GL45 (8321) Latrobe Delta

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in East Gippsland, Victoria (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams

Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	205807 (8321). South-western corner of Lake Wellington.	Reed-fringed prograding deltas of the Latrobe River.
Abstract:	Prograding cuspate delta.
Access:	Boat in Lake Wellington.
Ownership:	Crown land.
Geomorphology:	The LaTrobe River has a cuspate delta consisting of two silt jetties, an extension of natural river levees, that protrude over two kilometres into Lake Wellington. The delta is formed by reed swamp which is growing in the lake in water up to 1.5 metres deep. The reed swamp consists chiefly of Phragmites, Cladium and Typha which forms isolated clones in the lake and a continuous fringe along the river bank. The reed swamp traps river silt and the accumulation of this and decaying vegetation matter builds up the lake floor to a level that can be colonized by Melaleuca Eric folia.
Significance:	State. The area demonstrates a mode of delta formation that is active only in the part of Lake Wellington where the water salinity is below the tolerance level for regeneration of reed swamp. The progradation evident on the LaTrobe delta may be compared with the erosion of the Tambo delta (GL-10), where the reed swamp and Melaleuca scrub has largely disappeared.
Management:	The reed swamp around the delta mouth has decreased in area in recent years due probably to the affect of increasing salinity in Lake Wellington and/or to the impact of boat traffic down the LaTrobe River. To prevent the onset of erosion, it is necessary to limit the disturbance to the reed swamp and swamp scrub caused, for example, by grazing or clearing.

Sites GL43-46

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