Upper WAterwAtCh rEGIOnS

COnnECtInG the COMMunItY

North Central North Goulburn East Brodribb River Waterwatch Site Broken

Snowy River Errinundra East National Park National Park Glenelg Hopkins West Corangamite Gippsland Brodribb River

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Locals from a small town long term health is important to our Waterwatch supporters in far east Victoria say community, as many people use it to supplement drinking water supplies.” the local river is helping communities make Water quality data collected regularly Photo: Tom Crook environmental connections. by Shelly helps the Catchment Management Authority Waterwatch Victoria has successfully Waterwatch Victoria engages with volunteers and Shelly McLaren from Goongerah, a small monitor trends in the health of the river. engaged people with their local rivers for connects Victorians with their local waterways. This and isolated community near , Where results are unexpected, perhaps important relationship is made possible through the 20 years, raising awareness about river said the river connected the people. indicating a change in the quality of the support and investment of sponsors across Victoria. water, further testing can be done. health and waterway management. Their backing goes towards providing capable “It’s a beautiful place to live and the regional coordinators who maintain the volunteer river which flows through our valley Alongside monthly data collected at Waterwatch aims to give the community better program through training, material support and really does connect our community.” approximately 1066 sites across Victoria, knowledge about water issues and to encourage local Waterwatch events. Shelly’s Waterwatch data is made water quality monitoring groups to undertake Shelly has been a Waterwatch volunteer publically available online through the constructive action. Volunteers with a passion for Since 1993, Waterwatch Victoria has seen 3,314 since 2008, joining through her local Waterwatch Victoria Data Management the environment provide water quality data from volunteers visit 6,564 sites. This is an astounding Photo: Tom Crook Landcare group which continues to help System. maintain the high environmental quality waterways across Victoria. The data is used to total of 116,913 site visits, providing valuable long- of the nearby riparian (streamside) “Environmental health is a high monitor waterways to establish their condition and term data about the health of our waterways. Interesting Facts area. She currently undertakes regular priority for our community and with to assess whether change (positive or negative) is monitoring of the upper Brodribb increasing eco-tourism our local occurring. In 2014, Waterwatch Victoria has 606 volunteer With an average of 5 River in the catchment. environment’s condition is important monitors collecting water quality data at 1066 In 2013, Waterwatch Victoria celebrated its 20-year parameters tested at each Waterwatch volunteers monitor the to the local economy. River health is a sites. Waterwatch Victoria data is available to the anniversary and the significant contribution of all site visit, over 45,000 water river’s condition as it flows from the key component of this and Waterwatch public via the online Waterwatch Victoria Data helps us to be sure that the water volunteer monitors who have taken part in the quality measurements through the Management System, on the Waterwatch website is actually as clean and healthy as it program since its inception. Captured in this report have been taken by the local camp ground. vic.waterwatch.org.au. looks.” are the faces and stories of some of these volunteers. Waterwatch program in East “The river water is clean enough to To read more about the achievements of Waterwatch in Victoria, visit www.vic.waterwatch.org.au or contact the The Waterwatch Victoria program thanks the many Gippsland. drink,” Shelly said. Active Sites: 98 | Active Monitors: 23 Waterwatch Victoria coordinator at Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, energetic, talented and committed people from rural www.egcma.com.au 64 Dennis Street, Colac, 3250, T: 03 5232 9100, E: [email protected]. The East Gippsland “Collecting real time water quality and urban communities, who together have offered Waterwatch Program has information using the Waterwatch Photographs and text sourced with permission from participating Waterwatch programs and their host organisations. their assistance to this program. volunteer monitors more equipment and monitoring the river’s than 200km apart (measured www.vic.waterwatch.org.au in a straight line). MOnItOrInG In thE dEdICAted WAterwAtCh 1992 1996 Waterwatch volunteers raising communItY The first meeting of 2011 GEllIbrAnd CAtChment ChAmpIOnS representatives from Waterwatch Victoria Data make a difference awareness community based Management System was Otway-district Waterwatch Creightons Creek Waterwatch monitoring programs launched, making years of A district volunteers monitors are keen to help local Group is setting the standard in Pre 1992 across , to Significant increase in Waterwatch data available to the Waterwatch group enjoy in the North East Waterwatch environment agencies. Waterwatch monitoring. develop a national 2008 Community federal funding for the public online. participating and discovering network are dedicated to raising The group, made up of members based monitoring approach, was convened The volunteers monitor along the The turbidity tube was Waterwatch program. new ways to care for their local awareness of waterway health. of the Creightons Creek Landcare programs existed in Cobram, Victoria. waterway. in the Otways in developed. 