ACT Water Report

2012-14

ACT Water Report

2012-14 Further Information For further information on this report, please contact:

Catchment Management and Water Policy Environment and Planning Directorate Telephone: 13 22 81 Facsimile: 6207 2316 Website: www.environment.act.gov.au/water

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without the written permission from Customer Services and Information, Environment and Planning Directorate (EPD), ACT Government, GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601

Disclaimer: EPD does not guarantee that the data is free from errors.

Published by the ACT Government Environment and Planning Directorate

Front cover photos: Dickson Wetland (EPD)

The ACT Government is committed to making information, services, events and venues accessible to as many people as possible. If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication on an alternative format –such as large print or audio – please telephone 02 6207 7307.

If English is not your first language and you require the translating and interpreting service please telephone 131 450. If you are deaf or hearing impaired and require the TTY typewriter service please telephone 02 6207 2622.

4 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Contents

Executive Summary...... 9 Results Summary ...... 9 Introduction...... 11 Water quality standards...... 14 Section 1: Water Resources...... 15 Water resource use...... 15 Fostering sustainable water resource use through regulation ��18 Licences on issue...... 21 Climate and water resources...... 22 Section 2: Water quality condition...... 25 Water quality monitoring program...... 25 Biological assessment of ecosystem condition ��26 Condition of ACT waters ...... 28 Summary of water quality observations for 2012–2014 ��29 Indicators ...... 30 Nutrient levels...... 30 Total Phosphorus...... 30 Total Nitrogen...... 32 Suspended solids...... 34 Turbidity...... 36 Conductivity...... 37 pH (Acidity)...... 40 Dissolved Oxygen...... 42 Faecal coliform bacteria...... 44 Chlorophyll ‘a’ ...... 46 Algal monitoring of lake recreation areas...... 48 Blue-Green Algae (Planktonic Cyanobacteria) ��48 AUSRIVAS (Biological assessment using benthic macroinvertebrates) ��51 Lakes ...... 55 Point Hut Pond...... 55 Lake Tuggeranong ...... 56 Flemington Road Pond...... 58 Ginninderra Watershed...... 59 Yerrabi Pond ...... 59 Gungahlin Pond...... 61 Lake Ginninderra ...... 62

www.environment.act.gov.au 5 Rivers...... 64 Murrumbidgee River (Sites 204, 209 and 213) ��64 Ginninderra Creek (Site 301 and Sites 195, 196 and 64) ��67 Molonglo River (Sites 601 and 608) ...... 69 Queanbeyan River (Site 769) ...... 71 Gudgenby River (Site 901 and Site 20)...... 73 Minor Waterways...... 74 Tidbinbilla River (Site 15)...... 74 Jerrabomberra Creek (Site 246)...... 75 Yarralumla Creek (Site 189)...... 76 Tuggeranong Creek (Site 58) ...... 77 Section 3: Research activities...... 78 Groundwater Resources in the ACT ...... 78 Threatened Fish in the ACT...... 81 Upper Murrumbidgee River Demonstration Reach ��83 Section 4: Community Engagement...... 84 Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee ��84 Waterwatch...... 84 Frogwatch...... 85

List of Figures Figure 1: Land use and main rivers of the ACT ...... 11 Figure 2: Boundaries of Water Management Areas under the Water Resources Act 2007 ��17 Figure 3: Comparison of 2012-2014 monthly and long term average monthly rainfalls at Melba, Belconnen and Mt Ginini in the Corin Reservoir Catchment...... 23 Figure 4: Average monthly flow July 2012 to June 2014 in Ginninderra Creek (410750) upstream of Charnwood Road compared with the long-term average monthly flow for that site ��23 Figure 5: A comparison of the average monthly flow (July 2012–June 2014) to the long-term average monthly flow in the Cotter River for a site upstream of Corin Reservoir (Site 410730) ��24 Figure 6: A. comparison of the average monthly inflows into the ACT (combined monthly data for the Murrumbidgee, Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers) with the average monthly outflows from the ACT (Murrumbidgee River, just after the downstream exit of the ACT border, at Hall Crossing) for the July 2012–June 2014 period...... 24 Figure 7: Locations of Water Quality and Biological (AUSRIVAS) Sampling Sites in the ACT Water Quality Monitoring Program...... 27 Figure 8: Canberra Integrated Urban Waterways Network...... 79 Figure 9: Number of species per site 2012...... 86 Figure 10: Number of species per site 2013...... 86

6 ACT Water Report 2012-14 List of Tables Table 1: Water Quality Standards (Ref: Environment Protection Regulations 2005)...... 13 Table 2a: Water Resources, Entitlements and Use 2012-13...... 18 2013-14...... 19 Table 2b: Water trades...... 20 Table 3: Licences issued...... 20 Table 4: Enforcement actions...... 22 Table 5 Average annual rainfall...... 22 Table 6: Flow Percentiles for River Sampling...... 26 Table 7: Summary of Water Quality in the ACT, 2012–2014 ...... 29 Table 8: 2012-2013 Total Phosphorus (mg/L)...... 30 Table 9: 2013-2014 Total Phosphorus (mg/L)...... 31 Table 10: 2012-2013 Total Nitrogen (mg/L)...... 32 Table 11: 2013-14 Total Nitrogen (mg/L)...... 33 Table 12: 2012-2013 Suspended Solids (mg/L) ...... 34 Table 13: 2013-14 Suspended Solids (mg/L) ...... 35 Table 14: 2012-2013 Turbidity (NTU) ...... 36 Table 15:2013-2014 Turbidity (NTU)...... 37 Table 16: 2012-2013 Conductivity (uS/cm)...... 38 Table 17: 2013-2014 Conductivity (uS/cm)...... 39 Table 18: 2012-2013 pH...... 40 Table 19: 2013-2014 pH...... 41 Table 20: 2012-2013 DO (mg/L)...... 42 Table 21: 2013-2014 DO (mg/L)...... 43 Table 22: 2012-2013 Faecal Coliforms (cfu/100mL)...... 44 Table 23: 2013-2014 Faecal Coliforms (cfu/100mL)...... 45 Table 24: 2012-2013 Chlorophyll-a (mg/L)...... 46 Table 25: 2013-2014 Chlorophyll-a (mg/L)...... 47 Table 28: Algal Alert Levels for ACT Urban Lakes...... 49 Table 26: 2012-2013 Planktonic Cyanobacteria (cells/mL) - Lakes only ...... 50 Table 27: 2013-2014 Planktonic Cyanobacteria (cells/mL) - Lakes only ...... 50 Table 29: AUSRIVAS Bands and their Observed/Expected Taxa Scores for the ACT Autumn Edge Model and Some Interpretations for Reporting (Ball et al. 2001) ...... 51 Table 30: AUSRIVAS Band Scores Spring 2006 to Autumn 2014...... 52 Table 30: 2012-13 Site 270 Point Hut Pond...... 55 Table 31: 2013-14 Site 270 Point Hut Pond...... 56 Table 32: 2012-13 Site 248 Lake Tuggeranong Kambah Wetland...... 56 Table 33: 2013-14 Site 248 Lake Tuggeranong Kambah Wetland...... 57 Table 34: 2012-13 Site 249 Lake Tuggeranong Dam Wall...... 57 Table 35: 2013-14 Site 249 Lake Tuggeranong Dam Wall...... 58 Table 36: 2012-13 Site 261 Flemington Road Pond...... 58

www.environment.act.gov.au 7 Table 37: 2013-14 Site 261 Flemington Road Pond...... 59 Table 38: 2012-13 Site 262 Yerrabi Pond...... 60 Table 39: 2013-14 Site 262 Yerrabi Pond...... 60 Table 40: 2012-13 Site 346 Gungahlin Pond ...... 61 Table 41: 2013-14 Site 346 Gungahlin Pond ...... 61 Table 42: Site 321 Lake Ginninderra East Arm 2012-13...... 62 Table 42: 2013-14 Lake Ginninderra East Arm...... 62 Table 43: 2012-13: Site 318 Lake Ginninderra Dam Wall ...... 63 Table 44: 2013-14: Site 318 Lake Ginninderra Dam Wall ...... 63 Table 45: 2012-13 Site 204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls Crossing...... 64 Table 46: 2013-14 Site 204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls Crossing...... 65 Table 47: 2012-13 Site 209 Murrumbidgee River at Kambah Pool...... 65 Table 48 2013-14 Site 209 Murrumbidgee River at Kambah Pool...... 66 Table 49: 2012-13 Site 213 Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing...... 66 Table 50: 2013-14 Site 213 Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing...... 67 Table 51: 2012-13 Sites 301, 195, 196 and 64 Ginninderra Creek ...... 67 Table 53: 2013-14 Sites 301, 195, 196 and 64 Ginninderra Creek ...... 68 Table 54: 2012-13 Site 601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat Bridge ...... 69 Table 53: 2013-14 Site 601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat Bridge...... 69 Table 54: 2012-13 Site 608 (AUSRIVAS 242) Molonglo River, Yass Road...... 70 Table 55: 2013-14 Site 608 (AUSRIVAS 242) Molonglo River, Yass Road...... 70 Table 56: 2012-13 Site 769 Queanbeyan River at the ACT Border ...... 71 Table 57: 2013-14 Site 769 Queanbeyan River at the ACT Border ...... 71 Table 58: 2012-13 Sites 842 and 10 Paddys River ...... 72 Table 59: 2013-14 Sites 842 and 10 Paddys River ...... 73 Table 60: 2012-13 Sites 901 and 20 along the Gudgenby River...... 73 Table 60: 2013-14 Sites 901 and 20 along the Gudgenby River...... 74 Table 61: 2012-13 Site 15 on the Tidbinbilla River ...... 74 Table 62: 2013-14 Site 15 on the Tidbinbilla River ...... 75 Table 63: 2012-13 Site 246 on Jerrabomberra Creek near Hindmarsh Drive ...... 75 Table 64: 2013-14 Site 246 on Jerrabomberra Creek near Hindmarsh Drive ...... 76 Table 65: 2012-13 Site 189 on Yarralumla Creek downstream of Curtin ...... 76 Table 66: 2013-14 Site 189 on Yarralumla Creek downstream of Curtin ...... 76 Table 67: 2012-13 Site 58 on Tuggeranong Creek...... 77 Table 68: 2013-14 Site 58 on Tuggeranong Creek...... 77 Table 69: Species detection rates...... 87

8 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Executive summary

The Environment and Planning Directorate (EPD) manages a water monitoring and assessment program for the Australian Capital Territory that includes water quality, stream flow, and biological monitoring. This program is part of maintaining information on the water resources of the ACT, which is a statutory requirement of the Water Resources Act 2007. Additionally, this information is used to assist in determining whether management strategies used to achieve or maintain the aquatic values set for ACT waters in the regulations to the Water Resources Act 2007 are appropriate.

This report provides collated information on the quality and quantity of water resource management in the ACT for the period July 2012 to June 2014. The assessment approach adopted is designed to move towards a more holistic ecosystem health monitoring system as advocated by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission’s Sustainable Rivers Audit. It uses biological data to ascertain ecosystem diversity, and water quality data to determine trends that may be present, and compares these results with the designated environmental and use values and standards set in the Territory Plan and the Environment Protection Act 1997, Environment Protection Regulation 2005 and the Water Resources Act 2007.

Streamflow monitoring provides an assessment of the function of streams as dynamic systems. Streamflow data informs management of streams to protect water dependent ecosystems and habitat as well as providing for human needs. Water quality is monitored in the major urban lakes and streams as well as in Burrinjuck Reservoir (a NSW responsibility), which is the first major water body downstream of the ACT.

The major rivers and some urban streams are also monitored (See Figure 7). River flow is measured at a number of sites throughout the ACT. The report uses AUSRIVAS biological information to report on the biodiversity in the rivers and streams. The individual data points and mean values of water quality parameters for the reporting period are considered with reference to the standards set out in the Territory Plan and Environment Protection Regulation 2005.

The Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch network of community volunteers, supported by the ACT Government and Icon Water undertakes monitoring at over 320 sites in the region that complements the EPD monitoring program. The National Capital Authority operates a water monitoring program for Lake Burley Griffin, supplemented by shoreline samples taken by Waterwatch volunteers.

Results Summary • Rainfall in the urban area (Melba Verbrugghen Street 70277) was significantly below the long term average rainfall for this site of 678mm. • Stream flow in waterways arising within the ACT was correspondingly below the long term average. • Lake Tuggeranong was closed to primary contact recreation (swimming) but opened to secondary contact recreation (sailing, rowing etc) because of elevated blue-green alga concentrations for most of the summer months (3 January 2012 to 29 March 2012; 30 November 2012 to 2 April 2013; 13 December 2012 until 3 January 2013; 19 March 2014 until 20 June 2014). • Lake Ginninderra was closed to primary contact recreation from 3 April 2012 to 28 May 2012 because of elevated blue-green alga concentrations. • The Molonglo River was closed for the whole period, not because of water quality, but rather for safety issues around the large volume of flood debris that remains in the area that poses a danger to waterskiing and wakeboarding. • Water quality in lakes and rivers was generally within regulation limits, with exceedances associated with rainfall events. • Macroinvertebrate survey data noted an overall improvement, although the Autumn 2014 results indicate return to “significantly impaired” condition across some sites.

www.environment.act.gov.au 9 The Water Resources ACT 2007 requires assessment of river flows, and licensing of water abstractions. In recent years, particularly during the recent drought, the demand for surface and groundwater rose considerably. Consequently, the water abstracted in some sub-catchments reached the sustainable limit although holders of Water Access Entitlements (WAEs) were issued with licences to extract water within sustainable volumes. Water extraction in 2012-14 was very similar to the long term average with rainfall below average and slightly more extraction.

On 1 August 2014, the Minister of the Environment, Simon Corbell MLA released the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44: Striking the Balance, which will guide management of the Territory’s water supply, management and catchment practices for the next 30 years. The new strategy focuses on promoting integrated catchment management, securing potable water for the future, strategic investment in urban water cycle management as well as promoting strong involvement of the community in water issues.

Concurrent with release of the water strategy, Minister Corbell also released the review report on water sensitive urban design which includes a series of actions which are being implemented to improve the Territory’s performance in water sensitive urban design, which will be reflected in future water quality reporting.

In February 2014, the Australian Government signed an agreement with the ACT for the ACT Basin Priority Project which will see up to $85 million of Australian Government funds available to address water quality issues in ACT lakes and waterways, focusing on six priority catchments. This will occur through improved monitoring, introduction of best fit interventions and raise awareness of water quality issues.

Although 2013-14 saw cessation of Australian Government funding for Waterwatch with a hiatus in coordinator support for the program, water related community programs, such as Waterwatch and Frogwatch continue to attract a high level of interest and support from the community. Research in the catchment continues and volunteer interest, especially in urban wetland health and Platypus counts, also remained high.

10 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Introduction

Purpose The ACT Water Report 2012-2014 provides the Australian Capital Territory community with information on the state of the ACT’s water resources for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2014.

The Report has three sections. Section 1 addresses the water resources in the ACT, including the amount of water and its use. Section 2 discusses water quality condition including the type of indicators used for assessing water quality and biological condition. Results for lakes and rivers are given in the context of water quality standards 3 outlines water related research and Section 4 details community activities taking place in the ACT and region.

Scope The Report focuses on the waterways of the ACT with the exception of Lake Burley Griffin, which is a Commonwealth responsibility. Its condition is presented in the National Capital Authority’s annual report. For information relating to Lake Burley Griffin, contact the National Capital Authority on 6271 2888 or visit its website http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/.

This report covers the reporting period’s water management and conditions, with reference to historic conditions where appropriate.

Information relating to drinking water quality of the mains water supply is the responsibility of ICON Water and the Chief Health Officer, and is not included in this Report. For information relating to mains water supply, contact ActewAGL on 13 14 93 or go to http://www.actewagl.com.au/. The Chief Health Officer’s Report can be accessed at http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=&did=10062776.

Land use

Land use is an important consideration for water use and quality because different land uses have different impacts on water quality (because of rates of soil erosion and sediment transport) and hydrology (impervious surfaces in urban areas increase storm water runoff and reduce groundwater recharge).

There are four major land uses in the ACT (see Figure 1, page 5).

• Conservation land use tends to have a minimal negative impact on water quality in normal circumstances. • Plantation forestry is now concentrated in the Kowen Forest in the north east of the ACT and the Pierces Creek plantations along the lower reaches of the Paddys River. Until crown width and leaf litter levels mature in plantations there are wide areas of exposed earth in young pine plantations. In such areas groundwater demand is high and runoff following storms may impact unfavourably on local water quality. The National Arboretum as a plantation will also consume water in the establishment phase, but has been designed to capture runoff to minimise extraction from external sources. • Rural use can have significant impacts on surface and groundwater. Some activities may result in soil erosion. On-farm water retention may reduce surface water in creek lines and locally deplete groundwater. There is potential for the release of agricultural chemicals and animal waste which may add to the nutrient load of waterways. Appropriate paddock revegetation and creek-line restoration may enhance soil moisture and water quality.

www.environment.act.gov.au 11 • Urban uses have the greatest potential for negative impact on local water quality. Fertilisers and other chemicals, organic matter, soil, oil or sewage effluent entering waterways negatively impact on the health of our waterways. Increased impervious surfaces from rooves, roads and car parks alter the flow of water across urban areas. Urban development also modifies natural drainage lines and riparian areas. This can reduce biodiversity markedly and promote conditions suitable for undesirable aquatic weeds and nuisance algae. Water sensitive urban design measures ameliorate the impact of urban development on water quality and flows.

Figure 1: Land use and main rivers of the ACT

12 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Rivers in the ACT region The Murrumbidgee River is the major river flowing through the ACT, originating in the alpine area to the south of the ACT. However, the headwaters of the Murrumbidgee are largely diverted to the Snowy River Scheme from Tantangara Reservoir for irrigation and power generation purposes. Murrumbidgee River waters that do flow through the ACT are further regulated downstream of the ACT border at Burrinjuck Reservoir. All rivers and creeks in the ACT drain to the Murrumbidgee River (see Figure 1). The longest of these are the Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers, which originate to the southeast of the ACT and together drain through Lake Burley Griffin before flowing into the Murrumbidgee River. Water from the Upper Queanbeyan Catchment contributes significantly to the capacity of Googong Reservoir. The Cotter River is contained wholly within the ACT and provides the water for Corin, Bendora and Cotter Reservoirs.

Bushfires Fire can have an impact on catchment health and water quality in the short term, exposing soil to erosion. The ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan takes account of water catchments and includes a variety of grazing, slashing and controlled burn actions to reduce fire fuel loads in sensitive areas. Controlled burns are also staggered over a number of years in response to vegetation growth rates to reduce their impact on the environment, including water. The ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan can be found at http://esa.act.gov.au/community-information/publications/sbmp/.

Protection of water resources The ACT Government manages catchments and waterways so that sustainable and appropriate water conditions are attained. This includes an integrated catchment approach to planning and development, controls on water abstraction, the licensing of end of pipe discharges and regulation of non-point source discharges such as requirements of erosion and sediment control plans.

