John Hawkins: Bagnall's Lagoon, Wonga Wetlands

Collected at: Bagnall's Lagoon, Wonga Wetlands, West Albury, NSW

Wonga Wetlands, Riverina Highway West Albury
E: 486859, N: 6008349, Zone 55

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Collected by: John Hawkins, Wonga Wetlands, Albury City Council

The Wonga Wetlands (including Bagnall's Swamp) is owned by the Albury City Council. Wonga wetlands is located downstream of Albury along the floodplain of the Murray River. The water provided to the wetlands comes from Albury City's wastewater treatment systems. During the warmer months the reclaimed treated wastewater is used for irrigation, while in wetter months it is redirected to the wetlands, helping to restore the natural flow regime.

Water quality:

Temperature: 26.5 degrees Celsius

ACT Waterwatch says:

There are a lot of nutrients in this wetland, but wetlands are good places for them to be taken back up into the ecosystem through plants. Turbidity is a little bit high, but again, wetlands are the right places for silt to settle out and water to be clarified.

The Wonga Wetlands was previously farm land but has since been developed into wetlands, providing an opportunity to revert to the original hydrological regime, with birds and other wildlife now returning to the wetlands.

The site is used to educate the community (including school groups) about wetlands and the environment.

What's going on:

Continued development occurs at Wonga Wetlands making the area more accessible to the public. Currently the wetlands are being revegetated to improve biodiversity.

Albury City Council manages Wonga Wetlands to make the area accessible to the public and continually improve educational programs.