2000 Waterwatch Victoria volunteers Volunteer Diane Farmer south-west Victoria, a waterway Group, began monitoring in across Australia: Waterwatch Victoria collected data for the third Strategic Review of the Waterwatch 2003 after a chat with their local Ribbons of Blue, Prime Minister Paul website was developed. Anne from Castlemaine said regular participates in the Waterwatch that stretches from Beech Forest, 1998 Victorian Data Confidence Guidelines identified statewide Index of Stream Victoria Program. Landcare Facilitator prompted Streamwatch, Keating’s Statement testing of water quality in the creek program to help understand and 120km to the ocean at Princetown. 1994 minimum data confidence standards for a range of Condition (ISC3) assessment. members to get involved in Waterwatch. Saltwatch and on the Environment was one way for them to monitor promote waterway health issues. allocated $2.9 million monitoring purposes. the impact of the restoration work of the local Landcare groups. Two community volunteers and pupils from the Frogwatch. Waterwatch Victoria “Water is our most precious resource and it is up to all of us to Now around 10 passionate, well organised and dedicated over 3 years to establish Primary School monitor the water quality of the Carlisle River which launched the program Glenelg Hopkins Waterwatch Program began. With her fellow Landcare group members, Anne enjoys appreciate it, recycle it, not waste it and to do our bit to take care volunteers make up the water monitoring group, setting a a national community flows into the Gellibrand River. and a manual, prompting 2009 participating in the Waterwatch program to learn more about of it,” she said. fantastic example for others. water quality monitoring Agreed Level Taxonomy (ALT) significant expansion water quality, managing local waterways and discovering ways to One of those community members, David Skipworth, said he hoped The group monitors sixteen sites and leader, John Nielsen, program. method of assessing aquatic Leading by example, Diane and other volunteers have used the across the state. take action to improve waterway health. Through her involvement his work helped the catchment management authority in their coordinates monthly group sample collections and performs Closure of the national macro-invertebrates was launched. data collected through the Waterwatch program to educate the National Water Week 2001 with Waterwatch, Anne has a sense of belonging to her local records and research for the future of the river and adjacent areas. field tests on the samples, forwarding the results to Waterwatch Across Victoria, at places Corangamite Waterwatch Catch a Carp days were Waterwatch office in It uses features that are visible community about local water quality issues. began in 1993 and has community. coordinators and driving more than an hour each way to deliver such as Melbourne’s Program began. developed as part of Australia. to the naked eye, as well as Nearby, ten community volunteers, most from the Princetown been used across the Establishment of the adapted and simplified SIGNAL ‘Stream 2006 The network hosts events such as the Wangaratta carp muster Merri Creek and National Water Week colour and movement, to identify Landcare group, monitor the health of the Gellibrand River, phosphorus samples to the lab for analysis. State as an opportunity to Cathy from Baringhup also likes feeling connected to her community ’s , Invertebrate Grade Number – Average Level’ scoring system for creatures to mixed taxonomic known as ‘Let’s Go Fishin’’ and Waterwatch monitoring sessions to North Central Waterwatch and are still a popular EstuaryWatch began and local environment through being a Waterwatch volunteer. contributing data to both the Waterwatch and EstuaryWatch This commitment by multiple individuals over the last 11 years raise awareness of water macro-invertebrate (‘water bug’) samples. A SIGNAL score gives raise awareness and promote the program. The group distributes groups were conducting Program began. way to engage angling levels. Photo: Christine Walsh programs. issues in schools and the in the Corangamite reflects their desire to care for local land and waterways. water quality monitoring an indication of water quality in the river from which the sample “Personally, through my involvement with the Waterwatch program, more than 2000 copies of the monthly newsletter, The Croaker. communities, especially region with community. In 1996, the was collected. Waterwatch have used a modified SIGNAL system I now have a commitment to the and all rivers.” Group member and waterway monitor Judy Spafford said the The group discuss the issues in their catchment