An image of western Adelaide taken whilst flying out to Perth on Friday morning. It was an early morning flight and the light was soft as the plane flew over the coastal waters.

Adelaide , originally uploaded by poodly.

The area is the salt fields Boliva Treatment Plant and the Port River estuary. To the right are the clusters of grey mangroves (Avicennia marina var resinifera), the inlets that provide sanctuary for the bottlenose dolphins, and the Torrens Island Power Station that pumps heated water into one of the channels within the estuary.

The main obstacle to a reform of the river system has been the pumping of dangerous waste (sewerage and industrial from Bolivar WWTP and Penrice Soda Products respectively ) into a natural waterway, as this is the easiest, cheapest and most legal way to dispose of the toxic waste

This area has been a centre for heavy industry in South Australia and the Port River has been its drain. Historically, there has been a range of pollutants that have been discharged to the waterways, but it is he nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) that are of most concern in causing the loss of seagrass and mangroves.

For an on-the-ground view of this area, as interpreted by this earlier image, you can do no better than explore the Port River and Environs set of Gabriella S. Gabriella has extensive knowledge of the area --and its increasing industrialization- -from kayaking around the Port River estuary.