Water quality monitoring - Gowrie Creek

Gowrie Creek and its tributaries have seen many changes over the last 150 years, the main change being the rapid development of industry and urbanisation along the creek line and the loss of habitat.

A pilot project began in September 2004 with five school groups to undertake water quality monitoring along the East, West and Gowrie Creeks. Initially, only physical factors are being measured in an effort to find trends in changes to pH, temperature, total phosphates, dissolved oxygen, nitrates and turbidity.

In the future, macro-invertebrate monitoring will also be included in an effort to monitor selected sites along the waterways.

This is a long term project that will correlate collected data with local weather information to ascertain if there is a connection.

If  your school would like to be involved in this project, contact the Community Bushcare Facilitator on 4688 6514.

You can become involved in Gowrie Creek by:

• Using the new recreation areas along the creeks for walking, cycling, picnics and play;
• Adopting creek sections to remove weeds and rubbish and revegetate banks and stencil drains flowing into the creeks;
• Participating in community bio-monitoring of macroinvertebrates and water quality;
• Celebrating achievements made along the creek through the World Environment Day activities; and
• Understanding this is a long term strategy with many projects.