REPORT CARD - AUTUMN 2010

COMMUNITY RIVER HEALTH MONITORING PROGRAM

Acknowledgments: The Georges River Community River Health Monitoring Program was developed by C. Tippler and A. Hanlon and is modeled on the following existing programs: EHMP (2008). Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program 2006–07 Annual Technical Report. South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership, Brisbane. Centre for Environmental Management, Central Queensland University. IWC (2009). Cobaki and Terranora Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program. 2009 technical report. International Water Centre, Brisbane. Story A.W, Anderson L.E, Lynas J & Melville F (2007). Port Curtis Ecosystem Health Report Card. Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Project (PCIMP). Cover photography by C.Tippler.

WATER QUALITY

Monitoring water quality is providing us with a better understanding of how urbanisation and changed land use practices are affecting the health of the river and estuarine ecosystems. Many organisms are sensitive to changes in water quality and populations may become stressed if changes to water quality occur. This can lead to reduced population numbers or local species extinction.

MACROINVERTEBRATES

Macroinvertebrates are small animals without a backbone, such as snails, worms, yabbies and crabs. Macroin-vertebrate populations provide us with valuable information on the health and quality of the aquatic ecosystem. As they are particularly sensitive to changes in water quality, monitoring macroinvertebrates is providing us with a greater understanding of populations living within the Georges River catchment and of the quality of the aquatic habitat they live in.

RIVER HEALTH REPORT CARD AUTUMN 2010

The second sampling campaign for the Community River Health Monitoring Program (Autumn 2010) has been completed. There will be a total of four catchment wide sampling campaigns during the two year program. After each campaign, a new report will be produced.

During four weeks between 16 April and 17 May 2010, a total of 42 sites were monitored with the assistance of Councils, Streamwatch, community groups and The Georges River Environmental Education Centre. The monitoring focused on both

freshwater and estuarine environments in the Georges River catchment, from the headwaters near Appin to Botany Bay.

During sampling, several important river health indices were monitored to provide a ‘snap-shot’ of catchment health: water quality, vegetation and macroinvertebrates.

By combining the results of the river health indices and accumulating more data as the project moves along, we will gain a greater understanding of the Georges River system.

Findings from this program are being used to identify areas that are of conservation value and where on-ground works have been effective or where remediation works could be carried out in the future.

This study provides a snap- shot of River Health and results are indicative of the conditions present at the individual monitoring sites at the time monitoring was performed.

River health parameters are assessed against environmental guidelines allowing the award of a grade between A+ and F-.

With the exception of February 2010, average rainfall across the Georges River Catchment has been below average for all months since spring 2009 monitoring. A particularly dry April resulted in a reduction of storm water and urban run-off entering the river system. As a result, reduced nutrient levels and reduced turbidity were recorded in many parts of the catchment, slightly improving the water quality at many monitoring sites.

This diagram shows an example grading box. Use this example to interpret the results from the individual sub catchments.

A SNAP-SHOT OF RIVER HEALTH

THE GRADING SYSTEM CATCHMENT AVERAGE RAINFALL

INTERPRETING GRADING ICONS

VEGETATION

Healthy riparian (stream bank) and estuarine vegetation are important for maintaining a functioning ecosystem. Vegetation plays a major role in providing habitat, nutrient recycling, regulation of temperature and filtration of stormwater runoff. By monitoring these vegetation communities we are gaining a better understanding of their condition and subsequent effectiveness in maintaining water quality within the Georges River catchment.

A+ EXCELLENT

A - B+ GOOD

B - C- FAIR

D+ - F- POOR

Fresh water Estuarine

Macroinvertebrate Grade

Average of River Health indices

Spring 2009 Grade Water Quality Grade

Vegetation Assessment Grade

Water Quality GradeWater Quality Grade

Site Name

Overall Grade A

A A A A

A A

Average of River Health indicesHealth indices Overall

Grade

Spring 2009 GradeSpring 2009 Grade A A A AA A A AA A A A

Macroinvertebrate GradeMacroinvertebrate Grade

A A AVegetation Vegetation Vegetation

Water Quality Grade

Vegetation Assessment Grade

Water Quality GradeA A A A

A AA AVegetation Assessment GradeVegetation Assessment GradeVegetation Assessment GradeA A

Rai

nfal

l (m

m)

Georges River Catchment Average RainfallLong Term Average

Bureau of Meteorology 2010

2009 - 2010 Average

UPPER GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD AUTUMN 2010

No change to the overall grade of the upper catchment was observed during autumn monitoring. Reductions in turbidity levels were observed at sites around Appin, however nutrient concentrations, pH and conductivity levels remained high in these areas. Slight variations were observed among macroinvertebrate communities; however these are most likely to be seasonally driven.

