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| Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site | |
|---|---|
| Name | Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site |
| Location | South Australia |
| Designation | Ramsar Wetland of International Importance |
| Established | 1985 |
Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar site is a Ramsar-listed wetland complex in southern Australia comprising the Coorong lagoon, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. The site is internationally recognised for its role in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and for supporting threatened taxa and cultural traditions of the Ngarrindjeri people. It lies south-east of Adelaide and is connected to the Murray River system via the Murray Mouth and River Murray outflow.
The Ramsar site encompasses coastal lagoons, saline wetlands, estuarine channels and freshwater lakes adjacent to the Southern Ocean and the Great Australia Bight. It functions as a critical habitat for migratory wader species, native fish such as the Murray cod, and endemic flora found within the Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park and Coorong National Park. Administratively the area intersects with the Fleurieu Peninsula, Lakes and Coorong region, and local government areas including the Alexandrina Council.
The landscape is shaped by the confluence of the River Murray and coastal processes at the Murray Mouth, forming the long, narrow Coorong separated from the Southern Ocean by sand dunes near the Younghusband Peninsula. The freshwater basins of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert receive inflows from the Murray and its tributaries including the Mallee catchments, and are linked by the Narrung Peninsula and the Goolwa Channel near Goolwa. Regulation by infrastructure such as the Goolwa Barrages and historic works by the River Murray Commission and Murray–Darling Basin Authority has altered salinity gradients and seasonal inundation patterns. Climatic drivers include influences from the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode, which modulate rainfall over the Murray–Darling Basin and the Mount Lofty Ranges.
The site supports internationally important numbers of migratory waders on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway such as the Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Bar-tailed Godwit, along with native waterfowl like the Australasian Shoveler and Australasian Teal. Fish assemblages include Murray cod, Australian bass, and diadromous species influenced by estuarine salinity regimes. Vegetation communities range from saltmarsh dominated by Samphire species and reedbeds of Phragmites australis to freshwater bulrush and River Red Gum woodlands of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The area provides habitat for threatened taxa such as the Orange-bellied Parrot (through regional networks), the Southern Bell Frog in nearby wetlands, and endemic invertebrates recorded by researchers affiliated with Australian Museum and CSIRO.
The coastal and lacustrine systems are central to the cultural heritage of the Ngarrindjeri people, with songlines, burial sites and traditional fisheries on the Coorong and Lake Albert. European contact introduced industries including riverboat transport, fishing and wheat agriculture in the Fleurieu Peninsula hinterland, with settlements at Goolwa, Meningie and Milang. Historic elements include links to the era of the PS Oscar W paddle-steamers and infrastructure projects overseen during the 20th century by the River Murray Commission.
Key threats include altered hydrology from water extraction upstream in the Murray–Darling Basin, invasive species such as Common Carp, and secondary salinisation exacerbated by droughts and climate change driven by shifts in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Urbanisation pressures near Adelaide and port activities at Goolwa compound habitat fragmentation. Management responses involve the Murray–Darling Basin Authority water recovery measures, coordinated actions by the Department for Environment and Water (South Australia), joint management with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority, and pest control programs by Parks Australia and local conservation groups.
Designated under the Ramsar Convention in the 1980s, the site was recognised for criteria relating to migratory waterbirds and unique wetland types. Conservation frameworks integrate international law obligations with Australian environmental instruments such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and regional plans administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australia). Restoration projects have included managed flows through the Goolwa Barrages, saline water management, and habitat rehabilitation funded by initiatives linked to the National Landcare Program and collaborations with universities including the University of Adelaide and Flinders University.
Recreation hubs include birdwatching at the Coorong National Park, boating around Lake Alexandrina near Milang, and cultural tourism initiatives led by the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. Local events in Goolwa and the Alexandrina Council area promote eco-tourism, while operators based in Victor Harbor and Hindmarsh Island offer guided tours. Facilities are coordinated with volunteer groups such as BirdLife Australia and regional visitor centres connected to the Fleurieu Peninsula tourism network.
Long-term monitoring is conducted by agencies and institutions including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, University of Adelaide, Flinders University, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and local groups like the Coorong Tatiara Local Action Planning Association. Research topics include hydrodynamics at the Murray Mouth, ecology of migratory bird populations on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, responses of Eucalyptus camaldulensis forests to flooding regimes, and socio-cultural studies led in partnership with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. International collaborations link datasets to networks such as the Ramsar Sites Information Service and flyway monitoring coordinated with partners in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Japan.
Category:Wetlands of South Australia Category:Ramsar sites in Australia