The Forestry Commission, in their report 'River Red Gum Forests Water Management - Griffith District' indicate that the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) Forest has suffered from a reduction in overbank flooding due to the regulation of the Murrumbidgee River. They state that the reduced flooding has resulted in sparser crowns, a higher incidence of mistletoe and cup moth, as well as reduced growth rates and possible reduction in regeneration capacity. This reduction in the viability of the forest may be reversed by artificial flooding which has also been proposed as a means of conserving red gum forests along the Murray River.

Following a joint inspection of the MIA Forest by Forestry Commission and Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff on the 25th June 1986, an undertaking was given by the DWR to investigate a Forestry Commission proposal to water the Swamp Horse area by diversion out of Yarangery Creek. That investigation has been carried out and it was found that the proposal is feasible.

This scheme is an expansion of the original proposal of the Forestry Commission as a result of the detailed investigation carried out by DWR staff.

The scheme involves releasing water from the M. I .A. Main Canal down Roachs Escape and into Yarangery Creek. A block bank on Yarangery Creek would divert water via an excavated channel into McCaugheys irrigation channel and then via a billabong to the Murrumbidgee River.