A great tide of water has rushed past Nathan Keogh’s parched Kalamurina station for 14 days, coursing inexorably towards Lake Eyre 100km to the west, says The Australian (9/3/07, p. 7).
Faster than last flood: It surged into the lake’s main inlet, the Warburton Groove, last Tuesday, branching into shallow creeks from the main river bed, the water rising and running faster than when the last flood hit the South Australian outback region in 2004.
Salt problem: William Creek charter pilot Trevor Wright says the headwaters, now about 6km into the Groove and headed towards Dalhunty Island, are dark with salt and rubbish collected along the way. "It’s funnelling through fast," said Mr Wright, who took images of Lake Eyre for The Australian.
Birds – then tourists: The great pulse of water stimulates production of micro-organisms that are the major source of food for fish. Ultimately, it is the increased aquatic production that attracts huge numbers of water birds. And the pelicans, black swans, cormorants, teal and black ducks will soon be joined by tourists, some of whom enter the lake via the Groove.
Yacht club: The Lake Eyre Yacht Club is already preparing to launch craft along the floodwater. The most extensive filling of Lake Eyre was in 1974, when it filled to capacity and reached a maximum depth of 5.7m.
The Australian, 9/3/2007, p.7
Source: Erisk Net