Iconic Landscapes

Outstanding natural features and a rich diversity of plants and animals are found here. The unique array of interrelated aquatic environments The northern area covered in this plan incorporates approximately 650 kmof the River Murray from the South Australian border through to the Lower Lakes (Lakes Alexandrina and Albert) and Southern Ocean. The area includes the floodplains, wetlands and other habitats within approximately 20 km either side of the river. Over a thousand wetlands are associated with this stretch of the River Murray. The southern area includes the many wetlands and interlinking watercourses of the South East region that previously connected to the Coorong. Wetlands represent a significant natural asset for the South East, although only 6% of the region's wetlands remain. These wetlands and watercourses provide refuge and habitat for many species recognised as significant regionally, nationally and internationally. The River Murray Channel, Lower Lakes and Coorong and the Chowilla floodplain are icon sites under The Living Murray Initiative, managed by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.

A Rich and Diverse Community

Aboriginal people have had an intimate involvement with the land and water in this reg for ion tens of thousands of years, and have played a role in shaping the ecology of the landscape. It continues to have significance to the region's Aboriginal people, who hold strong spiritual affinity with the landscape. Aboriginal affiliations with the NatureLink are valued. Today the region supports people from diverse backgrounds in rural communities, townships and several major regional centres. Rural settlements dominate the more fertile areas with permanent water supplies.

Industry and Land Use

The diversity of land uses and businesses that rely on a sustainable natural resource base include irrigated horticulture, cropping, viticulture, dairy farming, livestock production, forestry and fisheries. Various other industries associated with the many to wnships are reliant on water provided primarily by the River Murray and underground aquifers. Tourism is also a key industry. There are several National Parks and protected areas across the NatureLink, including the Coorong National Park, Murray River National Park, and Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. In 2005, the State entered into a co-management agreement with the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Inc. for Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. The management of Ngaut Ngaut is enhanced by sharing skills and knowledge between Aboriginal and non -Aboriginal people. Top

A Changed Landscape
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There will be opport ities to develop part erships and integrate Nat reLink principles into these initiatives to ensure the best outcomes at a landscape leve

What is i portant about the Coorong? The Coorong is ecologicall and culturall very important The Coorong is a uni ue ecosystem and estuary with signi icant conservation value for its biodiversity. Most significantly, it was declared a Wetland of International Importance in 198 under the Ramsar Convention. The Coorong provides a mosaic of habitats for birdlife. Thirty-three of the eighty-five species of bird found at the Coorong are listed under international treaties. The Australian Government, in recognising the importance of the Coorong for migratory birds, has established agreements with the Governments of Japan and The Peoples Republic of China to protect the habitats of migratory birds. Additionally, Australia is a member of the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Reserve Network, which seeks to conserve key wetlands such as the Coorong - in the migration route flyway. Such is the Coorongs importance in providing valuable habitat for migratory birds; some species will migrate from as far away as Siberia and Alaska to the Coorong. The Coorong also provides irreplaceable habitat for 14 threatened species of bird, and an important drought refuge in the area. It is also supports the worlds largest breeding colony of Australian Pelicans.

The Coorong starts at the mouth of the Murray River, south east of Goolwa. It extends for 14 km along the coast in a southeasterly direction towards the town of Kingston. <...Back to Top...>

How has the Coorong changed? Since European settlement, river regulation within the Murray-Darling Basin has caused a quite dramatic change to the Coorong. Being at the end of the Murray-Darling Basin, the Coorong receives, directly or indirectly, the impact of actions and decisions made throughout the basin. There are now over 1 regulatory devices in the Murray-Darling system, including five barrages, which separate salt and fresh water close to the river mouth. Land clearance, soil salinisation, erosion and polluted drainage into rivers have changed the water quality of the Murray-Darling system. The abstraction of water for irrigation has altered the flow regime, resulting in a muchreduced overall flow, and diminished flooding events.