at their regular and education. East Gippsland in the Mallee. Goulburn Broken region to prepare the Know Your Beasties guide, in partnership with the community groups The enthusiasm of these Waterwatch volunteers has contributed Gellibrand River data provided valuable information. Landcare meetings and Waterwatch coordinators report annually Waterwatch Program celebrated with a Camel Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology (2001) and the monitoring estuary Cathy said her knowledge about water in the environment had to positive changes in the value many community members now with the results. The group see their involvement with Waterwatch began. First national 2013 “The information was no longer subjective and river managers Trek from to Lake Now and Then guide (2006). mouth condition largely been formed through being a Waterwatch volunteer give to the health of their local waterway. as a relaxing and enjoyable community contribution, while Waterwatch conference could base their decision on scientific evidence.” Eildon. and physiochemical Waterwatch Victoria and has driven her to “become an advocate and writer for rivers providing data and knowledge that is thorough and reliable. was held in Roseworthy, Mallee Waterwatch supplied water monitoring kits to Nepal. This characteristics of the celebrated 20 years everywhere.” Active Sites: 90 | Active Monitors: 60 South Australia. included equipment for arsenic testing. water column. of connecting the Active Sites: 114 | Active Monitors: 70 Interpreting River Health www.necma.vic.gov.au/OurPrograms/ Active Sites: 234 | Active Monitors: 54 1992 community to Active Sites: 110 | Active Monitors: 59 www.ccma.vic.gov.au/What-we-do/ 1993 Data – Waterwatch Waterwatch www.gbwaterwatch.org.au Melbourne Water Frog Census began. waterways. Community/Waterwatch.aspx 1994 Victoria booklet released. www.nccma.vic.gov.au/Water/Waterwatch 1995 The Waterwatch program 2004 ceased in the Glenelg Hopkins region. 1996 Regional Data Confidence Plans State Government funding 1997 were produced. along with support from Water MOrE thAn jUSt MAllEE A dEdICAtED vOLUntEEr Authorities, River Management 1998 21 years Waterwatching vOlunteerS COllECtInG Authorities, local government Sale’s Greg Gilbert attributes and a small number of 1999 2013 MOnItOrS InSPIrES thE COMMUnItY Waterwatch’s success to the vAlUAblE dAtA businesses, allowed the A national workshop 2012 in generated 2000 contribution of its many Reliability and adaptability are the A volunteer’s enthusiasm is establishment of Waterwatch 2011 Concern for the local environment a strategic plan and volunteers. characteristics that have helped motivating community members programs. The programs linked sparks interest in Jeparit’s an approach for 2001 ensure the continuity of the to care for their local waterway. awareness and information 2010 He should know, he’s seen their waterway monitoring program. the development Review of the Victorian 2009 Mallee’s Waterwatch program. collection to on-ground action, 2002 effort first hand through his 21- Waterwatch Program, John Forrester, a Waterwatch such as planting indigenous and delivery of the 2003 2008 year involvement in the program, The community’s environment resulted in direct reports Mallee Waterwatch’s Bernie volunteer since 1999, has been vegetation along waterways. Waterwatch program 2004 2005 2006 2007 first as a volunteer and then leading the program monitoring the interests and concern for local to the Catchment and Chaplin, Roger and Rosemary a driving force in promoting the across Australia. Waterwatch Victoria health of ’s waterways. water quality are the main drivers Drewitt, Rae and Len Jeffers, values of the . Goulburn Broken Waterwatch Land Protection Council developed a National for waterway monitoring in the Russell Cox and Peter and Rae As part of the Werribee River program began. In Victoria, community (CALP). Each active Database and Data Greg first got involved with Waterwatch in 1993 and then joined as area. Waterwatch Victoria Knyvett and many others are enthusiastic volunteers, dedicated to Association (WRivA), John has monitored water quality at Bungies based water regional Waterwatch Management Tools. a volunteer in 1994 monitoring water quality at sites on the Latrobe Equipment and The Wimmera community Waterwatch volunteers, who have making a difference to their local environment. Hole, Werribee, since 2008. The strength of his commitment is monitoring programs program became and Thomson rivers and the McLennan Straits. Methods Manuals been meeting monthly since 1995, test water samples and collect demonstrated by his official title as Werribee Riverkeeper, taking became known as catchment based. The Waterwatch Focus of the The reliability of monitors such as Bernie, who has collected data released. These Ashwatch began in the Waterwatch was Greg took on the role as the region’s Waterwatch coordinator from valuable water quality data to add to their hundreds of data on the role of advocate for protection of the river. Waterwatch. Victoria Strategic Waterwatch Victoria since 2003, as well as the group’s ability to adapt to new and manuals focussed on Run of the River