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PDFs on this site open a new browser window. River Murray-South East NatureLink
Iconic Landscapes
The River Murray-South East NatureLink encompasses the River Murray, the Lower Lakes, the Coorong and the interlinking watercourses of south eastern South Australia.
Outstanding natural features and a rich diversity of plants and animals are found here. The unique array of interrelated aquatic environments are a fundamental feature and a key focus for this NatureLink Plan.
The northern area covered in this plan incorporates approximately 650 km of the River Murray from the South Australian border through to the Lower Lakes (Lakes Alexandrina and Albert) and Southern Ocean. The area includes the floodplains, wetlands and other habitats within approximately 20 km either side of the river. Over a thousand wetlands are associated with this stretch of the River Murray.
The southern area includes the many wetlands and interlinking watercourses of the South East region that previously connected to the Coorong. Wetlands represent a significant natural asset for the South East, although only 6% of the region's wetlands remain.
These wetlands and watercourses provide refuge and habitat for many species recognised as significant regionally, nationally and internationally. The River Murray-South East NatureLink incorporates four of State's wetlands of international importance ('Ramsar' listed for outstanding environmental and/or cultural values). These Ramsar sites are the Riverland (incorporating the Chowilla floodplain system), the Banrock Station Wetland Complex, the Lower Lakes and Coorong, and Bool Lagoon.
The River Murray Channel, Lower Lakes and Coorong and the Chowilla floodplain are icon sites under The Living Murray Initiative, managed by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
A Rich and Diverse Community
Aboriginal people have had an intimate involvement with the land and water in this region for tens of thousands of years, and have played a role in shaping the ecology of the landscape. It continues to have significance to the region's Aboriginal people, who hold strong spiritual affinity with the landscape. Aboriginal affiliations with the NatureLink are valued.
Today the region supports people from diverse backgrounds in rural communities, townships and several major regional centres. Rural settlements dominate the more fertile areas with permanent water supplies.
Industry and Land Use
The diversity of land uses and businesses that rely on a sustainable natural resource base include irrigated horticulture, cropping, viticulture, dairy farming, livestock production, forestry and fisheries. Various other industries associated with the many townships are reliant on water provided primarily by the River Murray and underground aquifers. Tourism is also a key industry.
There are several National Parks and protected areas across the NatureLink, including the Coorong National Park, Murray River National Park, and Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. In 2005, the State entered into a co-management agreement with the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Inc. for Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park. The management of Ngaut Ngaut is enhanced by sharing skills and knowledge between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
TopA Changed Landscape
Creating a sustainable future for the NatureLink requires an understanding of the way the landscape has changed, and the challenges and threats to its environment.
Rivers, floodplains, lakes and other wetland habitats were once nature rich, productive and connected. Generally, water flowed from the River Murray catchments (in the eastern states and Mt Lofty Ranges) and from Victoria through the South East, toward the coast via the Lower Lakes and Coorong.
Since early last century, structures have been built to ensure constant water supply in the River Murray for human use and to divert and drain floodwaters in the South East to allow primary production. These structures have interrupted natural water flows and significantly changed the ecology of the watercourse systems. Over-allocation of water resources for human use, coupled with reduced rainfall and decreased flows has resulted in a lack of water to meet environmental needs and increased salinity in many areas. Many wetlands and watercourses are now in decline or have been lost as a result.
Reduced flow from the River Murray and various tributaries has left the Lower Lakes with low water levels, exposed shorelines, increased salinity levels, and severe acid-sulphate soil exposure and associated acidification of water. The Murray Mouth closed for the first time in recorded history in 1981. As water availability has declined, the connectivity between the Lakes, the Mouth and the Coorong has been threatened, and greater human intervention has been necessary to manage the presence of water and its use. The Murray Mouth has been kept open only as a result of continual dredging since 2003.
Historical water-related development in the South East has severed many former flow paths into the Coorong. This has contributed to declines in the health of the Coorong, and with it a severe reduction of the migratory bird species for which it was once famous. The extreme salinisation of waters in the Coorong's South Lagoon has dramatically reduced aquatic-dependent populations of plants and animals, particularly native fish.
The land surrounding the water bodies in this NatureLink once comprised native vegetation that provided important habitat for many species. Extensive clearance of tracts of native vegetation has left only remnants in small patches, surrounded by agricultural land, roads and townships.
The environment is now so greatly modified that not only are many remaining habitats (both on land and in water) in poor condition, but they have lost connectivity between habitats. Decline in habitat quality, and increased isolation limits the ability of species to disperse and successfully breed, and evolve to suit new conditions in the longer-term.
Introduced plant and animal pests, changed fire regimes, damage by overgrazing, and climate change compound the problem of isolation.
There are a number of major Commonwealth-State initiatives that are endeavouring to redress the problems facing the wetlands of the River Murray-South East NatureLink. The Living Murray Initiative, Murray Futures, Coorong Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth, The South Australian Environmental Water Management Program and the Upper South East Program are all aimed at improving the long-term sustainability of the NatureLink.
There will be opportunities to develop partnerships and integrate NatureLink principles into these initiatives to ensure the best outcomes at a landscape level.
The Future of the River Murray-South East NatureLink
The South Australian Government is committed to maintaining a strong and resilient landscape in the River Murray-South East NatureLink. The River Murray-South East NatureLink Plan provides a vision for a landscape that will sustain people, industry, culture, plants and animals through healthy ecosystems.
Implementation of this NatureLink Plan will be guided by contemporary ecological science and landscape-scale conservation principles. These principles will be used to inform planning processes that shape land-use, natural resource management and nature conservation.
Current and future regional Natural Resource Management, Water Allocation, Biodiversity and Environmental Water Management Plans will play a vital role in guiding the implementation of this NatureLink.
The NatureLink Plan provides a starting point for all parties interested in shaping the future of the River Murray-South East NatureLink of South Australia. It represents the first stage to focus efforts of many stakeholders toward common conservation goals that have a positive impact on the economy and social network of the region.
For further details regarding this NatureLink please refer to the River Murray-South East NatureLink Plan (1.8Mb PDF).