Consequently, the river system is now a steadier one. Simple habitats have replaced once complex ones, resulting in less habitat types and thus fewer species. Reduced flows have resulted in long periods of time when no fresh water reaches the Coorong via the barrages. This causes a change in the salinity levels of the estuary, deprives it of nutrients and allows sand to accumulate inside the river mouth. Consequently, many estuarine species, (species found at the Murray Mouth) which relied on variable, brackish conditions, are being replaced with marine species. The Lower Lakes constitute the largest freshwater body in South Australia. They provide permanent and ephemeral, highly productive wetland ecosystems and highly important habitat. The Lower Lakes are fringed with tall weeds which provide unbroken habitat which fulfils a critical role in allowing birds safe movement, reducing the risk posed by predators. Additionally, the Lower Lakes are used to store water for irrigation and some town water. The Lower Lakes region is growing as a tourist destination and this is reflected by the, at times, heavy use for recreational pursuits, such as boating activities and fishing. The Lower Lakes are used for irrigation and extensive recreation these days. However, in the mid-late 18 s and early 19 s the River and Lower Lakes formed an important part of the commercial River transport system. The town of Goolwa, located on the north-western side of Lake Alexandrina at the end of the River system, was an important river trade port. <...Back to Top...>

Why dont they stop the evaporation from the Lower Lakes so we have more water? Unfortunately, there is nowhere to store the water, therefore savings cant be made.

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Why does the Murray Mouth closed? Sand accumulation in the area of the mouth has been more prevalent since the construction of the barrages in the 194 s. This essentially reduced the tidal prism by reducing the area of water that would have once been open to tidal influence. The tidal prism describes the balance between the incoming and outgoing tides. The incoming tides in the Mouth region are significantly stronger than the outgoing tides resulting in a net accumulation of sand.

Additional factors influencing the increased deposition in the area include further upstream development which occurred particularly throughout the 198 s, coupled with prevailing long term dry weather conditions which appear to have had an effect on flows to South Australia. The reduced flows have also reduced the capacity of the Mouth to be cleared. Tidal action alone is not enough to maintain an un-congested mouth. Subsequently, the accumulation of sand at the mouth has become a significant ongoing problem over the last 20 years. <...Back to Top...>

Why dont they just dig out the sand in the Murray Mouth to open it wider? Easier said than done. Firstly, a significant sized dredge would be required for such a large scale operation and there are many issues regarding the transport of such equipment into the area given its shallow nature and strong surf among other conditions. Secondly, cost is a significant factor and has proven somewhat prohibitive for the time being. Rough estimates suggested are upwards of 10million dollars. In the meantime, if the mouth can be moderately maintained in the interim awaiting a change in the long term weather pattern for wetter conditions, nature will improve the situation at the mouth far better than we possibly could. In the meantime, the best strategy for the mouth is to keep close watch to ensure that the local ecosystem is not under serious threat when difficult conditions are prevalent. Management actions are engaged as precautions and when necessary. <...Back to Top...>

What are the barrages? The barrages form a barrier between the fresh waters maintained in the Lower Lakes and the hyper-saline environment of the Coorong estuary and the Southern ocean. Essentially, the barrages are like dams or weirs in that water can be manipulated from them. Although the barrages differ from dams or weirs because the barrages extend over a much greater distance and not to any great depth. There are five barrages (Goolwa, Boundary Creek, Mundoo, Ewe Island and Tauwitchere) each of differing lengths. However, combined they cover a length of almost 8 kms. <...Back to Top...>

What is Ramsar?

Ramsar is the name of a town in Iran. Delegates from 18 countries and observers from a number of other countries met in Ramsar because of concerns at the worldwide loss of waterbirds and their wetland habitats. The result was the first international nature conservation treaty. This was called the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat. This is commonly known as the Ramsar Convention. Australia was the first signatory to the Convention in December 197 . Each signatory country of which there are now 123 is obligated to designate at least one wetland for inclusion in The List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Coorong, pursuant to Australias obligations under the Ramsar Convention, is subject to a management plan which provides a framework for its conservation and wise use.

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What is the Ramsar Convention? The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Ramsar Convention covers all aspects of wetland conservation and wise use, recognising wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity conservation and the well-being of human communities, as well as waterbird habitats. Australia was the first signatory to the Convention in 197 . There are presently 123 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1050 wetland sites, totalling 78.7 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

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What sorts of birds use the Coorong? Eighty-five species of bird have been recorded at the Coorong. Additionally, the region is regarded as a major site in South Australia for more than 30 species of waterbirds. The region is important for migratory waders, principally Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers. The Coorong is an important habitat on their migratory flyway between Australia and their northern breeding grounds. These species, among other waders, are also protected under the Japanese-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) and the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA).Resident waders such as stilts, avocets, plovers, lapwings and oystercatchers are present at the Coorong. There are many species of duck that use the Coorong.

