Workshops rolled out to increase understanding about acid sulphate soils

A communication program to highlight the problem of increasing levels of acid sulphate soils in inland waterways across New South Wales is underway.

Designed by the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, the program includes a series of workshops to increase understanding among government stakeholders and the public about the causes and risks of soil acidification by sulphidic sediments to wetland regions.

A practical tool to help identify whether a particular wetland is acid prone is also presented at the workshops.

To date, four workshops have been held in the Murray, Western, Central West and Namoi Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs), and two more are planned for November 2007 in the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee CMAs. A CD-ROM featuring workshop materials is being produced and will be available from the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

The program is an extension of a previous project, funded by the NSW Government's Environmental Trust, by the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and the NSW Murray Wetland Working Group.  This project found that 20 per cent of the 81 inland wetland areas surveyed contained sulphidic sediment levels capable of ecological damage if mismanaged.

Such damage may include the death of fish and other aquatic species, bad smelling waterways due less oxygen in the water and the corrosion of concrete and steel pipes, bridges and other underwater infrastructure.

The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre is working on a further project, funded by the National Water Commission, to develop management strategies to minimise sulphidic sediments in wetlands.

For more information visit:

• Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre website
• Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW website.