Water plan to save the Coorong and Lower Lakes

The South Australian Government has released a 20-year "road map" to help restore the health of the Coorong and Lower Lakes. The plan has received endorsement from the Federal Government, which has agreed to provide a $21 million kick-start towards four early works projects. The plan, which outlines some 25 separate programs, includes a combination of engineering and planning actions, but is still entirely dependent upon sufficient freshwater flows from the Murray reaching the Lower Lakes.

Issues for the Coorong and Lower Lakes

barragesmap Record low river flows to the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region through drought and over-allocation across the Murray-Darling Basin have raised a range of environmental and community issues. Low rainfall and over-allocation of water throughout the Murray-Darling Basin has resulted in very low river flows reaching the Murray Mouth and Lower Lakes. Also due to the barrages holding back seawater, freshwater levels in Lakes Alexandrina and Albert have fallen to lows that are unprecedented in thousands of years, disconnecting the two lakes.

These water levels are unlikely to rise unless there is consistently high rainfall and enough water flows through to South Australia from further up river. The current dry conditions are not expected to continue indefinitely. This has led to a series of environmental problems, including the exposure of previously submerged acid sulfate soils to the air, rising salinity levels in the water and changes to the biodiversity supported and sustained by the Lakes.

The problems associated with less freshwater, acid sulfate soils, rising salinity and species loss are already impacting on the social fabric of the region. Many members of the community are anxious about health issues, the future of local industries and associated effects on employment and their financial future.

Securing the Future: The Long-term Plan for Restoring the Coorong and Lower Lakes

securing_the_future Securing the Future: Long-Term Plan for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray aims to secure a future for the region as a healthy, productive and resilient wetland of international importance. Developing the plan is the first step to receiving $200 million from the Australian Government to secure a long-term future for the region.

This is part of the South Australian Government's $610 million Murray Futures program funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future strategy. The plan outlines more than 25 separate programs, including:

overcoming hypersalinity and restoring marine life in the south Coorong lagoon;
guarding against the risk of acidification with large scale revegetation work, and;
giving local communities and indigenous groups a say in the future management of the region.

South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica said the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage consulted with experts, industry and the local community in the preparation of the plan, to ensure an appropriate balance between science and local knowledge, while being informed by cultural values and community views. However, he pointed out that:

The success of the management actions proposed in this Plan relies on sufficient freshwater flows down the River Murray into the Lower Lakes. South Australia is committed to a freshwater solution for the Coorong and Lower Lakes, and the Murray Darling Basin Plan is the key mechanism by which improved flows can be delivered to the Lakes in the long-term.

The South Australian Government will present a range of proposals to the Australian Government for the roll-out of key elements under the plan under the $200 million package for the Coorong and Lower Lakes. The Federal Government has already given approval for four urgent projects to deal with acidification and hypersalinity to get underway with Federal funding. According to Federal Minister for Water Senator Penny Wong:

The four projects mean this plan can get off to a strong start in building a future for these internationally important wetlands. Only recently the Lower Lakes faced a serious threat from acidification. This plan from the South Australian Government is all about dealing with the local impact of drought, over-allocation and climate change on the Lower Lakes communities and environment.

Mr Caica said the funding would meet the need for urgent works during the coming months:

Vital work has already begun to reduce the risk of acidification in Lake Albert and dilute hypersaline water in the Coorong’s South Lagoon. A new artificial wetland will also be constructed on the shores of Lake Albert at Meningie, which will help stabilise areas of exposed lake bed, provide habitat to the region’s wildlife and improve tourism.