Sep
1
We learnt so much when we went to Lock 9 and Wallpolla Island. The river is regulated in many different ways. I thought it was very interesting seeing the fish ladder at Lock 9. I have never really thought about how the fish would migrate with weirs and locks in the rivers. Fish Ladders are a good idea.
Aug
18
HORSESHOE LAGOON ON WALLPOLLA ISLAND
At 9:30 the Enviro Team departed to Lake CULLULLERAINE to look for fish ladders , bird exhibits and the lock. I was sitting up the back of the bus with Maya, Teagan and Abbey. When we arrived we went to listen to Steve, the Lock Master and Andrew his assistant about why we were visiting Lock 9 and how the water is controlled by the weir.
After that we played a game called ‘YES BUT’, it was fun. Next we went to Wallpolla island where we had lunch we saw Dedmans Creek and HORSESHOE LAGOON. We walked further into the bush and had to guess what animal species lived in the area.
After that we went back to the bus and drove back to school and once again I sat up the back but with Teagan, Maya, Abbey, Steph and Sophie. It was a fun trip! I have learned heaps during this trip. Hopefully I can go on a trip like this again.
Aug
18
HORSESHOE LAGOON
On Tuesday 21st of July 2009 the MWPS Enviro Issues Student Action Team went to Lock 9 and Walpolla Island. When we arrived we walked across the weir. On the other side of the weir we walked across the top of the sections of a fish ladder. It was scary!!!
Then we went back over the weir and we saw the Murray River flag ( I didn’t know it had one). Courtney took this awesome photo of Shona throwing some dirt and some boys accidentally threw a lemon in the water. Then we got back on the bus and headed for Horseshoe Lagoon. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
We ate lunch at Horseshoe Lagoon and then we went up through the bush with Paula. We played a game where we had to guess different species of fish, birds, snakes and frogs. I learnt that:
By the way did anyone know any websites with information on fish ladders? If so please leave a comment.
Aug
14
Wallpolla Island
Frogs
• Growling Grass frog ( endangered)
• Peron tree frog
• Barking frog
• Spade foot frog
• There are 11 types of frogs.
PLANTS
There were azolla
River Red Gums
Black boxes
River cubarb
Cumbungi
AND the regulator that helps all the wildlife and plant life at the wetland called Horseshoe Lagoon.
Jul
25
Did you know the Murray River Flag first appeared at Goolwa to honour the first Paddle steamer on the Murray River.
There are 2 Murray river flags. This picture is the Lower Murray Flag. The blue horizontal bars represent the 4 rivers in the Murray Darling Basin: Can you name these?
Does anyone know what the Upper Murray flag looks like?
Jul
23
On Tuesday 21st July, Mildura West Primary School Action group students travelled to Wallpolla Island and Lake Cullulleraine. We learnt cool facts about the Murray River and Regulating the river. We got given note pads and had to write down what we learnt I wrote 6 whole pages of what I learnt.
Walking across the weir at Lake Cullulleraine was the best feeling probably because there was no barrier next to the River Ahhh! The fish ladder was awesome, I loved how the water raised when we followed the fish path. It was a restricted area that was a rare opportunity and off limits to normal civilians. When we got home I told Mum where we had been and she was jealous.
It was a great trip and everyone was well behaved and I hope to go on more in the future at Mildura West.
Dec
20
An excerpt of my story…
As I ran through the bush trying to hide from this blood hungry fox I suddenly tripped. Rubbing my head I turned around noticing the big mighty River Red Gum I had tripped over. Then, I saw the fox running towards me with foam dripping out of it’s mouth, I was panicking but my body seemed to pick itself up and before I knew it I was climbing the Red Gum.
:10 days ago.
As I woke in a cold sweat after a terrible nightmare… In it I was being chased by men with spears yelling at me that a man would come and kill me and this was only the beginning…
Then Mum called, “Out Josh, time for breakfast!”
As I rolled out of bed I replied,”Coming Mum.” I lazily walked down the stairs, I swore somebody had tripped me. As I cried out in pain I looked back to see nothing was there, not a toy nor a newspaper, so I asked myself what had tripped me?
Suddenly the images of my nightmare came racing back through my mind. I put my hand to my head just as Mum came running in. As I removed my hand I noticed my hand was covered in blood. Mum had a shocked, distraught look on her face.
I hope you will be able to read my mini novel when I finish it!
I have also included my interpretation of water = we have to all take responsibility for water usage and globally we can make a difference.
Sep
21
The trees in the lagoon
Lie peacefully within,
There is no rubbish
Because it’s all in the bin,
The regulator that separates
The lagoon from the creek,
Controls the flow of water
To keep the wetlands from being bleak,
The wetlands are both wet and dry
When wet the birds will ‘fly!’