Other birds in the area include Ducks, Black Swans, Pelicans, Ibis, the rare Fairy Tern and the endangered Little Tern. At times, the numbers of Grey Teal can be in excess of 50 000. Australian Shelducks also occur in large numbers. In drought years, up to several hundred thousand ducks use the Coorong. There are also about 2000 Cape Barren Geese during the summer months. Pelicans, ibis and swans all use the Coorong to breed.

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How salty is the Coorong? Will this affect the birds and fish? The salinity levels of the Coorong vary between different areas and within different seasons. On average, the Southern Lagoon of the Coorong is nearly twice as saline as the Northern Lagoon. Coorong habitats range from seasonally fresh near the barrages when large quantities of water are being released, to brackish in the Murray Mouth area, grading to hypersaline in the Southern Lagoon. The salinity level of the Southern Lagoon is 140 parts per thousand (ppt), the Northern Lagoon is 80ppt far greater than South Australia seawater which is only 35ppt. Most species of birds and fish have a definite range of salinity in which they can survive. The fluctuations in the salinity levels of the Coorong favours some species, whilst disadvantaging others. Some estuarine species of birds and fish that rely on the high productivity of a variable, mostly brackish water ecosystem are replaced by marine species, which can tolerate higher salinity levels. The lower productivity of higher salinity levels supports fewer numbers of waders and other estuarine water birds, which must either find resources elsewhere or die out.

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What is being done? A number of projects are currently underway for the Murray Mouth, Lower Lakes and Coorong region and of these projects some are acting on recommendations of past reports for the first time. The reason for this is that much of the technology required to pursue these endeavors has not been available or sophisticated enough to justify their pursuit. However, this has been changing rapidly in recent years. Hopefully, in the not too distant future we will have a far better understanding of this dynamic region and how to manage it. Government of South Australia

The Government of South Australia released the Coorong, and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Management Plan. The vision contained in the plan is to enable the continued wise use of the area. The vision is to: - Conserve the environmental and ecological attributes - Use the natural resources in a sustainable manner - Protect and restore natural habitats - Restore viable populations of viable species - Increase community commitment and awareness, including the Ngarrindjeri people - Improve water quality and increase flows through the wetlands - Fulfil Australias obligations under the Ramsar Convention and other international agreements A Task Force will be established to drive the implementation of the Plan. As part of the implementation, the Coorong National Park is being extended to include the waters of the northern Coorong and estuary up to the Goolwa barrages. There are many groups actively improving the Coorong and Lower Lakes wetlands, including the Goolwa to Wellington LAP, Landcare groups, community groups, indigenous groups, and local government. What is water trading? Just like you can buy and sell a home, you can buy and sell water. However in some catchments such as the Murray Darling Basin, only existing water rights can be bought and sold in an effort to conserve our remaining water resource. In other words, the sale of new water is no longer possible. This could be likened to building a new home. If no land was available, you would have no where to build and thus would have to buy an established home. It is this concept of buying new water that is no longer permitted. <...Back to Top...>

How is River Murray water traded? Some water trading is instigated by word of mouth between irrigators but others irrigators register an interest with a water broker that they would like to sell. Potential buyers are identified and then the water broker can set up the necessary transfer. The trade of River Murray water is slightly different for each State. However, if the trade is across State borders the Murray-Darling Basin Commission must be notified and certain prerequisites must be met in the State of origin and State of receipt before respective State approvals and approval from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission is granted. This approval process is necessary as water trade can have an influence on environmental conditions for the River if too much water is taken out of the system in the upper reaches.

If water is allowed to travel through the greater length of the river, this enables the maximisation of environmental benefits. <...Back to Top...>

How much does River Murray water cost? All licenses in SA are for high security water. However, in the upstream States there is a mixture of high and general security licenses. As the general security water has a higher risk that the total licensed allocation may not be available every year, these licenses may be bought and sold at a much lower and variable price in comparison with the high security licenses. What are wetlands? A wetland is defined as land that is inundated with shallow, slow moving or stationary water, on a temporary or permanent basis, that may be fresh, brackish or saline The complexity and range of wetlands makes them difficult to define. A wetland is exactly what the name suggests: wet land. Wetlands typically contain shallow water, but they may not always be wet. However, they are areas that are wet for long periods, so that plants and animals living in them are adapted to, and often dependant on, living in wet conditions for at least part of their life cycle. The period of inundation determines the type and productivity of the soils, as well as plant and animal communities Wetlands are areas such as swamps, lakes, bogs and billabongs, which are permanently or temporarily covered by water. They line the Rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin. They separate land environments from water environments. They have features of both land and water ecosystems. <Back to Top...>

