Both the Helmeted Honeyeater and the lowland Leadbeater’s Possum are only found in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve where they rely on FFG-listed swamp forests dominated by Mountain Swamp Gum, the largest extent of which is found within the Cockatoo Swamp. Historical changes to waterways and the construction of levee banks have changed the natural distribution of water in the area with some sections of the swamp now being too dry and some being too wet. As a result, there has been significant dieback of swamp forests.
Having established a detailed monitoring program and management objectives, sections of levees were removed to improve the distribution of flood waters and a temporary pipeline and pumps were installed to trial the de-watering of sections of the swamp suffering prolonged inundation. Pumping occurred during summer 2019 -2021 and was aimed at keeping water levels low at a crucial time for the vegetation growth and recruitment.
Through pumping we have trialled an adaptive management approach to lowering water levels in key areas of the swamp. As a result we have learnt about our capacity to influence water levels and likely responses of the vegetation to water regime changes.
Extensive monitoring and collaboration have facilitated an adaptive management approach and generated knowledge regarding the water regime requirements of swamp forests and its constituent and dependent species. This knowledge has since been applied to identify and inform the restoration of critical habitat in other areas of the YNCR and beyond for Victoria's state faunal emblems.