SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 2

March 2017

This document should be cited as:

South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, 2017. Regional Action Plan: A guide to natural resource

management priorities in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion summary.

URL: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin-rap

For more information about this plan please contact:

South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board

PO Box 2343

Murray Bridge SA 5253

Phone: (08) 8532 9100

Email: SAMDBEnquiries@sa.gov.au

Website: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin-rap

The South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and the Government of South Australia, their

employees and their servants do not warrant, or make any representation, regarding the use or results of the information contain

herein as to its correctness, accuracy, currency or otherwise. The South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources

Management Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants expressly disclaim all liability or

responsibility to any person using the information or advice herein.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 3

The diverse soils, water resources, biodiversity and landscapes of the SA Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB) are the foundation of many of the things we value; our livelihoods, lifestyles and our wellbeing.

We all play a role in managing these natural resources.

About this document This document is a summary of the Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion of the Regional Action Plan for the South

Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management region. It contains an overview of the subregion, what

is valued about the area, information on its landscapes, livelihoods and lifestyles, and a list of the natural resources

management issues, including their impacts and their priority status. For more detail on specific issues and suggested

actions to address them or to find out more about how the plan was developed, please follow the links in this

document or visit the Regional Action Plan online at www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin-rap

Figure 1: Location of the Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 4

What do we value about this area? Natural beauty and spiritual values of the Ramsar wetlands63,64,65

Secure freshwater supplies from the lower lakes for domestic and industrial use69

Agricultural production from irrigated horticulture, dairies, dryland farming and grazing69

Biodiversity conservation; national significance as the only estuary in the Murray-Darling Basin64, 66, 67, 69

Cultural, social and economic values of the Ngarrindjeri People113

Tourism associated with Ramsar wetlands85 and European history

Recreational values such as those associated with water sports and boating

'Lifestyle' values: rural-living, family history, strong community cohesion, and lake-based recreation -

boating, water sports61,69

Commercial and recreational fishing.

Socio-economic drivers of change Markets/commodity prices

Basin-wide weather patterns

Climate change (affecting amount and variability of rainfall

and lake inflows)

Basin-wide water extraction and use (affecting water quantity

and quality).

Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion Overview

The Lower Lakes and Coorong is a dynamic system

containing wetlands of international significance.

This subregion includes the lower lakes, Coorong

estuary and mouth of the Murray, marking the end

of the Murray-Darling Basin system (Figure 1). The

naturally freshwaters of the lower lakes are

separated from the estuarine-marine environments

of the Coorong and Murray Mouth by a series of

five barrages, which are operated for ecological,

social and economic benefit.72 Water-based tourism,

fishing, dairy farming, livestock production and

cropping are all important to the local economy.

The main towns in the area are Milang, Clayton and

Meningie. The Ngarrindjeri peoples are the Traditional Owners of this subregion113 and the area is within the

Ngarrindjeri and Others Native Title Claim area.114 The Ramsar-listed estuary provides critical habitat for numerous

threatened and migratory fauna species.

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 5

© SATC, Relaxing on the Beach, Goolwa Beach, Photographer: Adam Bruzzone

© SATC, Sunrise Goolwa, Photographer: Graham Scheer

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 6

Profile of the Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion

Landscapes

The site is situated at the terminus of the vast Murray-

Darling Basin, being its only estuary. Surface water

inflows are predominantly from the River Murray with

important, seasonal flows from the Eastern Mount

Lofty Ranges streams. Groundwater resources are also

significant, with use depending on quality. The

naturally63, 65 freshwaters of the lower lakes are

separated from the estuarine-marine environments of

the Coorong and Murray mouth by a series of five

barrages, which are operated for ecological, social and

economic benefit.72 Tidal variations are important for

water quality in the estuary and connectivity between

the freshwater and estuarine environments.

Situated at the end of the Murray-Darling Basin, this

subregion contains Lakes Alexandrina and Albert (the

lower lakes), the Murray Mouth, the northern part of

the Coorong – the basin’s only estuary - and the

agricultural districts immediately surrounding the lakes

(e.g. Point Sturt, Narrung Peninsula). The main towns in

the area are Milang, Clayton and Meningie.

