Colin and Sally Grundy are constantly undertaking initiatives to preserve and improve the magnificent environment in which they live.

A number of problems that have arisen during the drought and no River Murray flow since 2007 have caused great concern and heartache.

The over-allocation of the Murray-Darling Basin resources for many years has resulted in the current, unprecedented environmental devastation. 

 THE WATER IS BACK!

September 2010 we witnessed the first of the River Murray water inching it's way back to our island desert.

Over a period of 2 - 4 weeks the water had returned to near normal levels throughout our property and we were once again surrounded by water - not sand.

As an added bonus we have experienced very high levels of flow which has resulted in the barrage gates being opened and allowing the salt water to flush out to the Coorong, and eventually the sea, via the Murray mouth.

It has been a very trying few years and we hope that lessons have been learnt about over allocation of water from the Murray Darling Basin.

This situation should never be witnessed again.

The following photos have been taken since the return of the water and the devastation of the unprecidented over-allocation combined with a prolonged drought - photos can be seen further down the page as a reminder of the devastation to our environment.

The following photos demonstrate the change in water levels in a matter of 4 months in the same location.

                 


Birds, frogs, fish, swan nesting ... so many species are bouncing back!

              


The Bad Years ...


                   


The Grundys installed a private, fresh water pipeline to water their stock, as the islands were no longer surrounded by the fresh water of the River Murray.

The River Murray was no longer flowing and the islands that were normally surrounded by fresh water were in a desert state.

The carrying capacity was greatly reduced and therefore the Grundys were under immense pressure to survive the unprecidented situation.


                      

Hundreds of tortoises died due to the  encrustation of tubeworm on their shells as a result of the salt water leaking through the barrages.

Colin, Sally and their 2 children, Jessie and Jack, together with friends rescued hundreds of tortoises.

Many tortoises were collected whilst walking along the river's edge, shells cleaned of the bristleworm and saved from a certain death.



                          


The Southern Pygmy Perch and Murray hardyhead suffered considerably in the Lower Lakes due to destruction of their habitat.

Colin and Sally had 2 sites on their property where they were nurturing both species but sadly the evaporation over Summer destroyed both sites.

The University of SA are assisting with the monitoring of these important refuse sites.

Salinity levels increased dramatically in remnant pools of water still present making fish survival almost impossible.


Click on the title of the Report below to read the results: 

Zooplankton response to watering of an off-channel site at the Lower Lakes and implications for Murray hardyhead recruitment:  August 2010

By Scotte Wedderburn, Russell Shiel, Karl Hillyard & Justin Brookes


                                 


There were many changes in nature as a result of no river flow and the resultant lack of fresh water.

Bees were swarming around the Mundoo Homestead and snakes were more prevalent in paddocks and around the homestead in search of fresh water.

Foxes were often seen scavenging for food during the day as the food stock was depleted.



                                


The normally picturesque Lake Alexandrina was a deserted wasteland.

The usual 1.5m of freshwater was not seen in the Lower Lakes of the River Murray from 2007 until September 20010.

The ecology changed so drastically that it is unlikely to ever fully recover from this disaster.


                                  


Natural bioremediation occured in some areas of the sand exposed by the dry lakebed.

The government aerial seeded many areas of the exposed sandy lakebed.

The seed grew in some areas and stabilised the sand drifts.

The Lower Lakes and Coorong area has been a vital haven for migratory and native species.

Hopefully the environment will once again flourish and provide the habitat for so many species that are no longer present.


                       


The following photographs were taken  in June 2008 by Kelly Barnes from "The Australian" newspaper
and show the devastation of the Lower Lakes from the over allocation of water from the Murray-Darling Basin.