There is an increasing emphasis on improved design and management of urban stormwater systems to reduce urban impacts on water quality. Urban stormwater infrastructure such as gross pollutant traps, water quality control ponds, wetlands and vegetated flood-ways are designed and managed to ensure that water quality is suitable for designated uses. The Waterways: Water Sensitive Urban Design General Code in the Territory Plan helps ensure that urban development is consistent with sound water resource management (http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2008-27/copy/64663/pdf/2008-27.pdf). The Environment and Planning Directorate undertook a review of the Waterways: Water Sensitive Urban Design General Code in 2013-14, resulting in the release of the Water Sensitive Urban Design Review Report on 1 August 2014.

www.environment.act.gov.au 13 The Territory Plan environmental and use values Volume 2 of the Territory Plan, General Code 1.8 Water Use and Catchment General Codes, sets the permitted uses and protected environmental values for the waterways of the ACT. The plan identifies three types of catchments: drainage and open space, water supply and conservation. For streams, lakes and rivers within each of these catchment types, the Territory Plan identifies a set of values e.g. maintenance of ecosystems, recreation and water supply. This set includes a primary value and a range of other permitted uses, which are generally compatible with, but secondary to, the primary value. These permitted uses specified in the Territory Plan can then be used, with the water quality standards, to determine the water quality required for each water body.

The Water Use and Catchment General Codes is to be reviewed by the end of 2016.

Water quality standards

Schedule 4 of the Environment Protection Regulation 2005 lists the necessary ambient water quality standards to support each of the water uses referred to in the Territory Plan. Table 1 provides examples of some of the water quality standards for certain water uses.

Table 1: Water Quality Standards (Ref: Environment Protection Regulations 2005)

Water Use

Indicator Water based Water based Water Water Aquatic recreation— recreation— supply— supply— habitat— swimming boating stock irrigation wetland (REC/1) (REC/2) (STOCK) (IRRIG) (AQUA/1 to AQUA/6)

Total Phosphorus (mg/L) < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1

Turbidity (NTU) Not Not <10 – <30 objectionable objectionable

Suspended Solids <12.5 – <25 (mg/L)

Chlorophyll ‘a’ (µg/L) < 10 < 10 < 10 <2 – <10

Faecal coliforms ≤ 200 ≤ 200 ≤ 1000 ≤ 1000 (cfu/100mL)

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4

Acidity (pH) 6.5–8.5 6.5–8.5 6.5–9.2 4.5–9.0 6–9

Total Dissolved Solids < 3000 < 500 (mg/L)

14 ACT Water Report 2012-14 SECTION 1: WATER RESOURCES

Water resource use

Water Resources Strategy: During the reporting period a new draft strategy was finalised and released on 1 August 2014. The new strategy ACT Water Strategy 2014-44: Striking the Balance is designed to build on the achievements of the 2004 Think water, act water strategy. An extensive review of this strategy confirmed significant progress towards achieving its targets for:

• providing a long term reliable source of water for the ACT and region • increasing the efficiency of water usage by reducing per capital use of mains water • promoting increased regional integration of water supply and management • protecting water quality in ACT rivers, lakes and aquifers • facilitating the incorporation of water sensitive urban design principles into ? • promoting community involvement in the management of ACT water resources.

An implementation plan for the Strategy for 2014-18 was also released with the Strategy.

Water Resources Act 2007 (the ‘Act’): The Act provides a framework for the sustainable management of ACT water resources. The Act is the regulation that controls how people living and working in the ACT use water directly from water bodies including groundwater aquifers. The Act aims to balance present day household, industrial and agricultural use of water with the protection of local ecosystems while conserving the resource to meet the reasonable future needs of the community. The Act provides a mechanism to protect aquatic ecosystems and aquifers from damage, and reverse damage where required.

The Act and its regulations contain arrangements for the management of the Territory’s water resources. They identify, for each water management area in the ACT, how much water is required to maintain river systems and associated ecosystems and how much is available for entitlements for off-stream use.

Environmental Flows: The Act requires water to be provided to the environment to maintain river systems and associated ecosystems health (known as environmental flows), before it is available for consumptive use. Environmental flow requirements apply to all Territory water resources including water in rivers, streams, dams, lakes and groundwater aquifers. Environmental Flow Guidelines (EFG) are prepared that identify the ecological values to be protected and the measures to be employed to protect them. In the ACT, this is generally achieved by limiting the amount that can be extracted from a waterway in a way that protects flow variability and low flows. In selected high use catchments the EFG specify actual flows that must be maintained in certain conditions and their review through an adaptive management regime. The guidelines recognise the highly connected nature of surface and groundwater and the contribution that groundwater makes to the base flow of streams during drier times. The guidelines were reviewed during 2011-12 and the current EFG can be accessed at http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2013-44/ current/pdf/2013-44.pdf. The guidelines are required to be reviewed every 5 years.

The Instruments: Under the Act, the Water Resources (Water management areas) Determination 2007 (No 1) details the areas used for water management in the ACT. They are either single sub-catchments or a group of adjacent, hydraulically connected sub-catchments. The areas are used for the management of both surface and groundwater.

Water Resources (Water available from areas) Determination 2007 (No 1) puts the principles and controls contained in the EFG into practice by detailing the surface water and groundwater available for extraction from each Water Management Area (WMA). The Determination recognises the highly connected nature of surface and groundwater and includes water reserved for future use. These measures ensure the

www.environment.act.gov.au 15 Territory’s water resources are managed sustainably. Water management area boundaries used for this purpose are set out in Figure 2. These two instruments currently comprise the ACT Water Sharing Plan.

Extraction Regulations: The Act makes it clear that control of all water use in the Territory, including from streams, dams or groundwater, is vested in the Territory. Under the Act it is a requirement to hold a Water Access Entitlement (WAE) before a Licence to take Water can be issued. A WAE is a right to a shareof surface water or groundwater within a Water Management Area. A WAE is generally a tradable commodity. A Licence to take Water is required to physically extract the water specified by a WAE. The Licence to take Water states the location and conditions from which water can be taken and used. A Licence to take Water is not a tradable instrument in the ACT.

ICON Water holds a licence to take water and so customers of ICON Water are not required to hold a licence to take water when using water supplied by ICON Water. The taking of surface water for stock and domestic purposes, where water is collected from the lessee’s property or where their property directly abuts a waterway, does not require a licence. The Act does not require a licence for the use of water collected in rainwater tanks, or the on-site use of waste water.

Information: Details of legislation, environmental flows and fact sheets on specific water allocation uses can be obtained from the EPD website http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water or by calling Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

Inter-jurisdictional arrangements The ACT is a signatory to the National Water Initiative (NWI) which aims to bring water planning, regulation and trading to a nationally compatible standard to optimise economic, social and environmental outcomes in the management of water. Section 23 of the NWI sets out ten specific objectives:

1. Clear and nationally-compatible characteristics for secure water access entitlements; 2. Transparent, statutory-based water planning; 3. Statutory provision for environmental and other public benefit outcomes, and improved environmental management practices; 4. Complete the return of all currently over-allocated or overused systems to environmentally-sustainable levels of extraction; 5. Progressive removal of barriers to trade in water and meeting other requirements to facilitate the broadening and deepening of the water market, with an open trading market to be in place; 6. Clarity around the assignment of risk arising from future changes in the availability of water for the consumptive pool; 7. Water accounting which is able to meet the information needs of different water systems in respect to planning, monitoring, trading, environmental management and on-farm management; 8. Policy settings which facilitate water use efficiency and innovation in urban and rural areas; 9. Addressing future adjustment issues that may impact on water users and communities; and 10. Recognition of the connectivity between surface and groundwater resources and connected systems managed as a single resource.

A copy of the NWI can be found at the National Water Commission website http://www.environment.gov. au/topics/water/australian-government-water-leadership/national-water-initiative. The ACT, through its legislation and its planning process, meets all ten objectives.

Water Resource Plan: In May 2008, a ‘Cap’ or limit on the amount of surface water that can be taken for consumptive use for the ACT, was agreed to at the Murray Darling Ministerial Council meeting. The Cap is the maximum volume of net water that can be diverted from the river system for use in the ACT and is adjusted annually to account for both the prevailing climate during each year and the growth in population. The Cap will apply until replaced by new sustainable diversion limits (SDL) under the Basin

16 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Plan in 2019. The current Cap on surface water diversions is set at a level based on historic use, not on what is sustainable. In addition, the Cap does not limit the use of groundwater.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan was released in November 2012 and has now come into effect. Under the plan the ACT has been allocated surface water and groundwater SDLs. The proposed surface water SDL for extractions from regulated and major unregulated watercourses within the ACT (dams and rivers) is 40.5 GL. Under the Basin Plan, SDLs will limit the quantity of surface water and groundwater that may be taken from the Basin water resources as a whole. These resource areas are defined in the Basin Plan and will draw upon current state and territory Water Resource Plan areas. SDLs are used to achieve a balance between the water needs of communities, industries and the environment. The Basin Plan sets long SDLs that reflect an environmentally sustainable level of water use or take for human needs whilst ensuring there is enough water to achieve healthy river and groundwater systems.

In parallel with the review of the Environmental Flow Guidelines in early 2011-12, development of a more expansive Water Resource Plan was proposed. The Water Resource Plan will promote the objects of the Act as well as meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Water Act 2007 and the Basin Plan.

While all Basin jurisdictions are required to have water resource plans completed by 1 July 2019, as this is the date on which the SDLs take effect, the ACT’s current water resource planning framework as set out under a number of legislative instruments of the Act is an interim water resource plan which expires on 1 January 2016. The Territory is to submit its Water Resource Plan in 2015 and also the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment is scheduled to provide accreditation of the plan by the end of 2015.

Unlike the current Cap system, the SDL under the Basin Plan will not have a provision for future growth in population. As such, a mix of policy responses will be required to meet additional future demands including continued water use efficiency improvements and accessing water markets and water trading.

In 2009 in principle agreement was given for the ACT to be part of the southern connected Murray- Darling Basin for water trading. However, there has been very little demand for interstate water trading between the ACT and NSW and as well there are number of accounting and practical issues to be resolved between the ACT and NSW before actual interstate trading can occur.

Unlike the States, the ACT uses ‘net’ extractions to account for water use because the ACT returns 55% of water used to the MDB system. That is, the Territory’s SDL includes water extracted and returned to the river, rather than just extracted. For example, if the ACT extracts 50 GL from its water resources but returns 30 GL to the Murrumbidgee River, its ‘net’ extraction is 20 GL. In other Basin states water extracted is equal to or less than the SDL. In the ACT ‘net’ accounting means water extracted less water returned to the environment through the sewerage system is equal to or less than the SDL.

Under the Living Murray Initiative Agreement 2004, the ACT is committed to returning 2 GL of water to the MDB to contribute to restoring 500 GL to the environmental flows of the Murray-Darling. This is likely to be achieved through provision of water licenses purchased by ICON Water from NSW.

Interstate water trading arrangements to allow transfers from Tantangara Dam to Googong Dam were put in place during the period.

Until such time as wider interstate trading protocols are agreed, the ACT will continue to issue new Water Access Entitlements (WAE) to meet demand for new water use provided it falls within ACT legislative and planning requirements.

www.environment.act.gov.au 17 Fostering sustainable water resource use through regulation The Act vests power in the Minister for the Environment and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). WAEs may only be acquired by purchase from an existing holder (trading) or by grant by the Minister. The EPA issues Licences to Take Water (Table 3), Bore Works Licences and Waterway Works Licences (needed for construction of dams), subject to conditions and volume considerations and approves applications to trade WAEs both within the ACT and with other jurisdictions. Together these controls allow for the management of the use of water resources in an environmentally sensitive manner.

Figure 2: Boundaries of Water Management Areas under the Water Resources Act 2007

The Act requires that water is set aside for the environment before consideration of extractive use. Table 2a sets out the total average volume of water available in each water management area in the ACT, the volume set aside for the environment, the volume available for extraction, the amount allowed for extraction (entitlements issued) and the volumes extracted in 2012-14 The totals for the whole of the ACT and the portion of the total resource of each component are set out at the bottom of the Table.

18 ACT Water Report 2012-14 0 0 3 0 90 28 22 711 493 131 (ML) 3907 water 43995 49380 extracted Total surface Total 0 0 3 2 1 2 37 96 11 20 35 378 585 (ML) Total Total extracted groundwater groundwater 3 1 2 30 14 42 10 530 186 166 (ML) 1089 3907 43995 49965* extracted Total water Total 2 5 1 6 8 1 3 7 38 19 15 143 268 Number of entitlements http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2007-19/default.asp 9 2 2 86 15 844 676 133 400 1848 1450 58000 13060 76510 Total water Total issued (ML ) entitlements 55 102 (ML) 7832 5352 3558 3304 2641 2905 1461 2517 29925 98914 111408 272927 extraction Total water Total available for

5 (ML) 4250 4860 1160 18609 34294 11746 46569 10594 15728 35619 36571 24408 244422

allocation

1 Environmental Environmental 100 7909 1274 24489 19895 50522 15932 17223 38554 39799 27482 145702 103164 491967 Total water Total resource (ML) resource *Includes 47901.5 ML taken by ICON Water from Cotter and Googong WMAs from *Includes 47901.5 ML taken by ICON Water The volumes of water presented in these tables are based on the Disallowable Instrument ‘water available from areas’ , current Water Access Entitlements and data on water use from active Access Entitlements and data on water use from Water , current areas’ based on the Disallowable Instrument ‘water available from in these tables are The volumes of water presented ‘Total water resource, Environmental allocation, Total water available for extraction’ do not represent all components of the ‘water available from areas’ and thus will areas’ all components of the ‘water available from water available for extraction’ do not represent allocation, Total Environmental water resource, The ‘Total licences to take water. have Queanbeyan. Also many areas sewage from contains extra water for use because of the input treated not sum out in a mathematical sense. For example the Central Molonglo area available at use which is not shown. Full details on the water sharing plan of ACT are for future water reserved Water management Water area Central Molonglo Cotter Ginninderra Googong Gudgenby Lower Molonglo Lower Murrumbidgee Naas Paddys Tuggeranong Upper Molonglo Upper Murrumbidgee Total resource % of the Total Table 2a: Water Resources, Entitlements and Use Resources, 2a: Water Table 2012-13 Notes: 1.

www.environment.act.gov.au 19 0 2 0 17 38 35 0.5 614 198 253 (ML) 5474 water 43099 49730.5 extracted Total surface Total 0 0 3 2 2 42 49 10 20 32 0.5 302 (ML) Total Total 462.5 extracted groundwater groundwater 3 1 2 66 40 12 55 10 916 240 285 (ML) 5474 43099 50193* extracted Total water Total 3 6 2 5 3 6 8 1 39 21 31 151 268 Number of entitlements 9 2 12 86 16 847 694 133 406 1995 1462 58000 13060 76510 Total water Total issued (ML ) entitlements 55 102 (ML) 7832 5352 3558 3304 2641 2905 1461 2517 98914 29925 111408 272927 extraction Total water Total available for

5 (ML) 4250 4860 1160 18609 34294 11746 46569 10594 15728 35619 36571 24408 244422 allocation Environmental Environmental 100 7909 1274 24489 19895 50522 15932 17223 38554 39799 27482 145702 103164 491967 Total water Total resource (ML) resource Water management Water area Central Molonglo Cotter Ginninderra Googong Gudgenby Lower Molonglo Lower Murrumbidgee Naas Paddys Tuggeranong Upper Molonglo Upper Murrumbidgee Total resource % of the Total 2013-14 * includes 48,573ML taken by ICON Water from Cotter and Googong WMAs from * includes 48,573ML taken by ICON Water Appointments for Act Register. Resource available for inspection in the Water are entitlements and licences issued by the EPA Full details of water related on telephone 13 22 81. inspection can be made by contacting the EPA

20 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Water trading Water trading is a key aspect of national water reforms. Only trade within the ACT is currently available. Trade with other jurisdictions is dependent on the development of interstate water trading protocols as described above. There was little demand for water trading and details of trades in the reporting period are set out in Table 2b. This data is updated monthly on the ACT Government website and can be viewed at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/act_water_resources/water_trading .

Table 2b: Water trades

Type of trade Number of trades Volume of trades (ML)

2012-13 2013-14 2012-13 2013-14

Surface Ground Surface Ground Surface Ground Surface Ground water water water water water water water water

Intrastate entitlement trade 2 6 0 3 5 20.5 0 3

Interstate entitlement trade 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Intrastate allocation trade 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Interstate allocation trade 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Water trade processing times The Council of Australian Governments and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council have developed service and reporting standards for trade processing times by jurisdictions within the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) for both entitlement and allocation trades. The ACT Government is committed to meeting those standards. The standards can be viewed at http://www.nationalwatermarket.gov.au/about/ trade-processing.html

Licences on issue A license holder must have a WAE and may hold multiple WAEs, but not all WAEs may have active licenses in the reporting period. The ACT Government only issues licenses in the ACT and the Googong Dam area. Areas within the WMA illustrated in Figure 2 but outside the ACT and the Googong Dam area are administered by New South Wales.

Table 3: Licences issued

Licence type 2012–13 2013–14

Bore works licence 3 7

Waterway works licence 25 26

Licence to take water (new) 7 10

Water access entitlements 2 13

While the table above is definitive in its depiction of total entitlement volume of water in the ACT, it is recognised that there may still be bores without entitlement in use and existing entitlement holders may exceed their entitlement volume. The EPA conducts a compliance program to monitor volumes extracted and detect unauthorised extractions (Table 4).

www.environment.act.gov.au 21 Table 4: Enforcement actions

Action 2012-13 2013-14

Written caution (advisory) 83 23

Written formal warning 6 22

Infringement notice 0 1

Direction 0 0

Criminal proceedings 0 0

Total 89 46

Climate and water resources The availability of the ACT’s water resources is strongly influenced by rainfall. Groundwater recharge in the ACT’s low yield fractured rock aquifers is closely linked to recent rainfall history, unlike some other groundwater sources that contain stored rainfall from millions of years ago. In 2012–2014, stream flow in waterways arising within the ACT was generally below average with above average flows in October and June reflecting short term rainfall events. Stream flow in the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers crossing the ACT includes additional contributions from substantial areas of their catchment outside the ACT.

Rainfall in the ACT is strongly affected by the landform of the Territory. In the mountainous region to the west of the Murrumbidgee River, annual average rainfall ranges from 800-1000 mm. In the flatter tablelands on which Canberra is built, the annual rainfall reaches 600-700 mm.

Table 5 Average annual rainfall

Annual Rainfall (mm) Annual Average 2012-13 2013-14

Canberra Airport 640 470 620

Melba (Belconnen) 678 574 423

Mt Ginini 1056 881 1042

Rainfall in an urban area (Melba in Belconnen) and in a water supply catchment area (Mt Ginini, above Corin Reservoir) is depicted in Figure 3. These are two sites where rainfall measured is directly correlated with stream flow in the ACT, and so demonstrate the rainfall and landform interaction. Both the long-term average monthly rainfall from data collected since 1990, and the monthly rainfall for the reporting period are represented.

