Creekwatch: Caring for Gladstone's Waterways
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Creekwatch: Caring for Gladstone’s Waterways: Final Report Page 1 of 57 Introduction In January 2015,Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) was succuessful in securing the tender to deliver a citizen science program in the Gladstone region. The program Creekwatch: Caring for Gladstone’s Waterways aimed to engage volunteers from the community to take part in water quality testing, revegetation, weed control and general clean-ups in specific creeks and rivers in the Gladstone region In consultation with the Steering Committee and represetantitives from the Gladstone Healty Harbour Partnership committee, CVA selected eight sites within the Gladstone region that would become the project sites for the length of the partnership. This report contains the summary of the project sites, summary of the raw data collected, and examples of the flyers and posters used to recruit volunteers to the project. Accompanying this report, is a brief report summarising the program and recommending actions going forward. Page 2 of 57 Contents Introduction 2 Overview 5 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone 6 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph park 7 Site 3 Boat Creek 8 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. 9 Site 5 Calliope River – Calliope Historical Village 10 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing 11 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing 12 Site 8 Boyne River Benaraby 13 Volunteers and Community Engagement 14 Media 15 Community Events 15 Committee Meetings 15 Physiochemical Data 16 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone 17 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph Park 18 Site 3 Boat Creek 19 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. 20 Site 5 Calliope River – Calliope Historical Village 21 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing 22 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing 23 Site 8 Boyne River Benaraby 24 Macroinvertebrate Data 25 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone 26 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph Park 27 Site 3 Boat Creek 28 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. 29 Site 5 Calliope River- Historical Village 30 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing 31 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing 32 Site 8 Boyne River – Bruce Highway – Benaraby 33 Incidental Fauna and Bird Data 34 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone 34 Incidental Fauna 34 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph park 35 Incidental Bird Survey 35 Incidental Fauna 35 Site 3 Boat Creek 36 Incidental Fauna 36 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. 37 Incidental Fauna 37 Site 5 Calliope River – Calliope Historical Village 38 Incidental Fauna 38 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing 39 Incidental Fauna 39 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing 40 Incidental Fauna 40 Site 8 Boyne River Benaraby 41 Incidental Fauna 41 Flora Data- Invasive species 42 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone 42 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph park 43 Page 3 of 57 Site 3 Boat Creek 44 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. 45 Site 5 Calliope River – Calliope Historical Village 46 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing 47 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing 48 Site 8 Boyne River Benaraby 49 Conclusion 50 Appendix One – Community Engagement 51 Appendix Two - Weather Observations 54 April 54 May 55 June 56 Appendix Three - Regional Ecosystems and vegetation maps 57 Page 4 of 57 Overview Gladstone’s first Citizen science project Creek Watch has been established in 2015 with the objective to engage our community in our environment and practical conservation activities at eight key water ways in the Gladstone Harbour Catchment. THE STUDY SITES. Police Creek- Lions Park Police Creek – Joe Joseph Park, Lake Calemondah Boat Creek Calliope River Black Gate Road Crossing Calliope River Old Bruce Highway Historical Village Crossing Boyne River – Nortons Road Crossing Nagoorin Boyne River- Pikes Crossing Boyne River- Bruce High Way Crossing Benaraby. PROGRESS During the 45 field activities over 29 day from March to June Creek watch volunteers achieved. Removal of 120 Kg Rubbish collected. Collection of 1 kg native seeds Removal of 1000m2 Weeds Water physiochemical studies (45) Bird Surveys (45) Macro invertebrate surveys (45) Regional Ecosystems mapping and flora trigger mapping Risk assessments for each site. Established photo monitoring points for each site. Recruitment and training of Project officer. Establishment and monthly meetings of the Creek Watch steering committee. COMMUNITY Community engagement and volunteer recruitment have been intensive through this