The Canoe Channel allows people to discover the magical waterway that links Hunter Wetlands Centre to Ironbark Creek and the Hunter River. Bird life abounds along the banks and you can enjoy the calm quietness of the waterway as you paddle along.
The floodgates at Ironbark Creek were once used for flood mitigation, but now they are open the Canoe Channel is tidal with salty water from the Hunter River entering the channel. This change is impacting the vegetation and banks of the channel with some trees not tolerating the salty water falling over. Mangroves which are salt tolerant can now be seen popping up along the banks.
Can you see the impact of the salty water on the vegetation along the banks of the channel?
The Floodgates at the mouth of Ironbark Creek have been opened following a study on the impacts occurring in Hexham Swamp and Ironbark Creek.
There is now more salty water entering the canoe channel with more water travelling with greater velocity. The impacts to the Canoe Channel are that freshwater vegetation, such as Casuarinas are dying; saltwater vegetation, such as Mangroves are establishing; and the bank is subject to greater erosion.
It is interesting to watch as these changes occur over time.
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A Glencore Community Project