The Flood Plain Lower Ringarooma River wetlands were designated a ‘wetland of international importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in November 1982. The site is a complex wetland, coastal and estuarine ecosystem that provides habitat for important and nationally recognised threatened species. The site includes the Boobyalla Inlet, a mobile sand dune , and incorporates reserves and private agricultural land.

Habitat transforming weeds, particularly gorse, willow, and boxthorn, are a major threat to the dune wetlands and native Melaleuca vegetation. Inappropriate land use in areas immediately adjacent to the wetland, such as stock and vehicle access, cause damage to the wetlands and Melaleuca vegetation, which may create long-term impacts for the Ramsar site.

Water sampling and vegetation surveys have improved our knowledge and formed the foundation for planning the most effective actions to protect this diverse wetland system. Prioritised on-ground land management actions were developed to improve the quality of surface water draining from dairy and grazing operations to the wetlands, and to remove infestations of high-threat environmental weeds from, and immediately adjacent to the site.