| Adelaide Coastal Waters |
| Name & Location of Priority Site |
Adelaide Coastal Waters - The coastal waters west of Adelaide are part of Gulf St Vincent. Gulf St Vincent contains the water north to Port Wakefield, west to the shores of Yorke Peninsula and south to Cape Jervis.
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| Values to be protected |
Adelaide's coastal waterways are areas of major ecological, commercial, cultural and recreational importance. Over 5000 hectares of seagrass have been lost with associated seabed instability, habitat loss and amenity. |
| Key risks & pressures |
Historically, a range of pollutants has been discharged to the waterways, although nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are of most concern, being associated with the loss of seagrass and
mangroves. Elevated nutrient levels are causing seasonal growths of macroalgae (sea lettuce) and toxic algal blooms such as 'red tides' (dinoflaggelate blooms). |
| Previous relevant Australian Government funded projects |
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| Key stakeholder/ Agency leads on previous projects |
- Environment Protection Agency South Australia
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| Coorong (including Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar wetland) |
| Name & Location of Priority Site |
The Coorong - a 140 km long expanse of water, separated from the southern ocean by a narrow coastal dune barrier; The Murray Mouth - an extremely dynamic and constricted tidal inlet where the River Murray reaches the sea, and; The lower Lakes (Lakes Alexandrina and Albert) - adjacent to the Coorong by a system of barrages.
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| Values to be protected |
The unique ecological and hydrological values of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert wetlands. The primary determinants of the ecological character are salinity, water regime, water levels, keystone aquatic plants, habitat availability, turbidity and sedimentation. The Coorong is an important breeding area for the Pelican, Crested Tern and Fairy Tern, and Lake Alexandrina for egrets, ibises, cormorants and the Rufous Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).
The Aboriginal (traditional and archaeological), historic and geological sites. |
| Ramsar site |
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site information
(search for site number 25)
Ecological Character Description & Management Plan |
| Key risks & pressures |
Low flows as result of water diversion upstream and drought conditions are changing the hydrological and ecological character. The low water levels are leading to exposure of acid sulfate soils, increased salinity and loss of aquatic habitats. Decline of water quality of the lakes contribute to fish kills. |
| Previous relevant Australian Government funded projects |
- Acid Sulfate Soil Investigation
- The Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth Icon Site Environmental Management Plan 2006-07. Murray Darling Basin Commission.
- Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Management Plan (2000). South Australian Dept Environment and Heritage.
- Macrobenthic survey 2004 in the Murray Mouth, Coorong and Lower Lakes Ramsar site, with an evaluation of food availability for shorebirds and possible indicator functions of benthic species. ). South Australian Dept Environment and Heritage
- Seaman, R.L. (2003) Coorong and Lower Lakes habitat-mapping program. ). South Australian Dept Environment and Heritage
- An assessment of the non-market recreational values at Barmah Forest and the Coorong. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country
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| Key stakeholder/ Agency leads on previous projects |
- CSIRO Land & Water South Australia
- South Australian Dept of Environment and Heritage
- Murray-Darling Basin Commission
- CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country
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Community Coastcare fact sheets
Further information
Other sources of funding
Key
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