Different names for wetlands Billabong <Back to Top...>

Why are wetlands important? There are many benefits derived from wetlands, for example they:

- purify water and provide protection from floods by absorbing and slowly releasing water; - are the breeding grounds for many animals; - are the habitat for many aquatic species, some rare and endangered; - are rich in cultural heritage, both Aboriginal and European; - support wildlife that can aid in the control of pests on farms; provide recreational places for many people. <Back to Top...>

Why are wetlands threatened? Despite a growing understanding of wetland values and functions they remain one of our most threatened resources. Wetlands are one of the most degraded habitats in the world. In Australia it is estimated that 50% of wetlands have been lost since in 1788 (Commonwealth Government, 1997). Wetlands have long been regarded as "wastelands" and breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Until recently, many wetlands have been severely degraded, mainly through drainage, inundation, vegetation clearance, grazing and agriculture practises, and their use as a dumping ground for rubbish and effluent. Many of these activities occurred in the absence of a clear understanding of the values of wetlands. <Back to Top...>

How many wetlands are in MDB? The Murray-Darling Basin supports over 30,000 wetlands. Ten of these are of international significance and listed as Ramsar Wetlands. <Back to Top...>

Why do you need to wet and dry wetlands? During their cycles of wetting and drying, they perform a variety of important functions. Dry wetlands absorb large volumes of water during flood periods slowing the rate at which the river rises, mitigating the impact of floods. Also retain water for long periods after floods, therefore providing back-up sources of water for wildlife and stock. When wet, floodplains support a huge range of plants and animals by providing an abundance

of food. Silt, the decaying matter of animal and vegetable matter create rich soils making them a valuable resource for grazing by stock. <Back to Top...>

What can I do? Join a group associated with field work and monitoring of wetlands along the River Murray.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has put out the call for all South Australian federal politicians from all parties to sign a pledge indicating their support for a Murray-Darling Basin Plan that returns enough water to the river to restore its health. The pledge states that for too long, too much water has been taken out of the Murray- Darling and only strong leadership can return enough water to revive the river system.

Who signed on?

To date the following South Australian politicians (all from the Australian Labor Party and Australian Greens) have signed the pledge:

Tony Zappia Mark Butler Sarah Hanson-Young Steve Georganas Kate Ellis

Don Farrell Dana Wortley Amanda Rishworth Penny Wong Nick Champion

South Australias Coalition MPs have not signed the pledge. They provided ACF with the following statement: SA Liberal MPs and Senators, along with all Coalition members, believe the finite water resources of the Murray Darling Basin have been overallocated and mismanaged, causing harm to the health of the overall system, including the Coorong and Lower Lakes. The Coalition started the reform process to deliver sustainable national management of these water resources, in a way that balances and optimises environmental, economic and social outcomes. We legislated for it and we budgeted $10 billion for it. Having started this process, we are committed

to seeing it through.

11 January 2011 While the majority of urban Australians get back to work after a rejuvenating holiday, many Queenslanders are trying to escape rising floodwaters. The social and economic impact of these floods will be felt for some time. ACF extends its sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died. The floods in the Murray-Darling Basin have affected lives, livelihoods, crops and stock. It is also true they will bring much needed water and rejuvenated pastures to many parts of the Murray-Darling Basin. All this water may lead some to assume that the environmental problems in the MurrayDarling Basin have been solved, but this is far from the truth. While the rain has brought temporary relief to many of the Basins long-suffering wetlands, nothing can survive on one decent drink every 20 years. Poor water management and over-extraction will continue to cause the decline of the Basins rivers and wetlands and leave communities in the same state of uncertainty about the viability of their towns and future job opportunities. Urgent national reform and a national plan for the sustainable management of the MurrayDarling through the Basin Plan are still needed. Senator Barnaby Joyces call for more dams is based on a view that concrete and pipes can miraculously stop floods and enable irrigators to continue taking out unsustainable volumes of water from the Murray-Darling. It simply wont work and raises serious environmental, social and economic concerns. Dams drown good farmland and forests, choke rivers and stop fish and turtles migrating and breeding, contribute to greenhouse pollution and stop water getting to wetlands and floodplains. They cause further damage to the already struggling environment of the Murray-Darling. The Murray-Darling is Australias most regulated river-system. It already contains many dams. Some of these dams have proven to be expensive mistakes and are currently being pulled down. Lets not forget the primary cause of the environmental degradation of Australias largest river-system is over-extraction of water for irrigation. In less than a century, water extraction from the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin has increased by 500 per cent.

