Streamwatch is a citizen science water monitoring program that enables community groups to monitor the quality and health of local waterways.
Connecting People with our Waterways
A Local Community Citizen Science Water Program
Monitors the health of waterways and riparian areas
Provides pollution and biosecurity alerts to authorities
Supplies long term environmental data for planning
Connects people and nature with a practical purpose
Eyes and ears on our water
The Streamwatch Process in Our Waterways
Equipment + People + Education = Publicly Accessible Results + Reliable Alerts
The Role of Streamwatch
By empowering local citizens to monitor the health of their waterways and contribute valuable data to the scientific community, Streamwatch helps to raise awareness about the importance of water quality monitoring and conservation, and ultimately supports efforts to protect and preserve our waterways for future generations.
What has changed with Streamwatch
- Comparison with professional water testing equipment done for the long term Standard Kit
- New Alert Kit to engage all kids and adults: quicker, cheaper, no chemicals, instant results to upload via app
- Rapid riparian assessment and options to participate in blitzes for waterbugs, micro-plastics and others
History and Results
Streamwatch was initiated by Sydney Water and the Sydney Catchment Authority. From itโs humble beginnings, Streamwatch started with a trial of 15 schools in 1990. This led to Waterwatch Australia as the umbrella coordinating group. Streamwatch was move to GSL in 2019.
Since it’s formation, 31,000 data sets to the online database have been collected and cleaned to provide 12,000 consistent data sets, which will be uploaded to the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA). Much of the data is already in SEED (NSW Governmentโs portal for Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data).
This program has strong quality assurance elements built in to ensure that results are sound, reliable and useful. All Streamwatch groups are required to follow the same methods and use approved equipment to sample and then enter their results into the Streamwatch website.
Stay up-to-date with Streamwatch
Connect with the Streamwatch – join the community on Facebook, read the latest news, or sign up for the Streamwatch newsletter.
Streamwatch on Instagram
We are on Instagram
Garguree Swampcare is on this Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. We will gather near the Welcome with the goal of weeding the bush tucker garden and possibly the akira miyawaki near the edge of frogs hollow.
Sunday June 4.
Garguree Swampcare.
Meet at the Welcome Wall in the cul-de-sac at 21 Gates Avenue Katoomba.
9.30 to 12.30
BYO Morning tea.
#garguree #gargureeswampcare #gargureegully #thegullykatoomba #gullytraditionalowners #streamwatch #katoombafalls #katoomba #scenicworld #caringforcountry
Garguree Swampcare hosted a Painted River Project event yesterday. It was about art, science and hanging swamps. Thank you to Leo and Ian from WSU. Jane and Thommo from BMCC. The Garguree swampcare crew. For a group of volunteers we get to do some amazing things. To all the dignitaries. To all of the community. To ABC 702 and Simon. To my family Bella, Kelsie and Shaun. To the Gully Traditional Owners. To Elders past and present. Especially to Aunty Sharyn. Yadhung Nyii. #garguree #gargureeswampcare #gargureegully #thegullykatoomba #gullytraditionalowners #streamwatch #katoombafalls #katoomba #scenicworld #caringforcountry
Photos courtesy of Bella Smith.
Garguree Swampcare hosted a Painted River Project event yesterday. It was about art, science and hanging swamps. Thank you to Leo and Ian from WSU. Jane and Thommo from BMCC. The Garguree swampcare crew. For a group of volunteers we get to do some amazing things. To all the dignitaries. To all of the community. To ABC 702 and Simon. To my family Bella, Kelsie and Shaun. To the Gully Traditional Owners. To Elders past and present. Especially to Aunty Sharyn. Yadhung Nyii. #garguree #gargureeswampcare #gargureegully #thegullykatoomba #gullytraditionalowners #streamwatch #katoombafalls #katoomba #scenicworld #caringforcountry
Photos courtesy of Bella Smith.
Well-known water scientist Associate Professor Ian Wright and his wife came along with our Bushcare Officer and a couple of volunteers worked on some soil and water samples last Friday at Garguree.
The Professor also visited the Scenic World swamp to see what we can do with all the suburban runoff.
Today it was great to spend some time with Amy and Will from BMCC checking the health of our streams that come from Garguree and Maple Grove into Katoomba Falls.
Things are good. Still a lot of work to do but we are seeing great restoration and health. #garguree #gargureeswampcare #gargureegully #thegullykatoomba #gullytraditionalowners #streamwatch #katoombafalls #katoomba #scenicworld #caringforcountry
Do you live on, cottage on or frequently visit a local lake or stream? We`re looking for volunteers in the Severn Sound watershed (see map) to monitor water quality, algae blooms, climate and invasive species from May to October. No experience is necessary! Monitoring is done at least every other week, or more often if you want. Link in bio for more info, email citizenscience@severnsound.ca to sign up!
#citizenscience #ShoreWatch #StreamWatch #InvasiveSpeciesSpotters #SevernSound #volunteers #monitoring #waterquality #invasivespecies #algaeblooms #climatechange
Gene Horning is our superstar volunteer highlight of the week. Gene has been with the Stream Watch program since 2006 after his friend Regis convinced him to volunteer for a few outings, and he fell in love. Gene is the engineer behind the monofilament collection tubes that the program puts out, so the public has a place to discard old fishing line. One thing that sticks out to Gene about the program is the change of stewardship seen on the river since his first year. Gene noted that volunteers used to easily pick up 4 to 6 bags of trash during patrols, but now he has trouble filling one grocery bag while he is out. He attributes this change to the positive interactions between volunteers and the public over the years. Gene has been a huge help to the program and donates loads of hours to the program each year. Thank you for all your hard work Gene!
#volunteerappreciation #streamwatch #volunteersmakeadifference #volunteer #volunteering #Kenaiwatershed #salmon #stewardship #environment #habitat #sockeyesalmon #kingsalmon #soldotna #russianriver #cooperlanding #kenaipeninsula #kenai #outreach #alaska #fish #communityservice #getinvolved #sterling #getoutside #nature #ABCcoastalcode #nationalforestfoundation #EVOST #usfs #NFHP
Stream, Watch, Listen.. Quick freestyle..In the morning video out now on YouTube (link in my bio) Featuring monisha_sho
#inthemorning #streamwatch #listen #eyecandy #newmusic #newvideos
Another successful Stream Watch macroinvertebrate collection day in the books! Thanks to the volunteers that joined us in the water today ๐ฆ
#streamwatch #waterquality #waterqualitymonitoring #macroinvertebrates #getoutside #volunteersrock
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