The Lower Lakes and Coorong has exceptional

ecological diversity and is listed as a Ramsar Wetland

of International Importance.64 The lakes are freshwater

and discharge to the Coorong, an estuary surrounded

by corridor plains between relict coastal dunes.78 The

bulk of the surface water in this subregion is received

from the River Murray, which is transferred between

Lakes Alexandrina and Albert through a narrow

channel, the Narrung narrows. Other surface water

inputs come from the most southerly of the Eastern

Mount Lofty Ranges streams: Angas River, Bremer

River, Finniss River, Tookayerta Creek, Currency Creek

and Deep Creek.64 Rainfall in the region is low to

moderate (350 to 500mm), however, direct rainfall on

the surface of the two shallow and wide lakes (approx.

92,000 ha) can be a significant input of freshwater as

well, especially when river flows are low.72 Water of

varying volumes and salinity flow into the southern

end of the Coorong from the Upper South-East

Drainage Scheme (outside of this subregion).

The series of five barrages that separate the lakes from

the Murray Mouth and Coorong control freshwater

releases into the estuary unless lake levels exceed

+0.81 mAHD, when the barrages are overtopped and

overland flows across the islands occur.64 As a

consequence, the condition and water quality of the

site relies on freshwater inputs sufficient to allow

regular and strategic barrage releases.66 The tidal

signal, influenced by the degree of Murray Mouth

openness, determines the water levels and salinity of

the Coorong, which is why dredging occurs when

barrage releases are unable to keep the mouth open.72

Prior to European settlement, the lower lakes were

predominantly fresh with river water discharges

keeping the Murray Mouth open. Salt water incursions

into the lakes were not common until the Federation

Drought (c.1898-1901) after significant water resources

development had occurred in the Murray-Darling

Basin. Management of the Murray Mouth to prevent

seawater intrusions (e.g. barrage operations, dredging)

occurs to protect the biota and the socio-economic

assets of the Lower lakes and Coorong.63

The site is internationally and nationally recognised as

a wetland ecosystem of very high ecological and

cultural value. 64, 65, 69, 72 The Long-term Environmental

Watering Plan for the River Murray Water Resources

area66 summarises the key ecological values as follows:

- Waterbirds: regularly supports >200,000

waterbirds during summer, significant

numbers of colonial-nesting and beach-

nesting waterbirds and a number of

threatened waterbird species.

© SATC, Narrung, Photographer: John Montesi

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 7

- Fish: ecosystem plays an important role for 49

native fish species, including diadromous,

endangered and commercially caught species.

- Vegetation: characterised by a range of

ecologically significant submerged, emergent

and fringing vegetation species and

communities including Gahnia sedgelands,

Fleurieu Peninsula swamps and Ruppia

tuberosa.

These wetlands are critical habitat for 43 threatened

plant species and 98 threatened fauna species such as

southern pygmy perch (Nannoperca australis), Murray

hardyhead (Craterocephalus fluviatilis), Australasian

bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and southern bell frog

(Litoria raniformis).64

Terrestrial ecosystems in this area include relatively

intact samphire and coastal shrublands, and small

areas of shrubby and grassy woodlands, sand mallee

and native grasslands, which were mostly cleared for

agricultural land following European settlement.110

The recent Millennium Drought (c.2001-09) conditions

have highlighted the consequences of inappropriate

water management for the lower lakes and Coorong; a

wide range of emergency activities were required to

prevent species extinctions from the landscape

culminating in the Murray-Darling Basin co-authored

Drought Emergency Framework for Lakes Alexandrina

and Albert, which is designed to ensure that

management action occurs rapidly and in a

coordinated and timely way if lake water levels are at

risk again.73 This includes activities to manage

acidification of the lakes via exposure of lakebed

sediments, including acid sulphate soils.

