The Wetlands Revival Trust (WRT) partnered with the MDWWG to manage three wetland sites:

• Bears;

• Haw’s; and

• Halls.

As part of this partnership WRT undertakes monitoring activities, provide management recommendations and has planted an array of endemic wetland plants in the wetlands including threatened wetland species.

WRT identified all three wetlands as suitable sites for stiff groundsel (Senecio behrianus) plantings in 2025. Stiff groundsel is listed as Endangered Federally (EPBC Act 1999) and Critically Endangered in Victoria (FFG Act 1988). These three sites are helping to improve the extent and viability of the Endangered (EPBC) wetland plant.

The MDWWG as part of the partnership supplies EWT water.

The hydrology of these wetlands have in large been altered by artificial levees and today only receive inflows in very wet years. These wetlands all can receive water through irrigation channels.

By returning the system to a more natural hydrological regime we can further support tree health and wetland vegetation providing both a refuge and seedbank for threatened and culturally significant small herbaceous wetland plants.

These flows will also aim to increase native vegetation cover and provide quality habitat for water dependent and terrestrial species.

The delivery of EWT water to these wetlands including has enabled an array of endemic wetland plant species to be planted included stiff groundsel and rigid water-milfoil (Myriophyllum porcatum; threatened FFG Act 1988) helping to prevent the extinction of critically important wetland plants at both a federal and local scale.

Water delivery will also support black box and river red gum communities; and provide habitat for an array of wildlife including:

• Terrestrial birds including the Grey crowned babblers which is threatened in Victoria (FFG Act 1988);

• Frogs;

• Waterbirds; and

• Threatened small bodied fish at Halls wetland.