The SA MDB NRM Board works closely with communities, staff and board representatives to develop strategies and programs to address each of the following challenges:
Salinity
Salinity has emerged as one of the most significant environmental and economic issues in Australia. Rising salinity in our rivers and the landscape is causing the death of plants and animals, loss of biodiversity, reduction in agricultural productivity and degradation of infrastructure. In 2000, approximately 50,000 hectares were affected by dryland salinity and this area is predicted to increase to 75,000 hectares by 2020.
Water Use
The River Murray is the life-blood of the region and the principal water resource for South Australia. Away from the river corridor, water is captured and diverted from tributary streams like the Marne, Angas, Bremer and Finniss Rivers and Saunders, Tooyerta and Currency Creeks. Also groundwater is extracted locally from selected aquifers. Groundwater is particularly important to agriculture in the Angas-Bremer plains and the Mallee regions for irrigation and stock and domestic uses.
Some streams and aquifers have been over-exploited. In most cases, the diversion and/or use of water has been degrading natural resources. Impacts include the loss of environmental flows causing ecosystem decline and a reduction in biodiversity, as well as water logging, and salinisation of land and water resources.
Weed and Pest Animal Control
Environmental weeds are those plants that have minimal agricultural production risk but impact on biodiversity and/or recreation. They are commonly found in wetlands, remnant vegetation and roadsides.
Pest animals not only impact on farm productivity but can also affect biodiversity and sustainable ecosystems. Examples of pest animals in the SA MDB NRM region include foxes, rabbits, goats, deer and pigs.