Management

Salvinia - Managing this invasive weed 

Can you see this plant growing on the water? This is salvinia.

Salvinia is a fast growing and free-floating aquatic fern from South America. It grows best in warm fresh water that is still or slow-flowing and that has high nutrient levels.

Salvinia forms dense mats that can double in size in less than three days, smothering the surface of the water. It prevents native water plants from growing, reduces food and habitat for fish and other aquatic animals and can reduce overall water quality.

With the support of a NSW Environmental Trust Grant, Council is working to control this invasive weed. The control program has included the introduction of the salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) into the wetlands. The salvinia weevil feeds on the leaf tips and stems of the salvinia. This causes the plant to break apart and sink into the water column where it decomposes.

Fauna

Frogs - The chorus of the wetlands

Amphibians are the fastest declining group of animals on the planet. Nearly one third of our amphibian species are listed as endangered or threatened. Habitat loss is the leading cause of amphibian decline around the world.

Warriewood Wetlands is an important habitat for frogs and supports many species including the Striped Marsh Frog, Perons Tree Frog and the Dwarf Tree Frog.

Amphibians play essential roles, both as predators and prey, in their ecosystems. Adult amphibians eat pest insects, including pests that damage crops or spread disease.

Constructing habitat for frogs in your garden is a fantastic way to support our local amphibians to ensure they have a home in which to live and breed.

Environment

Wildlife corridors - highways for animals

A wildlife corridor, habitat corridor, or a green corridor is a habitat area that connects wildlife populations separated by human activity and urban areas. They play a valuable role in allowing animals to move safely through the urban environment.

The wetlands are part of an important wildlife corridor running from Ku-ring-gai National Park via Ingleside Escarpment, down to Narrabeen Lagoon.

By planting native plants and creating a wildlife-friendly garden, we can improve these corridors that support our local native fauna.