The overall grade of the Georges River Catchment remains ‘fair’.

Below average autumn rainfall led to reduced storm water discharge to waterways, creating a

positive effect to water quality across most of the catchment. When compared with results from the spring 2009 monitoring period, reductions in nutrient loads and turbidity levels were observed across a number of sites. Slight changes were observed in macroinvertebrate communities; however these are most likely to be seasonally driven. Future monitoring throughout the catchment should provide a greater understanding of factors affecting these macroinvertebrate communities.

FRESHWATER SITES - 13OVERALL SUMMARY

OVERALL RIVER HEALTH

B+B+

B+

C+

B+ A- A-

B+ A-

Georges River at Appin

B-B

B- B C+ B

C- B

Brennans Creek

C-F+

C+ C- D A+

D A+

Upper Georges River

AA+

A+ A+ A+ A+

B+ A+

Illuka Creek

A-A-

A- A+ A+ B+

A+ B+

Maddens Creek

A+A

A+ A+ A+ A+

A+ A+

Cobbong Creek

A+A

A+ A A+ A+

A A+

Stokes Creek

A+A+

A B A+ A+

A+ A+

Georges River Downstream of Brennans Creek

CE

B- C D A+

D A+

O’Hares Creek at The Woolwash

A-A-

A A+ A+ B-

A+ B-

Georges River at Simmos Beach

BC+

B- D+ A+ C

A+ C

Georges River at Cambridge Ave

B-B

C+ C+ B C

B- C

Georges River at Ingleburn Weir

A+A

A+ A A+ A+

A+ A+

Georges River at The Woolwash

BB-

B+ A+ C+ B+

B B+

C

MID GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD AUTUMN 2010

No change to the overall grade of freshwater areas in the mid catchment was observed during autumn monitoring. Reductions in turbidity and nutrient loads were observed across most sites. Large fluctuations in macroinvertebrate populations were observed across sites however this is mostly likely to be the result of seasonal influences on species composition. Macroin-vertebrate populations in Prospect Creek appeared to have improved after flooding occurred during spring 2009 monitoring.

There was a slight yet non-significant change to the overall grading of estuarine areas in the Mid Georges River catchment following autumn monitoring, however the overall condition of ‘fair’ remained unchanged. Grading for water quality improved, however a change in estuarine macroinvertebrates was observed which was most likely due to a seasonally driven variation within populations.

FRESHWATER SITES - 11OVERALL SUMMARY

ESTUARY SITES - 4OVERALL SUMMARY

DE

D D- B- E+

B E+C+

CB- A- B+ D

A- D

Upper Orphan School Creek

EF-

E+ F+ B F

B- F

Upper Prospect Creek

D-E-

F+ F- D F

B F

Lower Prospect Creek

EE-

E- F- B+ F-

B F-

Mill Creek

BD

A+ A- A+ A+

A- A+

Barden Creek

AA

A- B+ A+ A-

A+ A-

Lower Cabramatta Creek

CC

C- E+ B C-

C C-

Upper Cabramatta Creek

F-F-

F F- E+ F-

E F-

Hinchinbrook Creek

CB

C A- B E-

B+ E-

Lower Orphan School Creek

E+F-

D+ C A F-

A+ F-

Lt. Cantello Reserve

B-B-

A- A+ A- C+

B- C+

Salt Pan Creek

C+A+

D- D+ C- F

A- F

Morgan’s Creek Estuary

E+F+

C A+ A- F-

A- F-

Mill Creek Estuary

A-C

A+ A+ A A+

A+ A+

Yaramba Lagoon

B-D-

C D+ D A

B+ A

Although functioning as a wetland for many years, Yeramba Lagoon has been assessed as a highly modified creek.

