River Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
Flyway
East Asian - Australasian flyway
Initiative
WLI Asia-Oceania
About
Name of organisation
River Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc.
Funding support
Membership Fees, Donations, Grants
Number of staff
0
Number of visitors per year
2026: 1150 2025: 947 2024: 797
Overall aims of the centre
RLCAG Vision: To achieve a fair and healthy water allocation, based on science, for all users including the environment.
RLCAG Mission: To protect, conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the River Murray, Lakes and Coorong - which includes the "Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetland" by ensuring environmentally sustainable quantities of healthy water continue to flow and this water is managed for the benefit of the Traditional Owners, current users and future generations.
Description of the centre
Region: Oceania Country/territory: Australia Type of wetland: Peri-urban Area sqm: 9999999 Habitats and species:
The Coorong, and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland is Ramsar site contains 23 recognised wetland types. The major habitats include:
• Coorong lagoons – long, shallow brackish to hypersaline lagoons extending for more than 100 km.
• Murray Mouth and estuary – where the Murray River meets the Southern Ocean, providing an important connection between freshwater, estuarine and marine environments.
• Lake Alexandrina – a large, shallow freshwater to brackish lake with extensive fringing vegetation.
• Lake Albert – a terminal lake connected to Lake Alexandrina.
• Freshwater marshes and pools – including wetlands around the Lower Lakes and tributaries.
• Intertidal mud, sand and salt flats – particularly important feeding habitat for migratory shorebirds.
• Coastal saltmarsh and samphire vegetation – important habitat around the estuary and Coorong.
• Reed and sedgelands – including common reed, Phragmites australis, and Typha species.
• Swamp paperbark woodland – patches of Melaleuca halmaturorum around the Lower Lakes.
• Lignum shrublands – dominated by Muehlenbeckia florulenta.
• Submerged aquatic vegetation – including Ruppia species, which are an important foundation of the Coorong food web.
• Dune and coastal habitats – including the Younghusband Peninsula and ocean beach.
The wetland supports more than 100 recorded fish species and very large numbers of waterbirds. The site is particularly important for migratory shorebirds. It regularly supports more than 20,000 waterbirds, with an average of about 256,600 waterbirds recorded during January seasonal migratory surveys between 2000 and 2015. Birds include:
• Australian pelican
• Fairy tern and Crested tern
• Rufous night heron and white Faced Heron
• Black swan and Swamp Hens
• Banded stilt
• Red-necked stint
• Red-capped plover and Hooded plover
• Curlew sandpiper and Sharp-tailed sandpiper
• Australian pied oystercatcher
• Eastern curlew
• Australasian bittern
• Wood duck, Freckled duck, Shelducks, Grey Teal duck, and Pacific Black ducks
Our Wetland is especially important because some fish need to move between freshwater, estuarine and marine environments during their life cycles. The Murray Mouth provides the only access point from the sea into the Murray–Darling Basin for these diadromous fish.
Fish and aquatic animals include:
• Murray hardy head
• Yarra pygmy perch, Sliver Perch and Southern pygmy perch
• Murray cod
• Congolli
• Pouched lamprey
• Common galaxias
• Lagoon goby and Tamar goby
• Southern bell frog
The wetland contains diverse aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, including:
• Ruppia species (aquatic plants)
• Common reed (Phragmites australis)
• Typha species
• River red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
• Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta)
• Swamp paperbark (Melaleuca halmaturorum)
• Samphire species
• Cutting grass (Gahnia filum)
• Freshwater herblands
• Sandhill greenhood orchid (Pterostylis arenicola)
• Silver daisy-bush (Olearia pannosa subsp. pannosa) DDCCEEW
Why it is internationally important
The combination of freshwater lakes, saline lagoons, estuary, mudflats, saltmarsh, coastal dunes and marshes allows species with very different habitat requirements to occur within one connected wetland system. It supports threatened species and ecological communities, provides breeding and nursery habitat for fish and birds, and acts as an important refuge during drought.
