ABSTRACT
Salinisation is a major economic and environmental concern in Australia. It impacts the most significant river in Australia, the River Murray, and the sectors of agriculture, industry and recreation that it supports. It is estimated that 40 000 ha (40%) of floodplain vegetation on the lower River Murray in South Australia is now dead, dying or stressed. This severe dieback in native floodplain vegetation is largely due to floodplain salinisation, a result of saline regional groundwater discharge, decreased natural flood frequencies, permanently held weir (river) levels and a severe current drought. In an effort to manage current and future decline in tree health, the Bookpurnong Living Murray project was developed to investigate management initiatives such as engineered salt interception schemes and other technologies that artificially manipulate flow regimes. The study integrates the scientific disciplines of hydrogeology, hydrology, ecology and geophysics to examine the interplay between surface water, groundwater and vegetation. The outcomes will aid in the development of governmental policy to guide management decisions for the floodplains and their ecological status.
