Since European settlement the southeast region of South Australia has become a highly modified landscape. Beginning in 1863, broad-scale land clearance has occurred and the creation of an extensive cross-catchment drainage system. Dozens of drains discharge nutrient rich sediment laden water from agricultural catchments directly to the marine environment. The South Eastern Flow Restoration Project (SEFRP) aims to restore surface water flows to wetlands in the Upper South East and to increase flows to help manage salinity levels in the South Lagoon of the Coorong. This has resulted in a reduction in the amount of nutrient polluted surface water being discharged to the marine environment. The SA EPA ambient marine monitoring of the area provides a unique snap shot prior to the implementation of the SEFRP and after its completion.
This presentation will provide more detail on the metrics used in the monitoring and the benefits from the SEFRP