Salinity – Pressures

Salinity – Pressures

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• Pressures
• Management response
• State
• Vulnerability

Sources of ions to wetlands: Ions enter wetlands from diffuse catchment (via local overland surface flow, in overbank flow or groundwater) or directly from point sources. Mining activities (e.g. gas and oil extraction from underground), dryland salinity and sea level rise are all potential causes of a change to wetland conductivity.

Soluble salts are present in Australia's soils and are a remnant of geological history. Salts are also an integral part of the biochemistry of life in terrestrial and aquatic environments though for many freshwater aquatic animals exposure to high concentrations of salt can have toxic effects. Similarly, a lack of salt can also be detrimental to species in saline and estuarine environments. Impacts from salinity have been identified as one of Australia's most serious environmental issues. In areas already affected, salinity has devastated ecosystems resulting in massive loss of habitat, biodiversity, native vegetation and water resource value.[1]

Additional Information

All about salinity information sheet although developed in NSW contains information relevant throughout Australia

References

1. ^ Land and Water Australia (2002), National river contaminants program: integrated management of nutrients, sediment and salt in Australian Rivers. Program Plan 2001/02 - 2004/05, Canberra.

Last updated: 22 March 2013