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About the Catchment Area : Creeks &
Rivers
The Field River
The Field River Catchment is located in the south of Adelaide,
and encompasses an approximate area of 50 square kilometres. The
catchment is bounded on the north by O’Halloran Hill and Sturt
River Catchment, and the Christie Creek Catchment to the south.
The Field River originates in the southern Mt Lofty Ranges and flows
westward to the Gulf of St. Vincent and meets the sea at the southern
extremity of Hallet Cove. The streamflow of the Field River is highly
seasonal and variable, with an average annual runoff of 5,100 ML.
Characteristics
This catchment comprises a mixture of rural, residential, commercial
and industrial land uses, however, approximately 50 per cent of
the land is used primarily for residential and recreation activities.
Major features include the Happy Valley Reservoir in the middle
portion of the catchment, the Southern Expressway in the lower catchment,
and the Lonsdale Industrial Estate (including the Port Stanvac Oil
Refinery and Mitsubishi Motors) at the mouth of the river.
Flora and Fauna
The majority of original native vegetation within the catchment
has been cleared or modified, and now covers only a small percentage
of the catchment area in a highly fragmented and isolated form.
These pockets of remnant vegetation are vulnerable to degrading
processes such as invasion by non-native species, as are their respective
resident animal populations. The five major vegetation communities
are:
- Coastal Vegetation
- Sub-Coastal Woodland
- Grey Box Woodland
- S.A Blue Gum Woodland
- Red Gum Woodland
Numerous species of frogs, birds, mammals and reptiles are also
found throughout the Field River catchment.
Aboriginal and European Heritage
At the time of European settlement, the Aborigines of the Kaurna
‘tribe’ inhabited the area now known as Adelaide. Their
territory is thought to have comprised the coastal plains from Crystal
Brook to Cape Jervis, and to the western edge of the Mt Lofty Ranges.
Early historical accounts suggest that the Kaurna occupied the coastal
areas in summer, and retreated inland during winter. Food resources
that were utilised included small marsupials, insect larvae and
fish. The importance of the coastline to the Kaurna people is clearly
demonstrated, with large quantities of cultural material previously
collected from adjacent to the outflow of the Field River. However,
Aboriginal occupation of inland areas within the catchment is less
obvious, due to the vast amount of suburban development that has
taken place.
The first European expedition into the Noarlunga district (including
the Field River Catchment) was undertaken in 1837 by the Colonial
Commissioner of Crown Lands, James Hurtle Fisher, accompanied by
Colonel Light and John Morphett. The Field River was named after
Lieutenant W.G. Field, R.N., of the brig Rapid, who carried out
a survey of the area for Colonel Light. The mouth of the river was
once considered to be a suitable location for a harbour for moderate-sized
vessels during investigations carried out in 1850. The Field River
provided an important source of water for the early settlers, and
facilitated agricultural and pastoral development within the catchment
area.
Water Management Issues
As a consequence of agricultural and urban development, the physical
characteristics and flow regime of the Field River have been substantially
modified. The following issues are being examined by the Board in
relation to river health and management.
- Community awareness and education to promote responsible water
use practices.
- Water quality, which is affected by urban and agricultural runoff
containing heavy metals, rubbish, elevated nutrient levels and
sediments.
- Sustainable water use, to ensure ongoing availability and viability
of the resource.
- Water course rehabilitation, including bank stabilisation, revegetation
and removal of non-native vegetation, for example, olive and willow
trees.
Active Water Interest Groups and Organisations
- City of Onkaparinga Council
- SA Water
- The Urban Forests Biodiversity Program
- Trees for Life
- Braeview Primary School
- Nativity Primary School
- Reynella East High School
- Friends of Saubier Creek
- Friends of Panalatinga Creek
- Friends of Sheidow Park
- Mary Bywaters Kindergarten
Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board Activities
The Board has produced a Catchment Water Management Plan, as
well as a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Field River, both of
which serve as a means of defining future catchment issues and activities,
while providing an assessment of stream health.
The Board also coordinates the monitoring of a load-based gauging
station on the Field River, which determines the total load of contaminants
that are potentially discharged into the Gulf of St Vincent marine
environment. The gauging station facilitates the calculation of
a water flow rate, while also measuring the concentration of the
following urban and agricultural pollutants.
- Heavy metals
- Nutrients
- Hydrocarbons
Available OCWMB Reference Material
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