Water and Wetlands are two things one does not see very often when traveling in the Outback.
For thousands of years, the Outback has experienced alternating periods of drought and flooding rains - a natural pattern of wetting and drying which is the key to the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains. High flows and floods connect rivers to floodplains and wetlands, moving nutrients around, allowing seeds to germinate and supporting breeding and movement of birds, frogs, fish and other animals. Low flows keep rivers flowing, allowing fish to migrate and breed. Dry periods where there are no flows can be important too and don’t necessarily indicate a wetland is not healthy.
Australia has two "seasons": northern parts have wet summers and dry winters. In general, southern parts have wet winters and low summer rainfall or dry summers. A rich variety of plants and animals has evolved to suit these varying conditions.
The arid areas around Cunnamulla have low, variable rainfall. Wetlands may be dry for much of the time, but plants and animals have adapted to respond and flourish as soon as the rain comes. This is a boom and bust environment.
Periods of boom happen with the arrival of floodwaters from upstream and through local rainfall, followed by the bust period of extreme dryness. Floods trigger a spectacular concentration of waterbirds which reflects the incredible productivity of the wetlands and the availability of abundant food resources as well as habitat. The bust period, when the wetlands dry, can result in large numbers of fish and waterbird deaths.
What you see along the Adventure Way depends upon it being a boom or bust environment.