22 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Figure 3: Comparison of 2012-2014 monthly and long term average monthly rainfalls at Melba, Belconnen and Mt Ginini in the Corin Reservoir Catchment

In 2012-13, rainfall at both Mount Ginini and Melba stations was below the long term average for six months of the year with heavier falls recorded in February. In 2013-14 rainfall at both Mount Ginini and Melba stations was again below the long term average for most of the year with heaviest falls in November.

The enlarged Cotter Dam came into operational service in January 2013, increasing storage capacity from 209GL to 278GL. From July to October 2012, storage levels were around 100% of the then capacity of 209GL. Storage levels then steadily declined for the rest of the reporting year reflecting generally drier conditions.

Figure 4: Average monthly flow July 2012 to June 2014 in Ginninderra Creek (410750) upstream of Charnwood Road compared with the long-term average monthly flow for that site

Patterns in the stream hydrograph for the urban area (Figure 4) closely reflected rainfall patterns at Belconnen (Figure 3). Ginninderra Creek, which drains a highly urbanised catchment with large areas of impervious surfaces, showed quick response to the rainfall events (Figure 3).

www.environment.act.gov.au 23 Figure 5: A comparison of the average monthly flow (July 2012–June 2014) to the long-term average monthly flow in the Cotter River for a site upstream of Corin Reservoir (Site 410730)

The pattern for the Cotter River shows high peaks that coincide with increased Spring flows then steadily declining flows leading to below average Summer and Autumn flows. (See Figure 5 above).

Figure 6: A comparison of the average monthly inflows into the ACT (combined monthly data for the Murrumbidgee, Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers) with the average monthly outflows from the ACT (Murrumbidgee River, just after the downstream exit of the ACT border, at Hall Crossing) for the July 2012–June 2014 period

Overall, the ACT remains a net exporter of water into the Murrumbidgee River. A comparison of the volume of water flowing (including the Queanbeyan River water that collects behind Googong Dam) into the ACT with the volume of water leaving the ACT is shown in Figure 6.

24 ACT Water Report 2012-14 SECTION 2: Water quality condition

Water quality monitoring program

EPD manages a monitoring program for ACT water resources that involves the collection of water quality, stream flow and biological data. The monitoring program is based on regular sampling of lakes and rivers. This information is used to determine whether waters flowing through the ACT are of appropriate quality and if the management strategies used to achieve or maintain water quality are adequate. The information is not intended to identify specific pollution incidents but rather provide information about changes to water quality over time.

Water quality data collected by volunteers of the Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch is used as subsidiary data to the EPD monitoring program and may be used as primary data on those occasions where the EPD monitoring data is missing.

Water quality data in the ACT region is also collected by other government agencies, research institutions and authorised dischargers such as ICON Water (Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre, Water Supply Reservoirs) and the Queanbeyan City Council (Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant). Although the EPA may use this data for assessing compliance with licence conditions and the Environment Protection Regulations 2005, the data collected by those organisations is not reported in this document.

• Carrying out comprehensive event based monitoring to identify the most critical factors affecting water quality in the ACT • Working with technical experts, stakeholders and the community to explore innovative ideas and the best options to address these issues • Establishing best-practice examples of water quality management so they can be replicated across the ACT and in other Murray-Darling communities • Investing in infrastructure and technical solutions that will reduce the impact of stormwater, sediment and other pollutants • Raising awareness about the issues and encouraging residents, businesses and visitors to help look after our waterways by changing behaviour that directly affects water quality.

Two initial key pieces of work under the project are the establishment of a new ACT Wide Water Monitoring System and an audit of representative examples of infrastructure across the stormwater treatment system to assess their effectiveness in meeting their design specifications in treating stormwater.

Sampling sites Sites are located so as to be representative of stream and lake conditions in the ACT (Figure 7). It is not possible to monitor all areas of the ACT and all parameters of interest and consequently those considered to most represent environmental conditions are selected as examples for similar areas.

www.environment.act.gov.au 25 Lakes The major urban lakes, with the exception of Lake Burley Griffin, which is a Commonwealth responsibility, are sampled eight months of the year during August, October to March, and May. The ACT Government also monitors Burrinjuck Reservoir, as activities in the ACT could potentially impact on this reservoir. Monitoring of blue-green algae in Canberra’s lakes is undertaken mostly, but not exclusively, during the summer months by EPA officers and encompasses the recreation zones of the lakes and the Molonglo River. The ACT Health Population Health Division undertakes bacterial monitoring of lake and river recreation areas during peak use times.

Rivers Stream-flow is measured continuously at a number of sites throughout the ACT at hydrographic stations. This information is valuable for interpreting water quality data as most of the pollutants that enter our waterways do so during storms. Consequently streams are sampled for water quality at different flow levels, rather than at fixed times, to better characterise the pollutant loads. The aim of the sampling strategy is to provide a fully representative assessment of river health over time by taking account of the impact of flow on water quality. Samples are collected within four flow levels, measured by the flow percentile (5–29%, 30–49%, 50–69% and 70–89%). The 5th percentile flow is the flow exceeded only 5% of the time and represents very high flow; conversely the 90th percentile flow indicates very low flow. See Table 6.

Table 6: Flow Percentiles for River Sampling

Flow Percentile Group Description Number of Samples

0-4 Very high flow -

5–29 High flow 2

30–49 Moderate, increasing flow 2

50–69 Moderate, decreasing flow 2

70–89 Low to basal flow 2

90-100 Negligible flow -

Flow based sampling operates well in years of average rainfall with rain and run-off at well spaced intervals across the whole year. Six river water quality samples were taken in July, October, November, January, May and June with at least one sample in each percentile band between base flow and high flow.

Biological assessment of ecosystem condition

In addition to monitoring the physical and chemical condition of the ACT’s waters, an assessment of the status of the aquatic ecosystem is undertaken. Assessment of ecosystem health is based on the macroinvertebrate monitoring undertaken using the AUSRIVAS protocol. It involves collecting samples of stream invertebrates from stream edge sites in the ACT region during spring and autumn. An AUSRIVAS predictive model is used to assess these sites. The condition of the site, as determined by the model, provides a measure of a stream’s biological health. Thirteen sites are sampled and are selected as either reference or test sites. The selection of test sites was based on potential and known impacts from rural degradation, urban runoff, discharge of treated sewage effluent, trace metal contamination, habitat degradation, sedimentation events and river

26 ACT Water Report 2012-14 regulation. The three reference sites were selected from those sampled during development of the ACT component of the National River Health Program.

Figure 7: Locations of Water Quality and Biological (AUSRIVAS) Sampling Sites in the ACT Water Quality Monitoring Program

www.environment.act.gov.au 27

203,642 Condition of ACT waters Over the long term, the water quality in ACT streams and lakes generally complies with the Water Quality Standards (Ref: Environment Protection Regulations 2005) referred to previously in Table 1.

In wilderness, rural and peri-urban parts of the catchment continuing good soil moisture content and healthy soil crust, leaf litter and groundcover create soft surfaces that ameliorate the erosive and nutrient enrichment characteristics of downpour run-off. Urban areas have large expanses of hard surfaces – roofs, roads, building footings, car parks, playing fields, footpaths and driveways – none of which take the energy out of stormwater. Urban stormwater gathers loose soil, litter and the chemicals discards of everyday life and carries them into our drains. That is why water quality in built-up areas is often adversely affected by rainfall events.

Rainfall over the period was below average with above average monthly falls only in February 2012, June 2012 and February 2014, resulting in below average stream flows. This contrasted with distinctly above average falls in the previous reporting period. Above average monthly falls coincided with short term spikes in recorded levels of Turbidity, Suspended Solids, Phosphorus and Nitrogen levels.

Sort term high intensity rainfall events stir up the dead water from river pools and lake bottoms and flush gross pollutant traps. This flushing is seen in water quality data as elevations in Nitrogen and Faecal Coliform levels. Although dramatic, these are short duration events, usually only last a matter of days. All these phenomena were again seen in our catchments during this period.

Streams have shown an overall improvement. All sites were assessed as either similar to reference condition (band A) or significantly impaired (band B) in autumn 2013. This result is a net improvement in biological condition across all sites since spring 2012, and is the first assessment in which all sites are above band C (severely impaired) assessment since the current program commenced in 2001.

Urban sites are commonly impacted by human actions such as altered flow regimes, nutrient enrichment, weed infestation and increased pollutants. The very large areas of hard surfaces lead to incidents of rapid rise and fall in water levels and flow rates accompanying storm events. Storm flushing of urban waterways has led to improvements in overall water quality. Some silt movement has occurred, but good follow- up rains have, in general, allowed large deposits to be dispersed. Parameters of water quality, including pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen values, indicate generally good catchment health. The coincidence of fresh nutrient suspensions and warm weather resulted in phytoplankton populations, often dominated by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), reaching high levels and remaining high for several months, in urban lakes. Such algal blooms are the natural way of mopping up nutrients and distributing them downstream, especially by taking phosphorous out of solution in the water column.

The condition of water quality at the monitoring sites may be assessed by comparison of actual concentrations with concentrations listed in the water quality standards (Table 1).

28 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Summary of water quality observations for 2012–2014

Table 7: Summary of Water Quality in the ACT, 2012–2014

Parameter Reg . Limit Sources Consequences of Incidents in exceeding limits reporting period

Total <0.1mg/mL Soil and humus With high Total High levels with rain Phosphorus Nitrogen, turbidity, water events temperature and low flow, may lead to cyanobacterial blooms

Total Nitrogen N.A. Organic matter With high Total Within expectations breakdown, + biological Phosphorus, turbidity, [<150 µg/L] Nitrogen fixation water temperature and low flow, may lead to cyanobacterial blooms

Suspended <25mg/L Disturbance of soil by Silt slugs; bank scouring; High levels with rain Solids storm damage, human burial of riffles or aquatic events activity causing catchment vegetation; increased disturbance, and in upland (long-term) turbidity rivers, watercourse creep

Turbidity <10 NTU, Soil and country rock clay Modification of biological High levels with rain flowing fraction; humic ‘tea’ light regime; poor events aesthetics <30 NTU, standing

Faecal <150 cfu Rural and urban animal Closure of recreational High levels with rain Coliforms (Primary waste, fertilizers and waters because of health events contact) sewage risk from associated pathogens 1000 cfu /mL (Secondary contact)

Conductivity N.A. Salts in country rock and Salinity or corrosion Lower levels with ground water; sewage problems, where water is rain events treatment plants. used

pH 6–9 Catchment geology Changes to biodynamics; Within expectations may release toxic metals

Dissolved > 4.0 mg/L Normal plant (including Hot weather and low flows Poor levels related Oxygen algal) activity and physical drive O2 out of water, to hot weather exchange with atmosphere leading to biological stress, and phytoplankton through wind and water with fish kills being the numbers movement worst outcome

Chlorophyll ‘a’ < 10 µg/L Phytoplankton Poor aesthetics; scums; Blooms, especially unpleasant smells Lake Tuggeranong (geosmin); blooms outside and at Dairy Flat of normal population Rd above Lake fluctuation. Burley Griffin, after rainfall.

www.environment.act.gov.au 29 Indicators

Nutrient levels Nutrients are natural components of all water bodies, but increases in their presence often have undesirable effects, including the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Eutrophication is the presence of an abnormally high quantity of plant nutrients and can lead to excess algal growth, including toxic algal blooms. The occurrence of blooms may also produce other unwanted side effects including reduced dissolved oxygen levels with negative consequences for aquatic organisms of all sizes. The two most important plant nutrients for aquatic ecosystems are Phosphorus and Nitrogen.

Total Phosphorus Total phosphorus is the sum of dissolved and particulate phosphorus in the water. The standard is 0.1 mg/L for both aquatic health and recreational use. In ACT water bodies total phosphorus availability commonly determines the kind and aggressiveness of planktonic algal activity.

Nutrients such as phosphorus are bound within soil or sediment particles. This means the movement of phosphorus through the landscape and waterways is closely linked to soil erosion and sediment transport dynamics.

Lake Tuggeranong, Point Hut Pond and Gungahlin Pond recorded exceedances over regulation limits over the warmer months and are associated with rainfall events, with urban lakes and ponds generally recording levels higher than rivers and streams, reflecting the impact of urban development providing increased sources of phosphorus from sediments, gardens and parklands.

Table 8: 2012-2013 Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0.027 0.180 0.079 0.053 0.10 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0.052 0.150 0.092 0.039 0.10 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0.046 0.150 0.080 0.036 0.10

261 Flemington Road Pond 0.002 0.100 0.031 0.030 0.10

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 0.005 0.043 0.021 0.014 0.10

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0.028 0.110 0.055 0.025 0.10

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0.011 0.038 0.025 0.008 0.10

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 0.008 0.078 0.038 0.020 0.10

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 0.015 0.120 0.049 0.030 0.10

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 0.028 0.080 0.047 0.025 0.10 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 0.016 0.081 0.039 0.027 0.10 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 0.016 0.073 0.037 0.027 0.10 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 0.052 0.150 0.092 0.039 0.10 Parkwood

30 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 0.031 0.120 0.064 0.030 0.10 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 0.009 0.062 0.031 0.019 0.10 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 0.028 0.150 0.055 0.047 0.10 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.015 0.072 0.032 0.021 0.10

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.024 0.072 0.041 0.018 0.10

Table 9: 2013-2014 Total Phosphorus (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0.012 0.100 0.058 0.024 0.10 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0.054 0.260 0.110 0.065 0.10 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0.048 0.140 0.088 0.036 0.10

261 Flemington Road Pond 0.019 0.046 0.030 0.009 0.10

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 0.008 0.019 0.463 0.005 0.10

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0.060 0.100 0.074 0.013 0.10

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0.021 0.030 0.025 0.003 0.10

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 0.024 0.069 0.035 0.016 0.10

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 0.016 0.039 0.027 0.009 0.10

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 0.019 0.088 0.041 0.018 0.10 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 0.019 0.180 0.048 0.050 0.10 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 0.017 0.160 0.037 0.036 0.10 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 0.014 0.110 0.042 0.035 0.10 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 0.029 0.060 0.048 0.011 0.10 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 0.010 0.046 0.028 0.014 0.10 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 0.018 0.038 0.032 0.007 0.10 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.018 0.110 0.040 0.036 0.10

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.021 0.120 0.046 0.028 0.10

www.environment.act.gov.au 31 Total Nitrogen There is no regulation limit for total nitrogen for the ACT. Nitrogen is not generally a limiting factor in algal growth in regional waters and it is not toxic to organisms. Nitrogen values are normally consistently the highest at two sampling sites (601 and 204), which are downstream of the Queanbeyan and Canberra sewage treatment plants. These higher levels generally decrease rapidly along the stream. International standards for discharged wastewater recommend 15 mg/L or less of nitrogen.

Research into nitrogen fixing blue-green algae, including the potentially toxicAnabaena species, indicates that low or limiting concentrations of nitrogen favour their growth over other more benign phytoplankton. In such situations, the discharge of nitrogen in sewage effluent may discourage the over-population of nitrogen fixers. For these reasons, management and discharge authorisation arrangements in the ACT concentrate on minimising the input of phosphorus to waterways as a priority, with nitrogen reduction encouraged as a second priority.

Sites 204 and 601 (rivers entering or leaving the ACT urban, town and peri-urban areas) show persistently higher levels of total nitrogen, possibly associated with the upstream Queanbeyan Sewerage Treatment Plan, however, on a positive note, no river, stream, lake or pond approaches the statutory limit of 15 mg/l.

Table 10: 2012-2013 Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 1.00 3.60 1.85 0.99 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0.67 2.00 1.20 0.42 N/A Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0.70 1.10 0.96 0.14 N/A

261 Flemington Road Pond 0.65 1.40 0.95 0.25 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 0.43 0.81 0.61 0.13 N/A

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0.51 1.30 0.94 0.28 N/A

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0.47 0.85 0.65 0.11 N/A

321 Lake Ginninderra at East 0.48 1.10 0.72 0.20 N/A Arm

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam 0.55 1.10 0.90 0.19 N/A Wall

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 1.00 4.80 2.18 1.48 N/A[15] Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 0.22 0.75 0.40 0.22 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 0.20 0.70 0.36 0.21 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 0.60 1.40 0.89 0.29 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 0.98 1.30 1.16 0.14 N/A[15] Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 0.21 0.96 0.51 0.27 N/A Road Bridge

32 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 0.65 1.90 1.00 0.47 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.11 0.61 0.28 0.18 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.18 0.50 0.31 0.12 N/A

Table 11: 2013-14 Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 1.10 3.10 1.73 0.63 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0.82 2.20 1.17 0.47 N/A Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 1.40 0.67 1.60 0.31 N/A

261 Flemington Road Pond 0.73 0.97 0.82 0.08 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 0.41 0.55 0.46 0.06 N/A

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0.93 1.40 1.13 0.16 N/A

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0.52 0.68 0.62 0.06 N/A

321 Lake Ginninderra at East 0.47 0.87 0.64 0.12 N/A Arm

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam 0.50 0.99 0.72 0.17 N/A Wall

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 1.10 8.30 2.93 1.97 N/A[15] Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 0.25 1.20 0.49 0.30 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 0.23 1.00 0.39 0.27 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 0.59 1.10 0.73 0.19 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 0.84 1.70 1.20 0.40 N/A[15] Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 0.28 0.66 0.43 0.15 N/A Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 0.54 0.77 0.66 0.09 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.20 0.95 0.43 0.31 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.24 1.10 0.43 0.27 N/A

www.environment.act.gov.au 33 Suspended solids All streams and rivers naturally carry some suspended material as organic and inorganic particles of varying sizes. Most land uses and activities have the potential to increase the concentrations of suspended solids in streams. An increase in the concentration of suspended solids can have two major impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Firstly, higher concentrations of suspended solids reduce the light penetration of water, slowing plant growth and changing the kinds of algae present. Secondly, larger amounts of suspended solids ultimately result in increased sedimentation in streams and lakes. The sand and silt may choke habitats for bottom dwelling organisms while increasing the potential for elevated phosphorus levels arriving as part of silt slugs or fine sediment coatings. Suspended solids readings largely reflect rainfall events impacting on streams and other water bodies. Elevated readings for the Murrumbidgee River and Lake Tuggeranong for instance reflect local storm events.

