Hydrological effects of floodgate management on coastal floodplain agriculture

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Extensive drainage systems have been constructed on coastal floodplains to mitigate the effects of floods and to enable the development of agricultural industries. They have also greatly increased the rate of acidity entering creeks and estuaries from acid sulfate soils, resulted in a loss of fish breeding habitats and led to changes in the vegetation composition of backswamps. Coastal drains usually have floodgates which prevent tidal inundation of backswamps and reduce the ingress of saline water along the drainage system. The floodgates also prevent fish movement and increase drainage of acidic groundwater.