2005

Annual activities:

•Wild Games in the West (quarterly holiday programs)

•World Wetlands Day

•Wimmera Machinery Field Days

•Horsham Wetlands Walk for Art is… Festival

•World Water Day

•Saltwatch

•WWVic QA/QC

•Annual town shows

•WCMA Kids Conference

•National Water Week/Spring Macro Activities

•School and community monitoring and sessions

eg monitoring, guided walks, catchment tours

Monitoring, recording and interpretation at Yaapeet PS and guided walk at Warracknabeal PS

Annual activities:

Catchment Tours

Goroke College Grades 5-6 students at Lake Ratzcastle as part of their local

catchment tour

Annual activities: Stormwater Education

Stormwater guided walks: gutter surveys, caring for the environment, erosion-transportation- deposition, local water cycles, and plant life.

Annual activities: Kids Conference

Kaniva College (left)

Edenhope College (below)

St Mary’s Primary School: Water for Life –

Rights and Responsibilities

linked to T1,T2 and T3 WCW

sessions

Annual activities:

Wild Games in the West

A Western Wimmera school holiday program: environmentally based games and activities presented by NRM staff at different towns.

Annual activities: Guided Creek Walks

Yarriambiack Creek Warracknabeal:

Beulah /Altona North PS visit (left)

St Mary’s Primary School : web of water life in a dry creek bed (below)

Warracknabeal PS (below left)

Annual activities:

Aquatic Macro-invertebrate studies

Annual activities:

Web of Water Life Simulations Used with many lower

catchment schools from mid primary to lower secondary.

Modified to represent species found in

water surveys locally.

New activities: •In schools and the community

•Waterwatch Australia Conference workshops : Brad (with WWVic -data), Harvey (with Mallee WC - WW in dry lands) and Jeanie (simulations) ; and static presentation of Networking in the Wimmera

•About 40 water quality monitoring kits to community and school monitors

•WCMA Green Schools program at Rupanyup, Rainbow, Edenhope

•WCMA Kids Conference workshops: Harvey Catchment Puzzle, and Jeanie River Red Gum Walk

•Clarrie the Catfish water education page monthly in Regional newspaper

•Halls Gap Wild Flower Show

•fishing habitat and identification education sessions

•Upper Catchment evaporation/condensation/transpiration with plants/ water cycle model

• increase in Horsham schools monitoring and using wetlands for water life

•Water for life: 3 lower catchment schools linked for World Water Day and Saltwatch

•St Mary’s PS Prep- Year 1 book of water creature drawings after water web simulation in dry creek

•Advance Program with the Warracknabeal Special Developmental School

•Rainbow Country Hour community celebration

•Jeparit Waterwatch 10 years of continuous monitoring community celebration

•Rainbow SC VCE Ag/Hort weekly monitoring of farm water project

•Stormwater Education Programs at Nhill, Edenhope, Kaniva, Yaapeet, and St Marys PS

New activities:

Encouraging drawings in younger children

Water creatures by Prep Y1 St Mary’s PS (Warracknabeal) turned into a class book

New activities:

Greater use of Horsham Weir Pool and Wetlands

Many sessions eg

Horsham College year 9’s in November l(eft)

Horsham Coll in March (below)

St Michael’s and St John’s PS July (below Left)

New activities:

Greater use of Horsham Weir Pool and Wetlands

Horsham Lutheran Primary School Environmental

Club

New activities:

Observing Damsel flies – at Horsham, Warracknabeal and Beulah

Leigh out with Horsham College Year 9’s macro session:

When one of their days turned hot, students had the bonus of witnessing a mass of damselflies and dragonflies mating! It was a rare chance to observe size, shape and colour differences between genders and species.  Some female damselflies were dropping their eggs off in the water while grasping (or being grasped, no one was quite sure) by their mate.  Students were so interested in this wonder of nature, that Leigh was sure they all went away with a greater appreciation of a healthy ecosystem

Jeanie out with WSDS Advance Group for final monitoring session at Apex Park:

Well camouflaged damselfly nymphs were also out enjoying the sunshine and a thick carpet of milfoil. There was great excitement for those who learned how to identify them in the plants. The link between abundant damselfly nymphs found in their aquatic macro-invertebrate surveys here some weeks earlier, and these adult flies was easy to understand. Photos from J. Clark private collection

New activities:

Plants and the Water Cycle ModelDeveloped by Leigh,

To make a big model of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation over

a few weeks.

used at a number of schools

eg Rupanyup PS

New activities:

Fishing Habitat and Identification ModelDeveloped by Leigh, used at a number of schools

eg Netherby PS during Environmental Awareness Day

New activities:

World Water Day – Saltwatch link

St Peters PS (Dimboola)

Same Activities for 3 schools:

What do you use water for? Drawings shared (right)

Where does our water come from?

