The South Australian Government has blasted the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) draft plan, saying the allocated 2750 gigalitres for environmental flow is not enough to return the system to a state of health.

 

The government’s attack is backed by the Goyder Institute for Water Research, who’s investigation into the draft plan shows that the proposed quantity for environmental flow is inadequate.

 

Releasing the Institute’s review, Premier Jay Weathrill and State River Murray Minister Paul Caica warned of the consequences of following the draft plan.

 

“As the state at the end of the Murray Darling Basin South Australia has the most to lose if we don’t get the plan right,” Mr Weatherill said.

 

“The science shows that less than half of the MDBA’s own environmental water requirements for the internationally-significant Riverland-Chowilla floodplain would be achieved.

 

“The State Government has always maintained that the Basin Plan must be based on the best available science.

 

“The Goyder Institute has found that while there could be some improvements with an extra 2750GL, it is not enough to ensure we can withstand droughts and protect our Ramsar-listed sites.

 

Mr Caica said the analysis shows that, in its current form, the Basin Plan is unlikely to maintain the ecological character of the Riverland-Chowilla and Coorong Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Ramsar sites.

 

“The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth remain at risk of low water levels and high salinities which will have serious consequences for the aquatic animals and plants in this region,’’ Mr Caica said.

 

“Under the proposal, there will still be insufficient flows to export salt out of the Basin and ensure the Murray Mouth will remain open during times of drought.”

 

The analysis shows under the 2750GL proposal:

 

  • The middle and high elevation areas of the floodplains, where most black box and river red gum woodlands occur, will receive little or no additional water and declining vegetation health is likely to occur
  • In the longer term, the contraction of river red gum and black box distributions on floodplains, with losses of organic carbon production and habitat
  • Ongoing degradation of mid-and high-elevation floodplain wetlands caused by salinity and other factors, with a loss of habitat
  • An accumulation of salt in the lower Murray region during drier periods as a result of insufficient salt export through the Murray mouth
  • Extreme low water levels and salinities may still occur in the Lower Lakes and Coorong under extended drought conditions, which would reduce the habitat available for fish and migratory water birds and may threaten several endangered native fish in the CLLMM region.
  • The likelihood that the Murray Mouth will still require some dredging to be kept open during extended droughts.

 

The report can be found here