About the Lower Lakes and Coorong wetlands
Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert are the Lower Lakes of the River
Murray. They are relatively shallow, but large, covering about
85,000 hectares. Before the barrages
were completed in 1940, the lakes were a tidal estuary. Freshwater
discharges from Lake Alexandrina through the barrage
system are important for regulating salinity in the Coorong
lagoons.
The Clayton and Point MacLeay communities rely on treated water
drawn from Lake Alexandrina for their reticulated water supplies.
What are the issues
Blue-green algal blooms can be harmful to livestock, as well
as recreational water users, and periodically affect the Lower
Lakes. The blooms are promoted by pollution from nutrients, some
of which enter the River Murray upstream of the Lakes.
In some seasons, salinity levels increase significantly in the
Lower Lakes due to low flow and high evaporation. This is particularly
noticeable in Lake Albert.
The Lower Lakes and Coorong provide important wetland habitat
for birds and are a very significant fish nursery. >>
More
What is being done to improve water quality
in the Lower Lakes and Coorong
South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board is also developing strategies for improving water quality in the River Murray and Lower Lakes. >>
More
The EPA has developed a Code of
Practice for Vessel & Facility management: Marine and Inland
Waters (1MB PDF). This code should help
recreational and commercial boat operators to reduce environmental
impacts from their boating activities.
To address pollution from upstream sources, the EPA and a number
of other agencies have assessed the risks to water quality in
the River Murray and Lower Lakes. >>
Report
Water quality monitoring
The EPA has a long-term water quality monitoring program covering
four sites; three in Lake Alexandrina and one in Lake Albert.
>> More
Water quality in the Coorong is being monitored (quarterly) by
the Upper
South East Flood Management and Dryland Salinity Program and
the Department
for Environment and Heritage, South Australia.
Reports
Links
The
River Murray Catchment Water Management Board
The
Murray-Darling Basin Initiative
The
Goolwa barrages
This page was last modified 14-10-2008
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