Summer 2008/09- Regional Update Inside this issue · The Azure Kingfisher is a small kingfisher measuring 17-19 cm. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as

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...Inside this issue...

North Central Regional Update 1 Sewage Plant—Home Sweet Home 2 What Bug am I? 2 Animal of the Quarter 3 George Wins the Silver 3 Rain and Dam Update 4 Acid Sulfate Soils Project update 5 Monitors take a Punt on Barmah 6 River Detectives on the Case 7 Party Time 7 Photopoint monitoring 8 What bug am I revealed 9 Photos of the Quarter—rain & ISC 9 Contact Us 9

Summer 2008/09-Regional Update

I am pleased to announce that there

have been no staff changes in North

Central Waterwatch since the

Spring newsletter.

However, there is a slight change in

the days worked by Leah Cripps as

the Loddon/Campaspe (Dryland)

Facilitator. Leah will be working

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and

Thursdays. Britt Gregory, who job

shares with Leah, will continue to

work Mondays, Tuesdays and

Wednesdays. If it’s a Friday, and

you’re in desperate need of

monitoring assistance (for example

your EC meter has blown up, or you

are so angry at it for not calibrating

that you threw it into the

river), feel free to

contact me at any time.

Just call me the ‘EC

meter support line’.

Summer was party-

time in North Central

Victoria (check out

pages 6 and 7).

Mel’s Acid Sulfate Soil

project is nearing completion (page

5 for that one).

Saltwatch week is fast approaching

in May, so you can look forward to

more details coming your way soon

from your local facilitator.

Finally, for those who don’t know,

Mel is getting married on the 16th

May this year. So if you see her, I

implore you to impart words of

wisdom for a happy marriage. The

best piece of advice (printable

versions only of course) will win a

prize.

Keep up the great work everyone!

by BJ Huider Loddon/Campaspe Dryland monitors enjoying each other’s company & their 2008 data reports.

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Sewage Plant ~ Home Sweet Home

In October 2008, when I was undertaking Acid Sulfate Soil assessments at the Creswick wastewater treatment plant, I stumbled across a population of the nationally threatened Growling Grass Frog.

Growling Grass frogs are a

nationally threatened

species that live in

North Central Victoria.

This discovery was of high importance due to the fact that the wastewater treatment plant was about to be decommissioned. I immediately reported my find to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and explained the situation, which fast tracked the process of uploading the information into the Victorian Wildlife Atlas database.

Growling Grass Frog I have recently been informed that this population is very likely to be a ‘source’ population which increases the importance of protecting them. ‘Source’ population means: Ancestral population; the frog might have descended from this population recently or many generations in the past.

A consultant group have recently assessed the site and communicated their findings to the federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Creswick wastewater treatment plant ~ Growling Grass Frog’s home DSE have provided comment on the investigation and the water authority’s plans to protect the frogs. There is still some way to go but it appears likely that the population is to be saved!

by Mel Barrot ~ Modern Day Frog Hero

What bug am I?

• I am considered by some as a

gruesome creature; however I

play an important role in both the

freshwater ecosystem and

human world.

• I have a segmented body of 32

parts, and range from around

7mm to 20cm, although my

stretchy body makes it

difficult to measure my length.

• I am usually black or brown, but

can be patterned with spots or

stripes.

• I am a predator, usually

employing ambush tactics to

reach my prey, often at night.

• Many species of my family suck

the insides out of worms,

molluscs and larvae, just like a

vacuum cleaner.

• I am a hermaphrodite, carrying

male and female organs and

can easily swap between

reproductive roles.

• My young hatch from eggs as

miniature adult copies.

• My parental care ranges in some

species from nesting, to external

brooding of eggs and young, to

some of us being marsupial with

an internal brood pouch.

• I have a bite that is practically

harmless, unless a secondary

bacterial infection is encountered,

and a few people have an allergic

reaction to me

I am a—

F _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L_ _ _ _

by Britt Gregory

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Animal of the Quarter

Azure Kingfisher

Alcedo azurea

Kingfishers are from the family Alcedinidae. There are two main groupings recognised in this family: Kookaburras and True Kingfishers. Kookaburras are from the Subfamily Daceloninae. These are the more terrestrial, or ‘tree-kingfishers’. Australian members of this subfamily include the Laughing Kookaburra and the Sacred Kingfisher. True Kingfishers are from the Subfamily Alcedinae. They are represented by the genus Alcedo and are different from Kookaburras because they feed entirely on aquatic life. Australian members of this genus are the Little Kingfisher and the Azure Kingfisher.

True Kingfishers feed

entirely on aquatic life.

The Azure Kingfisher is a small kingfisher measuring 17-19 cm. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands.

The Azure Kingfisher is

relatively small, measuring

only 17-19 cm in size.