Salt Pan CreekSalt Pan CreekSalt Pan CreekSalt Pan Creek

Morgan’s Creek

E- NO DATA

E F+ B- F-

B F-

Due to dry conditions at the time of sampling, no macroinvertebrate data was collected.

LOWER GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD AUTUMN 2010

There was a slight yet non-significant change to the overall grading of freshwater areas in the Lower Georges River catchment following autumn monitoring, however

the overall condition of ‘fair’ remained unchanged. Increased nutrient loads were observed at some sites, however macroinvertebrate grades displayed improvements indicative of a recovery from local flooding during spring 2009. These improvements are likely to be a return to normal populations for highly urbanised waterways, yet indicate these areas are prone to persistent nutrient rich stormwater inputs that adversely affect the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

No change to the overall grading of estuarine areas in the Lower Georges River catchment was recorded during autumn monitoring. Reduced turbidity and chlorophyll-a levels were

observed across sites. This is likely to be due to the dry conditions experienced during autumn monitoring which lead to reduced stormwater inflows to the lower estuary. A slight reduction was recorded across macroinvertebrate populations; however this is also likely to be a seasonally driven fluctuation and further sampling will help to determine this. The ‘Scarborough Ponds’ site in Rockdale was replaced by a new site known as ‘Scott Park Saltmarsh’.

FRESHWATER SITES - 7OVERALL SUMMARY

ESTUARY SITES - 7OVERALL SUMMARY

CD

C+ E A C+

A- C+C-

D+C- A- C- E

B+ E

Lime Kiln Bay Creek

E-F-

E- F- B+ F-

B F-

Myles Dunphy Reserve Creek

C-F-

C F- A A

B A

Poulton Park Creek

D+E+

D- F- B- D-

B D-

Carina Creek

E+F-

E+ F- A+ F-

A F-

Heathcote Creek

AB+

A B+ A+ A+

A+ A+

Woronora River

A+A

A+ A+ A+ A+

A+ A+

Lime Kiln Bay Estuary

C-A+

C+ A- B- D-

E D-

Myles Dunphy Reserve Estuary

D+D

C A+ D- E+

C+ E+

Bonnet Bay

B+C

A- A+ B- C+

A+ C+

Poulton Park Estuary

C+A-

D+ D C+ E+

B E+

Moore Reserve Estuary

D+D+

D A- A+ F-

A+ F-

Carina Creek Estuary

D-F

C- A+ D+ F+

A+ F+

new monitoring site

Moore Reserve Wetland

DD+

D+ D B E-

C E-

new monitoring sitenew monitoring sitenew monitoring sitenew monitoring site

Scott Park Saltmarsh

E+F- A+ F-

The Georges River begins its journey approximately 60km south-west of Sydney in the town of Appin. From here the river flows north towards Liverpool, through the Chipping Norton Lakes, then east until it reaches Botany Bay.

The catchment area of Georges River covers an area of approximately 960 km2 and, with over 1 million people living within its boundaries, is one of the most highly urbanised catchments in Australia.

The river has a number of important tributaries including Bunburry Curran Creek, Cabramatta Creek, Prospect Creek, Williams Creek, Salt Pan Creek, Mill Creek, and the Woronora River.

The GRCCC represents Local Government in the Georges River Catchment of NSW.

Member Councils include Rockdale City, Sutherland Shire, Kogarah City, Hurstville City, Bankstown City, Liverpool City, Fairfield City, Campbelltown City and Wollondilly Shire Councils. The Community River Health Monitoring

Program is being undertaken in association with the Georges River Environmental Education Centre, Sydney Water Corporation, Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority and the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. It is funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program.

The Georges River catchment has two broad soil groups. The western part of the catchment is predominantly fertile soil derived from Wianamatta Shale while deeply incised Hawkesbury Sandstone valleys predominate the northern, southern and eastern catchment areas.

This report card is the second in a series of four that will be released following each monitoring campaign. Project methodology and past report cards will be available on the website www.georgesriver.org.au

For enquiries email: riverhealth@georgesriver.org.au

THE GEORGES RIVER CATCHMENT