Landcare working with Waterwatch to monitor Swanpool Streams

Waterwatch and Landcare keeping an eye on Swanpool streams

 Swanpool Landcare group has a long history of monitoring waterways within the Swanpool District.  Currently Swanpool Landcare member Kevin Smith and Peranbin Primary School Student Arthur Gerrans are monitoring waterways in the Lima East Creek and Lima Creek catchments.  Five sites are monitored each month.  Arthur monitors the Lima East Creek at James’ Reserve, Creamery Lane and Chinamans Crossing.  Kevin monitors Stony Creek at the border of the pine plantation and Lima Creek at Murrays’ Bridge.  Waterwatch Coordinator Dani Beischer also monitors the Lima East Creek at the ‘Bridges’ on the Midland Highway.  Arthur and Kevin monitor water temperature, pH (acidity), Electrical Conductivity (or salt content) and turbidity (an indicator of how dirty the water is).  This information is then recorded in the Waterwatch website so that the data is available to all.

Arthur Kevin and Dani1

On Saturday 6 August 2016 Dani met with Arthur and Kevin at the Swanpool Memorial Hall to check their meters against known standards.  The annual check ensures that the meters are working reliably and that high quality data is being collected.  In addition to the annual check, the water quality meters are calibrated before each monthly monitoring visit.  The water quality data collected assists with monitoring the long term health of waterways in our region.  It will also be a good bench mark for measuring improvements in waterway health as a result of streamside revegetation and off-stream watering projects such as those funded through the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Strathbogie Streams 2040 project.  All water quality health data can be found at http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/monitoring-and-data/

 If you would like further information about the Strathbogie Streams 2040 project or the water quality monitoring that is occurring in the Swanpool area please contact the Swanpool Landcare Group.  The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Swanpool Memorial Hall.