Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Protecting Mount Gambier's Blue Lake
South Australia's famous Blue Lake is not just beautiful, it's unique. While there are lots of blue lakes in the world, only the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier changes colour so dramatically from grey to a brilliant turquoise every summer.
The Blue Lake is in a volcanic crater formed by a violent volcano 28,000 years ago, and provides a 'window' into the region's groundwater aquifer. It is the main water source for around 25,000 residential, commercial, industrial and recreational users.
Daniela Conesa, Water Allocation Planning Officer with the South East Natural Resources Management (SE NRM) Board, says while there are no signs of contamination of the lake the community knows that its wellbeing cannot be left to chance.
So a comprehensive management plan has been developed and a project is underway to protect the lake from land use impacts.
Funding
Work is being supported with $350,000 from the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust and support from the State Government.
"The project came about because of growing community concern about declining water levels in the Blue Lake and the threat of contaminants," Daniela said.
"There are a number of land uses with the potential to threaten the lake's water, including increased groundwater use for agricultural and domestic purposes, nutrients from dryland farming, dairies and piggeries, historical contamination from timber mills and chemical spills."
Activities
Jeff Lawson, Senior Technical Officer with the SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, said the scientific research undertaken as part of the project has expanded the knowledge base of what makes the Blue Lake tick.
"Through water quality testing, monitoring water levels and drilling of observation wells we've got a much better idea of what the water levels are doing, the direction of groundwater flows and the actual geology of the aquifer," he said.
"The results of this research help us to determine the lake's limits in terms of sustainable water use as well as information such as how long it takes for pollution to travel from the catchment to the lake itself. As we understand the lake better, we will be able to protect it better."
Daniela said one of the key components of the project was spreading the word to local community, school and business groups about how they can help.
"The community has been hugely supportive of the project. For example, a volunteer group - the Blue Lake Guardians - was formed just over a year ago and already has around 230 members, including myself and my family."
More information
- Daniela Conesa, SE NRM Board Water Allocation Planning Officer: (08) 8724 6018 or daniela.conesa@senrm.sa.gov.au
- SE NRM Board
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