Before watering started at the site in 2017, the condition of the vegetation at Nelwart Street ranged from healthy to dead. Vehicle track proliferation and the pest plant golden dodder were also issues. Since then, vehicle access has been restricted to protect the site and allow plant regeneration to occur.
Environmental water was first delivered in 2017 and since then there has been a marked increase in the health of river red gum and black box trees. Other native plant species found at Nelwart Street include cooba, lignum, spiny sedge, nitre goosefoot, and spreading emu bush.
The habitat supports a great diversity of bird and frog species. During bird monitoring at the site, 18 waterbird species and 22 woodland bird species have been recorded. Frogs are abundant at the site when water is present, with 5 frog species recorded: the Eastern Banjo Frog, Spotted Marsh Frog, Peron’s Tree Frog, Barking Frog, and Murray Valley Froglet.
