The Australian Democrats today called on the state government to account for the $7 million spent so far on the River Torrens’ Catchment.

The call comes in response to news that Torrens Lake will be closed to all recreational activities this week, less than two weeks before the Head of the River rowing race.

"While South Australians have tolerated an unsightly River Torrens for some time, the are not willing to live with the recreational and environmental values of the Torrens continually under threat," Australian Democrats leader, Mike Elliott, said today.

"Since 1997 the Torrens Catchment Water Management Board has spent a little over $7 million to keep the Torrens Lake tenuously safe.

"All it takes is two days of rain and the Adelaide City Council has to erect warning signs that no one is to go on the water.

"A month ago it was dead ducks, now our rowers are left high and dry in the training period just prior to an important race meet.

"If our native wildlife cannot survive in and around the Torrens Lake then obviously any existing targets are not stringent enough.

"By the end of this year, local communities will have contributed around $11 million in levies, clearly the time for real water quality improvement is long overdue."