period of time with regular news articles and community days during the period. Weekly volunteer- what’s coming up updates are sent to our volunteer list. 200 individuals receive these notifications Media Releases . Media releases were submitted and published in local media in March April and May. Radio interviews Public information sessions at Stockland Kin Kora on 20/03/15 and 08/05/15. Approximately 140 people were directly engaged through these information sessions Monthly newsletters were sent to our volunteer contact list (Appendix One) Fliers were developed and approved for distribution publically. (Appendix One) Page 5 of 57 Site 1- Police Creek –Lions Park Gladstone GPS -23.52.20S ; 141.14.178E *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 30/03/2015 11/04/2015 2/05/2015 23/05/2015 8/06/2015 22/06/2015 Police creek is Gladstone’s most significant urban water way falling with in the regional ecosystem classification 12.3.7 (Riverine wetland or fringing riverine wetland.) Police creek contributes to the Gladstone harbour not far down stream where it joins Auckland creek at Lake Calemondah weir. Human impacts on this site include local development, land clearing, litter (takeaway food packaging) and invasive flora species. The site is an important nature corridor and home to hundreds of species of local native fauna. Regular practical conservation activities including regular litter cleanups, removal of invasive species and planting of endemic species particularly Lomandra and Native sedges would improve the water quality not only with in the site but also in the Gladstone . 30/03/15 Page 6 of 57 Site 2 -Police Creek- Jo Joseph park *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 30/03/2015 11/04/2015 2/05/2015 23/05/2015 8/06/2015 22/06/2015 1500m downstream from the Lions park Police creek sampling site Joe Joesph park at Lake Calemondah , joins the Gladstone Harbour Auckland Creek. Devied only by Calemonah weir Joe Joseph part site reflects the issues are common in the urban water way of Police creek. The impacts of adjoining development , recreational use, Litter and Invasive species lower the quality of this key habitat and green corridor in Gladstone. Practical conservation and a hands on approach to revegetation and litter management will improve this site and contribute to healthier wildlife and a healthier harbor. 30/03/15 Page 7 of 57 Site 3 Boat Creek GPS S 23.49 - E 151.09.086 *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 30/03/2015 15/04/2015 11/05/2015 29/05/2015 12/06/2015 26/06/2015 Boat Creek rests in the Gladstone Development corridor neighbored by industry and agriculture he water way the water way has infestations of invasive species and litter that comes from the traffic passing by. Page 8 of 57 Site 4 Calliope River – Black Gate Road. GPS S 23.59.23 -E 151.06.020 *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 24/04/2015 1/05/2015 30/05/2015 15/06/2015 29/06/2015 In the upper catchment of Calliope river the survey site at the Black Gate Road crossing is impacted by agriculture and recreational use of the area. We have found a lot of litter in the survey site and significant infestations of weeds. The rubber vine infestation being of concern. Small areas of Parthinium weed and castor oil plant have been removed as well as litter. 24/04/15 Page 9 of 57 Site 5 Calliope River – Calliope Historical Village *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 24/04/2015 1/05/2015 30/05/2015 15/06/2015 29/06/2015 The Calliope river at the Historical village is a popular recreational camping spot and the banks are somewhat degraded due to this use. Upstream and adjoining agricultural land has also impacted on this site with invasive species present. At this site the water becomes influenced by tide. 24/04/1 Page 10 of 57 Site 6 Boyne River- Nortons Road Crossing GPS S 24.21.21 – E 151.18.620 *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 7/04/2015 27/04/2015 18/05/2015 5/06/2015 20/06/2015 10/07/2015 Impacts from regional flooding, surrounding agriculture, litter from recreational use and an infestation of Creeping Cats claw is of concern for the native vegetation on this site. Locally known for sightings of platypus our Creekwatch team has removed areas of Castor Oil plant in seed and litter with the hope our monetreme friends would pop their heads up to say thanks for the cleanup. The site would greatly benefit from management of the creeping cats claw and revegetation to replace the old growth being lost to Creeping Cats Claw. 20/06/15 Page 11 of 57 Site 7 Boyne River – Pikes Crossing *Map *Map source Gladstone Regional Council Mapping System Survey Dates 28/03/2015 23/04/2015 4/05/2015 15/05/2015 1/06/2015 19/06/2015 A popular recreational fishing spot Pikes crossing shows the scars of impact from regional flooding, surrounding agriculture, litter from recreational use and invasive species infestations will continue to degrade this stie with out regular management.