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Waterwatch
is a national community water quality monitoring network that
encourages all Australians to become involved and active in the protection and
management of their waterways and catchments.
The
Waterwatch network is made up of individuals, community groups and school groups
who undertake a variety of biological & habitat assessments and physical &
chemical tests to build up a picture of the health of their waterways and
catchments.
By
monitoring their local waterways over time, community members can determine if
the health of the waterway and surrounds are improving, declining or being
maintained.
The
Molonglo Catchment Group is a strong supporter of the Waterwatch program, to complement the Molonglo Catchment Group's many positive solutions to
improve the quality of our waterways.
Current
Programs:
M-CHiP
– The Molonglo Catchment Health indicators Program
The establishment of this program in each sub-catchment will lead
to better monitoring and evaluation of environmental agencies and the
community’s on-ground works.
The Program provides simple and practical methods that community
groups can use to:
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measure the health of their local catchment;
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provide input into sub-catchment management planning and enable groups to
practice adaptive management;
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identify options for remedial action and where to best use grant monies or
in-kind services;
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monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their on-ground projects;
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identify early warning signals of environmental problems; and
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measure over time the trends in the condition of the natural resources in
their catchment.
More information is available on the
About M-CHiP page.
If you are interested in the Molonglo CHiP please contact the
Molonglo Waterwatch Coordinator
Frogwatch is a community frog monitoring program that
collects important information about frog species and therefore catchment health
and water quality. Frogs are well known for their sensitivity to pollution and
habitat degradation, which makes them ideal indicators of the health of our
catchments and waterways. The Frogwatch Census involves a simple assessment of
our waterways by assuming that healthy habitats provide suitable conditions for
diverse and abundant frog populations.
If you are
interested in Frogwatch please contact
the
Molonglo Waterwatch Coordinator.
Waterwatch offers
educational opportunities for
primary and secondary schools students.
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2009
Primary School Program |
2009
Secondary School Program |
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Who Cleans the Water in the Creek?
The animals
in a creek come to life through stories and poems, especially for Junior
Primary. This can be an excursion or the animals (and books) can visit
your classroom.
Living, Breathing Catchment
More about
the animals (especially Macroinvertebrates) in waterways. This work —
excursion or in-class —introduces the association of water quality and
the local animals.
Water Quality Monitoring
How is water
tested and what it tells you about that water, its habitat and the
catchment. Best done with Living Places, this is an introduction
to the science behind water analysis, for upper Primary.
Living Places
An ‘on-site’
investigation by students of the features of the local waterway or
drainage line. The groups report their findings, and together make an
assessment and suggest some changes. Drip the Drop can also come along
and demonstrate the problems of run-off and litter.
Waterwatch Journaling
Students get
their own journal for the excursion/ class and are encouraged to take
some quiet time to reflect on and record what they have experienced.
Download the 2009 Primary School Program (
290KB) |
Living, Breathing Catchment
More about
the animals (especially Macroinvertebrates) in waterways. This work —
excursion or in-class — introduces the association of water quality and
the local animals-for Yrs 7-10.
Water Quality Monitoring
How is water
tested and what it tells you about that water, its habitat and the
catchment. Best done with Living Places, this is an introduction
to the science behind water analysis, for Lower Secondary.
Living Places
An ‘on-site’
investigation by students of the features of the local waterway or
drainage line. The groups report their findings, and together make an
assessment and suggest some changes.
These two classes can be done in
depth to suit either Yr 11-12 Chemistry or Biology, and the class may
become a shorter or longer term monitoring group.
Waterwatch Journaling
Students get
their own journal for the excursion/class and are encouraged to take
some quiet time to reflect on and record what they have experienced.
Where’s the Water? Do the Math.
What does
sustainable use of a renewable resource mean for each of us? A chance
for each student to explain the water issues in Canberra and the region.
Download the 2009 Secondary School Program (
342KB) |
All these lesson
plans can be obtained in pdf form by contacting the
Molonglo Waterwatch Coordinator.
The
Waterwatch network strives to achieve a shared responsibility and collective
action for natural resource management through partnerships between community,
government and industry.
If you are
interested in joining a Waterwatch group or perhaps starting up your own group
then please contact the
Molonglo Waterwatch Coordinator.
http://www.waterw
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