The soil types in the surrounding agricultural land are

dominated by deep sands to the east of the lakes and

areas of calcareous clay over sand, loamy sand over

clay and riparian clays around the Angas and Bremer

River mouths.74 However, the soils under the lakes have

been affected by prolonged inundation since river

regulation such that now there is an estimated

89,220 ha of acid sulphate soils in the lower lakes.75

Models indicate that there would be widespread

acidification if the water levels in Lakes Alexandrina

and Albert dropped to -1.5 mAHD and -1 mAHD,

respectively.76

Aboriginal creation ancestor stories (sometimes called

Dreamtime or Dreaming Stories) explain how natural

elements in the landscape were formed or how certain

species came to be. The stories describe how creation

ancestors shaped and shifted the landscape, how they

crafted its beauty and natural resources and then

gifted these places to specific groups of people across

South Australia.116

Aboriginal Heritage is an important part of the

landscape. The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 protects

Aboriginal sites, objects and remains in all areas of

South Australia117 and the Kungun Ngarrindjeri Yunnan

Agreement (KNYA) 2009, an agreement with the State

of South Australia meaning ‘listen to Ngarrindjeri

speaking’, also establishes proper consideration by

State Government Departments of Aboriginal Heritage

matters. Under this Agreement the Ngarrindjeri people

are represented by the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority

(NRA) whose role is to progress the caring for country

objectives of the Ngarrindjeri in the protection of land,

water and marine environments and achieving

culturally appropriate outcomes for soils, water

resources, geological features and landscapes, native

vegetation, animals, other organisms and

ecosystems.113

Livelihoods

The Ngarrindjeri people have used and actively

managed the natural resources of this subregion for

many thousands of years. The KNYA (2009)

acknowledges the importance of Ngarrindjeri gaining

economic benefit from the management of protected

areas.113 A relatively large number of Ngarrindjeri

people have been employed in natural resources

management roles through Kungun Ngarrindjeri

Yunnan related programs118 and projects at Raukkan

and Monarto Zoo. Significant capacity has been built

within the community to continue playing a key role in

natural resources management into the future, for

example, through Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Contracting

(NRC).119

The majority of the area in the Lower Lakes and

Coorong subregion is covered by: freshwater lakes

(80,000 ha), estuary and coastal waters (25,000 ha),

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 8

marshes and wetlands (14,000 ha) or other nature

conservation areas (7,000 ha). The Coorong National

Park stretches the length of the Coorong estuary and is

an important feature of this subregion. Land use is

focussed on irrigated horticulture, dairy and dryland

farming. Grazing of modified pastures is the

predominant terrestrial land use in this subregion,

covering about 40,000 ha around the lakes.81 The other

main agricultural pursuits are: cropping (5000 ha),

irrigated pastures (3,000 ha) and irrigated perennial

horticulture (1500 ha). The millennium drought had a

lasting and significant effect on the local agricultural

industries, leading to business losses, especially in the

dairy sector.69

Prior to the Millennium Drought, the area supported

substantial irrigated dairy farming but the lasting

impacts of that drought and commodity prices have

seen a shift to dryland farming.69

The wine industry retained access to water during this

period through the installation of a community

pipeline. Langhorne Creek region and the Currency

Creek wine region are located on the western banks of

Lake Alexandrina. The Langhorne Creek wine industry

is represented by the Langhorne Creek Grape Growers

Association and the Angas Bremer Water Management

Committee who have been very active in sustainable

practices such as the Irrigator Code of Practice, which

has been operating with near 100% compliance since

1996.83 The wine region benefits from the climate-

moderating effects of the Lower Lakes nearby.

The lower lakes and Coorong support a range of

ecosystem services including recreation, tourism and

commercial fishing64 which rely on the health of the

freshwater and estuarine-marine ecosystems. Fishing

(recreational and commercial) is especially reliant on

native fish such as Coorong yellow eye mullet

(Aldrichetta forsteri), golden perch (Macquaria

ambigua) and mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicas), and

the introduced redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) and

European carp (Cyprinus carpio).69, 128, 129 The South

Australian Department of Environment, Water and

Natural Resources (DEWNR) is primarily responsible, on

behalf of the Australian Government, for the

management of the Ramsar site.