The Azure Kingfisher is a very colourful bird. It has a long black bill, deep blue-azure upperparts, brownish red-beige underparts with some blue streaks, a brownish red spot in front of the eye and large white-beige spot on side of neck. The legs and feet are bright orange with only two forward toes.

Azure Kingfisher

Azure Kingfishers nest in chambers up to 1 metre long in creek banks and lay 5-7 white, rounded, glossy eggs. Their voice is a high-pitched, shrill, 'pseet-pseet'. Their flight is swift and low over the water and they are often difficult to see until they quickly dart from a perch above water.

Better get your reading glasses… Can you spot the Azure Kingfisher we saw while cruising the Murray?

The habitat of the Azure Kingfisher includes the banks of vegetated creeks, lakes, swamps, tidal estuaries and mangroves where they feed on yabbies and small fish. No wonder we spotted one whilst boating on the Murray River at Barmah (see page 6 for details on the cruise) by Nicole Bullen

George wins the Silver

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, George Showell is a very dedicated Waterwatch Volunteer. George monitors 7 sites in the Loddon/Campaspe Dryland region and has a 57 km round trip to sample his sites. The call went out in the last newsletter - can you beat George? The results are in and George, you won’t be happy. George has been pipped at the post by Rob Loats from the Avoca/Avon Richardson Catchment who has come away with the Gold with an impressive 29 sites and over 60 km round trip. Max Stevens from the Upper Spring Creek Landcare group has come in a close third, winning bronze for his 6 sites and 55km trip. Rob, George and Max have each been awarded a fuel voucher for their efforts. A special mention goes to Anne Hughes who walks around 10 km to sample her 18 sites. In order to help with this big sampling effort Anne will be receiving a prize pack containing socks, deodorant (in case of hot weather) and chocolate for energy! by BJ Huider

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Rain & Dam Update

It has been a very dry start to the

year for Northern Victoria, will all

regions experiencing little or no

rain.

The following statistics are taken

from the Bureau of Metrology

website, www.bom.gov.au. Rainfall

totals for this year are current as at

9am on 23 March 2009. Hopefully,

we have some more rain in late

March to bump up the totals!

Bendigo

Long term Annual Mean Rainfall is

386ml

January Long Term Mean ~ 32.2ml

January 2009 Actual ~ 0ml

February Long Term Mean~ 27.8ml

February 2009 Actual ~ 0.4ml

March Long Term Mean ~21.2ml

March 2009 Actual ~26.4ml

bj

That’s a difference of 54.4 ml to the

mean rainfall for this time of year.

Echuca


426ml


January 2009 Actual ~ 1.0ml

February Long Term Mean~26.1ml

February 2009 Actual ~ 0ml

March Long Term Mean ~ 30.2ml

March 2009 Actual ~ 16.4ml

bj

That’s a difference

of 66.2 ml to the

mean rainfall for

this time of year.

Clunes


400ml







bj



Kerang


306ml






March 2009 Actual ~ 9.0ml

bj



Saint Arnaud


385ml


January 2009 Actual ~ 0.6ml





bj

That’s a difference of

65.4 ml to the mean

rainfall for this time of

year.

The storage levels in North Central

Victoria also tell a pretty sad story.

Lake Eppalock, on the Campaspe

River, is currently at 5.8% with

17,815 megalitres of water currently

held in storage.

The Loddon storages also are quite

low, with Tullaroop Reservoir at

4.4% with 3,177 megalitres. Cairn

Curran is currently at 2.5% with

only 3,711 megalitres of water in

the Reservoir. Finally, poor little

Laanecoorie Reservoir is at just

under 9% with a measly 712

megalitres in storage.

In the Spring newsletter, you were

challenged to do a rain dance next

time you are sampling your stream

and to send a picture your best rain

dance to be featured in the next

newsletter and to win an awesome

prize.

Well, I am not jumping to any rash

conclusions but since there were no

entries, and subsequently no rain in

this region, I feel that we are all

party responsible for this situation.

So in order to clear my conscience

and fill my rain water tank, I am

again asking for photos of rain

dances, as the prize is still up for

grabs (and it is still awesome).

Hope to see photos and hear the

sweet sound of rain on the roof very

soon….

by BJ Huider

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Acid Sulfate Soils

Project Update

The Winter and Spring 2008 newsletters explained the involvement of North Central Waterwatch in the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Acid Sulfate Soils Project. Now, since I can’t even remember what I did last week - let alone last Spring - the following paragraph from the Spring 2008 newsletter is a little reminder for those of us who have trouble remembering where they left their keys in the morning.........now, what have I done with my purse??????

