Theme 1: Water & Catchments

Topic: Mount Lofty Ranges Catchments

More than two thirds of the State's population, including primary producers, various industries, local communities and metropolitan Adelaide, depend on water from the Mount Lofty Ranges. The region also contains a number of water-dependent ecosystems including swamps, rivers and wetlands of high conservation status. There are many important water dependent plants and animals, some of which are nationally endangered, such as the Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu Wren.

The Fleurieu Peninsula has more than 360 wetland and swamp areas supporting a number of plants and animals that are listed as endangered and are found nowhere else in Australia. Across the WMLR there are significant areas of irrigated crops; approximately 9,400 hectares generate more than $100 million per annum for the State's economy in farm gate income. These include cherries, apples, strawberries, brussel sprouts and leeks. Water for irrigation is sourced from surface water dams, watercourses and bores.

How much water is supplied to Adelaide from the Mount Lofty Ranges?

In an average year, 60% of Adelaide's domestic water supply comes from streams in the Mount Lofty Ranges. There are ten water supply reservoirs across the catchments with a total capacity of 200,000 ML. (1 Megalitre is a million litres, equivalent to an Olympic sized swimming pool)

Internet Resources

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
More Comprehensive	The State of Health of the Mt Lofty Ranges. Fact sheets to download.	EPA - The Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office www.epa.sa.gov.au/wpo_about.html
	Click on Mt Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu to access a variety of information and maps.	Atlas of South Australia www.atlas.sa.gov.au/
	Water management in the Mt Lofty Ranges.	Department for Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/water/ programs/mountlofty_ranges.html

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