Where are the Port Waterways
The Port waterways (Port River and Barker Inlet Estuary) are
north west of Adelaide. Residential and industrial areas surround
the Port River while suburban encroachment is occurring along
the southern part of Barker Inlet.
This diverse estuary includes deep channels, large areas of fringing
mangroves, extensive tidal flats and seagrass
beds. It is an important nursery for fish and marine invertebrates.
The waterways support a diverse and abundant bird population.
What are the problems facing the Port waterways?
The Port waterways are suffering from serious nutrient pollution.
The major sources of nutrients are the Bolivar wastewater treatment
plant and the Penrice soda ash plant at Osborne. Stormwater is
a relatively minor source of nutrients.
The excessive nutrient levels in the Port waterways lead to frequent
phytoplankton blooms and the abundant growth of nuisance seaweed
such as Ulva (sea lettuce). Phytoplankton blooms cause
noticeable discoloration of the water column, reduce water clarity
and sometimes consist of species that are toxic. Ulva and
other macroalgae form floating rafts that block cooling water
intakes, smother mangrove pneumatophores and accumulate along
the shoreline in large drifts that decompose, producing unpleasant
odours.
What is being done to improve water quality
in the Port Waterways
The EPA began a study of the water quality of Port waterways
in 2004 with the assistance of funding from the federal government.
The study has led to the development of the Port River Water Quality
Improvement Plan (WQIP) (972KB PDF) and Appendices (888KB PDF). This plan aims to reduce the quantity
of nutrients discharged into the waterway.
Modelling of water quality processes in the estuary has allowed
us to calculate the reductions in nutrient discharges from Penrice
and SA Water needed to improve the water quality to meet community
expectations. The necessary reductions are substantial and will
be expensive to implement. However, there are now nutrient reduction
targets that will guide SA Water and Penrice in future planning.
The WQIP will be reviewed every 7 years. The review will include
monitoring (and public reporting) the progress of nutrient reductions
and improvements in water quality of the waterways.
Water quality monitoring
Click on the following links to check water quality at sites
that are being monitored at in the Port Waterways:
Site 1 - Hindmarsh Reach, adjacent
Snowdens Beach
Site 2 - Lipson Reach adjacent quarantine
station
Site 3 - Outer Harbor
Site 4 - North Arm adjacent causeway
bridge
Site 5 - North Arm adjacent Magazine
Creek
Site 6 - Torrens Reach adjacent mouth
of Angas Inlet
Site 7 - Torrens Reach
Site 8 - Barker Inlet north of Section
Bank
Site 9 - Inner harbour
Overall summary of water quality data
in the Port Waterways
Reports
Port River Water Quality Improvement Plan (972KB PDF) and Appendices (888KB PDF)
Port River Water Quality Report
No. 1 (1997) (304KB PDF)
Port River Water Quality Report
No. 2 (2002) (2.7MB PDF)
Port River Sediment Quality
Report (1997) (961KB PDF)
Port River: heavy metals and PCBs in
dolphins, fish and sediment (2000) (462KB PDF)
Links
City
of Port Adelaide Enfield
City
of Salisbury
Adelaide
and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board
Marine
Discovery Centre
Barker Inlet Port Estuary Committee (BIPEC)
This page was last modified 25-06-2008
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