World Rivers Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September. It is a chance to celebrate the rivers and estuaries that support people, wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
In Tasmania, the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program is helping restore the Mersey River estuary.
The Mersey River is home to several threatened species, including:
- the eastern curlew – a long-distance migratory shorebird
- the Australasian bittern – a wetland bird
- the Australian grayling – a native migratory fish.
The estuary faces a major threat from rice grass. Rice grass is an introduced weed that spreads rapidly across tidal mudflats., taking over important feeding areas for wading birds and fish. It can also change the way water moves through an estuary, while smothering vulnerable coastal saltmarsh habitat.
The restoration team is working to remove rice grass and improve the health of the estuary.
This includes:
- using drones to spray rice grass
- tackling weeds and restoring native vegetation
- trapping pollution before it reaches the estuary
- engaging locals to monitor bird species.
The good news is that removing rice grass can help native saltmarsh recover and restore important habitat for estuarine fish – with research showing these benefits can be seen within just a few years.
The project is also helping build the resilience of critical migratory bird habitat in the face of threats such as H5 avian influenza.
This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Cradle Coast Authority, the Bookend Trust and Devonport City Council.
