Introduction
The Light River is a saline stream that flows west from the Mt
Lofty Ranges, with the upper section of the catchment including
some of the Barossa Valley vineyards. The dominant land uses in
the catchment are broad acre cropping and grazing. Elevated turbidity
and nutrient levels are the most likely water quality problems.
The Light River flows intermittently due to low rainfall in the
catchment, although the monitoring site at Mingays Waterhole (just
upstream of Kapunda) is a permanent pool.
Stream flow data for this site is available from the Department
of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
Mingays Waterhole has patches of submerged aquatic plants and
some emergent reeds. The riparian vegetation is mainly a mixture
of native and exotic grasses. >>
Map (1.3MB PDF)
Water quality assessment
Water quality is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor
condition by interpreting water chemistry data in the context
of protecting environmental values. >>
More
Ecological health is assessed in spring and autumn. We use macroinvertebrates
for this purpose because they provide a relatively simple way
to assess the health of an aquatic ecosystem. >>
More
Water chemistry is measured each month (or every 3 months in
remote locations). We measure chemical indicators because when
they reach a certain level they can cause stress or toxicity to
animals and plants in an ecosystem. Some indicators can also indicate
if the water is suitable for drinking water or for activities
such as swimming. >> More
Ecological health
We collect two samples of macroinvertebrates, one from riffle
(or flowing water) habitat and one from edge (still water) habitat.
The diversity of the macroinvertebrate community is used to describe
ecological health as being in good,
moderate or poor
condition.
Go
here to find out how we classify ecological health in streams.
Ecological health assessment for May 2006
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Good
|
| Riffle |
Moderate
|
The edge and riffle habitats are usually present during autumn
surveys and rated in good condition. While the edge habitat rated
as equivalent to other brackish-saline reference sites throughout
the State, the riffle habitat was in a slightly impaired condition
in May 2005.
The edge habitats contained 29 types of macroinvertebrates. The
most common were oligochaete worms, amphipods from the family
Eusiridae, and non-biting midges (Tanytarsus and Chironomus
species). The riffles only had 18 types of macroinvertebrates.
The most common were members of the Eusiridae and worms.
Both habitats were typical of flowing and stationary waters.
Notable features were the absence of mayflies and the presence
of some biting midges from the family Ceratopogonidae.
Download ecological health data
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in the Light River are nutrients
(nitrogen and phosphorus), turbidity and salinity.
The concentrations of these indicators are used to classify the
water chemistry as being in good,
moderate or poor
condition, according to the needs of aquatic ecosystem protection.
Go here
to find out how we organise and classify the chemistry data.
Water chemistry classification for April to September 2006
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
Nutrient and turbidity levels were all low during this period,
which is generally consistent with previous results. The Northern
and Yorke NRM Board are supporting landholders to restrict
stock access to the creek and encouraging revegetation with local
native species, which should facilitate improvements in water
quality.
>> Archived results
Download water chemistry graphs
Download raw chemistry data
What is being done to improve the condition
of South Australian rivers and streams
Efforts to improve the condition of South Australia's rivers
and streams are being driven by various government agencies, primarily
The Environment Protection Authority
The Department
of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation
Natural
Resource Management Boards
Department
for Environment and Heritage (SA)
Collaborative projects and programs being run by these agencies
are based on the protection of environmental values, as explained
in the National
Water Quality Management Strategy. >>
More
Reports
SA's Rivers and Streams
(Chemical and Physical Quality)-Report No 1 (554KB
PDF)
This page was last modified 25-09-2007
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