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The Chowilla floodplain, a wetland of international significance fringing the lower Murray near Berri, is in danger of succumbing to salinity.
A five year study, by CSIRO's Division of Water Resources, pointed to rising watertables and accompanying salt as the agent killing river red gums and black box trees along the Murray.
According to Dr Glen Walker, 120 tonnes of salt a day now enter the River Murray.
Addressing an environmental forum at Berri today [Monday], Dr Walker said that the rise can be attributed to the installation of Lock 6, regulation of floods by massive storages, and irrigation in the area.
To try to overcome the salt problem, a number of salt mitigation schemes have been proposed over recent years. However, the CSIRO studies suggest that none of the schemes put forward so far would be quick or easy. It would take decades, maybe even a century, for groundwater pumping to have much effect, says another team member Mr Ian Jolly.
Unfortunately, enhancing floods is not much of a solution either, says Mr Jolly. In the main, benefits in washing salt out of the soil would be offset by increased salinity of the Murray, he told the workshop.
A popular notion is that planting trees could counteract rising watertables at Chowilla. But the study finds that groundwater is too saline for trees. "If such 'biological pumps' were effective, they would end up killing themselves with salt," said Mr Jolly.
The environmental forum, run by the Bookmark Biosphere Trust and the S.A. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, also discussed changes in the biodiversity of plants and animals within the Chowilla floodplain resulting from the creeping salt.
More information from:
Andrew Bell, CSIRO
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