Goulburn Broken region. The Nooramunga Corner Inlet introduced to new 1996 to 2007 and during that time expanded the schools’ program records. Melbourne Waterwatch Plan was reviewed, program shifted from evolving programs, are key strengths of the volunteer program. “WRivA has taken a leading role in on-ground activities, but has Gippsland, Goulburn Program began. providing the training board game was (NCI) project was established in media platforms: For and coordinated Waterwatch activities with generations of school highlighting the need Waterwatch general community Group members contribute a terrific amount of expertise and been strategic too, with work on flora and fauna, environmental Broken and Merri and suitable field launched at a time 5th and final National South Gippsland in 1997 and ran example, a turbidity children. Monitoring has increased the supporting data available for current for a more scientifically Victoria Yearbooks awareness raising and local knowledge and provide valuable information on the impacts Wimmera Waterwatch when Australians Waterwatch Conference for 13 years. This project won the flows, bio-links, education and advocacy,” John said. Creek regions rigorous approach to equipment to collect began publication. measurement tutorial and future waterway management projects such as: Environmental was held in Canberra. schools education He expanded the number of Waterwatch volunteer monitoring sites of upstream activities in a diverse and fascinating catchment. received $10,000 Program began. data collection. Quality good quality data. needed a greater 2007 United Nations Association was presented on a watering of , development and installation of and John shares his passion for waterways by working with students David Hodgkins began with programs, to project to include around 50 groups, some with 30-40 people. He was also a each to develop their understanding of Australia Community Award for YouTube video. Assurance / Quality Waterwatch monitoring aligned regular at field days and local shows. He said the carp culling events Since 1995, Jeparit Waterwatch has had a role in monitoring the waterway structures and fish surveys. participating in the Frog Census and improving nearby frog Goulburn Broken Waterwatch Drainwatch began in the Saltwatch became a Incorporation of Central Waterwatch programs. Control (QAQC) process Australia Technical of water issues World Environment Day and was health of the region’s major waterway, the , as habitat at Carranballac College. (and is still there). with Catchment and canoe trips were popular activities. Goulburn Broken region Waterwatch Victoria - during the Highlands Waterwatch nominated for a 2007 Banksia Award. Waterwatch Victoria The long-term support from Waterwatch volunteers underpins was formalised to Manuals were Management Authority Jeparit is the last town along the river before it enters one of the West Gippsland with Landcare Groups salinity snapshot event. millennium drought into Corangamite, North The West Gippsland Catchment sent resources to “The program ran regular canoe events across West Gippsland and the Mallee Waterwatch program and these volunteers are a vital John and the WRivA are committed to educating the community ensure data collected is released, providing waterway health system’s terminal lakes, . Waterwatch Program monitoring irrigation of 1995-2009. Central and Glenelg Management Authority used the data Sri Lanka to raise carp fishing days brought out many youngsters to cull carp in the resource and valuable part of the broader riparian and waterway about their local environment. They helped to develop a Litterwatch credible, accepted and guidance and priorities. drains. North East Waterwatch Hopkins regions. The data collected has assisted local farmers, other land managers programs in the region. Program, engaging over 2500 people to take action in reducing began. used. support to the to create a sediment and nutrient community awareness rivers. Locally the stormwater projects were a major success.” Program began. and the wider community to make informed land management the amount of litter entering the river. Through Waterwatch, John monitoring catchment model that identified of water quality issues. Central Highlands “Great credit must go to the many wonderful volunteers.” and recreational decisions through extended dry periods, Active Sites: 44 | Active Monitors: 20 continues to test water quality along the Werribee River, collecting Mallee Waterwatch network. 2005 priority areas for river restoration to 2010 1995 unprecedented floods, major fire events and the implementation data to inform management of its environmental flows. Waterwatch Program Program began. protect the values of this site. Greg still maintains his involvement in Waterwatch monitoring at www.malleecma.vic.gov.au/ 1999 of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline. began. two sites. about-us/programs/rivers-and-wetlands/ 2012 Active Sites: 258 | Active Monitors: 252 2002 waterwatch.html 1997 Active Sites: 53 | Active Monitors: 28 www.melbournewater.com.au/waterwatch 1993 2007 Active Sites: 65 | Active Monitors: 40 www.wcma.vic.gov.au www.wgcma.vic.gov.au