Environmental experts are calling for more collaboration across the Murray-Darling Basin to continue the delivery of water to critical ecosystems as floodwaters subside.
Major floods swept through large areas of the river system over summer, leading to a lush transformation in semi-arid areas, some of which had not been wet for decades.
While wetlands are flourishing, experts warn things could go backwards quickly unless collaborative and ongoing monitoring, and environmental water, is delivered.
Faith Coleman is an estuarine ecologist who studies South Australia's internationally protected Coorong wetland at the mouth of the Murray River.
She said salinity levels in Coorong’s South Lagoon have almost returned to pre-flood levels, highlighting the need for urgent action.
"It’s concerning because [the lagoon] would usually freshen in winter," she said.
"The fishermen are so excited by the number of baby fish in the water … our worry is if the salinity goes back to where it was too quickly, we will lose a large portion of those babies.
"If we can get everyone to collaborate, just like the environment does, that would be a lovely thing."
Building the basin's future
The push for an environmental focus comes at a critical time for the Murray-Darling Basin plan, which could see a renewed sense of collaboration from basin states as the plan's deadline nears.
The recent change of government in New South Wales has resulted in all of mainland Australia now being held by Labor for the first time since the plan's inception in late 2012.
SA Water Minister Susan Close said she was hopeful for more cross-basin cooperation following the temporary environmental reprieve from the floods and change in water ministers.
"As the Murray-Darling Basin states, we need to not waste the opportunity this has given for a bit of a reset for the drought," she said.
CSIRO water ecosystems expert Tanya Doody, who leads interstate salt intersection pumping projects, said cross-state collaboration on the Murray Darling Basin was critically important.
“I found that sort of collaboration … has been really powerful in making sure we have a good understanding of water available," she said.
Ms Doody said there were various locations across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, that required more assisted water deliveries to help combat issues such as distance and salinity.
"If salinity in the groundwater is elevated, and it's being leached up through the soil profile after flooding, it can be quite difficult for the trees to access water from the soil," she said.
"It'd be really nice to make sure we take this opportunity to monitor the responses of the different ecosystem components [such as] the fish, trees, understorey vegetation, macroinvertebrates and frogs."
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Simon Banks said his office was working with its partners to assess the needs of local wetlands after recent flooding.
"This local advice will be factored into our planning for the year ahead to help with the recovery of the wetlands where and when it is needed," Dr Banks said.
