First Nations water case studies
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this webpage may contain images, voices, and videos of deceased persons.
The following stories describe successful involvement of First Nations groups and people in planning and delivering great water outcomes in South Australia.
On-Ground Works project
The On-Ground Works project aims to foster Teringie and Lake Hawdon North wetlands to become best-practice examples of Indigenous wetland management, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, practices, objectives and visions.
- Read about the Restoring wetland habitat at Teringie Wetlands project
- Read about the Restoring wetland habitat at Lake Hawdon North project
Coorong Restoration Roadmap (2024)
Following a best practice engagement format, the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program partnered with Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South East community members to ensure a strong First Nations voice across the program. The program collaborated with board members, Elders and young people, and supported people on Country through working/focus groups and yarning circles. The knowledge shared helped form the Coorong Restoration Roadmap.
Ngarrindjeri Knowledge Research project
The Ngarrindjeri Knowledge Research project ran a series of workshops to capture oral histories of the Coorong and produced a database, research projects, and a Yarluwar-Ruwe assessment tool.
- Read about it in the Trials and Investigations project key findings report
Coorong Freshwater Soaks project (2023-24)
Freshwater soaks were identified as a key area of interest for future research during consultation with First Nations groups on the draft Coorong Restoration Roadmap. Soaks are bodies of water often stored below ground and are a water source for native animals.
- News story (28 May 2024): Coorong freshwater soaks project: a collaborative success story
- News story (1 February 2024): Viewing new knowledge through a fresh lens
Ngarrindjeri knowledge database (2021)
A Ngarrindjeri led and owned research project enabling inter-generational learning for Ngarrindjeri people to share knowledge of the Coorong and the local ecology.
- News story (28 July 2021): Ngarrindjeri knowledge database to inform Coorong management
The SA Constraints Measures project is committed to incorporating Ngarrindjeri Knowledge into better management of enhanced high flows for environmental benefits and community resilience. As part of this commitment, the project formed the Pomberuk Co-Design Working Group to ensure project strategies and actions were shaped by Ngarrindjeri obligations to protect their cultural heritage and maintain their rights and responsibilities to Country.
The project received a commendation in the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and Practice in waterway management’ category at the 2024 Australian Stream Management Awards.
Read about the SA Constraints Measures project Pomberuk Co-Design Working Group
Aboriginal Waterways Assessment at Chowilla Floodplain (2020)
Following the delivery of water for the environment to Coombool Swamp between September 2019 and January 2020, the site continued to hold water and was being used by large numbers of water birds.
An Aboriginal Waterways Assessment (AWA) was undertaken of the floodplain by the First Peoples in early March. AWA’s are used by Traditional Owners to assess the cultural values of wetlands and other important sites to support environmental water and wetland management planning.
- News story (19 February 2021): Aboriginal Waterways Assessments providing a platform for two-way knowledge sharing
- News story (21 July 2020): Traditional owners support successful watering for the environment at Chowilla
Fact sheets
Rivers, the veins of our Country (2020-21), contains 10 true stories about a range of activities in which the involvement of First Nations in water for the environment planning and delivery led to significant benefits. The publication Includes 2 South Australian stories:
- Cultural knowledge informing water use at Chowilla Floodplain
- Sharing the knowledge through The Living Murray Indigenous Partnerships program
Check out these other Murray-Darling Basin Authority fact sheets describing First Nations partnerships within The Living Murray Program in South Australia:
The Pike Floodplain project (2022)
The Katarapko Floodplain project (2022)
Basin Plan Amendment – Indigenous water commitments (Section 3) (2018)
This Marsden Jacob discussion paper focuses on Indigenous water in the Basin. In agreement with the Panel, concentrating on five key questions.
Generally, the water allocation plans for the Mallee and Peake-Roby-Sherlock prescribed wells areas are fit for purpose, however, improvements can be made to achieve First Nations water-related values and outcomes. Amendments were made to bring the plans in line with the most recent legislation.
