Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch engages with the community to monitor, raise awareness and educate about, restore and protect our local waterways. A key output of this program is the annual Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) report. The CHIP report provides a score of waterway health using data collected by Waterwatch volunteers. In 2013, CHIP was reviewed by the University of Canberra, and it was recommended that the data be displayed in smaller waterway sections (reaches). This allows for a finer-scale assessment of the condition of our waterways (where data exist) and highlights areas in the catchment that are currently not sampled.
How does CHIP work?
Waterwatch volunteers and coordinators collect data relating to water quality (monthly), macroinvertebrates (autumn and spring) and riparian condition (biennial). Data on riparian condition were not included in the 2013–14 report because of funding issues, but riparian condition data are currently being collected for the 2014–15 report. Data are collated for an individual reach, from which a score is calculated to indicate the health of that stretch of waterway.
2013–14 CHIP results
In 2013–14, more than 160 volunteers from four catchment areas recorded data from 1184 water quality surveys and 78 macroinvertebrate surveys across 184 sites. This sampling covered 63 reaches spread across Ginninderra (8 reaches), southern ACT (19 reaches), Cooma (15 reaches) and Molonglo (21 reaches), spanning a total catchment area of 8600 square kilometres.
A range of key issues were identified as posing threats to the health of our local waterways. High turbidity levels due to sediments entering waterways during rainfall events were observed, along with increased levels of nutrients (total phosphorus and nitrates) from both rural and urban sources. High electrical conductivity was common; however, this in part may be a result of the underlying natural geology of the catchments. There was a general trend of decreasing ecological health in the downstream reaches.
Expected outcomes of CHIP and why it is important
The CHIP approach provides a holistic indication of waterway health by using not just water quality data but other volunteer-collected data as well, such as macroinvertebrates and riparian vegetation. This fine-scale assessment should provide more meaningful indications of catchment health. All the data and reports will be available online for the community to access and understand the health of their local waterway. Information gathered by Waterwatch will be used to assist with the $85 million ACT Basin Priority Project to improve long-term water quality in the ACT and Murrumbidgee River.
Waterwatch water quality monitoring on the Murrumbidgee River. Photo: Bush Heritage