Estuaries Management & Planning
Regional NRM Estuaries Information PackagesTo support Natural Resources Management (NRM) bodies, State and local government and other agencies in undertaking planning and management in estuarine areas Estuaries Information Packages (EIPs) are being developed by the Department for Environment and Heritage for five NRM regions:
Each EIP provides a range of information that has been collated to provide an overview on the known environmental, social and economic values for estuaries in each region. As a result some key information gaps are identified and potential directions are included as a guide for management options for South Australia's estuaries. 
Eyre Peninsula NRM Region Estuaries Information PackageThis resource provides information on the region's sixteen identified estuaries, from Tourville Bay on the west coast to Franklin Harbor in Spencer Gulf. See EP NRM Region Estuaries Information Package (2.3Mb PDF)
Northern and Yorke Region NRM Region Estuaries Information PackageThis resource provides information on the region's sixteen identified estuaries, from Blanche Harbor in the upper Spencer Gulf across to Salt Creek/Coobowie Inlet to the Light River Delta in Gulf St Vincent.
See NY NRM Region Estuaries Information Package (2.1Mb PDF)
Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Region NRM Region Estuaries Information PackageThis resource provides information on the region's thirty seven identified estuaries, from Gawler River in the north of the region to the Middleton Catchment on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
See AMLR NRM Region Estuaries Information Package (2.3Mb PDF)
South East NRM Region Estuaries Information PackageThis resource provides information on the region's eight identified estuaries from Salt Creek to Lake Bonney and the South Australian section of the Glenelg River.
See SE NRM Region Estuaries Information Package (1.8Mb PDF)
Kangaroo Island NRM Region Estuaries Information PackageThis resource provides information on the region's twenty-five identified estuaries located right around Kangaroo Island from American River/Pelican Lagoon to the Cygnet River.
See KI NRM Region Estuaries Information Package (1.5Mb PDF)
Draft Estuaries Policy & Action Plan
See Draft Estuaries Policy Overview (350Kb PDF) See Draft Estuaries Policy & Action Plan (600Kb PDF) See Estuaries of South Australia Interim Map (1.2Mb PDF) Copies of the draft Estuaries Policy & Action Plan are also available by contacting the Coast and Marine Conservation Branch on (61 8) 8124 4900. The Policy & Action Plan aims to improve the health of South Australia's estuaries through a coordinated management approach. The vision of the draft Estuaries Policy & Action Plan is: 'healthy estuaries for the benefit of present and future generations' Five key outcomes are required to achieve this vision:
For each outcome there are a number of strategies and actions that have been identified to guide the activities of communities, industry, Government agencies and organisations in the use and management of our estuaries. Although there are many issues affecting our estuaries, the strategies and actions developed in the draft Estuaries Policy & Action Plan address those issues considered to be the most pressing. What is an estuary?
Estuaries and the lands surrounding them are places of transition - where water from the land meets and mixes with the open sea. Estuaries are neither marine nor terrestrial environments. They are generally found at the end of rivers and may be large systems, like the Murray Mouth and Coorong, or small, like the Western River estuary on Kangaroo Island. Other estuaries, such as the Port River Barker Inlet, are more influenced by tidal exchange or stormwater discharge. Whichever the type of estuary, its health is dependent on being linked to both the land and the sea.
Estuarine plants, including seagrasses, mangroves and saltmarshes, support a diverse range of estuarine habitats. The warm, generally shallow waters of estuaries receive nutrients from the land and sea making them biologically very productive. Estuaries are known as "the nurseries of the sea" because they contain large amounts of food and shelter for fish and other animals.
Several crustacean and fish species, such as blue swimmer crabs, the yellow-eye mullet and black bream, spend their early life stages in these protected nutrient rich habitats before moving offshore into deeper water or upstream into rivers. Migratory birds, such as snipes and stints, also visit estuarine mudflats and sandflats to rest and feed throughout their international journeys.
In South Australia we define an estuary as:A partially enclosed coastal body of water, including its ecosystem processes and associated biodiversity, which is either permanently, periodically, intermittently or occasionally open to the ocean within which there is a measurable variation in salinity due to the mixture of seawater with water derived from on or under the land. This definition does not include Gulf St Vincent or Spencer Gulf as estuaries in themselves, however it does include smaller estuaries within these gulfs. South Australia's unique estuaries
Due to South Australia's semiarid to arid climate and the exposure of our coastline to the Southern Ocean and gulf waters, our estuaries are mainly dominated by wave or tidal processes, with only a few dominated by river flow. Consequently, South Australia's estuaries vary greatly and range from coastal lagoons through to tidal creeks and river or creek mouths. In most parts of the State, the amount of rainfall during each season is variable, meaning that many rivers and creeks flow temporarily and flood occasionally. In the summer months, they often become non-flowing waterholes, with freshwater not reaching the ocean at all. As a result, the estuaries often become salty lagoons with sandbars blocking seawater from entering them, eg sandbars block the Inman and Hindmarsh River estuaries during dry periods. Some estuaries become totally dry, at least on the surface, with only groundwater influences evident in sustaining the surrounding vegetation. However, during periods of high freshwater flow (usually in the winter and spring months), water can break through the sandbars and discharge out to the sea, allowing seawater to re-enter and flush the estuaries. Changes to flow are natural, although some flow reductions or increases (including artificial openings) can be detrimental to the plants and animals that have adjusted to the ambient salinities and water temperatures within the estuaries. Why are estuaries important?Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems that are essential for the health and well being of the coastal and marine environment. They provide useful goods and services to our community such as water resources, sheltered anchorages and fish nurseries. It is extremely difficult to calculate the total contribution of estuaries to South Australia's economy. However, there are some measurable and important economic indicators, such as commercial fisheries. To ensure our estuaries continue to provide for our future needs, ongoing management is needed to maintain their health. The environmental, social and economic values of South Australian estuaries are summarised below. Environmental values
Social values
Economic values
What are the issues facing estuaries in South Australia?There are three underlying problems that need to be addressed as a priority to better manage our estuaries:
These underlying problems contribute to many of the specific issues that can affect an estuary:
Why do we need to manage our estuaries?Estuaries are highly productive and complex environments that support several fisheries, agricultural, industrial, tourism and recreation activities. With the variety of activities that occur within estuaries, conflict of use often arises where one activity may impinge on another. In addition, while most activities are managed effectively on an individual basis, their cumulative impact can affect not only the ecosystem but also the economic success of the region. Currently, the management of South Australia's estuaries is delivered through a wide range of legislation administered by different State Government agencies. By developing the draft Estuaries Policy and Action Plan, the South Australian Government recognises the need for a coordinated approach to planning, management and conservation in estuaries in order to ensure their future sustainability for all generations to enjoy. Onkaparinga Estuary Information Package
The Onkaparinga Estuary Information Package provides information about the current condition of the estuary and has been prepared to assist the many organisations and individuals who are helping with the rehabilitation, monitoring and management of the estuary. See Onkaparinga Estuary Information Package (600Kb PDF) LinksAdelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation Environment Protection Authority Planning SA PIRSA Fisheries Natural Resources Management Boards National Land and Water Resources Audit Coorong National Park Barker Inlet and Port River Estuary Committee |
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