Western Mount Lofty Ranges and KI the focus of latest Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Reports

The latest Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Reports (AECRs) have been released for the Western Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island (KI), with 65 per cent of inland surface water sites in the Western Mt Lofty Ranges classed as being either ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’ in 2023-24, while 22% of sites were given a ‘Fair’ rating.

Similarly, on Kangaroo Island, 64% of sampled sites were rated as being in ‘Good’ condition.

AECRs are the longest ambient monitoring surveys of its type, run by the EPA to monitor, evaluate and report on the condition of waterways as ecosystems from designated regions throughout South Australia. The first release of AECRs was in October 2011.

A total of 34 sites were sampled during spring to early summer in 2023, comprising 11 sites from KI and 23 sites from the Western Mt Lofty Ranges.

EPA Acting Director of Science Services Steven Sergi said results highlighted that waters were quite variable, although they can be explained in terms of human disturbance.

“Given the scale of vegetation clearance and on-going nutrient enrichment evident in 2023, it is unlikely that any stream in these regions remains unaffected by human activities,” he said.

“Of the streams assessed in the Western Mt Lofty Ranges, one site was in very good condition with little change to animal and plant life; while 14 sites were considered to be good condition, with only minor changes to animal and plant life and five sites were in fair condition with moderate changes to animal and plant life, and some changes to the way the ecosystems functioned.

“Three sites in the Western Mt Lofty Ranges were in poor condition with evidence of major changes in animal and plant life, and moderate changes to the way the ecosystems functioned.”

Sites were selected after consultation with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Green Adelaide; and Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.

“Excitingly, a number of regionally rare and significant macroinvertebrates were spotted during monitoring, including stoneflies, mayflies, dragonflies, caddisflies, mites, an elmid beetle, riffle beetle and a number of significant species of dipterans,” Mr Sergi said.

“The resilience of stream biota to the 2019-2020 bushfire effects was evident from the results of sites sampled in Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island, with each site rated in Good condition, supporting a wide range of sensitive and rare aquatic macroinvertebrates, and only showing evidence of low to moderate nitrogen enrichment. On KI we also recorded the first sighting of a diving beetle Gibbidessus kangarooensis.”

The only site assigned a ‘Very Good’ rating in the reports was First Creek within Cleland Conservation Park in the Western Mt Lofty Ranges.

Find out more: www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/water_quality/water_quality_monitoring