Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Floodwaters Replenish Australia's Drought Stricken Wetlands Phil Mercer | Sydney February 21, 2011 Local residents clear away the mud from their flooded home in Brisbane, Australia. Parts of Brisbane reopened as deadly floodwaters that had swamped entire neighborhoods recede, revealing streets and thousands of homes covered in a thick layer of putrid Photo: AP Local residents clear away the mud from their flooded home in Brisbane, Australia. Parts of Brisbane reopened as deadly floodwaters that had swamped entire neighborhoods recede, revealing streets and thousands of homes covered in a thick layer of putrid sludge, January 14, 2011 Heavy seasonal rains that began late last year in Australia caused floods that devastated parts of the country. But experts say the downpours also re-invigorated parched rivers and wildlife sanctuaries, including one of Australia's most valued wetlands. The Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales, an internationally recognized breeding ground for thousands of birds, are teeming with life for the first time in years following a protracted drought.  It has been a decade since New South Wales' Macquarie Marshes were so vibrant. A long-standing drought had turned the internationally renowned wetlands, about 650 kilometers north-west of Sydney, into a dusty wilderness. However, months of heavy rain have brought a gradual revival. The region has a rich diversity of flora and fauna, from giant river red gum trees, rare frogs and reptiles to the pink Cockatoo and the turquoise parrot. Debbie Love, a conservation officer with the New South Wales state government, says flooding has transformed the marshes. "They do look completely different. They also sound and smell completely different. Like when it is dry out there it is sort of a dormant condition. Thereâs not much wildlife around. You donât have a chorus of insects or frogs. The earth smells dry and dusty and the air smells dusty,â she describes. âBut when itâs wet, itâs a real change. It is never silent. Thereâs always bird calls, frogs calling. Itâs fantastic actually."     It is not only drought that has affected the wetlands. Irrigation systems have increasingly diverted water from local rivers to farmlands, which has had a lasting impact on wildlife. Richard Kingsford, a professor of environmental science at the University of New South Wales, says the rains have brought much-needed relief. "Look, itâs certainly been fantastic in terms of gaining a reprieve, I guess, for a lot of the wetland communities, the vegetation, fish, the frogs, the turtles and the water birds in the Macquarie Marshes. Itâs certainly never going to return to where it was before we started building dams and developing the river system," he explained. While flooding has caused widespread misery in parts of Australia in recent months, vast amounts of that unwanted rain are now coursing into previously depleted rivers and wetlands. Environmental experts say this replenishment could provide a positive footnote to the devastating force of nature.  .