This subregion is home to the Lakes and Coorong

Fishery, a Marine Stewardship Council Certified

Sustainable Fishery.27 The fishery is represented by the

Lakes and Coorong Fishery Consultative Committee

comprising members from: the fishing industry,

Coorong National Park management (DEWNR),

Ngarrindjeri people, local government and the

Conservation Council of South Australia.82

Lifestyles

With a total population of 6,824 people (in 2011), the

Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion has one of the

lowest populations in the SAMDB region. It has,

however, experienced a population increase above the

state average.61 This area has one of the three highest

proportions of elderly people in the SAMDB, although

it has a lower proportion of one parent families than

some subregions.61

The local government responsibilities are shared

between Alexandrina Council on the western side of

the lakes, Rural City of Murray Bridge to the north and

Coorong and Districts Council on the eastern side.

These councils are collaborating together through

initiatives such as aiming to improve livelihoods in the

region as an example.

There is a relatively high Aboriginal population in this

subregion based largely in the towns of Meningie and

Raukkan. Ngarrindjeri consider the protection and

maintenance of their culture and cultural sites central

in every respect to their community wellbeing and

existence.113 Ngarrindjeri have rights, interests and

obligations to speak and care for their traditional

country, lands and waters in accordance with their

laws, customs, beliefs and traditions.113 The KNYA

(2009) recognises the role and ability of the

Ngarrindjeri in the management of natural

resources.113

© SATC, Shopping in the main street, Goolwa,

Photographer: Adam Bruzzone

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 9

There is a strong reliance on the agriculture sector as

its main economy, where the main land uses either

dryland farming or irrigated horticulture, though there

are small lifestyle properties on the western side of

Lake Alexandrina and around the main townships.27

The dominance of agriculture as the industry providing

the majority of the area’s employment and economic

return, together with declining terms of agricultural

trade are potential risk factors in terms of the

community’s ability to adapt to changing

circumstances and conditions.

Recreation and tourism centred around the lakes and

Coorong water bodies are important as a secondary

source of revenue for the local economy.78 A 2006

survey of visitors ranked ‘relaxing’ most highly as a

reason for visiting the Coorong and recognised the link

between environmental condition and recreational

experience.85

There is a high level of volunteering in the region,

which is an indicator of strongly cohesive community,

which should serve this community well in adapting to

change. As a specific example, the Coorong Lower

Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Recovery Project, a

joint State and Federal initiative funded a large number

of community and Ngarrindjeri groups to propagate

and plant local native plant species. A community

nursery network was developed, increasing the NRM

capacity of the local communities. More than 5.2

million plants were planted through this program since

2009. Of these plants, 1.4 million were grown and

planted by the local community. Projects such as the

Meningie Foreshore planting and interpretive trail have

improved local amenity and cultural awareness. In

addition, local NRM activities have been initiated and

greatly enhanced by the work of the Goolwa to

Wellington Local Action Planning Association, based in

Strathalbyn.

There are a number of high priority issues that the

Lower Lakes and Coorong community will need to be

mindful of, that may impact on resilience and

community capacity:

- continued impacts of the Millennium Drought

- uncertainty surround the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

and ongoing water quality issues, particularly for

those reliant on Lake Albert water for stock and

domestic uses107

- maintaining the adaptive capacity and resilience of

the community beyond the CLLMM Recovery

Project will be important to their recovery from

future droughts.

The community’s ability to adapt to changing

circumstances might also be affected by factors such

as an aging population, being somewhat remote as

compared with other parts of the state and having

below average internet access (70 per cent of

households in 2011). This area also has a comparatively

low number of graduates, people who have completed

high school and women in managerial or technical

occupations. 61

Promising opportunities however, lie in the focus and

interest in the site management and health of the lakes

and resulting community governance arrangements,

including strong Aboriginal partnerships, that have

been established though the CLLMM Recovery Project.

These initiatives have assisted community capacity

through the drought and recovery period and have

increased participation in NRM activities and site

stewardship, which served well through the millennium

drought. Concerted efforts to actively maintain this

resilience and capacity to work together and adapt to

changing conditions and circumstances will place the

community in good stead for future prosperity.

© SATC, Port Milang, Photographer: Johnny Kamma

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 10

What do we need to work on? The following table describes the natural resources management issues and their impacts on the values of the

Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion, presented in order of decreasing priority. Detailed actions can be found

within the RAP online by clicking on the relevant issue within this table.

