Three regional events hosted by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have celebrated and acknowledged the important role of community Waterwatch volunteers in monitoring the condition of our waterways.

The North Central Waterwatch program has been active since 1993, involving communities from Wycheproof to Woodend, Cohuna to Creswick and Swan Hill to Echuca. It is a community waterway sampling program that monitors the health of rivers and streams nation-wide. Over time, this information can help to determine the health of our waterways and their catchments.

“Many of the current Waterwatch monitors test water quality at priority sites for environmental works. This monitoring can help inform the North Central CMA of issues and trends over time. Waterwatch volunteers give their time to assess waterways across the region and we are grateful for their contribution” said Damian Wells, Chief Executive Officer of the North Central CMA. 

Bianca Huider, Regional Waterwatch Co-ordinator for the North Central CMA said “It was an opportunity to discuss the many ways in which data collected by these volunteers has assisted the North Central CMA and partner organisations in highlighting issues as well as providing access to high quality data taken over a period.

“Events such as these are becoming more important as we continue to feel the effects of the ongoing drought. It is during these dry times that water quality can deteriorate beyond the tolerance levels of many species and therefore have serious impacts.  The determination and motivation of these monitors is terrific and does not go unnoticed.

“Volunteers within the network have been crucial in some high profile projects over the past year including Acid sulfate soil assessments and Index of Stream Condition monitoring. This demonstrates the value of the data collected and also the confidence in the quality of data at a State level,’ Bianca continued.

Other activities undertaken by Waterwatch monitors include undertaking habitat assessments, frog monitoring, platypus and water rat sighting, and aquatic bug assessments.

For more information, or if you would like to become a volunteer for the North Central CMA’s Waterwatch program, please contact Bianca Joanne Huider on (03) 5440 1829.

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au