|
About
the area
 |
Katfish
Reach
is in the Riverland region of South Australia, located
south-west of the prominent fruit and wine growing town of Berri, and
north and opposite of the town of Loxton.
The
total area of the katfish Reach is nearly 9,000 hectares and while the
majority of the site lies within the Murray River National Park
(Katarapko) or on Crown Land, it also includes land held by Gerard
Aboriginal Reserve and a number of small private holdings.
|
Waterways & wetlands
Floodplain vegetation
Tree health
Wildlife
Cultural heritage
Katfish Reach Habitat Tour
Maps |
|
Katfish
Reach is a floodplain habitat of the River Murray that includes a range
of habitats from permanent flowing creeks, freshwater water complexes,
saline wetlands and floodplains.
Explore the
link below to learn more about the floodplain habitat.
Floodplain habitat of the waterways & wetlands
|
Canoeist paddling along Katarapko Creek in
the Murray River National Park (Photo: Bill Doyle).
|
|
|
|
|
Katfish
Reach has a
rich
diversity of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Terrestrial
habitats, including the floodplain and dune system, range from forests
to woodlnds, shrublands, sedgelands, herblands and grasslands. On the
floodplain these habitats can intermittenly become an aquatic system
for varying periods of time, depending on the size and length of a
flood event, and the elevation of a particular habitat.
227 species
of plants
have
been recorded at katfish Reach (see
full list) of
which 15
are introduced species. In total, 17 species of threatened plants have
been recorded at Katfish Reach (see
full list).
As part of
the Katfish
Reach planning process, 11 vegetation communities were identified (see full list).
|
Floodplain vegetation
within the Katfish Reach area (Photo: Bill Doyle). |
|
|
|
|
Tree health
surveys of
Katfish Reach were conducted in 2002 as part of the South Australian
Floodplain Vegetation Mapping Project. In 2007, the tree health of
Katfish Reach was again surveyed to update this information due to the
impact on the current drought. These surveys have revealed significant
changes in tree health class between 2002 and 2007.
There was a
61%
decline in healthy River red gum and a 22%
decline in healthy Black box between 2002 and 2007. The area of dead
River red gum's has increased by 37% and now covers an area of 141.2
hectares on the site.
To learn
more, access
the
following links:
Tree
Health Classes of the Katfish Reach 2007
Representative Photos of each Vegetation Community
|
Tree health survey point within Katfish Reach (Photo: Bill Doyle). |
|
Threatened Species Katfish Reach is home to a variety of
wildlife, some of which are listed as threatened species under national
and/or state legislation. Within the area there are two reptiles, one
frog and 14 bird species with a threatened rating at state level and
one frog and two fish species with a national threatened rating.
Learn more about the threatened species in the area. |
Regent Parrot (Photo: Rod Bradtke).
|
Mammals Seven native and six introduced mammalian species have been recorded in the Katfish Reach area. Native mammal species in the area include the Common brushtail possum, Red kangaroo, Short-beaked echidna, Water rat, Western grey kangaroo and white-striped freetail-bat. Introduced species include the Black rat, Brown harefox, Fox, Cat, House mouse and Rabbit. |
Western Grey Kangaroo with joey in pouch (Photo: Bill Doyle).
|
Reptiles The reptiles recorded at Katfish Reach include 12 native species, with two of conservation significance, the Broad-shelled Turtle
(vulnerable) and Lace Monitor (rare). Other species found in Katfish Reach include Bynoe's gecko, Common snake-eye, Dwarf skink, Eastern long-neck turtle, Eastern tree skink, Eastern water skink, Marbled gecko, Sand goanna, Sleepy lizard and Tessellated gecko.
|
Lace Monitor (Photo: Chris Hedger).
|
Frogs There have been five native frog species recorded at Katfish Reach including the Southern Bell Frog (vulnerable species), which is one of the largest frog species in Australia. Other species include the Peron's Tree Frog, Eastern Sign Bearing Froglet, Western Banjo Frog and Spotted Grass Frog.
Listen to the calls of the frogs found in Katfish Reach here:
|
Southern Bell Frog (Photo: SAMDB NRM Board).
|
Fish Nine native and four introduced fish species are found within Katfish
Reach area, including both large and small fish species. Two of the
native species, the Murray Cod and Murray hardyhead, have conservation
significance. A third, the silver perch, is protected under the South
Australian Fisheries Act, 1982.
Other
native species in the area include bony herring, Murray rainbowfish,
Australian smelt and flathead gudgeon. |
Freshwater catfish (Photo: Murray-Darling Basin Authority).
|
Native birds Katfish Reach is home to a huge number of birds, with 158
native and three introduced species recorded. Species of conservation
significance include the Australasian Shoveler, Blue-faced Honeyeater,
Intermediate Egret, Peregrine Falcon (rare) and the brown Quail
(vulnerable).
See full list
of fauna species recorded within the Katfish Reach area. |
Yellow Billed Spoonbill (Photo: Michael Harper).
|
Aboriginal history Prior to European settlement, the Erawirung Aboriginal people occupied the area around Loxton. A number of sites of Aboriginal significance have been identified throughout the Katfish Reach area. Aboriginal burial grounds, shell middens, and campsites have been found on the dune system and along most of the waterways.
|
A canoe tree within the Katfish Reach area (Photo: DENR).
|
European history In the mid 1800s, two Pastoral Leases were issued over the Katfish Reach floodplain area adjacent to Loxton. These leases were eventually absorbed into the larger Cobdogla Station which became an important horse-run. Eckert Creek sheep race and Katarapko Island stockyards are evidence of European settlement heritage in the area. |
Katarapko Island stockyards from European settlementl (Photo: DENR).
|
|