‘...Record low inflows and river levels in recent years have led to the drying of many permanent wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin, resulting in the exposure of acid sulfate soils and the acidification of some wetlands. Once these areas are wetted again, the acid could be mobilised (North Central Waterwatch Newsletter)...’ Introduction by Bianca Huider

Previous newsletter editions have reported on the Acid Sulfate Soil (ASS) project and its purpose. This is just a quick update to inform you of the status of the project and some of the interesting (and sometimes disgusting) things that have been discovered along the way.

The Good...

The ASS project is due to be completed by 31st March 2009 – just a few days away now. Only 4 sites still require a rapid assessment, while 80 have been assessed.

80 rapid assessments

down, and

only 4 to go.

The original list of wetlands to be assessed in North Central Victoria was 78; however over the past couple of months it was revealed by Waterwatch monitors’ data and observations that several regular monitoring sites were displaying signs of acid sulfate soils. These sites were added to the investigation, bringing the total number of sites to 84. Two of these additional sites also underwent detailed assessment, while at least three others are on the waiting list.

North Central Waterwatch

monitors are influencing

the Acid Sulfate Soils

project site selection.

This project has opened my eyes to a completely new area of monitoring and now that I am aware of the issue it appears to be all around me.

The Bad...

It’s a bit like the time I purchased a new car and how I thought that there weren’t any like it around, then a week later I started to notice the same car everywhere! Some wetlands displayed strong visual (and smelly) signs of acid sulfate soils on arrival such as: rotten egg gas; severe salt scalds; stressed/dead vegetation; black sulfur rich soils (Monosulfidic Black Ooze – MBO); or orange coloured water, soil and vegetation. Others were less obvious until pH testing was undertaken.

Monosulfidic Black Ooze is

the technical name for

black sulfur rich soils.

A big thank you must go out to those who have helped with this project – without you it wouldn’t have been possible. In January I spent the day with ABC radio’s Stuart Fletcher, to celebrate World Wetlands Day, to promote the project and the Waterwatch Program. If you would like to know more about this project please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I have included a few photos of the good, the bad, and the ugly!

by Mel Barrot

The Ugly...

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Monitors take a

Punt on Barmah The first day of March saw some of our community monitors from the irrigation area of North Central Victoria meet at Barmah Forest. We all enjoyed a picnic lunch followed by a cruise on the Murray River with Kingfisher tours. The cruise took monitors along the narrowest section of the river that exists between Albury and the ocean called the ‘Narrows’ or the ‘Barmah Choke’. The water in this section of the river travels at almost twice the normal speed of the Murray River.

The Barmah Choke is the

narrowest section of the

Murray River downstream

of Lake Hume.

The Barmah Choke separates Victoria’s Barmah State Forest from the Moira, Millewa and Gulpa Forests in New South Wales - combined, the area ranks as the

world’s largest River Red Gum Forest.

Sharing a spot of lunch

The area is a wildlife haven for 236 bird species, 50 mammals and more than 500 plant species. Our group was lucky enough to see Little Black Cormorants, Darters, Nankeen Night Herons and an Azure Kingfisher (and who can forget the elusive ‘stick-a-dile’!). All aboard kingfisher tours

Other activities included a quiz, which provided everyone with undoubtedly THE biggest highlight of the day….. my singing, the

distribution of 2008 data reports, and the opportunity for monitors from different parts of the region to chat over lunch and share information about their waterways. The winners of the quiz were Tamsin Byrne and her family, followed closely by David and Helen Merrick – gee, those Axe Creek monitors are certainly switched on with their trivial knowledge! Monitors who were unable to attend this event will receive their 2008 data reports in the post over the next month. Thanks to everyone who could manage to come along for a fantastic day out, hopefully the next event will be even bigger and better. If you have any suggestions for the next get-together, please let me know. by Nicole Bullen

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River Detectives on the Case

In 2009 we’re trialling a new commitment system with schools involved in our River Detective Program. The system uses gold, silver and bronze medals to signify the level of involvement the school would like to commit to. This system has been developed to assist with time efficiency of both parties, and to outline expectations at the beginning of the school year to allow prior planning. We hope this leads to improvements in the way we deliver our program, as well as providing advanced educational outcomes to those involved. We would be happy to receive any feedback about this system. If you have any questions please contact your local facilitator. Schools that nominate themselves to be a GOLD River Detective school receive a number of benefits including: 3-4 school visits; a Waterwatch testing kit and sample pole on loan for the school year; a

macroinvertebrate sampling session, and optional create-a-

critter competition; high level priority for special events; badges and awards for achievements; and hard copies of student River Detective booklets. In return the students are asked to complete 10 water tests; participate in Saltwatch snapshot week; and macroinvertebrate sampling. SILVER and BRONZE levels are suitable for those schools that cannot commit to a full year program, but still wish to receive support and school sessions to provide valuable environmental educational outcomes. So far the roll out of this system

has been very well received. Each of the gold school students have worn their badges with pride as they made their pledge to look after their local waterway and all the critters that live within it, as can be seen by the enthusiastic Tarnagulla

