Bart Irwin column: Harrison Dam hunting hurt by weeds

Weed intrusion has hurt the waterfowl hunting game at one Top End dam, but how many others are the same, asks Bart Irwin.

NT Field and Game member Bart Irwin participates in weed control at Harrison Dam. Picture: Supplied

Harrison Dam was always the jewel in the crown of Top End wetlands for waterfowl hunting, but that crown has almost completely slipped.

Fantastic work by Parks and Wildlife at Fogg Dam Ranger station has eradicated the olive hymenachne that was stifling much of the swamp, but in destroying this weed it has revealed that the native eleocharis had been largely choked out by weed intrusion.

The dam is so free of vegetation ski boats could be driven on it.

I inspected the dam at the beginning of July and was pleased to see water still trickling out of the regulator.

Bart Irwin says neglect of Top End water ways will take years to reverse. Picture: Che Chorley

I haven’t seen such good water levels this far into the dry season for some years.

But with the eleocharis removed there wasn’t a goose, nor a duck on the 2000-acre swamp.

NT Field and Game lobbied since 2006 for wetland rehabilitation at Harrison Dam.

In 2009, 2013 and 2016 we received grants and were able to return the dam to its former glory as dry season habitat for geese and duck.

But as we advised Minister Eva Lawler the lapses in weed spraying when grants weren’t forthcoming were allowing the weed to return.

Now Harrison is a waterfowl wasteland.

The neglect has destroyed this hunting reserve and will take years of costly remediation to return the eleocharis that provides the water chestnuts food for geese, a standing platform for them to rest on and habitat for water snails and frogs that attract water whistle and hard head ducks.

It is my opinion that when the water levels get low NT Parks and Wildlife will have to plant eleocharis in massive patches to attract the geese and ducks back.

Harrison Dam is just one wetland devastated by weed intrusion.

How many others are out there across the Top End?

Practice at NT Field and Game resumes as usual on Friday and Sunday next weekend.