Tried and True Community Water Quality Monitoring Bringing About Change!

Tuggerah Lakes foreshore, Long Jetty.

Waterwatch • A national water quality monitoring and catchment education program involving schools, community groups and landholders • Volunteers conduct biological and habitat assessments plus physical and chemical water tests • In 2007 over 3000 groups monitored water quality at more than 7000 sites throughout Waterwatch Long Jetty volunteers - Neil Bevege, Lee Bond, Beryl Boness, Doug Darlington, Fiona McDougall - monitoring water at Long Jetty, Tuggerah Lakes foreshore. 200 catchments Waterwatch Long Jetty Waterwatch, Five local community volunteers with broad life experiences manage Waterwatch at Long Jetty. The water quality of 35 drains on Tuggerah Lakes a Successful Citizen foreshore has been monitored and tested since 2010. 6 to 8 drains are monitored monthly. Data is uploaded to the NSW Waterwatch database and Science Project reported to Wyong Shire Council. Volunteer contributions combine with Water Monitoring Results community data to identify water quality Venice Street drain (LJ7) had problematic test results. High levels of phosphate were detected over several months including during dry weather events. problems. Actions are implemented to This alerted Waterwatch volunteers of potential problems. Observations also included duck weed (not normally found in the Tuggerah Lakes system) address identified problems. Success is flowing down the drain. The group contacted the Waterwatch coordinator with their concerns. A plan for further testing in the catchment was devised to achieved through the use of verify the unusual results. The Waterwatch group traced the problem upstream and suspected the source may be a holding dam of a local golf course. • Scientific protocols • Standardised methods and equipment • Volunteer training and support • Data verification • Quality assurance Waterwatch Central Coast • Operating since 1997 and coordinated by 35 sites monitored at Long Jetty, Central Coast, NSW. Long Jetty, Central Coast, NSW. Available phosphate levels at drain LJ7 showing trigger value 0.05 mg/L. the Community Environment Network • Volunteers complete training and use Bringing About Change standardised methods and equipment to Approaches were made to Wyong Council and the golf course management and together further investigations were carried out which confirmed the undertake annual quality assurance testing source of the problem. Meetings with golf course management achieved agreements to lower dam water levels to avoid overflow into drains except • In 2014, 23 groups monitored 72 Central during high rain fall events. This partially solves problems. Coast sites Other drains have recorded high phosphate levels, low oxygen, diesel odours and large amounts of rubbish. Wyong Shire Council has begun a storm • A qualified coordinator verifies data water quality improvement program along Tuggerah Lakes foreshore at Long Jetty. Four drains identified through Waterwatch monitoring have a high priority. The four drains will be redirected into two constructed wetlands and planted with macrophytes where nutrients will be absorbed before the Authors storm water enters Tuggerah Lake. At present the four drains run directly into Tuggerah Lake with no filtration. Jane Smith, CEN Executive Officer Samantha Willis, Waterwatch Coordinator Continued Improvement The golf course has initiated change with more solutions required. The integrity of the dam needs continued improvement to stop leakage into the storm water drain and This project is supported by Greater Sydney Local eliminate high rainfall overflow. Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Drain LJ30 Long Jetty, Tuggerah Lakes foreshore.