For
The acid sulphate problem is serious and likely to get worse, and these soils should be covered up by the only water available in large enough quantities, seawater.
The Lakes were originally a tidal estuary, where the lower parts nearer the sea would have been subject to daily inundation of seawater at high tide.
The drought may continue for some years, perhaps even for a very long time if we are entering a climatically dry period, which could be exacerbated by global warming.
Even if more water could be released from upstream, under the present situation of State control, it is unlikely that water in sufficient quantities will be released in time to prevent a serious situation from developing.
Precipitation upstream will be used to replenish the extremely low storages before it will be released to the lower reaches.
In a worst case scenario, this may lead to Lake Alexandrina developing into a series of isolated salty, acidified pools, with no water in Lake Albert, leading to toxic dust being blown inland with concomitant health problems.
The modifying effect of the original large body of water on the climate of the surrounding lands would disappear.
The building of weirs to protect fresh waters of the River Murray and Finniss Rivers is necessary to maintain the pool height for Adelaide’s water intake, and provide refuges for freshwater wildlife behind the weirs.
The huge loss of fresh water by evaporation from the surface of the Lakes cannot be afforded under a regime of water scarcity.