The trees in the area are kept alive
Providing habitats for creatures to try!
The big fish are blocked
Carp screens stop them!
But the little fish are through
To the lagoon that is like a gem!
Sep
20
On the 22nd of July I went to Wallpolla Island which is north of Merbein in Victoria, Australia. It was great fun. We saw rabbit and kangaroo faeces showing us the evidence that there were intoduced species, rabbits and Australian Animals, kangaroos even though the area is in drought conditions.
It was such a cool place. However some people picked up some shotgun shells and that means humans have been out there shooting. It also means that this litter could blow into the creek, lagoon or the Murray River.
We had lunch near Dedman’s Creek and Horshoe Lagoon and it was upsetting to see such a lot of litter lying around. A group of us stayed behind and sensibly picked up the litter and put it in the bin.
We saw many sad sights with the old River Red Gums dying and many beautiful sights such as Horseshoe Lagoon. You need to visit Wallpolla Island to see it for yourself.
Sep
19
An impression of the regulator at Wallpolla Island.
A man made regulator can assist wetlands by controlling the water so that the wetland has a wet and dry phase. This process is neccessary at Wallpolla Island.
Sep
15
Dear Reader,
Wallpolla Island is one of six icon sites in the Living Murray Project. We need to keep it alive. We need to treat Wallpolla Island with care and respect so it stays in good condition. If Wallpolla Island is not treated correctly, a number of things can happen.
Some of these things include-Trees dying
-Water lossIf we don’t have enough water then we don’t have enough water for animals and trees
-Loss of native fishIf we don’t have fish then birds don’t have food. So it would affect the food chain of some animals.
Imagine what it would be like without enough animals, water and trees?
By Libby
Sep
15
On Tuesday 22nd of July everyone in the Enviro Team plus more went to Wallpolla Island because we wanted to learn all about what the Living Murray initiative is about. We saw the Horseshoe Lagoon. It is called Horseshoe Lagoon because it is shaped in a horse-shoe. The lagoon has a regulator with a trap to clean out the water and to keep out unwelcome visitors out, such as carp.
The Murray River,
Is a wonderful place..
Don’t wreck it for us..
or the next generation..
The terrible drought is kil–ling
our Living Murray..
and the River Red Gums are dying from thirst!
Sep
15
On Tuesday 22nd July the Enviro Team travelled to Wallpolla Island by bus. When we got off the bus we were greeted by Brendan Rodgers and we walked to a big shady tree. Brendan spoke to us about some very interesting things on Wallpolla island such as the black box trees can survive a lot longer than the River Red Gums without a drink. However after a while the black box trees also begin to die without water.
We got back on the bus and stopped near Horseshoe Lagoon. We began to walk and saw a machine called a regulator. The regulator is a machine that lets a certain amount of water into the wetland but does not let the adult carp through. Water is let through the regulator to the wetland late winter and autumn so that it floods the area but summer and spring it drys up. The regulator has carp screens and they are used to keep out big fish carp as well as native fish and this gives smaller native fish a chance to breed.
There are many things to learn at Wallpolla Island.
Sep
15
On Tuesday 22nd July we went to Wallapolla Island. It took us 45 minutes to get there and the road was really rough. Just past the entrance gate there was a dried up billabong and all around it there were dead trees. In one of the trees there was a huge birds nest, a wedge tailed eagle’s nest.
After Brendan from Parks Vic talked for a bit we walked up to Horseshoe Lagoon and Dedman’s Creek. The lagoon was really cool and over Dedmans Creek there were two bridges built. The one closest to the gate was an old wooden bridge and the one across from Horseshoe Lagoon was a newer looking bridge made from steel.
Everyone went over one of the bridges and went down to the Murray River to see where the Murray and Dedman’s Creek joined up. It was a very interesting trip!
Sep
15
On Tuesday 22nd July the Mildura West Primary School Enviro team travelled to Wallpolla Island by bus. It was a pretty bumpy ride going over all the corrugations. if you wanted to travel there it would be a good idea to have a 4 wheel drive as there is a lot of unsealed road!It was awful to see lots of River Red Gums and most of them were dead. There was an abandoned wedge tale eagle nest in one of the River Red Gums due to the fact that the tree was dead. Some of the trees were over 300 years of age .
A regulator has been constructed at Wallpolla Island to put water into Horseshoe Lagoon. The reulator has carp screens and these stop large carp and also other big fish from entering the Lagoon. Smaller fish can breed in the Lagoon and this helps increase our native fish.
Wallpolla Island is a great place to visit.
Recent Comments