Key to values

NRM issue What impacts are these having on our natural resources?

Priority Values affected

Working together Community awareness, knowledge and participation in natural resource management Foundational

Climate change adaptation

Building resilience to a changing climate

Foundational

Managing carp herpes virus release

Water quality impacts of carp herpes virus release.

Potential severe adverse impacts on water quality due to increased carbon loads (decomposing fish) in waterways, and potential large black water events.

High

Containing new agricultural weeds

New and emerging agricultural weeds, especially adjacent to roadsides and existing infestations caused by a reduction in control efforts.

Competition with pasture species, decline in productivity and ongoing costs of control.

High

Water quality and accessibility in the Lower Lakes

Decline in water quality and accessibility due to upstream extraction (reduced inflows) and impacts of surrounding land uses - particularly salinity and turbidity of water.

Poor water quality affects stock health (unsuitable for use when quality low). Poor water quality can result in damage to water pumps. High nutrient levels increases aquatic weeds in channels, affecting the efficiency of water delivery.

High

Controlling spiny rush in Lake Albert

Spiny rush invasion in Lake Albert.

Displaces pasture species and can invade watercourses and form impenetrable thickets. High

Managing flows for aquatic ecosystem health

Reduced inflows (due to basin-wide extraction and climate change) affecting water level in lakes, connectivity of aquatic habitats, and water quality (including salinity).

Decline in condition of aquatic habitats and decline in aquatic and water-dependent plants and animals; prolonged drying of wetlands with severe impacts post-wetting (e.g. carp spawning).

High

Managing the impacts of long-nosed fur seals

Impacts of long-nosed fur seals on commercial fisheries.

Decline in fish populations and flow on impacts on commercial fishing values if seal numbers high.

High

Adaptation to sea level rise

Sea level rise due to climate change.

Sea level rise will impact the ability to manage the barrages and control water entering the Coorong-Lower Lakes system. Saline water will also enter through pressure gradients if there is insufficient freshwater in the lakes and Coorong. The potential impacts depend on many factors. [Impacts on production systems to be described by TPG]

High

Managing acid sulfate soils

Exposure of acid sulfate soils at low lake levels.

Severe decline in water quality (acidification of water, mobilisation of toxic metals, black water events and production of noxious gases) following exposure and reinundation of acid-sulfate soils, affecting the ecological health of the lower lakes.

High

Water Sustainable Production

Biodiversity People Atmosphere

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 11

(cont.) NRM issue What impacts are these having on our natural resources?

Priority Values affected

Maintaining flows through the Narrows

Over abundant native species in aquatic ecosystems (Phragmites and Typha).

Impediments to flow, terrestrialisation of aquatic areas, 'choking out' of other species resulting in a monoculture and reduction in species diversity.

High

Threatened species recovery

Threatened species habitat decline and species-specific threats resulting in the decline of threatened fauna and flora.

Risk of extinction to threatened fauna and flora.

High

Containing new environmental weeds

New and emerging weeds. Competition with native flora; decline in the condition of remnant habitat, including threatened species habitat.

Med

Reducing lakeshore erosion

Lakeshore erosion. Affects water quality and results in loss of soil of the best lakeshore land for production.

Med

Reducing the impacts of pest animals

Over-grazing - by kangaroos and rabbits (unmanaged)

Rabbits - decline in native vegetation and land condition (particularly on deep, sandy soils of this area); kangaroos - damage to infrastructure (fencing).

Med

Controlling existing environmental weeds

Environmental weeds (for example pyp grass, marron grass and other grass weeds, boxthorn, Acacia cyclops, Acacia saligna, Aleppo pine, spiney rush, African love grass)

Competition with native flora; resulting in declines in biodiversity and production values; reduction in quality of appropriate habitat for native species.

Med

Industry adaptation to a future with less water

Rainfall variability (especially out-of-season rainfall); drought; likely to be exacerbated under climate change.

Decline in productivity of cropping and grazing systems (especially during drought); increased erosion risk; reduced community capacity and resilience after drought.