Primary School students and helpers pictured below. by Mel Barrot

Party Time A ‘Thank You’ event was held recently at the Cumberland Hotel in Castlemaine to thank the Loddon Campaspe Dryland area volunteers for the wonderful job they do. The night was well attended with 19 monitors attending this fun night, and joined by three EPA staff members who gave an interesting presentation on their Habitat Refuge Pools project. The focus of the night was to acknowledge and thank our vital community monitors for the important role they play in monitoring the condition of our waterways. Each monitor received a gift for their efforts, as well as a report on their previous year’s worth of monitoring results. In addition there were lucky door prizes, a general knowledge quiz (won by the very clever Tom) and of course a yummy two-course dinner! A great night was had by all, with lots of chatter and getting to know each other. One table of two families discovered they live on the same road and had never met, so the night was a great networking opportunity for everyone as well. Keep up the good work guys! A similar ‘Thank you’ event was held in St Arnaud for the Avoca/Avon-Richardson Waterwatch community monitors. This event was held to celebrate the achievements of 2008 and acknowledge the monitors contribution to NRM in the North Central region. by Britt Gregory

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Photopoint monitoring…hints

and tips

Describing the changes at your regular testing site can be difficult, that’s where Photopoint monitoring can help. Those monitors involved in the Index of Stream Condition sampling will be familiar with this form of monitoring. The idea is that a picture can tell a thousand words and is a great way to record changes in a quick and easy way.

Photopoint monitoring

is a great way to record

changes at your site.

The Photopoint monitoring technique requires three photos to be taken from the same point each month: one upstream, one of the creek/river bed, and one downstream. It is important that each month the photos include the same features to allow comparison.

A good example of an upstream photo taken by Veronica Palmer at Deep Creek.

Each camera has different functions and settings so we are not suggesting that you spend hours fiddling with these (unless you wish to of course), but there are a few simple things you can do to ensure your images are of a good quality.

A good example of a downstream photo taken by Veronica Palmer at Deep Creek. Some suggestions include:

• Mark out where you will stand to

take each photo – you could use

a tree, bridge or other feature to

do this.

• Print out a hard copy of the first

set of photos you have taken –

take these to your site/s each

month to ensure the same

f e a t u r e s a r e b e i n g

photographed.

• Ensure that the photos are taken

from the same height e.g. eye

level, to avoid distorting the

images.

• It’s a good idea to take photos

when the sun won’t hinder their

quality. Between 10am and 2pm

the sun should be in a good

position to take photos without

having to deal with glare and

overexposure.

We expect to have a Photopoint monitoring fact sheet available soon to help you out further. However, if you have any questions or would like some pointers, please let your local facilitator know – most of us have attended training

workshops on this form of monitoring. Featured are some great examples of upstream, creek/river bed, and downstream photos taken of Deep Creek by Veronica Palmer, for the ISC project.

A good example of a creek bed photo taken by Veronica Palmer at Deep Creek. by Mel Barrot

As promised in the Spring Newsletter—here is a photo of Britt Gregory!

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Contact Us

Regional Coordinator Bianca Huider Ph: 5440 1829 [email protected]

Loddon Campaspe (Dryland) Facilitator Britt Gregory Ph: 5440 1843 [email protected]

Leah Cripps Ph: 5440 1876 [email protected]

Loddon Campaspe (Irrigation) Facilitator Nicole Bullen Ph: 5440 1877 [email protected]

Avoca/Avon Richardson Facilitator Melanie Barrot Ph: 0427 887 254 [email protected]

Photos of the Quarter— ISC

What Bug Am I?

I am a—Freshwater Leech

What a difference

rain makes! Sheepwash Creek is monitored monthly by Lisa Comer as part of the 2009 Index of Stream Condition (ISC) project. Lisa’s site had remained dry in both January and February. Fortunately due to some very welcome rainfall in March, Lisa’s site filled with water and she was able to do water sampling. Lisa, along with 20 other monitors across North Central Victoria are involved in the 2009 ISC project, collecting valuable water quality data. Even where sites are dry (and unfortunately many are across the region), Photopoint Monitoring is undertaken instead (see page 8). All Waterwatch monitors are doing a fantastic job at providing a picture of what is happening in our waterways across the region. It may seem odd but even reporting back that

your sites are dry is extremely valuable information to have on record. Hopefully dry times will be coming to an end soon, and lets hope that we see a very welcome Autumn break! by Leah Cripps

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Documents

Summer 2008/09- Regional Update Inside this issue · The Azure Kingfisher is a small kingfisher measuring 17-19 cm. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as