How does salinisation affect fish, birds and other species that rely on wetlands?
Too much salt in our rivers is just like another pollutant such as oil or pesticides. As we increase that level of pollution in our rivers the species retreat more and more into smaller areas and refuges away from salinity. A good example is the Macquarie Marshes – a wonderful wetland where the salinity level predicted to hit the marshes in 30 years is 1500 EC units, which is the level at which we are set to lose whole plant communities. Fish species are in real trouble, and invertebrates are well and truly disappeared in many of the river systems.
