Welcome drink: Baroota and Beetaloo water releases set to enliven ecosystems
Two southern Flinders Ranges creeks that rarely experience natural flows will spring to life in late winter with reservoir-fed water releases planned over several weeks.
More than a billion litres of water from the two releases will flow into Baroota and Crystal Brook creeks to improve the resilience of river red gums and refresh habitat for frogs, fish, birds and waterbugs. It will also help the Nukunu community care for and connect to Country.
The releases are part of the collaborative Environmental and Cultural Flows project, led by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board with support from SA Water, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), Flinders University, Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation and local communities.
They follow three trial water releases from SA Water’s Beetaloo and Baroota reservoirs in 2021 and 2022 in response to community concerns about the health of ancient river red gums, many estimated to be more than 500 years old.
“River red gums are declining in condition and resilience due to long-term water stress,” said Jennifer Munro, Planning Officer from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.
“Surveys following the 2022 trials showed improvements in the trees’ condition, but follow-up watering is needed to maintain this progress and improve resilience to longer periods of low rainfall due to increased climate variability.
“In addition to the environmental benefits, these water releases are also a unique opportunity for Nukunu people to meet their cultural obligations and care for their Country’s health.”
Nukunu Wapma Thura Corporation Chair Travis Thomas said he looked forward to seeing the water flow as it would have prior to man-made water controls.
”Water or kawi for us is sacred,” he said. “And having involvement with water again is crucial for all First Nations; it’s empowering. Seeing that agency over water return is a true act of reconciliation.
“When we see that the health of those areas can be restored and improved through water flows, that’s of great significance to all Nukunu people.
“In addition to that, it’s the ability to be out on Country and essentially ensure that we’re taking care of the cultural objects and shelter trees that are present there.”
The water releases are planned across several weeks starting in late August. The Baroota Creek release is planned for the last week of August and is expected to last 2 weeks, while the Beetaloo release into Crystal Brook Creek will begin at the end of August and flow throughout September. They are timed to make the most of winter rains that have soaked the ground, providing scope for the releases to infiltrate deeper and reach further downstream within the creeks.
Community members are encouraged to visit both creeks to witness and enjoy the water releases, including the wildlife’s response. Frog calls can be recorded using the free FrogSpotter app and then uploaded to the state FrogWatch SA database.
Project partners and local community will monitor and record progress of the water flowing along the creeks to safeguard creek infrastructure and surrounding properties, while also surveying the response of water-dependent animals.
Find out more information about the Environmental and Cultural Flows project, which is funded by the State Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.