Med

Improving water quality in the Lower Lakes

Decline in surface water quality flowing from the eastern tributories and overland into the Lakes and Coorong due to impacts of local land uses - particularly salinity and turbidity of water.

Decline in water quality affects condition of aquatic habitat, lifestyle values and suitability of water for consumptive uses (stock, domestic and irrigation). Med

Maintaining flows through the Narrows

Constriction of flows by reeds between Lakes Albert and Alexandrina, due to low flows.

Potential for rapid decline in water quality in Lake Albert. Med

Controlling agricultural weeds

Existing agricultural weeds. Competition with pasture species, decline in productivity and ongoing costs of control. Med

Managing dryland salinity

Dryland salinity. Loss of productive land, decline in land condition. Med

Soil health for sustainable production

Management of soil health (i.e. nutrition, fertility, biology) affecting production capacity and susceptibility to additional soil degradation processes.

Affects the profitability and sustainability of production. Poor soil health can lead to on site degradative processes such as soil acidity, erosion, compaction, and sodicity as well as off-site impacts on adjacent lands, watercourses and groundwater systems

Med

Managing impacts of pest animals

Over-grazing - by kangaroos and rabbits (unmanaged grazing)

Decline in condition of native vegetation; change in vegetation composition; replacement of natives with disturbance tolerant exotic species and increase in shrubs in some grassy ecosystems; high grazing pressures is a barrier to recruitment for many native plant species.

Med

Managing new pest animal and disease risk

New and emerging pest animals and diseases

Potential threat to crop/stock health, affecting the productivity and profitability of primary industries.

Med

Controlling carp and other aquatic pests

Carp and other aquatic pest animals.

Reduced water quality; reduction in native fish populations. Affects biodiversity and lifestyle values due to impacts on native fish populations.

Low

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 12

(cont.) NRM issue What impacts are these having on our natural resources?

Priority Values affected

Reducing soil erosion risk

Soil erosion risk (wind and water) associated with vulnerable soil types, inappropriate land management practices and seasonal conditions (likely to be exacerbated under climate change).

Decline in land condition, sustainability of production, and capacity to recovery after drought.

Low

Reducing predation of native fauna

Predation of native fauna (by foxes, dingoes, cats).

Foxes and dingoes are predators of native animals, but also contribute to reduced total grazing pressure through predation of rabbits and kangaroos.

Low

Sustainable livestock grazing

Over-grazing - by livestock (managed grazing)

Decline in condition of native vegetation; change in vegetation composition; replacement of natives with disturbance tolerant exotic species and increase in shrubs in some grassy ecosystems; high grazing pressures is a barrier to recruitment for many native plant species.

Low

Managing the impacts of lake water level cycling

Rising salt tables and erosion resulting from lowering and raising of lake levels (cycling of water levels); an action intended to remove saline water from the lakes.

Increasing salt ingress, water pollution, land salinisation, declining native vegetation; potential to affect community health.

Low

Protecting and restoring habitat

Loss and fragmentation of habitat due to past clearing and incremental current clearing.

Loss of habitat for native species; reduction in size and isolation of plant and animal populations; increased vulnerability to other threats (such as climate change, pests, weeds).

Low

Managing dryland salinity

Dryland salinity impacting through groundwater flows into the lakes.

Impacting on salinity levels of the lakes. Low

Managing impacts of recreational activities

Impacts of recreational activities (e.g. jet skis, boating, 4WDs, duck shooting).

Disturbance to and decline in condition of aquatic habitat (including small area of coastal habitat), due to pollution, erosion from wave action, and transfer of pests and weeds.

Low

Managing the impacts of long-nosed fur seals

Impacts of long-nosed fur seals on native fish populations.

Decline in fish populations and ecology of the system. Low

Managing irrigation impacts on groundwater

Increasing groundwater levels and decreasing water quality due to irrigation and recharge in adjacent land uses.

Decline in the health of aquatic ecosystems and suitability of habitat.

Low

SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Action Plan - Lower Lakes and Coorong subregion 13

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information/consultative-committee.php.

83 Angas Bremer Irrigator Code of Practice. http://www.angasbremerwater.org.au

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