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Waterwatch
Waterwatch is a national community water monitoring program funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. Waterwatch enables communities to become involved in the monitoring and management of waterways in their catchment. The program aims to build community understanding of water quality issues, and to encourage monitoring groups to undertake actions to rectify water quality problems. The Waterwatch network is made up of individuals, community groups and school groups who undertake a variety of biological and habitat assessments as well as physical and chemical tests to build up a picture of the health of their waterways. Waterwatch contributes significantly to meeting the community involvement aspects of the National Action Plan (NAP) for Salinity and Water Quality. COLLABORATION WITH THE LOWER BURDEKIN INITIATIVE The “Addressing Waterway Health” Waterwatch Project, funded by the Natural Heritage Trust started in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region in July 2001. Conservation Volunteers Australia (Townsville) is the manager of the project. Enthusiastic members of their Green Corps and Green Reserve programs have been trained to monitor the health of local waterways. Another important part of the project involves training individuals who will work in partnership with the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR) to monitor water quality at reference sites. Water quality testing at these sites provides base-line information enabling comparison with the data from the community sites. In the Dry Tropics, Water Quality Testing monitors Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Electrical Conductivity or Salinity, pH, and Turbidity (or clarity). Chemical kits to measure nitrates and phosphates are used to a lesser extent. In fresh water, Waterbugs or macroinvertebrates are also used as indicators of Water Quality. The Burdekin has many large sub-catchments. Some grazing occurs on highly dispersible soils. Sheet erosion hot spots are being addressed by maintaining pasture cover and improved infiltration. Water quality is also being improved by fencing stock from streams, but feral pigs are the new issue. Cane has meant large loss of streamside vegetation and wetlands. Progressive landholders are rehabilitating streambanks and removing extensive and thick carpets of aquatic weeds. Their removal dramatically improves Dissolved Oxygen levels resulting in improved instream habitats and increased fish diversity. The Burdekin “Built on Liquid Gold” reflects the immense value of groundwater to the community. Main issues include continuing groundwater replenishment for sustainable production and to keep the saltwater wedge away from productive land. However salinity (dryland and irrigation) is starting to impact on parts of each catchment. Water quality issues indicate the diverse nature of the many sub-catchments; sediments, Total Suspended Solids, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids, nutrients, and Dissolved Oxygen. CONTACT David Reid |
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