Red gums provide insight into Eyre Peninsula groundwater
Studying the condition of Eyre Peninsula’s River red gum populations is one indicator being used by Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula to assist in monitoring the region’s groundwater systems.
Landscape Biologist Dr Greg Kerr and staff have been surveying red gum communities across Eyre Peninsula that depend on groundwater for their survival.
“Red gums can be a very useful indicator of the condition of our groundwater systems,” Dr Kerr said.
“These surveys will be repeated yearly to track changes in the condition of river red gums as ground water levels and annual rainfall patterns change.”
“We have a number of other groundwater dependent ecosystems within our Prescribed Wells Areas that we are also monitoring, including vegetation around wetlands such as Pillie Lake and Sleaford Mere.”
Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Presiding Member, Ms Diana Laube, said the Board is committed to the management of our groundwater resources following the release of the Water Allocation Plan for Southern Basins and the Musgrave Prescribed Wells Areas in June 2016.
“This long-term monitoring is an integral part of the recently released Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Plan accompanying the Water Allocation Plan.”
“A revised licensing system for commercial water users, installation of telemetered rainfall stations which provide access to rainfall data in real time online, and a revision of the groundwater monitoring network are some other improvements the Board has recently implemented,” Ms Laube said.
“We have also released a number of supporting documents, an online video and guide to help the community better understand the Water Allocation Plan.
This was something requested by the community during the Plan’s development.” Further information call us on (08) 8688 3111 or visit www.landscape.sa.gov.au/ep/land-and-water/water-allocation-plan-new
