Waterwatch Report June 2014

Waterwatch Report June 2014

In General

Woo O’Reilly, Regional Waterwatch Facilitator, has called a meeting of coordinators to discuss Waterwatch outputs. It looks likely that we will win renewed funding for the program. This has been aided, no doubt, by a concerted letter writing campaign by our Waterwatch volunteer network.

WW Volunteering

New Waterwatch groups since May include a team from CIT monitoring the NaasValley and Angle Crossing. Conder wetlands group has doubled their number of monitoring sites.

Martin nominated Fiona Spier for the ACT Region Environment Awards and Sharon Koh, a WWer, for the ACT Volunteer awards..

Data

We are still waiting for the ALA website to ‘go public’. The sheer volume of historical data that needs to be up loaded has caused unprecedented delays. Fortunately our Waterwatchers have saintly patience. Our Deb Kellock has given much appreciated assistance to Woo in this. I have developed a detailed synthesis CHiP tool for targeted analysis of regional waterway health issues. Maps for this are in development.

Education

LTC were invited to meet British royalty. They have a number of projects running with Frogwatch as well as their commitments around the lake. They will undertake a seedling propagation project for us very soon.

Calwell HS are undertaking a commitment to Waterwatch data collection in upper Tuggeranong Creek. Negotiations are continuing with TAMS and GA for some riparian health improvement works.

NamadgiSchool completed an erosion control project with GA plants sourced through us and have adopted a WW site.A meeting is being held with the Indigenous officer to assist with a cultural garden.

The WW commitment of Outward Bound continues this year.

Martin coordinated the involvement of CIT students in this years Pink tailed Worm lizard surveys.

Martin has applied for a Working with Vulnerable People card, to assist with working in schools.

Groups

The TLC will meet on Thursday with Qmax to investigate a possible site for the trial floating wetlands.

The new PHP carers met with Ian Lawrence and organised their first community meeting facilitated by Martin to pen a list of priorities and concerns.

Projects

SACTCG WWers are involved in a large carp removal project on LakeTuggeranong. More TBA.

ACT Env. grants were submitted for;

Riparian re-vegetation project at Castle Hill.

Aviaries for ACT Wildlife

Plants have been applied for from GA by Martin for a ridge re-vegetation project on the Clear View range. This will be used to restart Smith’s Road Bushcare.

Media

Martin hosted Adam Shipp, the Indigenous officer from Greening Australia’s on our Radio Landcare program.

Other

We will be hosting another field day for the International Water Centre. This time we have 16 high level water managers from Peru.