Willows in Our Waterways – Workshop Recap

Last Friday, twelve local landholders joined Up2Us Landcare Alliance at Gonzaga Reserve, Barwite, for an informative session on willow management and river health. River Health Project Officer, Corey Wilson from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA), led the discussion, covering everything from the history of willows in Australia to their ecological impacts and control methods.

Corey explained that there are over 300 species of willows worldwide, with 100 species introduced to Australia—and 30 now naturalised. Willows thrive in waterways, spreading rapidly through seed and even small fragments of root or branch. Their ability to hybridise has made control even more challenging.

Participants learned that willows now occur in 55% of Victoria’s waterways and, remarkably, consume more water than equivalent densities of native vegetation—or even open water itself. While older willows can provide shade and stability in the short term, their eventual decay can trigger erosion and stream diversion.

The workshop location at Gonzaga Reserve offered a real-world example: mature willows shading the banks above, while just downstream, dense seedlings have clogged the stream and redirected flow into the opposite bank. Attendees shared their own experiences managing willows and discussed strategies for future control and restoration efforts.

A big thank you to Corey Wilson and all participants for their valuable contributions to supporting healthy river systems.

This Willow Control workshop is supported by the Victorian Government through the Partnerships Against Pests Program.