Ninety per cent of the Basins floodplain wetlands have been destroyed. Eighty-six percent of the Basins river valleys are in poor or very poor condition. Wetlands provide life-supporting services that keep the river healthy and provide a range of benefits to society. A recent study found healthy wetlands provide economic benefits to communities and industry in the Murray-Darling Basin worth around $2.1 billion a year. In 2007 all sides of politics agreed that there was an urgent need to change the way water is managed in the Murray-Darling. The Water Act was passed through Parliament with the support of both major parties. The Act called for the independent Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to produce a plan that would return water from overused rivers to environmentally sustainable levels of extraction. If we had learnt from our past mistakes of over-allocating water to irrigators during wet weather spells we would know that relying on dams is a recipe for increased economic and social uncertainty during dry periods. Climate change is contributing to the drying out of south-eastern Australia. In a drier climate any new dams will fill with hot air faster than water. While floods can bring pain and suffering, they can bring benefits too. There are farmers and graziers who do well when rivers naturally flood, rejuvenating soils and bringing the floodplains back to life. It can be good for the environment and for regional communities and economies. A couple of pipes and dams wont make floods go away. Lets not get carried away with fantasies of large yellow trucks, pipes and hardhats. Healthy rivers support communities, agriculture and tourism for the long-term. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan has the potential to revive our rivers by addressing the root cause of the Basins problems the overuse of water that would be good for the economy and the environment. The year 2007 was a huge turning point for the Murray-Darling Basin. It was then that all sides of politics, in all Murray-Darling Basin states, as well as the federal government, agreed that there was an urgent need to change the way water is managed in the Murray-Darling. The Commonwealth Water Act 2007 was passed through Parliament with the support of both major parties. The Act called for the independent Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to produce a plan that would return water from overused rivers to environmentally sustainable levels of extraction.

When it can sometimes feel impossible for our leaders to come together, thats a pretty strong consensus. The Murray-Darling is one of Australias major life support systems. Sadly, overuse of its water for decades has seriously damaged the system. In less than a century, water extraction from the rivers that make up the Murray-Darling Basin has increased by 500%. The floods in Queensland and widespread rainfall in the Murray-Darling Basin have put a lot of water back which will replenish the floodplain wetlands in the short term. But Australia is a continent of droughts and floods, and a crisis created by the chronic overuse of water can only be fixed by implementing a strong plan which permanently restores the balance between the environment and irrigation. With the release of the guide to the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan, were on the cusp of restoring this great icon back to health. The Guide is the first cab off the rank in a process that will end with Tony Burke, the Minister for Water, approving the final Murray-Darling Basin Plan in early 2011.

Take action now for a healthy Murray-Darling Basin

The Guide, released in October last year by the Authority makes it clear that we need to stop overusing water for irrigation, and put more water back into the river. It states that returning 3,000 billion litres of water will give us a low certainty of achieving a healthy river, while returning 7,600 billion litres will give us a high certainty. A healthy river needs more water, but the same rule doesnt always apply for agriculture; less water for irrigation doesnt always equate to less production. Between 2001 and 2007 dry conditions meant irrigation industries used about 70% less water, and the economic value of irrigation production fell by only 0.12%. The Federal Government has committed around $9 billion to return water to the Murray-Darling and help irrigators use water wisely. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish strong, sound economic and environmental management of our rivers. Returning water to the river system will enable the Murray mouth to remain open in all but driest years, and for it to function as a healthy river. Increased flows will keep the Coorong in South Australia alive. Theyll increase fish stocks and bird numbers. Theyll reconnect the river to its floodplain billabongs. Given around 90% of the MurrayDarlings floodplain wetlands have been destroyed, protection of those that remain is vital.

These billabongs keep the river healthy by cleaning up the water at a rate comparable with a sewage treatment plant. And, a healthy river will support strong communities, agriculture and tourism in the long-term. The state of the Murray-Darling is a complex issue. Environmental, social, community and political issues intersect around its management and future. But they all connect to one central point the river needs more water. The devastating floods in Queensland are being used by some as an excuse to call for delays to Murray-Darling reform. These floods are a reminder of what climate science has been telling us for 25 years. As well as a general warming and increasing sea levels, it predicted more frequent extreme events: floods, droughts, heatwaves and severe bushfires. The flood waters will, in time, subside. We still urgently need to set fair but strong rules to reduce the overuse of water in the Murray-Darling, and help communities make the changes our country needs.