Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions in Intermittently Closed and Open
Lake and Lagoon (ICOLL) Wetlands: Implications for Salinity and
Ecological Functioning
Abstract
Coastal wetlands are dynamic ecosystems where freshwater and saltwater
interactions are governed by both hydrological and oceanic processes.
However, climate change and human interventions, such as lagoon
breaching, increasingly disrupt these processes, posing challenges for
ecosystem conservation. This study investigates the hydrogeological
controls on water levels and salinity within a coastal wetland adjacent
to Avoca Lagoon, an Intermittently Closed and Open Lake or Lagoon
(ICOLL) in New South Wales, Australia. The wetland was specifically
designed to provide breeding habitat for the endangered Green and Golden
Bell Frog, which requires low-salinity conditions for breeding. To
assess groundwater-surface water interactions and saltwater dynamics, we
employed a multidisciplinary approach, integrating water level and
salinity monitoring using surface water and groundwater piezometers at
depths of 3.5 to 5.5 m, electrical resistivity tomography to
characterise subsurface conditions, and bathymetric and salinity
profiling of the lagoon. Results indicate strong hydraulic connectivity
between the wetland and the lagoon, with groundwater discharge playing a
critical role in sustaining freshwater conditions. While high lagoon
levels can breach natural barriers and introduce brackish water into the
wetland, low lagoon levels - resulting from controlled breaching - can
cause wetland desiccation, reducing its suitability for frog breeding.
These findings underscore the need for conservation strategies that
balance flood management with habitat preservation. By advancing our
understanding of ICOLL-influenced wetland hydrogeology, this research
highlights the delicate interplay between hydrological processes,
anthropogenic management, and frog habitat. Integrating groundwater
dynamics into coastal wetland management will be crucial for sustaining
ecological functions under future climate variability and sea level
rise.