In particular, the Ramsar site supports threatened ecological communities including the Swamps of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh.
Featured programmes:
Because there is no ‘one’ Wetland Centre building, The Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetland in South Australia is managed through several environmental programs aimed at restoring water quality, wetlands, native vegetation, fish and waterbird habitat, and the overall health of the ecosystem.
Major environmental programs include:
• Shorebird and Wetland Habitat (SaWH) Program – A current $17 million program supporting 25 projects across 35 wetland sites. It improves habitat for migratory shorebirds and threatened species through wetland restoration, better water management, weed control, pest-fish exclusion, and protection from feral foxes and cats. DDCCEEW
• Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin (HCHB) – A long-term program focused particularly on the Coorong South Lagoon. It supports scientific research, wetland restoration, development of long-term management options, and involvement of the Ngarrindjeri, First Nations communities and local communities. DDCCEEW
• The Living Murray Program – Provides environmental water to the Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth. It also supports monitoring, management of the barrages and infrastructure, and consultation with Traditional Owners and communities. The aim is to maintain a healthier estuary, fish populations and migratory waterbird habitat. DEW
• Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Recovery Project – Although the main project ran from 2012–2020, it established many ongoing restoration activities. These included revegetation, restoration of wetlands, fishways and fish habitat, Ruppia tuberosa restoration, pest and weed management, acid-sulfate-soil management, and ecological monitoring. DDCCEEW
• Environmental water management – Water is deliberately delivered to the Lower Lakes and through the barrages to maintain appropriate water levels, support aquatic vegetation and fish, improve waterbird habitat, reduce salinity and maintain connection between the River Murray, Coorong and Southern Ocean. DDCCEEW and DEW
• Wetland and vegetation restoration – Projects involve planting native vegetation, fencing sensitive areas, restoring degraded wetlands and waterways, removing barriers to water movement, and controlling invasive plants and animals. Landscape SA
• Threatened-species and shorebird conservation – Restoration projects are designed to provide breeding and feeding habitat for migratory shorebirds, waterbirds, native fish, frogs, turtles and other threatened species. For example, recent work at Tolderol Game Reserve increased managed wetland habitat by about 50 hectares. DDCCEEW and DEW
• The Working on Country (WoC) Rangers program has involved First Nations Elders and scientists in practical fieldwork, including freshwater-soak investigations, groundwater monitoring and ground-truthing spatial information. First Nations organisations are involved in co-designing research priorities, monitoring Country, sharing cultural knowledge, and contributing to environmental decision-making. The CLLMM Research Centre explicitly describes First Nations communities as guiding research priorities and participating in the design and delivery of projects. It has meant that some previously restricted areas have opened up for visiting and conduct cultural business again. CLLMM Research Centre.
• The River Lakes and Coorong Action Group interacts and supports these programs in various ways, as we campaign for Improved Water Quality, Sustainable Flow Levels, Community Awareness and Active Stewardship, Improved Habitat and Biodiversity, the Protection of Native Species, the Control of invasive species and weeds, and the Involvement of Traditional Owners in caring for the Ramsar site.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
COMMUNICATION is managed by:
• a dedicated Media and Communications RLCAG Committee Position, who uses Facebook, LinkedIn, the RLCAG Website and collaboration with the Murray Darling Conservation Alliance.
• Newsletters to Members and Friends
• Professional Secretarial communication with Government Departments, Politicians, and Research Centres.
EDUCATION is managed via:
• Social Media and Website
• School programs as requested
• Annual River Science Forum
• Information Gazebo at Dupang Pangari (Spirit of the Coorong Festival) etc. and the Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival.
• Publication of online Forums and Event opportunities.
PARTICIPATION is sought via all communication avenues to:
• Participation in Citizen Science e.g. Lokeri (Fresh Water Mussel) Project
• Baseline Data collection e.g. CLLMM Carbon Capture Project
• Participation in the State ‘Dept Environment & Water CLLMM Community Advisory Panel’, which provides community knowledge, advice and feedback to DEW, facilitating a two-way exchange of information to support the development, planning and implementation of water-management actions in the region.
