.png)
Hi everyone,
I trust this email finds you and your loved ones well.
Attached are the results of Water Quality Monitoring, Chemical analysis and a very limited Macroinvertebrate sampling for October, 2023.
In respect of the results the following explanation is provided:
You may wonder why the results in Waterhen Lake Site 1 vary so much from the other sites. This is due to Site 1 being fed directly from road runoff from Ruth Crescent, which means the nutrient and pollution load drops firstly into Site 1 prior to being distributed around the lake by wind and water flow, with wind being the only moving agent when flow ceases. Wind also provides the means by wind oxygen is introduced to the water, hence the difference between Site 1 D.O readings and the readings at other sites. If there is no incoming road runoff, the pollutants sit at Site 1 until improved flow occurs.
Salinity within the Coomera River is at steady levels, primarily due to flow having ceased at the weir for around 6 weeks and also further upstream at FG Walker bridge, Heritage Drive, Birds Road Crossing and Killarney Court. If we receive no rain for another month the mussel beds will become exposed and birds such as Ibises will score an easy meal. The increase salinity only appears to have enhance the fish numbers in the Coomera River with herring still spawning and a Giant Herring being captured there yesterday. There are many fish evident in the river below the weir.
Pollutant levels are reasonably steady, increasing at some sites due to a lack of water flow; the highest levels by far are in Waterhen Lake for the reasons stated in 1. above.
A platypus was spotted below Birds Road Crossing about four weeks ago, at around 9am, a fairly rare event.
We received some rain however still need around 200mm to give the streams a good flushing and to promote the return of macroinvertebrate populations. I look forward to the time when I can venture out and sample macroinvertebrate populations at will.
Due to a lack of flow only two sites were sampled for macroinvertebrates – Guanaba Creek and the Nerang River. Both sets of results demonstrated sound water health. Many thanks to Helen, Ross and Brian for their sustained interest and hard work in supporting the sampling process. Kindest regards to you all. Steven Gill
Comments