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(formerly the Hunter Streamwatch Program)  Waterwatch is a
national schools and community water quality education program. When you join Waterwatch, you become part of a huge and expanding network of individuals and communities who care about their environment and want to make a difference. Hunter-Central Rivers CMA Waterwatch is a part of the national Waterwatch program, with each state running their own, similar programs. In the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA region there are now over 200 Waterwatch groups participating in the activities the program offers. The key to the success
of Waterwatch is the cooperation between schools, local community groups,
councils, catchment management groups and industry insuring that
everyone plays a role in keeping our waterways clean.
Hunter-Central Rivers Waterwatch covers the Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Karuah catchments, and is coordinated by the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, with the support and sponsorship of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, NSW Department of Education and Training, and Hunter Water Corporation, with Natural Heritage Trust funding through Waterwatch Australia. In the Central Coast region, Waterwatch is hosted by Central Coast Community Environment Network and supported by Gosford-Wyong Councils Joint Water Authority. In the Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester Local Government Areas waterwatch is hosted by the CMA, Greater Taree City Council and MidCoast Water How can you be involved?
Waterwatch offers something for everyone!
Primary Schools - can become involved in the Junior Waterwatch program with basic water quality testing, water bug surveys in spring and autumn, and 'Murder Under the Microscope' for Years 5 and 6. High Schools - can be involved in either the Junior Waterwatch program or Senior Waterwatch program, conducting more complex water quality testing, bug surveys in spring and autumn, and 'Murder Under the Microscope' for Years 7 and 8. Community Groups - people who have an interest in water quality and their local catchment can join (or form) a local community Waterwatch group, conduct regular water quality testing and take part in water bug surveys. Landholders, Schools, Community groups in the upper Hunter – can participate in the Hunter Community Salinity Monitoring Project to help monitor salinity levels across the catchment. Each Waterwatch group develops a Waterwatch Plan outlining the group's commitment (frequency) to water quality testing, location of testing sites, participation in Waterwatch activities and associated events, identification of local partnerships to help support the group, and the benefits of being involved in the program . The plan is tailored to the needs of the group and their level of involvement in the Waterwatch program. Interested? Well here are some more details...Water quality testing
You can use a Waterwatch kit to test:
If you are interested in salinity in your area, have a look at the Hunter Community Stream Salinity Project. Spring and autumn water bug surveys
You don't have to be part of a Waterwatch group to take part in the water bug surveys. Landcare groups, schools, environmental education and field study centres, local councils, landholders, cubs, scouts and guides, families, home schooling and community groups can all take part. Anyone who is interested in water conservation and catchment management can pull on their gumboots, wade into the water and get involved! For more information on how you can be involved please contact your local Waterwatch Coordinator. For information on how to complete a bug survey and indentification charts go to www.bugsurvey.nsw.gov.au. Find out when the Spring and Autumn bug surveys are happening on the CMA's events page.
Murder Under the Microscope
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- temperature*
The range of water bugs (macroinvertebrates) living in a waterway can indicate
its health. Each spring and autumn school and community groups across the CMA catchment area visit their local
rivers and creeks to catch, identify and count water bugs. The information is
collected from across NSW and compiled to provide a snapshot of the health of
our waterways.
