A sedgeland on private property in Torbay.
Lake Powell - a local wetland with very high ecological value.
Marshall's constructed wetland - The wetland is designed to strip
nutrients, improving water quality in the Torbay Inlet.
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What is a wetland?
A wetland is an area that is inundated or waterlogged
by surface or ground water, either permanently
or seasonally. Wetlands have vegetation which is
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.
Examples of wetlands include swamps, seeps, lakes
and estuaries.
Wetlands in Torbay
There are a wide variety of wetland types in the Torbay
catchment. These include the coastal lakes and basin
wetlands, the palusplains that spread over the wide,
flat land typical of the mid catchment along the South
Coast Highway and the hillside seeps (paluslopes) of
both the Karri hills and the northern country.
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WHAT ROLE DO WETLANDS HAVE?
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Water Management
Wetlands are extremely important components of the
landscape for water management. Wetlands collect,
store and use water lost or transported from the
surrounding landscape. The plants in and around the
water help remove sediments and nutrients, thereby
cleaning the water before it moves on to other areas
or is used by native animals in the wetland.
Habitat
Wetlands support a wide array of life, both aquatic and
terrestrial. Birdlife is often abundant around wetlands, as
they take advantage of the fish, crustaceans and macroinvertebrates
which they feed upon. Wetlands are also
breeding habitat for ducks, bitterns, crakes and rails in the
fringing vegetation.
Cultural values
Wetlands of the South Coast have important aesthetic,
recreational and agricultural values. They have been an
important food and water source for Noongar people and
today the fertile soils and water supply associated with many
wetlands is used to grow vegetables and water livestock.
Wetlands are culturally significant as recreational areas, places
of great beauty which have spiritual significance for many
people.
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