From field-based climate monitoring and student placements to hands-on community engagement and new research reports, the CLLMM Research Centre team has been busy working across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth region.
Recent Highlights
- Monitoring Changes in Tidal Wetlands: Associate Professor Alice Jones and her team from Adelaide University have been out in the field installing new surface elevation tables (SETs). This equipment is vital for tracking the long-term health, resilience, and evolution of tidal ecosystems and coastlines under climate change and rising sea levels.
- ‘Build a Fish’ National Water Week Event: Over 50 school children visited the Centre to celebrate National Water Week under this year’s theme, “Water connects everything”. Led by SARDI aquatic ecologist Dr. Connor Gervais, the kids explored local aquatic life, fish species, and their unique relationships to the region’s waterways.
- Student Environmental Industry Placement: Adelaide University Master of Science and Environmental Conservation student Daisy Wangui Gitau completed an industry placement at the Centre. Inspired by prior studies in Fire and Culture, Daisy focused heavily on First Nations participation in modern environmental management.
- New Research Reports Released: The Centre recently published a tranche of new research reports, including insights into freshwater soaks along the Younghusband Peninsula using satellite imagery analysis, alongside broader findings on regional climate adaptation.
- Phytoplankton Communities and Algal Bloom Surveys: Ongoing investigations into how water levels, salinity, nutrients, and temperature shape phytoplankton habitats across the Coorong to help predict and manage ecological and algal bloom risks.
- Can We Improve Estuarine Connectivity in the CLLMM? A recent project explored the effects of controlled, two-way water movement through the barrages (when Coorong water levels exceed lake levels). Findings show that reverse flows successfully assisted larval, juvenile, and adult fish movement across the barrage interface and proved more ecologically beneficial than traditional gate closure practices, supporting flexible event-based operations.
Upcoming Community Activities
- Weaving Workshops: Free, creative community weaving sessions led by Kyla McHughes Centre as a wonderful way to connect with Country, culture, and community. Sessions are available on the 6th and 13th November 2026. Register here
To find out more, visit the CLLMM Research Centre website.
