There are a number of ephemeral wetlands on Snape Reserve. Generally these wetlands do not hold water for long. Most of them are very shallow and the water drains into the ground.
In January 2011 rainfall of over 170 mm over 3 days filled most of the wetlands. Following this event the Wimmera River flooded.
Old Racecourse Swamp is in the flood plain of the Wimmera River. When the river flooded in 2011 water remained in this swamp for 18 months. Evaporation resulted in this swamp drying out.