Table 12: 2012-2013 Suspended Solids (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 7 65 35.63 22.95 25 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 5 37 13.25 10.32 25 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 6 17 9.00 3.74 25

261 Flemington Road Pond 3 61 13.63 19.60 25

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 2 22 5.625 6.74 25

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 6 39 17.13 11.61 25

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 3 16 6.38 4.10 25

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 4 55 19.88 15.76 25

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 4 74 29.75 26.49 25

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 5 38 16.33 14.99 25 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 4 33 14.83 13.04 25 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 5 34 14.33 12.44 25 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 5 25 14.83 9.81 25 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 5 24 17.50 7.77 25 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 3 22 11.00 7.01 25 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 4 21 9.50 6.35 25 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 2 33 12.00 11.24 25

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 2 11 6.00 3.63 25

34 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 13: 2013-14 Suspended Solids (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 12 37 20.25 7.82 25 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 4 20 9.75 4.83 25 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 3 10 6.50 2.39 25

261 Flemington Road Pond 3 25 9.50 8.07 25

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 2 3 2.75 0.50 25

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 8 20 14.14 4.84 25

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 2 7 4.43 1.51 25

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 5 31 13.66 9.81 25

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 6 25 11.50 6.99 25

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 3 30 11.72 6.97 25 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 5 21 10.17 6.11 25 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 3 180 36.17 70.58 25 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 4 34 17.50 11.54 25 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 5 24 11.50 6.89 25 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 4 20 8.33 5.99 25 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 5 12 7.67 2.42 25 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 3 110 25.83 41.73 25

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 4 48 15.40 18.34 25

www.environment.act.gov.au 35 Turbidity Turbidity determines the depth to which light penetrates the water, an important ecological phenomenon that affects plant growth and changes the kinds of algae present. Turbidity of a water body is related to the concentration of suspended solids but also includes colouration. A stream may have very low levels of suspended material but be strongly coloured, for example the tannin rich streams in Namadgi National Park. Water that is richly coloured allows water to penetrate it to a lesser depth.

Canberra has soils with very fine clay particles that can cause high turbidity levels even though the actual amount of material suspended in the water column is not significant. The small clay particles remain suspended in the water long after the heavier sediments have settled on the bottom.

Many readings were over standard, especially in our rivers, reflecting local soil types with very fine clay particles and the impact of rainfall events.

Table 14: 2012-2013 Turbidity (NTU)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 7.1 53.0 26.39 16.36 30 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 4.8 23.0 10.78 6.81 30 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 3.7 18.0 8.25 4.48 30

261 Flemington Road Pond 2.6 72.0 19.54 23.12 30

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall. 1.2 6.40 2.88 2.03 30

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 9.0 81.0 28.88 23.37 30

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 2.7 19.0 7.91 5.39 30

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 4.7 64.0 19.60 18.74 30

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 11.0 85.0 35.63 25.53 30

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 4.0 29.0 12.58 11.31 10 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 2.7 25.0 10.12 8.62 10 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 3.0 38.0 13.15 14.03 10 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 6.2 16.0 11.05 3.83 10 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 4.0 20.0 13.23 6.91 10 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 4.4 32.0 13.75 10.65 10 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 6.2 21.0 10.23 5.39 10 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 3.0 47.0 15.52 16.05 10

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 2.8 15.0 8.20 4.36 10

36 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 15:2013-2014 Turbidity (NTU)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 4.9 33 15.81 8.86 30 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 6.3 33 13.95 8.74 30 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 6.1 39 14.09 10.49 30

261 Flemington Road Pond 7.8 45 18.85 11.39 30

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall. 1.8 2.1 1.90 0.14 30

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 10 59 27.71 17.16 30

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 3.3 13 8.75 3.69 30

321 Lake Ginninderra at East 7 27 15.75 6.43 30 Arm

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam 9.3 3.7 18.15 9.91 30 Wall

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 2.7 29 9.92 7.63 10 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 2.9 64 11.17 14.39 10 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 3.2 56 12.18 11.58 10 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 4.7 32 16.11 9.61 10 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 4 27 12.33 7.76 10 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 4.9 46 16.79 16.46 10 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 3.7 13 7.50 3.68 10 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 4.1 99 27.17 36.41 10

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 2.1 37 12.4 10.54 10

Conductivity Conductivity, the ability of electricity to pass through water, is a measure of the salts and ions present in the water body. Pure de-ionised water does not conduct electricity. Organic compounds like oil, alcohol and charcoal are poor conductors whereas salts (sodium, potassium, calcium ions) and metals (aluminium, iron) conduct electricity well. Conductivity is useful as a general measure of stream or water body quality. Each water body tends to a relatively constant range of conductivity that once established, can be used as a baseline for comparison with regular measurements. Significant changes in conductivity can be used as an indicator that a pollutant has entered the water body.

Unless there is an unusual occurrence, conductivity measures provide good indication of the amount of salt in the water. Urban runoff can be high in salts as many cleaning agents, fertilisers and surfaces (paint, concrete, and road surfaces) contain salts, and these salts are washed into streams during rainfall. Salts

www.environment.act.gov.au 37 can also come from naturally occurring minerals in soils and be mobilised by erosion and ground water seepages in drought periods.

Continual measurement of stream salinity is now performed at key locations throughout the ACT to enable determination of potential problems zones and to provide a robust dataset to validate salinity modelling.

Electrical conductivity in the lakes is generally low, and varies little across the reporting period with no significant spikes in conductivity.

Table 16: 2012-2013 Conductivity (uS/cm)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 170 380 256.25 94.10 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 150 220 185.00 27.77 N/A Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 140 210 178.75 25.32 N/A

261 Flemington Road Pond 240 380 320.00 52.64 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 260 280 265.00 7.56 N/A

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 180 260 218.75 29.00 N/A

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 210 270 242.50 17.53 N/A

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 240 270 252.50 10.35 N/A

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 230 330 281.25 36.43 N/A

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 140 350 213.33 77.63 N/A Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 110 170 138.33 21.37 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 110 160 133.33 17.51 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 150 220 185.00 27.77 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 130 300 238.33 67.95 N/A Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 190 430 318.33 86.12 N/A Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 110 190 141.67 27.87 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 70 89 79.00 6.57 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 78 110 96.83 15.03 N/A

38 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 17: 2013-2014 Conductivity (uS/cm)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 140 400 219.54 67.10 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 100 170 135.00 18.36 N/A Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 95 160 124.32 15.50 N/A

261 Flemington Road Pond 159 1400 332.50 432.06 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, Dam Wall 250 290 278.52 10.27 N/A

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 140 190 161.43 15.57 N/A

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 200 400 223.37 11.26 N/A

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 210 240 229.05 8.90 N/A

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 230 290 257.14 19.89 N/A

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 110 430 232.11 89.66 N/A Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 78 190 120.53 31.31 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 72 170 111.36 26.09 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 150 300 241.66 56.72 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 140 280 240.00 53.29 N/A Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 180 340 291.67 57.07 N/A Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 16 200 132.67 67.71 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 56 95 75.50 12.41 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 60 140 85.80 23.55 N/A

www.environment.act.gov.au 39 pH (Acidity)

The pH refers to the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the water. A pH of 7 is neutral. A value above 7 indicates that the water is alkaline, and a pH below 7 indicates acidic conditions (see figure to right).

If the pH of the water is altered substantially, then there can be changes to chemical processes, which could release nutrients or toxic metals that were previously bound safely in lake or river sediments.

Where there is biological equilibrium in standing water, the pH trend is towards the alkaline end of the scale.

All sites reported the lowest pH readings in the spring, in association with higher flows and water volumes. The dilution brought pH readings well within the levels considered to indicate good waterway health.

Table 18: 2012-2013 pH

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 7.4 8.3 7.86 0.26 6-9 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 7.2 8.8 7.66 0.49 6-9 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 7.5 8.6 7.80 0.35 6-9

261 Flemington Road Pond 7.0 9.2 8.26 0.85 6-9

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 8.1 8.9 8.49 0.27 6-9

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 7.6 8.4 7.93 0.31 6-9

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 7.7 8.5 8.08 0.27 6-9

321 Lake Ginninderra at East 7.6 8.1 7.94 0.18 6-9 Arm

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam 7.6 8.4 8.04 0.24 6-9 Wall

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 7.6 8.4 8.08 0.29 6-9 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 7.3 7.8 7.58 0.19 6-9 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 6.9 7.6 7.42 0.28 6-9 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 6.9 7.8 7.43 0.34 6-9 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 6.1 8.7 7.77 0.91 6-9 Bridge

40 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

608 Molonglo River at Yass 6.4 7.8 7.35 0.50 6-9 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 6.1 7.4 6.97 0.46 6-9 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 6.5 7.5 7.20 0.36 6-9

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 6.8 7.9 7.40 0.40 6-9

Table 19: 2013-2014 pH

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 6.4 8.6 7.40 0.48 6-9 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 6.5 8.2 7.19 0.54 6-9 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 6.3 7.9 6.92 0.35 6-9

261 Flemington Road Pond 7.6 9.4 8.36 0.85 6-9

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 8.0 9.0 10.14 0.76 6-9

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 6.9 9.1 7.60 0.64 6-9

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 6.8 8.5 7.48 0.41 6-9

321 Lake Ginninderra at East 7.2 8.2 7.62 0.28 6-9 Arm

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam 7.1 8.7 7.90 0.46 6-9 Wall

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 6.9 9.1 8.23 0.62 6-9 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 6.2 8.3 7.39 0.05 6-9 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 6.1 8.0 7.32 0.51 6-9 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 6.9 8.1 7.45 2.43 6-9 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 6.5 8.5 7.45 0.67 6-9 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 7.0 8.3 7.60 0.51 6-9 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 7.0 8.0 7.45 0.40 6-9 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 5.7 7.8 7.17 0.81 6-9

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 6.3 8.4 7.36 0.56 6-9

www.environment.act.gov.au 41 Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the oxygen in the water available to aquatic organisms. It is important for the maintenance of aquatic organisms as changes in dissolved oxygen can affect the species present. Low levels of dissolved oxygen can stress fish, which can lead to fungal infections and disease or result directly in fish kills. Levels of dissolved oxygen are affected by turbulence, temperature (colder water can hold more dissolved oxygen), photosynthesis (during periods of sunlight algae and other water plants produce oxygen, while in darkness they consume oxygen) and the level of biological oxygen demand.

The very low dissolved oxygen readings in some lakes and wetlands were still above the regulation limit. While maximum readings over 12 mg.L-1 may pose a threat to living organisms when present for sustained periods, the measurements reported here are spot readings, and do not indicate the duration of the reading. Levels for the period were generally lower than the previous period reflecting lower rainfalls and resultant flows. Levels tend to decrease during warmer months reflecting higher water temperatures and lower flows, apart from the Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers who maintained higher levels throughout the period, possibly reflecting flows from Googong Dam. Point Hut Point was the only water body to report readings over the warmer months below regulation limits reflecting the urbanised nature of the pond catchment.

Table 20: 2012-2013 DO (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0.2 11.0 8.06 2.85 > 4 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 2.7 9.8 7.17 2.49 > 4 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0.6 9.9 7.79 2.00 > 4

261 Flemington Rd Pond 5.0 11.0 8.40 2.10 >4

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 5.7 12.5 9.30 1.13 >4

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 5.9 10.1 7.94 1.32 > 4

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 6.9 12.1 8.83 1.55 > 4

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 5.6 11.5 8.37 1.76 > 4

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 0.2 10.2 7.59 2.32 > 4

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 8.6 12.4 10.42 1.68 > 4 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 7.8 11.8 9.73 1.66 > 4 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 7.7 11.7 9.55 1.60 > 4 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 4.9 12.1 8.98 2.70 > 4 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 9.9 11.5 10.90 0.55 > 4 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 6.9 11.5 9.05 1.84 > 4 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 5.9 11.2 8.87 2.02 > 4 Border

42 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 8.0 12.1 10.22 1.62 > 4

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 8.4 13.0 10.60 1.81 > 4

Table 21: 2013-2014 DO (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0.0 12.1 7.05 3.10 > 4 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0.7 10.4 5.84 3.00 > 4 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0.0 9.6 5.13 2.87 > 4

261 Flemington Rd Pond 2.5 11.2 7.76 2.98 >4

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 9.2 11.6 10.14 0.76 >4

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 4.1 12.3 8.00 2.45 > 4

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0.1 9.8 6.70 2.42 > 4

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 5.9 9.9 7.82 1.19 > 4

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 6.7 10.2 8.03 1.02 > 4

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 8.6 11.9 10.44 1.00 > 4 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 7.3 11.2 9.36 1.16 > 4 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 7.6 11.6 9.88 1.32 > 4 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 5.2 11.3 9.05 2.43 > 4 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 4.3 12.8 8.60 2.74 > 4 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 6.8 10.7 8.98 1.54 > 4 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 7.5 11.2 9.38 1.33 > 4 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 8.4 12.3 10.12 1.46 > 4

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 8.1 11.6 9.90 1.43 > 4

www.environment.act.gov.au 43 Faecal coliform bacteria Bacteria occur naturally in all water bodies. However, the presence of faecal coliforms in a water sample may indicate that human or animal faeces have contaminated the water, and that harmful, less easily detectable pathogens such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia may be present. High levels of faecal coliforms are not necessarily a problem for aquatic ecosystems as they generally serve as food for aquatic organisms without causing them harm. The presence of high numbers of faecal coliforms is a problem for some human uses of water bodies, particularly water supply and recreation involving bodily contact. This Report looks at bacterial levels in water used for primary and secondary contact recreational use (see Table 6), but does not deal with the quality of drinking water.

Results are expressed as colony forming units (cfu) per 100 mL. Regulation of waterway use by the public is outlined in the ACT Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality issued by ACT Health. The standard for primary contact water-based recreation is 200 cfu/100 mL. This standard is applied at individual sites depending on whether they are classed for swimming or secondary contact recreation (such as rowing or sailing) in the Territory Plan.

A shallow urban wetland such as Flemington Road Pond on Sullivans Creek is designed for storm water retention and so water quality standards for bacteria have not been stipulated for this site to date. It is wide and shallow and has a rural catchment. This may induce high bacteria counts for much of the time. Ginninderra Creek and the Queanbeyan River are both sampled close to the end of their urban catchments and the bacterial counts reflect urban run-off and releases from gross pollution traps. The spikes in Ginninderra Creek at Parkwood arguably reflect the impact of local intensive poultry operations.

Table 22: 2012-2013 Faecal Coliforms (cfu/100mL)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 2 86 30.13 35.91 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 2 1300 224.63 453.93 200 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 2 30 9.50 12.22 200

261 Flemington Road Pond 4 3600 530.25 1245.46 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall. 2 130 23.00 43.69 200

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 6 380 79.00 122.81 200

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 2 110 20.50 36.92 200

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 2 77 23.25 32.10 200

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 4 1500 199.50 525.66 200

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 2 380 99.33 145.68 200 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 4 210 63.67 89.14 200 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 2 330 81.33 127.41 200 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 40 100000 16855.67 40733.51 200 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 16 1400 353.67 527.36 200 Bridge

44 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

608 Molonglo River at Yass 6 880 226.67 332.95 200 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 12 1600 460.33 597.63 200 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 22 1800 483.00 721.81 200

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 4 670 208.67 238.56 200

Table 23: 2013-2014 Faecal Coliforms (cfu/100mL)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0 220 55.55 83.08 N/A Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 22 2100 359.43 770.26 200 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 2 220 26.29 43.12 200

261 Flemington Road Pond 2 200 54.14 68.91 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall. 0 2 0.67 1.15 200

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 2 78 25.33 26.85 200

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 2 14 5.67 4.27 200

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 8 36000 6025.33 14684.55 200

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 2 52 17.67 18.99 200

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 4 950 132.57 260.50 200 Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 2 150 43.33 54.75 200 Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 2 530 161 211.61 200 Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 24 100000 17043 40643.83 200 Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 2 650 134.67 254.37 200 Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 8 870 179 339.08 200 Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 34 660 279.67 263.40 200 Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 98 1700 701.33 709.21 200

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 12 1900 397 741.57 200

www.environment.act.gov.au 45 Chlorophyll ‘a’ Chlorophyll ‘a’ is the plant pigment that gives algae their green colour, and is commonly used as a measure of the quantity of algae present (algal biomass). All phytoplanktonic organisms, including Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), use Chlorophyll ‘a’, so the reading indicates whole population dynamics not any single organism population. This measure can therefore serve as a useful indicator of the extent to which an ecosystem has been affected by nutrient inputs. There are also normal seasonal fluctuations in planktonic algal biomass that may appear in the figures, independent of flow rates or exceptional nutrient loads.

Chlorophyll ‘a’ is measured in micrograms per litre (mg/L). To provide a sense of scale, water with a chlorophyll ‘a’ concentration of 1 mg/L will be clear, a concentration of 20 mg/L will be slightly green, and 100 mg/L, very green possibly with algal scum on the surface. There is no standard for streams and rivers in the ACT while a standard of less than 10 mg/L applies for urban lakes and ponds. Chlorophyll ‘a’ levels in both lakes and the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers were elevated at various times throughout the period, often following flooding. All the lakes and wetlands showed maxima across the warmer months reflecting more favourable conditions for algal growth..

Table 24: 2012-2013 Chlorophyll-a (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 3.4 72.0 33.31 27.91 10 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 2.7 160.0 51.96 63.16 10 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 2.1 58.0 28.14 18.52 10

261 Flemington Rd Pond 1.1 4.6 2.51 1.03 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 1.2 18.0 7.60 6.54 10

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 5.0 28.0 13.41 8.17 10

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 4.7 30.0 10.93 8.70 10

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 6.3 13.0 9.58 2.38 10

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 3.7 22.0 7.21 6.07 10

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 7.4 45.0 18.55 13.80 N/A Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 3.2 49.0 14.07 17.27 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 1.9 28.0 9.05 9.44 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 1.9 33.0 10.13 11.80 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 5.1 67.0 24.02 22.59 N/A Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 1.5 11.0 4.93 3.39 N/A Road Bridge

46 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 1.5 31.0 10.15 11.28 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.7 3.0 2.08 1.05 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.7 5.9 2.04 1.92 N/A

Table 25: 2013-2014 Chlorophyll-a (mg/L)

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 8.1 110.0 47.00 28.12 10 Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 2.5 200.0 38.85 67.07 10 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 2.0 24.0 11.33 7.27 10

261 Flemington Rd Pond 2.2 6.9 4.10 1.73 N/A

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 6.2 9.5 8.18 1.48 10

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 6.6 49.0 25.03 16.66 10

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 2.8 15.0 6.96 4.08 10

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 4.7 43.0 13.96 12.42 10

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 3.3 19.0 7.33 5.16 10

204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls 4.3 44.0 16.03 10.93 N/A Crossing

209 Murrumbidgee River at 2.8 33.0 10.01 8.41 N/A Kambah Pool

213 Murrumbidgee River at 2.3 20.0 6.75 4.04 N/A Angle Crossing

301 Ginninderra Creek at 1.9 13.0 6.40 3.70 N/A Parkwood

601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat 0.5 8.2 2.08 2.31 N/A Bridge

608 Molonglo River at Yass 0.9 5.2 2.73 1.79 N/A Road Bridge

769 Queanbeyan River at ACT 4.0 18.0 10.68 5.52 N/A Border

842 Paddys River at Riverlea 0.7 4.4 2.40 1.46 N/A

901 Gudgenby River at Tennent 0.4 8.2 2.08 2.31 N/A

www.environment.act.gov.au 47 Algal monitoring of lake recreation areas Algae are simple, usually microscopic plants that live either in water or damp areas. Dense growths of algae can impact on water quality and aesthetics by causing bad smells, strange colours and form thick scums. When planktonic algal numbers increase dramatically and change the colour of the water, the phenomenon is called an algal bloom. Rotting algae will use up oxygen in the water. Severe blooms cause large fluctuations in dissolved oxygen, with high levels during the day and low levels at night. The oxygen drop may cause fish to die as a result. Some members of a certain class of algae, the Cyanoprokaryota (Cyanobacteria or “blue-green algae”), in some situations can generate toxins which may be poisonous to animals and people.