• Participation in the CLLMM Research Centre Regional Community Advisory Forum, which ensure that research is relevant to regional communities and that community knowledge, experience and priorities can inform the Centre's research. It supports knowledge exchange and uptake, so research findings can potentially inform environmental management, policy and community action.
• Participation and collaboration with other like-minded organizations such as the Lifeblood Alliance, the Coorong Environmental Trust, and others.
AWARENESS RAISING is challenged by:
• All of the above mentioned avenues, plus:
• Our new Three Year, Staged ‘Ramsar Signage Project’, where our aim is to erect internationally recognizable Ramsar Convention signs throughout the Wetland Footprint, which highlight wildlife and ecosystem features, specific to the various different locations selected. As the new Signage is completed, it will be publicized in Birding magazine, granting bodies and government departmental newsletters, social media and various compatible websites. Because the River Lakes and Coorong Action Group is a NFP incorporated Association and Registered Charity, all funds for this project have come from Donations and Grants and that fundraising will continue until all three phases have been accomplished. This will continue and facilitate and grow our CEPA profile.
Top three successes
- Our member’s participation, alongside Ngarrindjeri volunteers, in the citizen science baseline data collection for the Lokeri (Fresh Water Mussel) Project has ensured valuable knowledge exchange and maximisation of the locations investigated. The lead researcher has therefore been successful in securing funding for future stages of this research program. RLCAG Inc. also won a place in the Ramsar international Photo competition showcased at the 15th Meeting of the Ramsar Convention (COP 15), in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in July 2025, with a photo taken during that activity. Get out and get involved!! It’s fun to involve the Community and it usually achieves better outcomes.
- RLCAG, through lobbying and advocacy to politicians, Government officials and Departments, have played our part in helping to secure two major beneficial outcomes for the Wetland in the last 12 months. First, the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, through the EPBC Act, formally listed the CLLMM Wetland as ‘Critically Endangered’ in January 2026. Second, the Mundoo Island Cattle station was purchased by a partnership involving the Federal Government, South Australian Government and the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. This secures approximately 1,900 hectares within the Ramsar Wetland, to be incorporation into Coorong National Park. Ecological restoration programs have now begun, to bring back the original natural ecosystems of that area. Keep lobbying and knocking on doors – your voices will eventually be heard.
- RLCAG River Science Forums have been a great success in keeping the community informed, scientists acknowledged and Governments committed to our objectives for the River and the Wetland. Collaboration is key – apply for grant funding to help run your event.
Top three challenges
- Local Governments can sometimes leave the environment at the bottom of their to-do lists when prioritising the needs of rate payers – there’s always ‘potholes to be repaired’!! Use every opportunity you have to canvass sympathetic council members, attend public council meetings when necessary and make submissions whenever there’s a ‘Have Your Say’ opportunity. We’re making real progress that way with one of our local councils – partnership works better than persecution.
- ‘Opposing Interests’ remain a significant challenge to our Mission. Some political and multinational farming interests further upstream still spread disinformation and misinformation about the state of the River and associated Wetlands. Stick to the facts – don’t be drawn into personal and derogatory commentary – your truths will find their voice.
- Legislative and Administrative regulations can become biased and abused. The MDBA has found it difficult to prevent and prosecute over extraction upstream and the 2007 Federal Water Act, saw the accidental outcome of commoditising Water by pricing it on the open market. Complications such as these see our Ramsar Wetland at the end of the system, suffer the consequences. Stay at the table – make submissions to reviews and inquiries as they arise – advocate.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage / site information, Producing written materials, Using audio-visual tools
Visitor centres
Participation
Engaging young people, Engaging the local community, Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Early years education, Delivering adult education, Working with primary schools, Lobbying / running campaigns, Working with secondary schools, Developing resources / materials
General
PR and marketing, Running effective administration, Fund-raising, Project planning
Contact
PO Box 2384
Clayton Bay, South Australia 5256
River Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc Clayton Bay SA
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