Chowilla+Wetlands

 =__//**The Chowilla Wetlands**//__= =__Location:__= The Chowilla Wetlands is located 250 kilometres north-east of Adelaide in the Riverland region of South Australia, approximately 40 kilometres north-east of Renmark. It overlaps the South Australian and New South Wales border, covering a total area of 17,700 hectares. =__Geographic Characteristics:__= Chowilla is one of six sites in the Murray-Darling Basin that is recognised as an Icon Site due to its ecological and cultural heritage significance and is also part of the Riverland Ramsar Wetland (recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention). The floodplain consists of a complex system of creeks, wetlands and floodplain habitats including the largest remaining area of River redgum woodland in the lower Murray River. It also supports a significant population of Murray Cod and a diverse range of earthly and aquatic plants and animals. =__Conflict in Water Use:__  = The Chowilla Wetlands is one of the few parts of the Lower Murray River that is not used for irrigation. This ensures that the area remains in good health and is kept in its natural state. The South Australian portion of the Chowilla Wetlands is controlled by the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) while the New South Wales portion is owned by the State Government and is managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Robertson Chowilla Pty Ltd has operated Chowilla Station as a wool growing operation since 1865. They are the leaseholders of 12,062ha of the Chowilla Floodplain in South Australia. An agreement was made by the DEH and Robertson Chowilla Pty Ltd to exclude grazing from the majority of the Chowilla Floodplain (83%) as of September 2005. While there is no real conflict to speak of, potential conflict could arise if Robertson Chowilla Pty Ltd breaks the agreement, or if one of the State Governments decides to allow irrigation from the floodplain, which could potentially affect the natural environment on both sides of the border. =__Identify and Rank the Factors (SHEEPPT) Underlying the Conflict:__= Environmental-this is a matter of an individual's knowledge, aesthetic appretiation or past experience;who has the role of nature's advocate in a debate?

=**__Policies/Strategies in this Location to Manage Water:__**= By mid-2002, it was clear that the Murray River's health was in serious decline, and with the Chowilla Wetlands depending on rainfall and the health of other parts of the river for it's survival, it's survival was in jeporady. Being in a semi-arid zone, the Chowilla Wetlands are in serious trouble. With the local flora being at its worst health in recorded history, the South Australian Government started a board called the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board (SA MDB NRM Board) to look in to how they could improve the health of the Chowilla Wetlands and other parts of the Murray-Darling Basin in South Australia. Some projects that they have already started include the short term action of pumping water into temporary creeks and wetlands and long term solutions such as the construction of major flow infrastructure have been proposed.

=__The Chowilla Wetlands' Future:__= The future of the Chowilla Wetlands is looking bleak at the moment. The vegetation's health is at an all time low and predicted to get worse, low rainfall and drought in other parts of the basin is contributing no water to the wetlands which are in a semi-arid zone and without the quick action of governments at all levels, the Chowilla Wetlands could be non-existant in the near future.

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