralists," meaning they raised farm animals like sheep and cattle.
Early Settlers
One of the first pioneers was Fred Handcock. He moved his livestock from New South Wales to this area. Sadly, he passed away there in 1847.
Protecting Chowilla
In the 1960s, there was a plan to build a large structure called the Chowilla Dam across the floodplain. If this dam had been built, a big part of the floodplain would have been flooded forever. This would have destroyed many important habitats.
A Special Wetland
Luckily, the dam was not built. Today, the Chowilla floodplain is protected. It is part of the Riverland Ramsar wetland of international importance. A "Ramsar wetland" is a wetland area that is recognized globally for its special importance to nature. It means countries agree to protect these places because they are vital for birds, plants, and other wildlife.
Keeping Chowilla Healthy
Around 2009-2010, the Murray River experienced a long period of drought. This meant there wasn't enough water flowing, and the Chowilla floodplain became very dry. The trees and other plants were under a lot of stress.
Artificial Floods
To help the floodplain recover, special structures called "regulators" were put in place. These regulators allow people to create "artificial floods." This means they can release water onto parts of the wetland on purpose.
These artificial floods help the trees and other plants stay healthy. They act like the natural floods that used to happen before the river was controlled by dams and weirs. This way, the Chowilla floodplain can continue to be a thriving home for many different species.
