Today the Anglesea River, which runs from Victoria’s Otway Ranges into the Bass Strait, is in the throes of an ecological catastrophe. Still, residents have recounted seeing thousands of dead fish floating up on the shores of the river. The river was historically a major fishing resource. Its health has dramatically worsened in recent years, alarming residents and environmental regulators alike.
Amber Clarke, the chief executive of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), stated that multiple factors could be contributing to the alarming fish deaths. She pointed to a “drying climate” as the most suspect which may be worsening the river’s already fragile state. Climate change has increased sulphuric acid production in the surrounding soils. As a consequence, the water has become acidic with low pH levels, which is directly toxic to fish.
The severity of the situation has led to an outcry and calls for increased investigation into what is contributing to this dramatic change in the river’s ecosystem. Clarke stressed that experts have not sufficiently studied the present water quality crisis. This raises so many questions that point to an unstable future for the Anglesea River.
Impact of Drying Climate
The West’s warming and drying climate has led to an ecological crisis of dramatic magnitude. With precipitation still decreasing, it’s forcing the aquifers to draw water down into the ground. This pumpage creates an aquifer recharge cycle rather than a soil moisture balance. This phenomenon further enhances sulphur oxidation, resulting in increased sulphuric acid production.
“In fact, it’s subtracting from it. It’s drawing water away from the creeks and creating a situation where it’s far drier than it should be,” – Amber Clarke
These low pH or acidic water conditions have fatal effects on aquatic organisms. Clarke described how these extreme conditions can have a devastating effect on fish. They cause lesions on the fish skin and gills, increasing their susceptibility to disease and mortality.
Moreover, the Anglesea River’s coastal plains soils are rich in sulphur, especially in its northern section. This geographical factor adds to the cumulative threat against the local fish population. These factors together make for a really dangerous threat to the river’s ecosystem. All of this is deeply concerning for the long-term health of our river.
Historical Context and Future Challenges
Local resident and environmental monitor Keith Shipton has seen at least six of these mass fish death disasters since 2000. He shared about past fish kills where the river was basically dead for months at a time.
“In 2019, after the last fish kill, which was cleaned up, the river was dead — effectively dead — for three years,” – Keith Shipton
During a storm surge event in early 2022, Shipton noticed a tidal effect in the river. This unprecedented restoration helped rebound local fish stocks in the process. This unfortunate event highlights the complex and interconnected nature of rainfall trends and river health.
Even with these short-lived fixes, experts caution that solving the deeper problem is tricky business. Clarke was quick to underscore that there is no easy fix to restoring estuaries affected by corrosive water. The CCMA has already recognized that all of these possible solutions will take significant time and resources.
“There’s really no simple or ideal fix to the problem,” – Amber Clarke
Clarke continued to detail the daunting challenges ahead explaining that some possible solutions show promise but none are assured to create lasting impact. The complex nature of the problems affecting the Anglesea River will require ongoing work and consideration.
Investigating Long-term Solutions
The return of these keystone species of the Anglesea River environment ecosystem is testament to the importance of tackling the environmental challenges that lie ahead, CCMA says. Research indicates uncertainty regarding effective solutions. New research shows that the legacy of Alcoa’s historic coal mining operations can continue to severely impact water quality. This effect lingers even ten years after the end of the operations.
“These studies have shown that there is no certainty the issues can be successfully addressed, and all options would require a sustained, long-term effort and significant investment,” – CCMA
Clarke added that most Americans believe climate change is the sole driving force behind these problems. He argues there have got to be other factors at work. She indicated that understanding whether the river is “doomed” or if it can recover with improved aquifer conditions is vital for future planning.
“If we’ve got a situation where the river’s doomed, we need to operate on that basis and see if we can at least help it,” – Amber Clarke
She said she was optimistic that creating an aquifer restoration could result in recovery. Beyond that, she focused on the need to focus on restoring the entire ecosystem.
“If it’s not all about climate change, and if the aquifer recovery is going to help the whole ecosystem recover, then we should be working towards that,” – Amber Clarke
Residents and officials alike are eagerly watching the ongoing developments in Anglesea. Together, immediate action and long-term strategies will be key to restoring this strategic waterway and protecting its health for generations to come.
