Bottle Bend Reserve: A tale of degradation to restoration
Once a stark reminder of environmental degradation, Bottle Bend Reserve on the Murray River in NSW now stands as a landmark of recovery and hope. The 1650-hectare reserve, once marred by tree skeletons, diminished ground cover, and a devastated native fish population, has been transformed into a rejuvenated ecosystem supporting a variety of threatened species.
This promising turnaround is the result of strategic efforts by dedicated volunteers, NSW and Commonwealth environmental water & land management agencies, not-for-profit environmental groups, including the Murray-Darling Wetland Working Group, First Nations people, and OzFish.
From degradation to restoration
During the mid-2000s, during a severe drought, Bottle Bend Reserve gained media attention for its environmental degradation. The freshwater in the billabongs and wetlands was so highly saline and acidic that the ecosystem faced total collapse.
The reserve underwent a change in management and direction in 2016, with the establishment of the community-driven Bottle Bend Reserve Committee. Further progress was made in 2020 when OzFish and Western Landcare NSW joined forces to enhance biodiversity and fisheries. This allowed the community to take ownership of the reserve and invite OzFish chapter members and First Nations people to participate in management efforts and habitat improvements.
A deep cultural connection
The transformation of Bottle Bend has stirred deep feelings of hope for the Kureinji First Nations people. OzFish River Culture Officer and Kureinji man, Drew Fincher, expressed his delight at seeing the habitat restoration:
“As our land comes back to life, so do the Kureinji Nations people. As a young lad, I witnessed the transformation of Bottle Bend firsthand. This supported the stories I had been told by Elders, both cultural stories of my connection and those handed down through the generations. Knowing my place in this landscape and all that it encompasses is me and I am it, so the connection is deep.”
“We still practice and embrace cultural camps, food collection, song, ceremony, music, dance, and spirituality at Bottle Bend. It’s a living thing. Culture is alive and well on this country. Our business is to be inclusive and hope everyone can see the benefits and be part of the restoration.”
Environmental restoration and wildlife recovery
Today, through the delivery of environmental water and higher river flows, Bottle Bend’s billabongs and waterways are functioning as an ecological success story. Trees once thought lifeless now boast vibrant canopies, and the return of native fish and frogs signals a healthy aquatic habitat.
OzFish’s Senior Program Manager for the Murray-Darling Basin, Braeden Lampard, highlighted the extensive restoration efforts since 2020:
“Since 2020, OzFish and the Bottle Bend Committee of Management have achieved significant environmental restoration. This has included removing over three tonnes of rubbish, installing 20 aquatic fish habitats, erecting a riparian fence, planting more than 1,000 aquatic and riparian plants, and clearing over 15 trailer loads of invasive weeds. By using habitat mapping, we’ve been able to identify ecosystem gaps and focus our restoration efforts where they’re needed most.”
Strategic environmental water flows have significantly improved floodplain vegetation health and water quality. The OzFish River Repair Bus has also facilitated efforts to plant native vegetation and remove pest species, driving Bottle Bend’s landscape toward recovery.
“The improvements to water quality and aquatic ecosystems have been encouraging, with environmental water entering the system and the surrounding riparian corridor coming back to life. The aquatic wildlife has returned, with Golden Perch caught by locals. There are also a number of threatened species that utilize Bottle Bend Reserve’s habitats, such as the Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and the Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis).”
Protecting cultural heritage
Cultural surveys conducted at Bottle Bend in 1992 and 2006 revealed scarred trees, lithic scatters, shell middens, stone artifacts, and a burial site. Shell middens were found extensively along the river margin, with many fireplaces indicating this was a significant site for gathering food and sharing stories under the stars for First Nations people.
These cultural assets are being managed and protected by the Bottle Bend Committee and the Kureinji First Nations community. The vast improvement at Bottle Bend tells the tale of how science and dedication can bring back a landscape from the brink.
The project is part of the Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership between OzFish and Landcare NSW. Funding for this project was provided with grants from the Recreational Fishing Trust and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developments’ Recreational Fishing Trust’s Habitat Action Grant Program. These grant programs are financed from funds generated through the sale of the recreational fishing licence fee in NSW and managed by NSW DPIRD Fisheries, on behalf of the Recreational Fishing Trust. Key contributors included the Bottle Bend Reserve Committee of Management, OzFish Sunraysia Chapter and BCF Mildura volunteers.