Blue-green algae occur naturally in most ACT water bodies, but usually in low numbers in biological balance with other aquatic life. However, given the right environmental conditions, which include warm weather, low rainfall and the right mix of nutrients, planktonic blue-green algae, usually Microcystis, Anabaena or Tyconema in the ACT, may multiply rapidly to high levels, dominate all other algae and pose a health risk. When the total nitrogen over total phosphorus ratio is >10, and turbidity decreases, a blue-green algal bloom becomes likely. The activity of populations of tiny, colonial blue-green algae, like the frequently toxic Microcystis and the more benign Aphanocapsa, is best indicated by the space they occupy in the water column. Calculation of biovolume (the displacement caused by the colony) provides a useful tool in both identification and characterisation of blue-green algal bloom formers. Weekly monitoring of visible planktonic algal conditions (especially for blue-green Anabaena and Microcystis) is performed by EPA and Health Protection Service officers from September to May, and actions on alerts, warnings or lake closures are determined when certain levels of blue-green algae are present (Table 26).

Blue-Green Algae (Planktonic Cyanobacteria) The phytoplankton, the myriad of single celled or colonial floating photosynthetic organisms, perform two vital roles in aquatic systems –– they mop up free/excess nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorous and they release large quantities of oxygen into the water column. Phytoplankton is constantly on the move in flowing systems and monitoring these small and erratic populations is of academic interest only. In closed systems such as lakes and artificial wetlands the significant phytoplankton population rises and falls in seasonal pulses and as a response to nutrient levels. While those populations have several other components (diatoms, dinoflagellates, green and golden-green algae) the cyanobacterial or blue-green algal fraction is the most likely to produce offensive and potentially toxic population explosions – blooms. These responses are further indications of water quality.

The conditions that support the occurrence of algal blooms can be circumvented in small water bodies by stabilisation of basement sediment. In large water bodies such stabilisation is more difficult. Aeration of the water column to minimise temperature stratification, and consequent changes in pH and nutrient availability may provide some remediation. On-going actions to improve the health of the catchment including in-stream and riparian revegetation and pollution reduction are much more effective in the long term.

Phytoplankton is reported in numbers per millilitre (cells/mL). The standard for Cyanobacteria for lakes in the ACT is based on danger to human health through contact. Populations of Microcystis, Anabaena or other known toxin producing cyanobacteria, greater than 20,000 cells/mL, bring about the closure of that water body to primary contact activities.

48 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 28: Algal Alert Levels for ACT Urban Lakes

Level Blue-green algal Biovolume Response cells/mL Equivalent

Low >500 to <5,000 >0.04–<0.4 At this level, there is generally no major health risk. mm3/L The EPA carries out routine monitoring, which includes weekly visual inspections.

Medium ≥5, 000 to ≥0.4–<4.0 mm3/L At this level there is a greater risk of potential health <50,000 problems. The EPA increases the visual sampling to twice a week and undertakes water sampling weekly.

>1.6 mm3/L If algal counts are > 20,000 cells/mL then on-site signs are erected to warn potential water users against risk of skin irritation, headache, nausea, >20,000 and gastrointestinal illness.

High ≥50,000 ≥4.0 mm3/L At this alert level the EPA maintains a twice-weekly visual inspection and weekly water sampling regime. In addition on-site signs are changed to ‘Lake Closed’ signs for primary contact* users.

Extreme ≥125,000 ≥10 mm3/L EPA continues twice weekly visual inspection, and (40,000 cells/ water samples are taken as required. On-site signs mL Anabaena are erected to advise secondary contact users that circinalis) or contact with the water increases the risk of harm, scums are and that secondary contact** users’ protocols consistently must be followed. present

* Primary contact users are those whose sporting activities involve their partial or total immersion in the water. Examples include swimming; snorkelling or scuba diving; water skiing; wind surfing or parasailing over water. ** Secondary contact users are those whose sporting activities are conducted on or near the water but involve water contact such as splashing or occasional immersion of extremities. Examples include rowing; dragon boat racing; yachting or kayaking. When signs have been erected, experienced members of clubs proceed at their own risk and must follow the protocols.

www.environment.act.gov.au 49 Lake Tuggeranong had above regulation readings for cyanobacteria across the majority of the sampling period. In 2012-13, Yerrabi Pond was the only other water body to record an above regulation reading, whilst in 2013-14 Point Hut Pond and Gungahlin Pond recorded above regulation readings.

Table 26: 2012-2013 Planktonic Cyanobacteria (cells/mL) - Lakes only

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 0 15667 3179.38 5730.80 NA Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0 289130 41407.88 100350.89 <20000 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0 112607 19701.63 38476.22 <20000

261 Flemington Road Pond 0 3287 1012.38 1276.50 <20000

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 0 20798 2874.00 7251.14 <20000

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0 16848 2256.75 5897.97 <20000

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0 1089 185.25 372.78 <20000

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 0 1153 385.75 367.58 <20000

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 0 290 52.75 106.41 <20000

Table 27: 2013-2014 Planktonic Cyanobacteria (cells/mL) - Lakes only

Site Site name Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Regulation number deviation limits

102 Burrinjuck Res above Hume 262 44077 9729 13224 NA Park

248 Lake Tuggeranong at 0 101517 130597 34750 <20000 Kambah Wetland

249 Lake Tuggeranong at Dam 0 28424 5513 9710 <20000

261 Flemington Road Pond <20000

262 Yerrabi Pond, dam wall 0 13163 4523 4791 <20000

270 Point Hut Pond at Dam Wall 0 86022 14200 31820 <20000

318 Lake Ginninderra at Dam 0 2140 366 733 <20000

321 Lake Ginninderra at East Arm 0 997 262 371 <20000

346 Gungahlin Pond at Dam Wall 0 51874 7962 18196 <20000

The algal cell counts and biovolumes above are based on those for Microcystis aeruginosa unless otherwise specified.

Full details of the ACT Guidelines for Recreational water Quality, covering both bacteria and cyanobacteria; can be found at the ACT Health website at http://www.health.act.gov.au

50 ACT Water Report 2012-14 AUSRIVAS (Biological assessment using benthic macroinvertebrates) Water chemistry analysis such as pH, total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen provides a snapshot of the water quality at the time when the sample is taken. Biological assessment, in this case, the sampling of waterbugs (benthic macroinvertebrates), can indicate much about the water quality over time and show what kind of environment the water and its waterway provide for animals to live in.

Macroinvertebrate biological assessment is based on a comparison between a tally of the range of waterbugs found at a site with those predicted to occur there. If all those animals expected at a site actually occur there, the site is judged to be in good condition. Conversely the absence of expected animals indicates a site has been disturbed. The rating scale for AUSRIVAS outputs is presented below (Table 29). A full explanation of the AUSRIVAS biological assessment method for the ACT is available from www.ausrivas.canberra.edu.au and the full biological assessment reports are available on request from EPD.

Table 29: AUSRIVAS Bands and their Observed/Expected Taxa Scores for the ACT Autumn Edge Model and Some Interpretations for Reporting (Ball et al. 2001)

Band Condition Taxa Interpretations

X More biologically diverse than More taxa found than expected. Potential biodiversity hot-spot. reference Possible mild organic enrichment.

A Similar to Reference Water quality and/or habitat condition roughly equivalent to reference sites.

B Significantly Impaired Potential impact either on water quality or habitat quality or both, resulting in loss of taxa.

C Severely Impaired Loss of macroinvertebrate biodiversity due to substantial impacts on water and/or habitat quality.

D Extremely Impaired Extremely poor water and/or habitat quality. Highly degraded.

www.environment.act.gov.au 51 Table 30: AUSRIVAS Band Scores Spring 2006 to Autumn 2014 Note there is no regulation limit for this parameter (although the ideal would be an A for each site).

Site # Site Name Spring 06 Autumn 07 Spring07 Autumn 08 Spring 08 Autumn 09 Spring 09 Autumn 10 Spring 10 Autumn 11 Spring 11 Autumn 12 Spring 12 Autumn 13 Spring 13 Autumn 14

10 Paddys River at B B B A B A C A A A A A X A A B Murray’s Corner

15 Tidbinbilla River at A A A A A A A A A A A A A B A A Paddys River Road

213/40 Murrumbidgee River C A B A A B B A B B B B A A B B at Angle Crossing

20 Gudgenby River at A B C B A B B B A B B A A A X A Smiths Road

58 Tuggeranong Creek B B C A C B C B C B C C C B B B downstream of Lake

64 Ginninderra Creek at C B D C D C C C C C C B B A C B Latham

189 Yarralumla Creek at C C B C C C B C C C D C D B C C Cotter Road bridge

195 Ginninderra Creek C C C C C C C C C B C B C B B B Baldwin Drive

196 Ginninderra Creek C C C C C C C B C B C B B B C B downstream of Lake

204/53 Murrumbidgee River A B B B A B B B A B B A B B A B at Halls Crossing

246 Jerrabomberra Creek B C B C C B C C D B B B C A A B at Hindmarsh Drive

608/242 Molonglo River. at B B D B A B C B C C C B A B B B Yass Road

769/235 Queanbeyan River at C C C C D C B C C B B B B B A B ACT border

All sites were assessed as either similar to reference condition (band A) or significantly impaired (band B) in autumn 2013. This was a net improvement in biological condition across all sites from spring 2012, and was the first assessment in which all sites were above band C (severely impaired) assessment since the current program commenced in 2001.

The only sites to decline in biological condition from the spring 2012 assessment were reference site 015 (Tidbinbilla River) and test site 235 (Queanbeyan River). Both of these sites declined from band A to band B assessment in autumn 2013. An improvement in biological condition occurred at test sites 058 (Tuggeranong Creek), 064 (Ginninderra Creek), 189 (Yarralumla Creek), 195 (Ginninderra Creek), and 246 (Jerrabomberra Creek). The band A assessment at test sites 064 (Ginninderra Creek at Latham) and 246 (Jerrabomberra Creek) was the first time these sites have been assessed as band A since the commencement of the monitoring program in 2001.

Reference site 010 at Murray’s Corner on Paddys River has been assessed as band A (or band X) since autumn 2010. Sand and silt comprised 75% of the stream bed in the study reach at this site, which is likely to have sourced from stream bank erosion in agricultural areas upstream of the sampling site. Established macrophyte beds and riparian vegetation provide suitable habitat for larval and adult life stages of a diverse macroinvertebrate assemblage at this reference site.

52 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Reference site 040 at Angle Crossing on the Murrumbidgee River and test site 020 on the nearby Gudgenby River were also assessed as band A despite a high proportion of fine sediment on the stream bed, and above guideline turbidity at the time of sampling at site 040. This indicates good water quality and edge habitat at these sites.

Test site 064 on Ginninderra Creek at Latham was assessed as band A for the first time since the assessment program commenced in 2001, despite no apparent changes to degraded in-stream and riparian habitat. This site had the highest species richness at all sites in autumn 2013 with 29 taxa identified in the sub-sample, and has been improving in biological condition since 2007 when it was assessed as extremely impaired (band D). The high taxonomic richness at this site may indicate increased biological condition, or may have resulted from a mild disturbance or eutrophication, which can temporarily increase taxonomic richness. Despite the high taxonomic richness, three taxa that were expected with a >50% chance of occurrence by the AUSRIVAS model were missing from the sub-sample. This may indicate that a factor other than improved ecological health, such as eutrophication, is driving increased taxonomic richness. Future assessments will determine if the increase in taxonomic richness at this site reflects an improved biological condition, or a temporary variation in macroinvertebrate community assemblage driven by disturbance or eutrophication.

Reference site 015 was assessed as band B in autumn 2013. This is the first time this site has been assessed as biologically impaired since autumn 2006. Bank instability and poor riparian habitat have been identified as potential stressors at this reference site in previous assessments. The observed decline in biological condition at this site in autumn 2013 may be caused by these stressors; however the taxa score for this site was in the upper range of the band B bandwidth. The autumn 2013 assessment may therefore be a result of natural variation. Future assessments will clarify whether or not this site is in fact declining in condition.

Of the test sites that were assessed as band B (significantly impaired), only site 235 (Queanbeyan River) had declined in biological condition since spring 2012 from band A. Water level in the Queanbeyan River was below the level of the reed beds that constitute the edge habitat in the study reach. This caused decrease in the range of edge microhabitats available for macroinvertebrates in the study reach and is likely to be the cause of the absence of a number of taxa in the macroinvertebrate sample.

Dense reed beds (Phragmites sp.) were observed at urban test sites 058 (Tuggeranong Creek), 195 and 196 (Ginninderra Creek). It is likely that high nutrient concentrations in urban run-off are contributing to this macrophyte abundance. The presence of these dense macrophyte beds can improve downstream water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and pollutants from urban run-off. However, in the absence of periodic large-scale removal (and subsequent re-establishment) of macrophytes from these areas, increased macrophyte growth can smother the in-stream habitat and remove microhabitats required by some macroinvertebrate taxa.

Test site 189 on Yarralumla Creek at Curtin improved from band D in spring 2012 to band B in autumn 2013. This improved biological condition coincided with a substantial decrease in electrical conductivity since the spring 2012 assessment (973.2 µS cm-1 in spring 2012 to 157.9 µS cm-1 in autumn 2013). However, a number of stressors relating to the urbanised catchment and concreted channel likely affect the biological health of Yarralumla Creek.

Overall there was a net improvement in the biological health of streams since previous sampling was conducted in spring 2012. Two sites declined and six sites improved in biological condition. The biological health of rural streams in this study was generally greater than that of streams with more urbanised catchments. Erosion and sedimentation continues to be the most likely cause of biological impairment in rural catchments, while nutrient laden run-off is likely driving increased macrophyte growth and in-stream production in some urban streams.

www.environment.act.gov.au 53 Spring 2013 One of the three reference sites and six of the ten test sites were assessed as impaired by the AUSRIVAS model in spring 2013. Sites 040 (Angle Crossing, Murrumbidgee River), 058 (Tuggeranong Creek), 195 (Ginninderra Creek, Baldwin Drive), and 242 (Molonglo River) were assessed as band B (significantly impaired) and sites 064 (Ginninderra Creek, Latham), 189 (Yarralumla Creek), and 196 (Ginninderra Creek, downstream of Lake Ginninderra) were assessed as band C (severely impaired). Each of the other sites were assessed as band A (similar to reference condition) by the AUSRIVAS model, except for site 020 (Gudgenby River) which was assessed as band X (more biologically diverse than reference).

Sites that declined in biological condition since the previous assessment in autumn 2013 were reference site 040 (Murrumbidgee River, Angle Crossing – band A to B), and test sites 064 and 196 (Ginninderra Creek) and 189 (Yarralumla Creek – band B to C). Test site 015 (Tidbinbilla Creek) and reference sites 053 (Murrumbidgee River, Halls Crossing) and 235 (Queanbeyan River) improved in biological condition from band B to band A since autumn 2013.

There was a slight decline in the overall biological condition of streams assessed in the spring 2013 assessment since autumn 2013. This may be because of a temporary shift in macroinvertebrate community composition resulting from the minor flood event in the ACT region approximately one week prior to sampling. Such events can cause dislodgement and drift of macroinvertebrates which can alter macroinvertebrate community composition.

Sites with heavily urbanised catchments such as 064, 195 and 196 on Ginninderra Creek and 189 on Yarralumla Creek had particularly low observed/expected taxa scores in spring 2013. This may be because the effect of the minor flood disturbance was acting on ecologically stressed streams at these sites, and therefore had a more substantial effect. The impermeable surfaces of these heavily urbanised catchments also deliver more pronounced flood pulses because of unimpeded surface run-off and reduced channel roughness. This may also explain the greater disturbance effect from more urbanised sites in spring 2013.

Autumn 2014 Sites 064 and 196 on Ginninderra Creek improved in biological condition since spring 2013. These sites were still biologically impaired (band B) in autumn 2014, however they were assessed as severely impaired (band C) in spring 2013, following a minor flood event. The autumn 2014 assessment is likely to reflect a return to the long-term average biological condition at these sites, rather than a response to an improved catchment condition.

Reference site 010 on Paddys River was assessed as band B for the first time since spring 2009. Taxa that were predicted with a ≥50% chance of occurrence by the AUSRIVAS model but were missing from the sub-sample at this site were not biased toward highly sensitive taxa, and the total number of taxa identified from this site has remained unchanged over the past three assessments. The shift in AUSRIVAS assessment at this site to band B may therefore be the result of natural variation of in-stream macroinvertebrate assemblage rather than a notable decline in biological condition.

Test sites 053 at Halls Crossing on the Murrumbidgee River, 235 on the Queanbeyan River, and 246 on Jerrabomberra Creek declined to band B in autumn 2014 from band A assessments in spring 2013 (The band B assessment at these sites in autumn 2014 is consistent with previous assessments of these sites and the level of catchment modification to which they are exposed.

Reference site 015 on Tidbinbilla River was assessed as band A in autumn 2014. This site is exposed to local scale pressures of stock access and a modified riparian zone, yet has had minimal catchment modification. The consistency of reference condition assessments at this site, despite the influence of site scale habitat modifications, highlights the importance of catchment condition on in-stream biological health. Site 020 on the Gudgenby River was also assessed as band A in autumn 2014.

54 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Site 040 on the Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing was assessed as band B in autumn 2014. The catchment of the Murrumbidgee River upstream of this site is heavily modified and this site is commonly assessed as biologically impaired.

Test site 058 below Tuggeranong Dam was assessed as band B in autumn 2014 This site is exposed to the barrier and water quality effects imposed by the Lake Tuggeranong Dam (see Ward and Stanford 2001; Nichols et al 2006) combined with the water quality effects of urban run-off. Biological assessments at this site are typically either band B or band C as a result.

Test site 189 on Yarralumla Creek received the lowest AUSRIVAS O/E taxa of all sites in autumn 2014, and was the only site assessed as band C. The biological condition of Yarralumla Creek at this site is consistently assessed as band C or band D by the AUSRIVAS model. Ongoing ecological deficiency is likely to persist at this site unless major changes to channel structure and urban run-off quality in the catchment are addressed.

Lakes

Point Hut Pond Water quality in Point Hut Pond (Site 270) has been historically poor compared with the standards set for its designated uses in the Territory Plan and by comparison with other lake sites in the ACT. The watershed is almost entirely urban, and the floor of the Pond is silt-like.

In 2012–13, turbidity was often elevated, along with phosphorus, and these may reflect building activity and gardening in the watershed. The dissolved oxygen level fell in February, probably reflecting summer conditions. There were quite high cyanobacterial numbers in March 2013 although this did not warrant sampling by EPA; the May 2013 sample indicated high numbers of euglenoids and algae that may put a thin surface film on water bodies.

2013-14 recordings show an overall improvement in water quality in the Pond, with most values within regulation limits.

