by Carla Caruso

If the water at the Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) wetlands has been looking more green than blue lately, that’s actually a good thing.

While blue-green algae blooms at the nearby Torrens Lake over summer is usually a cause for concern, the green tinge at the wetlands is a sign of something else: a thriving, native aquatic plant.

It’s a plant that can actually help counteract algae.

According to Peta Mantzarapis (pictured), project director at the Brown Hill and Keswick Creeks Stormwater Board, the greenery at the wetlands is Marsilea mutica – also commonly known as ‘Nardoo’.

“It’s a spreading water plant that plays a role to fill the gaps between clumping plant species,” Peta says.

“As with all water plants, they also play an important role in providing filtration and nutrient uptake of the stormwater as it passes through the wetlands.

“These plants [are critical] in reducing the risk of algal blooms in the wetlands because of the turbid and nutrient concentrations found in stormwater coming in.

“Nardoo is a very sensitive species, so to see it going so well at the wetland is actually an indicator that the wetland is quite healthy.”

Peta adds: “You will usually see more of this species at this time of year as they grow stronger with warmer weather – as long as water is available – but are around all year.”

The $13 million, 3.2 hectare wetlands, in the southern part of the park, were officially opened in May 2022 and jointly funded by State and Local governments.

Under construction for more than a year, the wetlands were the largest earth-moving project within your Adelaide Park Lands for six decades.