Hunter Community Stream Salinity Project

The Hunter Community Stream Salinity Project is a new partnership project between the local community, Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the Australian Government, that involves finding out more about salinity, so it can be managed more effectively in the Black Creek and Glendonbrook catchments. These catchments have been identified as high priority saline areas with evidence of increasing saline outbreaks.

The aim of the project is to involve the community in a targeted stream salinity monitoring program that assists in the identification and targeting of on-ground salinity actions and investments.

The objectives of the project are to:

• involve the community in identifying and assessing the location and relative magnitude of stream salinity sources
• enhance community awareness, skills and knowledge of salinity
• stimulate community engagement and partnerships in salinity management
• inform the identification of salinity causal processes and appropriate salinity management actions

The project will:

• collect monthly stream salinity data for 12 months at sites throughout the catchment
• analyse this data to identify the magnitude, variability and trends in stream salinity
• identify where soil, geology and groundwater salt stores are impacting most on stream salinity
• identify local causes of salinity
• determine appropriate salinity management approaches and options.

Working with the community

Everyone in the Black Creek and Glendonbrook catchments can help monitor and investigate salinity. One of the key initiatives of the project is to provide free training and equipment to test salinity levels in local creeks and waterways, along with the opportunity to receive technical advice on salinity remediation on a property scale and relevant funding opportunities.

A public, on-line database developed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences, and the Waterwatch website will be available for participants to upload their data and view the data collected throughout the catchment (internet access is not essential as data can be up-loaded by the CMA for participants).

A report on the project findings, including salinity causal processes and management options, will be provided to project participants. Groundwater testing and water chemical analysis in key areas will also be carried out with findings made available through the project.

Workshops

Workshops about the project will be held in November. Come along and see how you can be involved, or to simply find out more about salinity. Bring along a water sample for testing.View the following flyers for further information and registration details for the workshop in your catchment:
Glendonbrook Workshop-24 November 2006
Black Creek Workshop-25 November 2006

To find out more about how you can be involved in the project, or for further information,contact Lorna Adlem, Project Coordinator ph:02 4938 4925 or email.