Table 30: 2012-13 Site 270 Point Hut Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.90 7.93 7.9 7.6 7.8 7.9 8.4 7.7 8.4 7.7

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 12.32 13.41 10 5 9.2 11 6.1 28 15 23

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 215.51 218.75 260 200 220 240 250 190 180 210

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 4271.61 2256.75 0 210 0 0 404 361 16848 231

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.22 7.94 10 7.8 7.1 6.8 8.7 5.9 8.6 8.4

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 114.39 79 6 380 62 36 38 28 54 28 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 29.41 17.13 27 23 10 15 6 7 10 39

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.17 0.94 1.3 1.1 1 0.99 0.67 0.73 0.51 1.2

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.06 0.07 0.05 0.06 0.03 0.05 0.03 0.11

Turbidity NTU 30 68.65 28.88 31 34 27 28 10 9 11 81

Indicates readings above regulation limits

www.environment.act.gov.au 55 Table 31: 2013-14 Site 270 Point Hut Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 2 Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.90 8.36 7.6 8.0 7.6 8.0 9.4 9.4 9.3 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 12.27 4.10 4.1 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.5 2.6 6.5 6.9

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 215.35 332.5 230 180 1400 150 180 180 190 150

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 4271.61 14200 0 0 86022 - 1025 620 2985 -

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.24 7.76 9.7 10.5 7.6 7.9 8.2 11.2 4.5 2.5

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 117.61 54.14 2 40 21 200 76 34 6 - 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 30.07 9.5 6 3 4 3 13 5 17 25

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.18 0.82 0.88 0.79 0.83 0.80 0.75 0.73 0.81 0.97

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.08 0.03 0.025 0.028 0.038 0.029 0.025 0.019 0.026 0.046

Turbidity NTU 30 70.73 18.85 17 15 23 16 14 7.8 13 45

Lake Tuggeranong Two sites are monitored in Lake Tuggeranong, one at the Kambah Wetland (Site 248) near the northern inflow of Village and Wanniassa Creeks, and the other above the dam wall (Site 249). The lake also captures all the inflows from the suburbs on either side of Tuggeranong Ck above Isabella Pond, the stormwater from Greenway (including the Hyperdome) and Oxley.

2012–2013 was a difficult year for water quality in Lake Tuggeranong. There was much public interest in the health of the lake at the time. As demonstrated in the tables below, algal blooms, dominated by Cyanobacteria, stayed in the lake from October through to May. The December and February elevated reports for both Phosphorus and Turbidity indicate that rain events occurred close to sampling times and the more than usually alkaline pH in December may be associated with the same rain event. 2013-14 results reflect a similar story.

Table 32: 2012-13 Site 248 Lake Tuggeranong Kambah Wetland

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.69 7.66 7.7 7.6 7.6 8.8 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.5

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 17.06 51.96 2.7 12 17 160 12 60 140 12

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 175.12 185 210 160 210 200 220 170 150 160

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 19423.23 41407.88 0 1064 1178 289130 17703 16712 3890 1586

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.42 7.17 9.8 9.5 6.6 8.2 4.8 3.9 2.7 8.5

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 8661.32 224.63 32 1300 2 2 2 19 390 50 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 20.64 13.25 8 12 7 37 7 15 15 5

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.12 1.20 1.1 1.3 0.84 2 1.5 0.98 1.2 0.67

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.09 0.09 0.06 0.1 0.05 0.14 0.074 0.11 0.15 0.05

Turbidity NTU 30 30.12 10.78 12 19 6.5 23 5.2 9.2 6.5 4.8

56 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 33: 2013-14 Site 248 Lake Tuggeranong Kambah Wetland

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.70 7.2 7.1 7.1 8.2 7.9 7.0 6.7 6.7 6.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 15.59 38.85 7.8 2.5 14 10 15 200 54 7.5

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 174.67 135 145 140 147 138 163 107 113 120

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 19423.23 16324 0 97 0 495 11854 101517 7892 8742

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.47 5.84 8.4 6.5 10.4 8.7 1.6 3.1 4.2 4.0

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 9298.06 359.43 22 48 24 210 2100 70 42 - 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 20.96 9.75 8 8 6 4 10 20 10 12

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.11 1.17 0.84 1.4 0.94 0.84 0.82 2.2 0.98 1.3

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.09 0.11 0.05 0.11 0.07 0.07 0.09 0.26 0.13 0.09

Turbidity NTU 30 30.96 13.95 9.9 33 18 10 6.4 16 6.3 12

Table 34: 2012-13 Site 249 Lake Tuggeranong Dam Wall

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct 2012 Nov Dec Jan 2013 Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.66 7.8 7.8 7.7 7.8 8.6 7.8 7.5 7.5 7.7

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 11.94 28.14 2.1 12 20 58 18 40 44 31

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 168.47 178.75 200 190 190 190 210 150 140 160

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 18569.92 19701.63 0 154 358 112607 12902 24057 6422 1113

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.12 7.79 9.9 8.1 7.8 9 8.3 5.4 9.2 9.3

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 215.79 9.5 2 30 2 2 2 2 28 8 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 16.62 9 6 8 6 17 10 11 6 8

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.06 0.96 1.1 0.91 0.85 1.1 0.7 1.1 0.94 0.94

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.08 0.08 0.059 0.05 0.05 0.08 0.05 0.15 0.11 0.09

Turbidity NTU 30 30.93 8.25 11 7 5.8 18 6.5 8.3 3.7 5.7

www.environment.act.gov.au 57 Table 35: 2013-14 Site 249 Lake Tuggeranong Dam Wall

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.66 6.9 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.0 7.0 6.5 6.6 7.1

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 11.26 11.3 6.3 2.0 8.5 7.8 8.1 16 24 18

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 168.00 124.3 130 121 127 131 151 97 110 124

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 18569.92 5513 137 0 114 400 28424 1381 7026 6625

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.12 5.1 8.8 6.8 6.1 4.3 2.8 2.0 3.9 6.4

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 231.81 26.3 2 2 16 4 120 4 36 - 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 16.96 6.5 6 9 4 3 6 6 8 10

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.06 1.10 0.82 1.60 1.10 0.94 0.67 1.3 0.99 1.4

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.08 0.09 0.05 0.12 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.13 0.14 0.08

Turbidity NTU 30 31.91 14.09 9.6 39 16 10 6.1 12 8 12

Flemington Road Pond Flemington Road Pond (Site 261) is a recently constructed storm water retention pondage system in Sullivans Creek. In the catchment above the Barton Highway, the creek-line is incised through cleared grazing land.

Storm events bring a flush of nutrients into the pond, followed by a short lived population explosion among the coliform bacteria and the cyanobacteria. Thus the pond does its job. The steady elevation of pH in the autumn months coincides with a drop in flow in Sullivans Creek above the pond.

Table 36: 2012-13 Site 261 Flemington Road Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.88 8.26 7.8 7 7.5 7.8 8.6 9.1 9.2 9.1

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 17.49 2.51 1.1 4.6 1.9 2.1 2 2.9 2.8 2.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 238.92 320 240 250 300 320 360 360 350 380

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 1068.38 1012.38 114 2736 51 0 828 659 424 3287

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.83 8.4 10.5 9.2 8.7 5 5.7 8.4 8.7 11

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 447.41 530.25 4 3600 36 52 350 130 64 6 Confirmed 100mL

58 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 62.26 13.63 13 61 3 4 8 13 4 3

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.71 0.95 1.1 1.4 1.1 1 0.75 0.86 0.65 0.7

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.11 0.03 0.035 0.1 0.03 0.027 0.015 0.029 0.002 0.012

Turbidity NTU 30 299.59 19.54 31 72 18 13 6.8 9.6 3.3 2.6

Table 37: 2013-14 Site 261 Flemington Road Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.77 8.36 7.6 8 7.6 8 9.4 9.4 9.3 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 22.48 4.1 4.1 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.5 2.6 6.5 6.9

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 216.55 332.5 230 180 1400 150 180 180 190 150

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 1068.38 0 0 229 221 3682 22385 937 1175

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 9.48 7.76 9.7 10.5 7.6 7.9 8.2 11.2 4.5 2.5

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 373.78 54.14 2 40 21 200 76 34 6 - Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 75.23 9.5 6 3 4 3 13 5 17 25

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.91 0.82 0.88 0.79 0.83 0.8 0.75 0.73 0.81 0.97

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.13 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.05

Turbidity NTU 30 374.28 18.85 17 15 23 16 14 7.8 13 45

Ginninderra Watershed The three northern pondages along the upper end of Ginninderra Creek form a series of water capture and natural filtration devices allowing the precipitation of sediments and filtration of nutrients. Yerrabi Pond picks up run-off from the developing north-eastern suburbs; where Gungahlin Pond, in its parkland setting, continues the capture and cleaning of storm water. When the water reaches Lake Ginninderra it travels in a broad loop and rejoins the creek-line at Ginninderra Drive. The quality of the water leaving the lake is generally better than that entering Yerrabi Pond.

Yerrabi Pond While Yerrabi Pond (Site 262) has been part of the urban waterways of Canberra for several years, its importance as an indicator of water quality is now being realised as the infrastructure for the suburbs in its catchment approach maturity.

Water quality in Yerrabi pond was generally satisfactory with exceedances in Chlorophyll ‘a’ relating to warmer weather conditions March 2013 saw higher levels of cyanobacteria reflecting again warmer conditions and higher rainfall in the previous month.

www.environment.act.gov.au 59 Table 38: 2012-13 Site 262 Yerrabi Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.16 8.49 8.1 8.2 8.6 8.9 8.6 8.5 8.7 8.3

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 8.01 7.6 1.2 1.7 2 7 18 14 13 3.9

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 234.71 265 260 270 260 260 270 260 260 280

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 1269.82 2874 165 1036 28 48 618 299 20798 0

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.82 9.30 10.6 9.5 9.1 9.1 8 8.2 9.8 9.9

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 67.38 23 2 130 4 14 20 6 6 2 Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 14.91 5.63 6 3 2 4 22 3 3 2

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.88 0.61 0.78 0.57 0.57 0.63 0.81 0.51 0.43 0.61

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.03 0.02 0.017 0.018 0.009 0.018 0.043 0.018 0.005 0.042

Turbidity NTU 30 23.69 2.88 6.4 2.8 1.2 2 5.7 2.1 1.3 1.5

Table 39: 2013-14 Site 262 Yerrabi Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct 2013 Nov Dec Jan 2014 Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.07 8.6 8.1 8.4 8.9 9 9.2 9 8.6 8.3

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 8.15 8.2 9.1 6.2 9.5 7.9 6 11 14 2.6

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 225.38 278.5 280 289 269 270 270 270 280 260

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 1269.82 4523 672 9566 6156 13163 717 4231 1680 0

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.8 10.1 11.3 10 9.6 9.5 8.6 8.8 7.9 9.7

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 81.04 0.67 0 2 2 0 2 4 4 10 Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 17.77 2.75 3 3 2 3 - 3 4 2

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.96 0.46 0.44 0.41 0.45 0.55 0.49 0.58 0.66 0.41

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01

Turbidity NTU 30 30.09 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.7 2.2

60 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Gungahlin Pond Water quality in Gungahlin Pond (Site 346) was generally satisfactory, with the exceedances explained by storms at those times.

Table 40: 2012-13 Site 346 Gungahlin Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan 2 Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.18 8.038 8 7.6 8 8.1 8.3 8 8.4 7.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.90 7.21 3.7 4.9 5.1 7 5.7 22 5.6 3.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 296.98 281.25 330 250 300 320 300 250 230 270

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 2128.41 52.75 0 290 0 0 0 0 132 0

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.18 7.59 10.2 8.8 7.5 8 7.3 6.8 8.5 9.3

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 40.31 199.5 4 1500 6 36 8 4 34 4 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 18.95 29.75 28 68 9 17 74 19 4 19

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.97 0.9 0.99 1 1.1 0.9 0.99 0.66 0.55 0.97

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.064 0.039 0.03 0.12 0.048 0.015 0.039

Turbidity NTU 30 28.91 35.62 38 85 23 18 63 23 11 24

Table 41: 2013-14 Site 346 Gungahlin Pond

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct 2013 Nov Dec Jan 2014 Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.19 7.89 7.3 7.6 8 8.3 8.7 7.8 7.5 8.1

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.89 7.3 6.8 5.9 6 3.3 4.2 19 9.8 3.6

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 297.86 257.1 241 280 250 270 290 230 241 260

Cyanobacteria Cells/ <20000 2128.41 7962 0 0 0 11583 51874 0 158 86 mL

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.22 8.03 9.6 7.8 7.4 7.9 7.6 7 7.1 9.3

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 24.97 17.67 12 26 2 2 2 52 12 - 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 18.35 11.5 8 25 8 6 7 9 20 9

Total Nitrogen mg/L N/A 0.98 0.72 0.91 0.99 0.73 0.56 0.5 0.78 0.67 0.59 N

Total Phosphorus mg/L 0.1 0.04 0.027 0.025 0.039 0.022 0.02 0.019 0.035 0.036 0.016 P

Turbidity NTU 30 28.53 18.51 24 37 12 9.3 9.8 19 26 11

www.environment.act.gov.au 61 Lake Ginninderra Two sites are monitored in Lake Ginninderra, one near the inflow in the East Arm (Site 321) and the other above the outflow dam wall, or West Arm (Site 318).

The dramatic elevation in turbidity reported in October in the East Arm of the lake can probably be put down to local intensity in storm runoff. Similarly, the March 2014 The elevated Faecal Coliforms count also reflects localised rainfall event influences.

Looking towards Belconnen township across Lake Ginninderra

Table 42: Site 321 Lake Ginninderra East Arm 2012-13

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7 7.94 8.1 7.6 7.9 7.9 8.1 7.8 8.1 8

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 9.86 9.58 7.8 8.5 13 8.6 10 13 6.3 9.4

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 281.29 252.5 260 240 250 260 270 250 240 250

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 8358.63 385.75 392 572 230 0 0 1153 371 368

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.03 8.37 11.5 9.3 7.9 7 7.5 5.6 8.4 9.7

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 191.30 23.25 2 77 73 12 8 4 4 6 Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 24.28 19.88 18 55 8 24 11 17 4 22

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.80 0.72 0.88 1.1 0.68 0.77 0.56 0.59 0.48 0.69

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.041 0.078 0.025 0.042 0.029 0.039 0.008 0.037

Turbidity NTU 30 26.73 19.6 23 64 12 15 9.1 17 4.7 12

Table 42: 2013-14 Lake Ginninderra East Arm

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.98 7.6 7.4 7.8 7.7 7.7 8.1 7.4 7.3 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 9.87 14 9 15 7 4.7 11 43 16 6

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 282.07 229 222 240 224 230 240 230 233 217

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 8358.63 366 0 0 0 147 0 2140 449 196

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.03 7.8 9.8 8.8 7.6 7.3 7.2 6.2 6.6 -

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 202.99 6025.3 2 14 8 62 8 60 36000 - Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 24.47 13.6 9 9 7 5 8 13 27 31

62 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.81 0.63 0.72 0.64 0.64 0.58 0.47 0.87 0.61 0.56

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.035 0.025 0.029 0.024 0.025 0.026 0.069 0.048 0.031

Turbidity NTU 30 26.92 15.8 17 15 11 11 7 16 27 22

Table 43: 2012-13: Site 318 Lake Ginninderra Dam Wall

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.92 8.08 8.5 7.7 8 8 8.4 7.9 8.2 7.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 5.77 10.93 17 5.8 5.2 5.8 30 9.8 9.1 4.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 273.04 242.5 210 230 240 250 270 250 240 250

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 9428.70 185.25 76 42 0 0 227 48 1089 0

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.33 8.83 12.1 8.3 8.2 7.8 8.5 6.9 10.3 9

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 83.81 20.5 2 24 110 2 12 2 6 6 Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 11.22 6.38 16 6 4 5 6 4 3 7

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.74 0.65 0.85 0.66 0.71 0.65 0.68 0.54 0.47 0.61

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.03 0.02 0.038 0.025 0.021 0.021 0.032 0.028 0.011 0.02

Turbidity NTU 30 14.10 7.91 19 12 8 6.6 3.4 4.1 2.7 7.5

Table 44: 2013-14: Site 318 Lake Ginninderra Dam Wall

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar May limits Term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 Average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.92 7.5 7.3 7.7 7.4 7.6 7.9 7.2 7.0 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 5.67 7.0 7.9 9.8 4.3 2.8 15 5 7.8 3.2

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 273.58 223 221 221 221 227 238 230 230 200

Cyanobacteria Cells/mL <20000 9428.70 366 0 0 0 147 0 2140 449

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.32 6.7 9 8.7 6.3 6.9 5.6 4.6 4.5 8

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/ 200 88.33 5.7 4 4 2 6 4 14 100 - Confirmed 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 11.41 4.4 7 5 4 2 2 5 4 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.75 0.62 0.68 0.68 0.63 0.62 0.52 0.55 0.6 0.64

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.025 0.023 0.03 0.021 0.023 0.028 0.026 0.025 0.022

Turbidity NTU 30 14.20 8.8 7 5 4 2 2 5 4 4

www.environment.act.gov.au 63 Rivers The rivers in the ACT are sampled at different flow levels. Ideally there are a minimum of six flow- based samples in a reporting period, at least one from each flow percentile band.

Murrumbidgee River (Sites 204, 209 and 213) The Murrumbidgee River flows through the ACT entering at Angle Crossing (213) in the south and is sampled at three locations: Angle Crossing, Kambah Pool (209), and Halls Crossing (204) in NSW just downstream of the ACT. As the main river in the ACT, the Murrumbidgee is on the receiving end of most material transported throughout ACT waterways.

Elevated chlorophyll ‘a’ counts in the warmer months reflects warmer water temperatures and lower flows. Similarly oxygen levels are affected by increasing water temperatures.

Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing

Table 45: 2012-13 Site 204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls Crossing

Indicator Units Reg limits Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.28 8.08 8.3 7.6 8.1 8.2 8.4 7.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 14.75 18.55 7.4 7.9 17 45 15 19

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 197.83 213.33 150 140 200 190 350 250

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 10.14 10.42 12.3 9.5 8.9 8.6 10.8 12.4

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 380.97 99.33 2 130 20 380 60 4

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 17.94 16.33 7 38 9 33 5 6

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 3.59 2.18 1 1.2 1.6 1.4 4.8 3.1

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.10 0.047 0.029 0.08 0.028 0.079 0.036 0.031

Turbidity NTU 30 13.42 12.58 7.4 25 4.1 29 4 6

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS score X, A,B,C,D B;A B B

64 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 46: 2013-14 Site 204 Murrumbidgee River at Halls Crossing

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Jul–13 Aug-13 Sept-13 Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-14 Jan-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits term average

Acidity pH 6-9 8.29 8.2 7.2 8.3 8 8.8 7.4 8.7 9.1 8.3 8.4

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 14.68 15.28 4.3 18.5 19.9 9.4 7.8 21 44 6.5 7.6

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 197.61 201.4 150 177 143 150 210 235 350 240 200

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 10.14 10.8 11.5 11.5 11.1 10.7 10 10 10.2 10.8 11.6

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 386.09 49.6 38 5 18.7 8 14 23 2 188 2 100mL

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 17.93 8.5 18 8.3 15.3 5 7 5.9 4.1 4.9

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 3.62 2.59 1.3 1.7 1.5 2 2.6 3 6.4 3.5 2.3

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.10 0.038 0.066 0.034 0.051 0.029 0.035 0.044 0.041 0.023 0.019

Turbidity NTU 30 13.42 8.45 21 8.1 15.2 6.4 2.7 5.2 5.9 4.1 4.9

2012-13 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS score X, B;B A B A,B,C,D

Table 47: 2012-13 Site 209 Murrumbidgee River at Kambah Pool

Indicator Units Reg limits Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.90 7.58 7.6 7.8 7.5 7.8 7.3 7.5

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.39 14.07 3.2 5.8 8.3 49 8.4 9.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 134.57 138.33 120 110 140 140 170 150

Dissolved mg/L >4 9.55 9.73 11.8 9.7 7.8 8 9.7 11.4 Oxygen

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 282.50 63.67 4 140 16 210 8 4 100mL

Suspended mg/L 25 27.08 14.83 9 33 7 30 6 4 Solids

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.58 0.40 0.28 0.75 0.22 0.59 0.28 0.25

Total mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.026 0.081 0.023 0.065 0.016 0.02 Phosphorus

Turbidity NTU 30 20.91 10.12 6.1 25 4.7 16 2.7 6.2

www.environment.act.gov.au 65 Table 48 2013-14 Site 209 Murrumbidgee River at Kambah Pool

Indicator Units Reg Long Mean Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun limits term 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.91 7.4 7.3 6.9 7.1 7.8 7.7 8.3 6.3 7.4 7.3 7.7 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.21 10 6.5 6.9 6.8 5.9 10.1 12 28 23.5 4.6 3.7 5.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 134.46 121 79.5 87 100 120 115 150 190 150 96 135 130

Dissolved mg/L >4 9.55 9.3 10.8 8.9 8.8 8.9 8.2 9 9.2 7.8 9.7 10.1 11.2 Oxygen

Faecal cfu/ 200 290.40 43.3 2 46 - - 24 - - 150 - 32 6 Coliforms 100mL

Suspended mg/L 25 27.42 10.2 13 21 - - 6 - - 10 - 5 6 Solids

Total mg/L N N/A 0.59 0.49 0.31 0.63 0.26 - 0.39 0.38 - 0.79 1.2 0.36 0.25 Nitrogen

Total mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.05 0.30 0.054 0.023 - 0.025 0.019 - 0.074 0.18 0.022 0.019 Phosphorus

Turbidity NTU 30 21.08 11.2 14.5 14.5 4.6 4.1 6.3 3 4.2 7 64 4.5 8.4

Table 49: 2012-13 Site 213 Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing

Indicator Units Reg limits Long term Mean Jul 2012 Oct 2012 Nov 2012 Jan 2013 May 2013 Jun 2013 average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.75 7.42 7.5 7.6 7.3 7.6 7.6 6.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 4.47 9.05 1.9 5.4 6.5 28 6.4 6.1

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 125.63 133.33 130 110 140 120 160 140

Dissolved mg/L >4 9.37 9.55 11.7 9.2 7.9 7.7 9.9 10.9 Oxygen

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 243.25 81.33 2 90 62 330 2 2

Suspended mg/L 25 20.25 14.33 8 26 7 34 5 6 Solids

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.50 0.37 0.27 0.7 0.2 0.54 0.25 0.21

Total mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.024 0.073 0.021 0.069 0.016 0.017 Phosphorus

Turbidity NTU 30 11.88 13.15 5.3 22 4.6 38 3 6

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS X, A,B,C,D B;B A A score

66 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 50: 2013-14 Site 213 Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug 2013 Sept 2013 Dec 2013 Mar 2014 May 2014 Jun 2014 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.76 7.3 7.3 6.8 7.7 7.3 7.8 7.9

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 4.35 6.74 5.2 12.5 9.2 10 2.7 4.5

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 125.55 111 87 78 110 120 140 145

Dissolved mg/L >4 9.37 9.88 10.9 9.5 8 8 10.3 10.8 Oxygen

Faecal Coliforms cfu/ 200 248.74 161 6 52 2 530 76 300 100mL

Suspended mg/L 25 20.38 31.17 15 180 5 8 3 6 Solids

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.51 0.39 0.28 0.65 0.35 0.32 0.27 0.25

Total mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.037 0.034 0.1 0.025 0.025 0.017 0.026 Phosphorus

Turbidity NTU 30 11.85 12.18 12.6 35 7.3 7.8 3.5 7.7

2012-13 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS X, A, B, A;A B B score C, D

Ginninderra Creek (Site 301 and Sites 195, 196 and 64) Ginninderra Creek runs through a highly urbanised catchment with intensive development occurring in the upper parts of Gungahlin. The monitoring site for water quality in Ginninderra Creek is at Parkwood (Site 301) below the confluence with Gooromon Ponds Creek downstream of the northern and western suburbs. The biological monitoring sites in Ginninderra Creek are Baldwin Drive Bridge (Site 195), downstream of Lake Ginninderra (Site 196), and Latham (Site 64). The run-off between Lake Ginninderra and the sampling site at Parkwood comes out of numerous suburbs. The creek reserve, while managed, is parkland with woody exotics and non native grasses.

There is an indication of some local storm runoff effects on parameters at Parkwood in November 2012 and December 2013, and this is most distinctive in the elevated Faecal Coliform count. This may be a short term elevation provided by overland run-off from local poultry farms.

Table 51: 2012-13 Sites 301, 195, 196 and 64 Ginninderra Creek

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.74 7.43 7.8 7.7 6.9 7.6 7.4 7.2

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 14.11 10.13 1.9 6.3 33 5.7 12 1.9

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 405.39 291.67 330 190 270 270 410 280

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.26 8.98 12.1 8.9 4.9 7 9.6 11.4

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 1634.97 16855.67 40 100 100000 870 80 44

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 16.24 14.83 7 21 25 25 6 5

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.19 0.888 0.94 0.93 1.4 0.6 0.84 0.62

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.88 0.048 0.028 0.037 0.14 0.044 0.023 0.018

Turbidity NTU 30 12.30 11.05 11 12 14 16 6.2 7.1

www.environment.act.gov.au 67 Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, C;B C B (195) C D

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, C;B B B (196) C D

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, C;B B A (64) C D

Table 53: 2013-14 Sites 301, 195, 196 and 64 Ginninderra Creek

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.74 7.45 8.1 7.2 6.9 7.1 9.6 11.3

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 14.14 6.4 7.1 5.8 13 4.5 6.1 1.9

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 406.43 241.67 290 300 150 230 210 270

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.26 9.05 11.3 9.8 5.2 7.1 9.6 11.3

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 1267.70 17043 24 84 100000 1400 640 110

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 16.24 17.5 11 15 34 29 12 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.20 0.19 0.66 0.75 1.1 0.046 0.031 0.014

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.89 0.035 0.021 0.028 0.11 0.046 0.031 0.014

Turbidity NTU 30 12.31 9.6 11 15 32 22 12 4.7

2012-13 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, C;B B B (195) C D

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, B;B C B (196) C D

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, B;A C B (64) C D

68 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Molonglo River (Sites 601 and 608) The Molonglo River enters the ACT below the viaduct at Burbong Bridge. After the Molonglo River leaves the Molonglo Gorge, it flows along the periphery of the urban/industrial areas of Queanbeyan and continues through Fyshwick and Pialligo into Lake Burley Griffin. The Molonglo River is sampled at two sites above Lake Burley Griffin at Dairy Flat Road/Bridge (Site 601), and Yass Road Bridge (Site 608) downstream of the Molonglo Gorge. The Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre, Canberra’s main sewage treatment plant, discharges into the Molonglo River well below Lake Burley Griffin, near its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River. Additional sampling (not reported here) is done by ICON Water as part of monitoring the impact the discharge may have on downstream waters.

Table 54: 2012-13 Site 601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat Bridge

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.58 7.77 8.7 7.6 8.3 8.2 6.1 8.7

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 17.24 24.02 5.1 26 67 22 7 5.1

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 250.87 238.33 130 260 270 300 290 130

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 8.28 10.9 10.8 9.9 10.9 11.3 11 10.8

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 141.33 3537 180 350 1400 160 16 180

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 13.44 17.5 17 24 24 23 5 17

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.57 1.16 1 1.2 1.3 0.98 1.2 1

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.09 0.064 0.058 0.063 0.12 0.055 0.031 0.058

Turbidity NTU 30 12.67 13.23 20 18 18 4 5.4 20

Table 53: 2013-14 Site 601 Molonglo River at Dairy Flat Bridge

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.57 7.45 8.5 6.5 7.7 7.1 7.3 7.6

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 16.77 21.18 33 16 10 11 49 8.1

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 250.88 240 240 140 230 280 270 280

Dissolved mg/L >4 8.13 8.6 12.8 9.4 8.6 4.3 7.7 8.8 Oxygen

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 130.31 134.66 16 86 46 650 2 8

Suspended mg/L 25 13.28 11.5 12 24 6 9 13 5 Solids

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 1.59 1.19 1.1 0.95 0.84 0.9 1.7 1.7

Total mg/L P 0.1 0.09 0.048 0.044 0.054 0.046 0.054 0.06 0.029 Phosphorus

Turbidity NTU 30 12.67 12.3 9.8 27 9.2 12 12 4

www.environment.act.gov.au 69 Table 54: 2012-13 Site 608 (AUSRIVAS 242) Molonglo River, Yass Road

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.28 7.35 7.3 7.6 7.4 7.6 7.8 6.4

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 4.62 4.93 1.5 2.8 6.4 11 4.3 3.6

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 331.23 318.33 260 190 370 430 300 360

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.27 9.05 11.5 9 6.9 7 9.5 10.4

Faecal Coliforms – cfu/100mL 200 345.47 226.67 6 120 260 880 76 18 Confirmed

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 12.74 11 7 13 15 22 6 3

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.50 0.51 0.63 0.96 0.35 0.58 0.31 0.21

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.03 0.036 0.062 0.024 0.04 0.015 0.009

Turbidity NTU 30 18.07 13.75 18 32 7.7 16 4.4 4.4

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, C;B A B C D

Table 55: 2013-14 Site 608 (AUSRIVAS 242) Molonglo River, Yass Road

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.31 7.6 8.3 7 7.6 7.2 8.1 7.4

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 4.42 2.73 1.1 0.87 5.2 4.4 1.8 3

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 348.33 291.67 310 180 290 340 310 320

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 6.80 8.89 10 9.6 7.4 6.8 9.4 10.7

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 365.48 179 38 40 68 870 50 8

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 12.20 8.33 5 9 7 20 5 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.47 0.43 0.29 0.66 0.44 0.53 0.39 0.28

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.028 0.03 0.041 0.023 0.046 0.015 0.01

Turbidity NTU 30 18.94 16.78 6.4 27 8.5 46 7.9 4.9

2012-13 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, A;B B B C D

70 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Queanbeyan River (Site 769) The Queanbeyan River is sampled at the ACT border, after the water has come through the weir and the long established urban area of Queanbeyan. The water quality of this waterway was generally acceptable across the period except for increased algal and faecal activity over the warmer months.

Table 56: 2012-13 Site 769 Queanbeyan River at the ACT Border

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.28 6.97 7 7.2 6.9 7.2 7.4 6.1

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.69 10.15 1.5 2.6 6.1 31 15 4.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 212.08 141.67 120 110 140 190 150 140

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 7.68 8.87 11.2 9.6 6.9 5.9 9.6 10

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 570.61 460.33 12 80 610 1600 310 150

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 8.94 9.5 4 4 11 21 10 7

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.64 0.98 1.1 0.8 0.87 1.9 0.66 0.65

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.06 0.036 0.031 0.052 0.15 0.035 0.028

Turbidity NTU 30 8.58 10.23 9.1 7.4 9 21 6.2 8.7

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, B;B B B C D

Table 57: 2013-14 Site 769 Queanbeyan River at the ACT Border

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.30 7.47 8 7 7.6 7.1 7.8 7.3

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 6.49 10.68 16 18 11 4 5.8 9.3

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 215.14 132.66 200 110 16 190 160 120

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 571.56 9.38 11.2 9.9 8.2 7.5 9.6 9.9

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 7.65 279.66 66 34 330 510 660 78

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 8.86 7.66 8 12 5 7 8 6

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.63 0.66 0.73 0.77 0.67 0.66 0.57 0.54

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.04 0.032 0.033 0.035 0.033 0.038 0.035 0.018

Turbidity NTU 30 8.50 7.5 6.5 13 4.7 11 6.1 3.7

2012-13 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, B;B A B C D

www.environment.act.gov.au 71 Paddys River (Site 842 and Site 10)

Paddys River catchment has a combination of rural, forestry and conservation land uses. Paddys River enters the Cotter River between the Cotter Reserve and Cotter Campground, so providing much of the flow at the junction of the Cotter and the Murrumbidgee especially when the Cotter Dam is closed.

The general indication is that the Paddys River catchment continues in reasonable condition although there is an increase in faecal coliforms, suspended solids and turbidity in the warmer months associated with rainfall events.

Paddys River at Murrays Corner

Table 58: 2012-13 Sites 842 and 10 Paddys River

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.50 7.2 7.3 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2 6.5

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 2.02 2.08 1.5 3 3 3 0.65 1.3

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 94.44 79 70 80 82 74 89 79

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 10.54 10.22 12.1 9.8 8.8 8 11 11.6

Faecal Coliforms – cfu/100mL 200 634.55 483 32 150 1800 860 34 22 Confirmed

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 13.06 12 13 13 7 33 2 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.46 0.28 0.31 0.34 0.14 0.61 0.11 0.19

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.02

Turbidity NTU 30 14.76 15.52 12 16 7 47 3 8.1

2011-12 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS band X,A,B,C,D A;A X A (10)

72 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 59: 2013-14 Sites 842 and 10 Paddys River

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.52 7.17 7.8 5.7 7.7 6.8 7.6 7.4

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 2.01 2.41 2.4 1.1 2 4.4 3.8 0.71

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 95.25 75.5 75 74 95 56 75 78

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 10.58 10.66 12.3 9.9 8.4 8.7 10.4 11

Faecal Coliforms - cfu/100mL 200 638.20 701.33 98 400 1500 1700 370 140 Confirmed

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 13.14 25.83 6 19 3 110 14 3

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.47 0.43 0.22 0.67 0.2 0.95 0.3 0.22

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.040 0.022 0.044 0.018 0.11 0.03 0.018

Turbidity NTU 30 14.67 27.83 8.9 30 4.1 99 15 6

2012-2013 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS band A,B,C,D X;A A B (10)

Gudgenby River (Site 901 and Site 20) The Gudgenby River drains a rural catchment dominated by native forest that opens out into pastoral leases. Water quality at the Smiths Rd site was close to standard condition. The parameter elevations in are reflective of run-off because of rain events in the upper catchment. The biological condition of site 20 at Sunshine Rd (Angle Crossing Rd) causeway was at reference standard in autumn 2012 having rated as B, significantly impaired, in 2011. There were further positive signs during 2013-14 with the site returning to reference or near reference standard over most of the year.

Gudgenby River, Sunshine Rd causeway

Table 60: 2012-13 Sites 901 and 20 along the Gudgenby River

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.66 7.4 7.1 7.5 7.9 7.7 7.4 6.8

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 1.92 2.04 0.74 1.5 1.1 5.9 1.3 1.7

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 97.30 96.83 78 82 110 110 110 91

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 10.06 10.6 13 10 8.9 8.4 11.3 12

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 375.00 208.67 4 180 220 670 100 78

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 10.22 6 4 11 5 10 2 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.46 0.31 0.24 0.39 0.29 0.5 0.18 0.23

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.04 0.029 0.046 0.042 0.072 0.024 0.03

www.environment.act.gov.au 73 Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Jul–12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 May-13 Jun-13 limits average

Turbidity NTU 30 11.03 8.2 7.6 15 4.8 11 2.8 8

2011-2012 Oct-12 Mar-13

AUSRIVAS score X, A, B, B;A A A (20) C, D

Table 60: 2013-14 Sites 901 and 20 along the Gudgenby River

Indicator Units Regulation Long term Mean Aug–13 Sept-13 Dec-13 Mar-14 May-14 Jun-14 limits average

Acidity pH 6-9 7.66 7.36 7.6 6.3 7.7 6.9 7.5 7.4

Chlorophyll ‘a’ ug/L 10 1.91 2.08 2.1 0.44 0.83 8.2 2.7 1.3

Conductivity uS/cm N/A 97.22 85.8 76.5 70 110 77 77 75

Dissolved Oxygen mg/L >4 380.55 9.9 11.6 10.2 8.4 8.7 11 11.6

Faecal Coliforms cfu/100mL 200 10.06 397 12 110 42 1900 260 58

Suspended Solids mg/L 25 10.44 15.4 7 9 - 48 9 4

Total Nitrogen mg/L N N/A 0.46 0.43 0.29 0.51 0.24 1.1 0.3 0.32

Total Phosphorus mg/L P 0.1 0.05 0.046 0.037 0.056 0.021 0.12 0.036 0.036

Turbidity NTU 30 11.11 12.4 11.5 22 2.1 37 8.8 11

2012-2013 Sept-13 Mar-14

AUSRIVAS score A, B, C, D A;A X A (20)

Minor Waterways These four waterways are monitored for AUSRIVAS bio-assessment only. There is insufficient data about any of the parameters to draw any conclusions about trends about water quality. All four sites are among those monitored by Waterwatch volunteers. Further information about their water quality may be obtained from Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch at http://www.act.waterwatch.org.au/

Tidbinbilla River (Site 15) Site 15 (Figure 7) on the Tidbinbilla River is only sampled using the AUSRIVAS macroinvertebrate rapid bio-assessment protocol in spring and autumn. It is one of the three reference sites. In both spring and autumn this site was highlighted for its healthy populations of pollution sensitive mayflies. Water quality results presented for this site are those sampled in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate sampling. Indications are that the waterway is in excellent condition.

Table 61: 2012-13 Site 15 on the Tidbinbilla River

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 12 March 13

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 53.9 57.7

Acidity pH 6.5-9 8.2 8.0

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 30 28

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 11.13 8.84

74 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Indicator Units Regulation limits October 12 March 13

Turbidity (NTU) <10 9.3 5.0

2011-12

AUSRIVAS score A, B, C D A;A A A

Table 62: 2013-14 Site 15 on the Tidbinbilla River

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 13 March 14

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 55 77

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.5 7.7

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 21 21

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 9.5 9.0

Turbidity (NTU) <10 5.6 6.9

2012-13

AUSRIVAS score A, B, C D A;A A A

Jerrabomberra Creek (Site 246) Site 246 (Figure 7) on Jerrabomberra Creek is only sampled using the AUSRIVAS macroinvertebrate rapid bio-assessment protocol in spring and autumn. Water quality results presented for this site are those sampled in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate sampling. Jerrabomberra Creek drains through industrial, rural and urban settings, as well as receiving water from Woden Creek and its tributaries. The sampling site is on the very edge of South Canberra and is considered rural rather than urban. Over the reporting period the site recorded an improvement in condition rating an A or B AUSRIVAS score, indicating an improvement in condition from severely impaired in the Spring of 2012.

