Conservation History

Below are PDFs Relating to November 11, 2004 Institutional Responses:

1 Dredging of Eight Mile Creek, NR Skinner, October 2004

2) A fascinating comparison of maps from 1896-2004 which show features mentioned in the text (1) and Road to mouth of 8MC, Deep Creek used to run East-West, etc.

3) South Eastern Water Conservation Drainage Act 1992

Democrat 'The Hon. SANDRA KANCK' raises the issue in parliament. Document

The Conservation Council of South Australia describes Eight Mile Creek as being the most significant freshwater creek in the South East due to its biodiversity and beauty.

Ewens Ponds Photo Gallery a photographic tour of Ewens Ponds and Eight Mile Creek

The Conservation of Ewens Ponds

Neville Skinner is the facilitator of the movement to conserve Eight Mile Creek and the Ewens Pond system.

An unique freshwater ecosystem in South Australia. This site is to assist the conservation of the system.

"In the south east of South Australia, you can do a unique drift dive through three ponds of crystal clear fresh water which eventually takes you to the sea..." http://www.asiandiver.com/travel/australia/ewens_ponds/ewen_ponds.htm

Eight Mile Creek and the Ewens Pond system deserve immediate conservation measures.

Conservation measures should be placed that maintain the water table, prevent pollution through siltation and nutrients, protect wildlife including fish and native invertebrates such as crayfish, and restore necessary native vegetation to preserve the Ewens Ponds and Eight Mile Creek system.

Eight Mile Creek, eight miles to the east of Pt MacDonnell, connects Ewens Ponds to the sea. Eight Mile Creek is 2.3 kilometres in length and flows at 3 cubic meters per. second then enters the sea. Eight Mile Creek is part of an extensive subterranean system of caves in a limestone region (see links 'Geology' below).

Eight Mile Creek is the outlet of the Ewens Ponds system, which consists of three freshwater ponds formed by subterranean springs. Ewens Ponds are interconnected by narrow channels, are 9-12m deep, and spread over a distance of around 300-400m.

Ewens Ponds, their interconnecting channels, and Eight Mile Creek provide an excellent location for snorkelers and divers alike, who visit the area all year round to admire the exquisite beauty of the site. When snorkelling particularly in the channels between the ponds and in Eight Mile Creek the current will glide a diver along, an exhilarating experience. Bubbling limestone sand indicates where subterranean water is entering the system. Waterweeds of various shades of greens and yellows, intermingling with the blues of the water, the browns & whites of the mud and limestone bottom provide a spectacular underwater landscape.

The crystal clear water provides stunning views of this extensive freshwater landscape. Numerous fish species including the tiny threatened Ewens Pygmy Perch and Southern Pygmy Perch can be found sheltered in the weed that grows in the creek. The small trout like native fish the Galaxids fish hover just under the surface. Large freshwater crayfish march across the landscape of lush exotic underwater plants. Species profiles of the Ewens Pygmy Perch and other Australian native fish are found at the Native Fish Australia site http://www.nativefish.asn.au/variegated-pygmy-perch.html.

Night dives are popular and the crystal clear water with a unique combination of underwater landscape, plants, and animal life creates an other worldly ambiance.

Eight Mile Creek is visited by many tourists because of its diversity and beauty and Ewens Ponds is considered as the most significant freshwater dive site in southern Australia.

Unfortunately Eight Mile Creek and Ewens Ponds have not received the conservation measures they deserve. The system is surrounded by agricultural land which has been extensively cleared and drained. About 40-50 years ago agricultural drains were run into Eight Mile Creek so to convert the surrounding wetlands into winter pasture. These drains still pollute Eight Mile Creek (see Conservation History 27/05/04 Pollution of Eight Mile Creek). Because of siltation from soil loss from the surrounding pastures and bank erosion (see history ) Eight Mile Creek has been frequently dredged (see Conservation History 7/05/04 The dredging). Fortunately an old map has been recently found which will enable the original habitat surrounding the ponds to be restored where necessary (see Conservation History July 13, 2004 The Old 1896 Map.

LINKS