Kerang is the center of a unique Wetlands System.
Around 50 small lakes, swamps and marshes surround Kerang. From Kerang to Lake Boga stretches a system of lakes known as the Kerang Lakes. |
LITTLE MURRAY RIVER
The little Murray River is located on the western side of Pental Island and flows back into the Murray River at SwanHill. It is an excellent fish habitat and healthy Redgum trees can be found upstrem of the Little Murray Weir. LAKE BAEL BAEL
Lake Bael Bael is a large freshwater lake that fills from the Avoca River in times of flood. It is a Ramsar listed wetland and is an important breeding and feeding ground for waterbirds.
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RIVER MURRAY
The River Murray provides many areas suitable for camping through the central section of Pental Island, Benwell and Guttrum Forrests, Gunbower Island further to the south. Its Redgum Forests supports a range of native animals, including kangroos and emus, and a diverse range of birds.
Fishing is a popular recreation activity, with Murray Cod regularly caught. Water skiing in the River Murray generally only occurs upstream of major weirs (such as Torrumbury Weir), where water levels are artificially raised.
| The Reedy Lakes system comprises three permanent freshwater lakes maintained at a constant level as part of the Torrumbury irrigation water supply system. Reedy Lake and Third Reedy Lake are maintained fresh as irrigation storage and occasionally receive Loddon River flood flows. Middle Reedy Lake is also a permanent freshwater lake. Of the three Ramsar listed, Middle Lake has the highest environmental value, supporting an internationally renowned Ibis Rookery. It features high quality native vegetation and many waterbirds including Large Ibis and Royal Spoonbill. |
 Above: Middle Reedy Lake |
Lake Boga is a large, open freshwater lake that fills via floodflows from the Avoca River. It can also receive water directly from the Little Murray River and the Loddon River via the Kerang Lakes System. Lake Boga is very popular for recreation activities such as swimming, skiing and fishing.
| Lake Tutchewoop was historically a large open freshwater lake. It has steadily rising salinity due to accumulation from Barr Creek drainage diversion flows. This provides important protection for the River Murray, as it intercepts salt that may otherwise have entered the river, but with some increasing local adverse affects. The lake is a haven for migratory birds, has high environmental value and is a Ramsar, CAMBA (Chinese-Australian Migratory Bird Agreement) and JAMBA listed wetland (Japanese-Australian Migratory Bird Agreement).
First Marsh is an intermittent freshwater lake in the Avoca floodplain. It has historically contained Redgums that were established during ideal conditions but drowned in the following wetter years. First Marsh holds approximately 10,000 megalitres and takes about four years to dry out after a flood. It is a Ramsar listed wetland with very high environmental value. Several Wedge-tail Eagles and White-Bellied Sea Eagles nests can be seen throughout these reserves.
Second Marsh and Third Marsh are deep freshwater marshes with very high environmental values, despite recent significant tree death. They fill intermittently from the Avoca River floodwater via First Marsh and provide important breeding and feeding areas for waterbirds. They also contain good native vegetation. Second and Third Marshes are bordered by on the western side by a significant Black Box Forest. |
| Kangaroo Lake is a large freshwater lake. It supports an expanding horticultural precinct adjacent to the lake, including the Brown Brothers vineyards. Brown Brothers produce quality red and white wines for the domestic and export market. Kangaroo lake is a Ramsar-listed wetland with moderate environmental value, and is used for recreational activity, such as swimming, skiing and fishing as well as irrigation water supply | AVOCA RIVER
The Avoca River system has the most variable flow of all the Victorian rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin and ceases to during dry years. During times of flood, the Avoca River outfall is diverted away from Lake Tutchwoop via channel to Lake Boga and the Little Murray River.
CULLENS LAKE
Cullens Lake is a large ephemeral lake (only containing water following rain, Loddon River floods and a share of Victoria's annual environmental water allocation, filling about three in every 20 years. A Ramsar listed wetland, it has very high environmental value and provides a valuable feeding and resting area for many waterbirds. You will love Lake Cullen's Black Swans up to 8000 have been sited on this lake at one time and 51 waterbird species recorded. |
WANDELLA FOREST
Wandella Forest is a large Black Box woodland. The forest contains a large area of valuable native vegetation that supports a diverse range of birds and animals, and floods on average once every three years. A series of dry whether tracks run through the reserve. RACECOURSE LAKE
Racecourse lake is held at a permanent constant level and maintained for irrigation water storage. It also receives occasional Loddon River flood flows. Trees have died within the wetland bed and Cumbungi and Willow trees have spread around the shore of the wetland. | Lake Charm is a large permanent freshwater lake that is held at a constant level. It is part of the Torrumbury irrigation water supply system, but has higher salinity levels than Kangaroo Lake due to lack of regular flushing and groundwater intrusion. It is a Ramsar-listed wetland with moderate environmental value, and is used for recreational activities, such as swimming, skiing, sailing and fishing.
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To find out more check these pages-
Kerang Information Centre Fishing Birdwatching Watersports |
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