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Boost for ancient ground-fed springs in arid South Australia
Thousands of ancient freshwater springs at the edge of the Great Artesian Basin are being protected to safeguard endangered aquatic life.
The basin is a vast groundwater aquifer that stretches under more than a fifth of the continent.
Some of the springs are nearly two million years old, with many around 700,000 years. They are biodiversity 'hotspots' - oases for flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
However, excessive groundwater extraction, uncontrolled stock access and weeds are damaging the springs which form when water flows to the surface from fissures in the basin.
The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board is leading a project to prevent further degradation of the springs and their wetland communities across a 350,000 square kilometre area.
Funding
The Board has received about $220,000 from the Australian Government to support the project, including a full-time project officer. The South Australian Government has also provided support.
Activities
Project officer Travis Gotch said the springs were being surveyed to find out which were at the greatest risk from aquifer 'drawdown'.
"This is when groundwater from the basin is extracted through bores for users such as pastoralists and miners," Travis said.
"Unfortunately these bores reduce artesian pressure in parts of the basin, which can lead to insufficient water flows into the springs and risks to rare plants and animals."
He said about 3,500 springs had been surveyed so far, with about as many again still to be evaluated. Other threats were also being managed, including unrestricted cattle grazing near springs and clusters of date palms that have become pests at Dalhousie Springs, on the edge of the Simpson Desert in the state's north.
"The palms at Old Man Springs have become serious weeds, out-competing native plants and threatening endemic fish such as the unique Dalhousie Gudgeon," Travis said.
The project is also helping the traditional owners and the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage to develop a control program for the palms, which have been cut down and burnt in the worst-affected areas.
Achievements
Travis said one of the best things to come out of the project mining and pastoral industry recognition of the ecological importance of the springs.
"Pastoralists have worked enthusiastically on the project to regulate stock access to the springs and their wetland habitats," he said.
"We've found that moderate grazing can be beneficial to the biology of the springs by maximising the diversity of species."
More information
- Travis Gotch, Project Officer Great Artesian Basin Springs: (08) 8671 0010 or gotch.travis@saugov.sa.gov.au
- Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee
- South Australian Arid Lands NRM Board
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