Jerrabomberra Ck at the ACT border

Table 63: 2012-13 Site 246 on Jerrabomberra Creek near Hindmarsh Drive

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 12 March 13

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 46.5 403.4

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.77 7.97

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 198 132

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 9.26 7.79

Turbidity (NTU) <10 42.5 13.5

2010-11

AUSRIVAS band A, B, C D D,B B B

www.environment.act.gov.au 75 Table 64: 2013-14 Site 246 on Jerrabomberra Creek near Hindmarsh Drive

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 13 March 14

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 289 388

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.86 8.0

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 172 112

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 7.2 8.2

Turbidity (NTU) <10 119 141

2012-13

AUSRIVAS band A, B, C D B,B A B

Yarralumla Creek (Site 189) Site 189 (Figure 7) on Yarralumla Creek is only sampled using the AUSRIVAS macroinvertebrate rapid bio-assessment protocol in spring and autumn. Water quality results presented for this site are those sampled in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate sampling. This creek is mostly a concrete-lined drain meandering through the urban areas of Phillip and Woden, but becomes more creek-like as it crosses the horse paddocks before joining the Molonglo River below Scrivener Dam. Conductivity is usually high in this waterway, but the turbidity is usually well less than 10 NTU. With a fauna dominated by those macroinvertebrates that can actually fly away (like water boatmen) or come to the surface to breath, like various midges and water snails, and eat detritus or microalgae, this site has a deservedly poor rating.

Table 65: 2012-13 Site 189 on Yarralumla Creek downstream of Curtin

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 12 March 13

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 385.6 891.1

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.74 8.05

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 153 260

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 10.05 5.39

Turbidity (NTU) <10 10.9 0.1

2010-11

AUSRIVAS A, B, C D B;C D C

Table 66: 2013-14 Site 189 on Yarralumla Creek downstream of Curtin

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 13 March 14

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 769 770

Acidity pH 6.5-9 8.4 8.0

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 200 280

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 10.0 8.8

Turbidity (NTU) <10 4.2 7.3

2011-12

AUSRIVAS A, B, C D D;C C C

76 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Tuggeranong Creek (Site 58) Site 58 (Figure 7) on Tuggeranong Creek is only sampled using the AUSRIVAS macroinvertebrate rapid bio-assessment protocol in spring and autumn, although regular monthly sampling is undertaken by Waterwatch. Water quality results presented for this site are those sampled in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate sampling. This site is in the creek downstream of Lake Tuggeranong. Although Lake Tuggeranong helps prevent sediments and pollutants from reaching this section of the creek habitat, the surrounding land use of grazing and the disturbance by bushfires means this site is susceptible to degradation. Water quality at sampling times was good, except for the alkaline pH.

Tuggeranong Creek downstream of Lake Tuggeranong

The AUSRIVAS rating for this small waterway is quite variable, although the last three surveys have shown a consistent improvement, even though it is still to a severely impaired standard.

Table 67: 2012-13 Site 58 on Tuggeranong Creek

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 12 March 13

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 130.2 147.3

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.68 7.64

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 61 35

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 10.15 6.89

Turbidity (NTU) <10 23.7 8.0

2010-11

AUSRIVAS score A, B, C D C;B C C

Table 68: 2013-14 Site 58 on Tuggeranong Creek

Indicator Units Regulation limits October 13 March 14

Conductivity (µS/cm) N/A 116 105

Acidity pH 6.5-9 7.4 7.4

Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) N/A 28 44

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) >4 9.2 8.4

Turbidity (NTU) <10 21.7 22.1

2012-13

AUSRIVAS score A, B, C D C;C B B

www.environment.act.gov.au 77 SECTION 3: RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Groundwater Resources in the ACT Groundwater in the ACT is a rather small resource compared to surface water, because geologically the ACT sits on low yield fractured rock aquifers. However, in localised situations there will be opportunities to utilise an aquifer in an efficient manner to help offset demand on our water supply dams.

The ACT Government has been rolling out more accurate groundwater assessments and broadening the extent of monitoring since 2002 as a response to a very substantial increase in demand and use of groundwater. A risk based approach to groundwater monitoring has been developed whereby the amount of monitoring an area has is proportional to the risk posed to the groundwater, through abstraction, contamination or landuse change. A very wet winter and summer meant that attempts to construct monitoring bores were difficult, with drill rigs becoming stuck in unstable ground. As a result only one extra monitoring bore was commissioned in Weston.

EPD through the Environment Protection and Water Regulation Branch currently maintains 15 dedicated monitoring bores, with information from another 6 sites coming from interested groundwater abstractors. These monitoring bores provide information about the transmissivity (capacity for water to move through the aquifer), hydraulic conductivity, storage capacity potential, and recharge rates of the various aquifer types within water management areas. Monitoring of the aquifer recharge response to rainfall is seen as a critical activity that may enable us to quantify potential effects of changed rainfall patterns expected from climate change.

Monitoring bores

78 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Canberra Integrated Urban Waterways Project

Figure 8: Canberra Integrated Urban Waterways Network

www.environment.act.gov.au 79 EPD is in the final phases of implementing the Urban Waterways Program funded jointly by the Australian and ACT Governments. The program has seen the successful construction of two ponds adjacent to Flemington Road in Mitchell, Dickson Pond, Lyneham Pond, Gungahlin Valley Ponds and the Banksia Street Wetland in O’Connor. The Lyneham Pond and Valley Ponds are completed, which included extended landscape maintenance programs to ensure the amenity of the sites were at an excellent standard prior to handing over the assets to the Territory and Municipal Directorate for future management. In 2012-14, the wetlands continued to attract a high level of community use and interest in education and participatory programs. Programmed activities included water quality monitoring through the Waterwatch Program, planting and weeding working bees and monitoring of fauna (birds, macroinvertebrates, bats and frogs). The wetlands have proven to be popular places for community recreation and have facilitated increased neighbourhood social networking.

The focus of the Urban Waterways Program in 2012-14 was on completing construction of the ACT’s first neighbourhood scale stormwater harvesting system - the Inner North Reticulation Network. Supply of water from the network will enable high quality drinking water to be substituted by fit-for-purpose stormwater for the purposes of irrigation, delivering improvements to urban stormwater quality in Sullivans Creek. EPD has been working collaboratively with the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate (TAMS) to commence operation of the stormwater harvesting network. A schematic of the network is shown in Figure 8, identifying where the water will be used for irrigation and where key components of the infrastructure are located (pumps, pipelines, tanks) including the ponds. The ponds capture stormwater for reuse from rainfall running off the urban area in Sullivans Creek catchment.

The Inner North Reticulation Network includes the ACT’s first Managed Aquifer Recovery (MAR) system that involves injecting filtered water into a large aquifer for storage in colder, wetter months and subsequent recovery for use during peak irrigation season in summer. Water from Flemington Pond Mitchell is injected into a bore located at Exhibition Park in Lyneham. A successful trial of the MAR system was undertaken in 2014, indicating that its integration into the operation of the water supply network will be beneficial to increase the volumetric reliability of water supplied.

The construction of the network was substantially completed in late 2013, with the exception of final commissioning and testing of the infrastructure. Significant changes to the regulatory framework were made in 2014 to enable water to be supplied from the network, including amendment of the Utilities Act 2000. The network is scheduled to commence operation in by mid 2015.

A five year trial of network operation will determine economic, social and environmental impacts. Pricing of the stormwater for irrigation was agreed by Government, and will be included in the evaluation of the project. The evaluation results will inform the Government’s decision making regarding the implementation of other stormwater harvesting networks in the ACT.

80 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Threatened Fish in the ACT Monitoring of threatened fish species is conducted by the Conservation, Planning and Research unit of EPD in 2012–2014. Monitoring was conducted to assess fish response to environmental flows in the Cotter River and the ongoing Murrumbidgee River fish fauna survey was conducted in 2013. The results of this monitoring is summarised below:

Murrumbidgee River Surveys

Murray Cod (Macquaria peelii peelii) Murray Cod breeding was again detected upstream of Gigerline Gorge at Angle Crossing. Murray cod were also detected at numerous sites on the Murrumbidgee River.

Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica) Macquarie Perch were recorded in the Murrumbidgee in the ACT. Macquarie Perch were detected at both Angle Crossing and Casuarina Sands. The Cotter River continues to support a healthy population of Macquarie perch (based on ICON Water surveys).

Trout Cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) have been stocked in the ACT for the local conservation of the species since the 1980s. Trout cod were recorded in the Murrumbidgee River

Cotter River Survey

Two Spined Blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus): In 2013, 6 Cotter river sites were surveyed for two-spined blackfish using backpack electrofishing. Bracks Hole site is not possible to survey anymore as it has been flooded by the enlarged reservoir from the Cotter Dam expansion. A total of 228 blackfish were recorded in 2013. The low numbers of blackfish individuals caught after 2009 continued into 2012, at both regulated and unregulated sites. In 2013 sampling found numbers of blackfish caught to have increased compared to 2011 and 2012. Of the total blackfish caught, 25 in 2012 and 36 in 2013 were less than 80 mm total length. Compared to 2012, in 2013 the Black Fish recruits in the unregulated section of river have increased, suggesting a good breeding season. In comparison the recruits in the regulated section of river have declined, possibly because of the high flows during breeding season, which for the regulated river section is earlier than the unregulated river section.

www.environment.act.gov.au 81 Urban Lakes Recreational Fishery 2012–2013 Lake Ginninderra and Yerrabi Boat Electrofishing surveys were conducted to establish the condition of fish from previous stockings and to monitor the composition of alien species in these lakes. Artificial habitats were installed in the Molonglo River with funding and assistance from TAMS and in Yerrabi Pond by the ACT Angling Club with funding from an ACT Government Environment Grant. These habitats were dubbed ‘cod caves’ and are designed to both provide shelter for fish and encourage breeding. The success of the habitats is currently being monitored.

Backpack electrofishing

European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Carp are now well established in all of the major urban lakes in Canberra and the Murrumbidgee River. Carp generally comprise the highest proportion of fish caught, both in terms of number and biomass. Unfortunately once established there are no current practical control options.

Murray cod (Macquaria peelii peelii) and Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua ambigua): In the 2012–13 season, 6,000 Murray Cod werestocked into Gungahlin Pond and 100,000 Golden Perch were stocked into lakes Ginninderra, Tuggeranong and Burley Griffin and Yerrabi, Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Point Hut ponds. Both Murray Cod Cod Cave being installed in the Molonglo River using an and Golden Perch were captured during the 2013 excavator and special release straps designed for installation of surveys. underwater fish habitats

Golden Perch fingerlings prior to being stocked into ACT lakes

82 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Upper Murrumbidgee River Demonstration Reach The Upper Murrumbidgee River Demonstration Reach (UMDR) is about 70 km long, from the Scottsdale area in south-eastern NSW downstream to Kambah Pool in the ACT. It includes the popular Pine Island, Tharwa Bridge and Tharwa village recreation areas, and the prominent river crossings at Angle Crossing and Point Hut Crossing.

A number of activities were conducted by the Conservation Research Unit as actions contributing to the UMDR Initiative. These activities included in 2013:

• the construction of two Engineered Log Jams (ELJs) in the Murrumbidgee near Tharwa http://upperbidgeereach.org.au/node/599 • an assessment of the sampling methodology for Murray River Crayfish Euastacus( armatus) • an assessment of the efficacy of the Casuarina Sands fishway to pass fish • an assessment of riparian vegetation in the NSW section of the Murrumbidgee River, particularly the gorge sections, was also conducted for the UMDR. This work was carried out by the Cooma Waterwatch facilitator and is reported at http://upperbidgeereach.org.au/

The above activities were conducted with funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Initiative, the Murray-Darling Basin Native Fish Strategy, the ACT Environment Grants Program and ICON Water.

Funding from the Native Fish Strategy in conjunction with the Bush Heritage Fund has also been obtained to employ a UMDR coordinator and conduct projects including weed control in the riparian zone and carp reduction at Scottsdale Bush Heritage property in NSW. These projects will be carried out during 2013–14.

www.environment.act.gov.au 83 SECTION 4: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee The Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee (UMCCC) is a community based organisation made up of agencies and groups that are responsible for, or contribute to, natural resource management in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment. UMCCC operates as a regional cross border network to promote communication, build awareness and disseminate knowledge between its members. These include agencies and groups in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. UMCCC actively participates in community forums and has received presentations and made submissions on natural resource management policy initiatives. The Committee was assisted by funding from the Australian and ACT Governments until 2013, when this support ceased.

The Committee continues to operate on a voluntary basis, with reduced activity levels whilst funding assistance is obtained. A consequence of the loss of funding was the departure of Pauline Carder as facilitator for the Group. Her contribution was acknowledged a “Highly Commended” award at the 2013 ACT Landcare Awards in the Landcare Facilitator or Coordinator category.

In 2012-14, UMCCC’s major achievement was the convening of a two day forum held on

23-24 October 2012, with the theme Connectivity Conservation and Corridors: Connecting Environment, People and Production. The Forum reinforced the connectedness of biodiversity and catchment management work and the need to be mindful of the multiple benefits that ensue from well planned on- ground works. A further highlight was the completion and launch of the Actions for Clean Water (ACWA) Plan to address erosion hotspots in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment as a collaboration between the Committee, Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (now South East Land Services), ACT Government and ICON Water.

UMCCC also undertook, in conjunction with Ginninderra Catchment Group and Greening Australia, willow and other woody weed removal on the Lower Ginninderra Creek near the NSW/ACT border.

UMCCC continued to convene workshop meetings at a reduced level without the support of a paid coordinator.

Waterwatch Waterwatch is a water quality monitoring program where the sampling and testing is undertaken by community volunteers. It is a ‘monitoring to action’ program that aims to equip local communities with the skills and knowledge to become actively involved in the protection and management of their local waterways and catchments.

Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) Waterwatch has recently undergone a major revision of its annual catchment health indicator program (CHIP) following a review of data by the University of Canberra. Most notably, the reporting of catchment health, based upon water quality, macro-invertebrate and riparian condition scores, has been adjusted to report on river reaches, rather than at the sub-catchment scale. This improved resolution where sufficient Waterwatch sites are present enables finer scale delineation of changes in ecosystem health, and identification of potential impacts and outcomes from land use and restoration works.

The 2013-2014 pilot CHIP report used water quality and macro-invertebrate data collected by 160 volunteers at 184 sites to produce reach health scores for 63 reaches across the Cooma, Southern ACT,

84 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Molonglo and Ginninderra catchments. Reaches varied in health from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Poor’, with a general trend being healthier scores attained at the top of catchments, and scores declining in lower catchment, urbanised areas. Notably, Ginninderra catchment had no reaches that achieved an ‘Excellent’ score. Key issues to emerge included localised high levels of salinity, which may be attributed to either pollution or natural, underlying geological processes, and high nutrient loads in both agricultural and urban environments.

Feedback from the pilot CHIP report is currently being used to re-evaluate the CHIP program, and it is anticipated that the 2014-2015 CHIP report will provide even greater capacity to identify and report on key aquatic ecosystem health issues, and provide a useful source of information to both plan and report on conservation and land management works in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment. Key improvements include a revised scoring system for assessing water quality, and the inclusion of riparian condition data collected at a majority of Waterwatch sampling sites. Furthermore, it is anticipated that substantially more data will be collected in the 2014-2015 period due to increased capacity, which will lead to greater confidence in findings.

If you are interested in improving the health of your local waterway and meeting or forming a group of like-minded individuals, please contact the Waterwatch facilitator on 6207 2246. Online information about Waterwatch is available at www.waterwatch.act.org.au

Frogwatch ACT Frogwatch is a community frog monitoring program which has been operating since 2002 and involves large numbers of volunteers of all ages in monitoring and protecting frog habitats. Frogs are widely recognised as indicators of environmental health and their presence can indicate the long term health of a catchment. In addition, Frogwatch offers a range of school education, such as

• Frogs For The Future (the loan of a tank containing frogs from a locally extinct species); • Tadpole Kits for Schools (Tadpoles to frog development program during the school year); • Free School education kits; and • Free School visits.

Frogwatch Census Frogwatch participants attend a training seminar where they learn all about the fascinating world of frogs, how to monitor them, and ways to help protect them and their habitats. Each October, with a strong focus on the National Water Week, (third week of October) over 200 volunteers monitor established Frogwatch sites all over the ACT and the surrounding NSW region. This involves a habitat assessment and a recording of calling frogs.

In October 2012, a total of 125 Frogwatch sites were monitored during 192 site visits. This compares with 141 sites visited and 277 monitoring events in 2011. 106 sites were located within the ACT border, and 19 sites in the surrounding NSW region. To address shifts in breeding season for some species as a result of climate variability, volunteers were also encouraged to monitor all year round, which resulted in 41 additional surveys throughout the year.

The October 2013 Frogwatch survey was the largest yet. A total of 423 surveys were conducted at 242 Frogwatch sites (210 within the ACT, 32 sites in the surrounding NSW region). Ongoing monitoring became more established and added 112 extra surveys over the year.

The average number of species per site was 3.21 in 2012 (same as in 2 previous years) but declined to 2.84 in 2013. The greatest number of species found at any one site was 7, as in all previous years.

www.environment.act.gov.au 85 Figure 9: Number of species per site 2012

Figure 10: Number of species per site 2013

In the 2012 survey, a calling male of the broad palmed rocket frog (Litoria latopalmata) was observed at the Cotter Campground site. This species is not an ACT species but has been observed over the last few years to be slowly migrating south into the Territory.

The 2013 survey was notable for the detection for the first time of a Spotted Burrowing Frog (Neobatrachus sudelli) in the National Arboretum during a wet spell in September. During a Frogwatch training event in Queanbeyan, the Rocky River Frog (Lesueur’s Tree Frog) was recorded for the first time along the Queanbeyan River.

86 ACT Water Report 2012-14 Table 69: Species detection rates

Common Scientific Detection Detection Detection Detection Detection Detection name name frequency frequency frequency frequency frequency frequency (# sites) (% sites) (% sites) (% sites) (# sites) (# sites) 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013 2011

Spotted Limnodynastes 76 88 125 66 70 52 Grass Frog tasmaniensis

Plains Froglet Crinia 74 82 127 64 66 52 parinsignifera

Common Crinia 73 85 152 63 68 63 Eastern Froglet signifera

Whistling Litoria 38 19 54 33 15 22 Tree Frog verreauxii

Smooth Uperoleia 34 46 65 29 37 27 Toadlet laevigata

Peron’s Tree Litoria 32 36 70 28 29 29 Frog peronii

Banjo Frog or Limnodynastes 28 34 70 24 27 29 Pobblebonk dumerilii

Striped Limnodynastes 12 11 24 10 9 10 Marsh Frog peronii

For further results of the annual Community Frogwatch Census visit the Ginninderra Catchment Group website at http://www.ginninderralandcare.org.au/Frogwatch/Frogwatch-report-files