Goolwa's water levels

[sofala]

I went down to Clayton on Lake Alexandrina last weekend and took some photographs of the "temporary" water regulator being built at Clayton. The idea is to raise the water levels in the Goolwa Channel by using the natural run off from the Finnis River and Currency Creek. Up until now the fresh water from these rivers has flowed out into the very shallow Lake Alexandrina and evaporated. Water levels in the lakes (Alexandrina and Albert) have been falling due to love inflows from the River Murray...due to drought and over allocation further up stream. However, it will mean that water levels will be well up for the next Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival :D.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41065743@N05/3782975003/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41065743@N05/3783778364/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41065743@N05/3783772418/
And one of the little lady, Hero.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41065743@N05/3783789332/

[sofala]

Opps the pictures haven't come up. Will try again.

[The Bigfella]

I was getting the dreaded Red X

See if this works

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3782975003_d800f7d28b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3783772418_2616d4c450.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2571/3783778364_5a8bdb723d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3783789332_5ddec8bb3a.jpg

[sofala]

Okay here we go!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3783772418_2616d4c450.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2571/3783778364_5a8bdb723d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3782975003_d800f7d28b.jpg

and Hero!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/3783789332_5ddec8bb3a.jpg

[sofala]

You were quick Bigfella!!

[The Bigfella]

You were quick Bigfella!!

Always quick mate, always.

Bub looks well rugged up

[skuthorp]

Looks like a second line barrage, do you think they'll bite the bullet wwith the Coorong and sea water? Anything would be better than it's present state surely, or is the state relying on the desperate hope that it will rain again? Look at todays map, all the systems are 'too far south' as they have been for 8-9 years at least. It may not be 'permanent' but it has been coming for 30 years and may for all practical purposes be so now.

[PeterSibley]

I think "permanent " and "temporary " are getting new meanings .Salt water is better than none .....it's up to the Victorian irrigators .

[JimJ]

How far up the river/ lakes did the salt water go before the barrarges along Coorongwere built to "regulate" the system?

[sofala]

I agree with you Peter. Just look at the scale of these earthworks. I think that they will end up putting the weir in at Wellington and then removing the barrages at Goolwa and flooding the Lower Lakes with sea water. Hopefully, the flows along the Murray will reach SA at some stage and help regulate the higher salt levels.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3786195143_c7114d342a.jpg

Jim, the lakes have been brackish in the past but regular flows of fresh water down the Murray generally kept them fresh. However, sharks have been noticed up as far as Morgan and there are indigenous rock paintings of dolphins up as far as Mannum (Nildotti).

It is a real dilemma for governments and locals as to what should be done. I'm not sure about the weir options but I am a pragmatist and think that this is the most sensible option. But I could be wrong.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
I saw those rock paintings two years ago. The boat we were on was a paddle-steamer drawing about four feet, and there was so little water in the river even then that we couldn't make it upstream as far as the first lock....

Mike

[RFNK]

So when is the next Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival? Rick

[PeterSibley]

Sofala ...where are you in the Adelaide Hills ? I grew up around Aldgate /Bridgewater .

[sofala]

Hi Peter, we live in Bridgewater just off Second Avenue. When did you leave?

The next Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival is in early 2011

This was us sailing at Goolwa in 2009..the levels were down about 1.5m
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3788688642_01da97a61f.jpg

[PeterSibley]

A long , long time ago .:D I left when I was 16 ......1965 .We lived off Kanmantoo Rd ,beside the railway line,the place was still very rural ,sheep ,market gardens and a few small orchards .:)

When I say it was where I grew up ,a slight exaggeration .I arrived in Oz from NZ when I was 12 and lived in Aldgate for only those few years ..but they were a golden time .A lovely part of the world .I'll visit again one day , it's been about 35 years since I was last in SA .

[JimJ]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3788688642_01da97a61f.jpg

Man that water is low compaired to the level when I was at the Festival in 2007.