MONITORING CATCHMENT HEALTH Monthly monitoring of water quality characteristics such as temperature, nutrient levels, acidity/alkalinity, and presence of macroinvertebrates or ‘bugs’ has been continuing on King Island thanks to a collaboration between Cradle Coast NRM, King Island NRM Group and local volunteers.
The monitoring project is an extension of a state-wide testing program undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment in 2008/09. The King Island data provides an enduring record of water quality and establishes benchmarks for future reference. Macroinvertebrate sampling also continued across the Cradle Coast region at sites representative of naturally vegetated catchments, production forestry catchments and agricultural catchments. Using the
Tasmanian AusRivas model, an indication of catchment health could be determined from the diversity of bugs present. The development of a more holistic measure of river health, the Tasmanian River Condition Index, combines AusRivas assessments with other measures, and was utilised in 25 sites across the Flowerdale and Inglis catchments in 2009/10. This improved baseline information is helping to assess the effectiveness of catchment-scale management arising from the Inglis-Flowerdale Rivercare Plan and Water Management Plan.
INFORMATION SHEET KING ISLAND AND INGLIS-FLOWERDALE