How much water do we have?

How good is the water we have? (below)

A plan to use your water better?

New activities:

World Water Day – Saltwatch linkActivities:

What do you use water for?

Beulah PS added then needs of a water bird needs based on Masked Lapwing observed in T4 2004. (below left)

A plan to use your water better? Poster drawings (below)

New activities:

World Water Day – Saltwatch link

St Mary’s PS (Warracknabeal)

Saltwatch (this page)

Added another link in T3 with Rights and Responsibilities for Water Play

New activities:

New monitors

From all across the catchment

New activities:

Rainbow SC VCE Ag/Hort Farm Water Monitoring

Weekly monitoring in Sem 2

New activities:

Jeparit Waterwatch 10th Anniversary CelebrationsMuseum monthly monitors - of which two have

been 10 year monitors (top left)

All participants gave short talks covering all aspects of Jeparit Waterwatch (below)

Celebrations lunch (below left)

New activities:

Jeparit Back to Anniversary Weekend DisplaysJeparit PS prepared new displays to show how their salinity levels have changed

over 10 years and between the seasons – displayed at the local show, for the back to and now on permanent display in a shop window in the main street with

the intention to update regularly in 2006 and add other river display materials.

New activities:

Recognising long service participants Certificate presentations linked WWVic, Wimmera CMA, local shires to schools and community members who had participated for:

10 years (5) eg Jeparit PS to left

5 years (35) eg anticlockwise from left: Apsley PS, Beulah PS, Dimboola MSC, and farm/river monitors from Antwerp and Lower Norton.

New activities:

Using the trailer in many waysAnticlockwise from left: Halls Gap Wild Flower Festival, World Wetlands Day, Jeparit Waterwatch 10th anniversary, Rainbow Country Hour Street Party, upper catchment stormwater education, Jeparit ‘Back to’ Parade.

New activities:

WCMA Green Schools ProgramTaking environmental sessions to 4 schools for a

morning to encourage greater participation in the future

Held on school grounds (below)

eg Waterwatch water web of life for Pacific Black Duck (left)

New activities:

Clarrie the Catfish

monthly regional newspaper water education page in the Wimmera Mail Times

Advancea state government secondary education program

Goal :to enable young people’s participation and volunteering in community life

through activities that promote: personal development; skills and community links

Warracknabeal

Special Developmental School

has taken on the Advance program in 2005,

with Wimmera Community Waterwatch as the primary community support,

for learning about and caring for our creek.

The Advance program enables

young people 12 students from Groups 2 and 3 at the WSDS

to do something with their community

* learn about the creek, * learn monitoring,

interpretation and reporting skills

* practical care for the creekat the Apex Park site, with its sediment trap, on the Yarriambiack Creek, Warracknabeal

Advance links schools in partnership with a community organisation(s)such as Warracknabeal Special Developmental School with*Wimmera Community Waterwatch,

with support from: * Wimmera Catchment Management Authority * Yarriambiack Shire * Yarriambiack Landcare * Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) * Warracknabeal Yarriambiack Creek Development Committee

The Advance program involves choices by young people, such as * training in skills to their ability level* caring activities for the creek* reporting

The Advance Group observes :

WIDTH and DEPTH It’s easy when its shallow!

WSDS Advance group found that the creek was widest (8 m) and deepest (45 cm)

in late August, with the winter rain.The creek dried out in mid May.

WATER LIFE little things living in the water

The WSDS Advance group found 9 species of aquatic macro-invertebrates living in the milfoil plants in the creek on 7/9/05: Lots of tiny water fleas, water mites, and pond snails,

Some aquatic weevils, boatmen, segmented worms, and a few caddisfly nymphs, other fly nymphs.

Tadpoles and Pacific Black Ducks were also in the milfoil.

“The Pacific Black Duck

is lucky because it gets to eat all the

creatures we found and

identified.” Dean

The Advance group tests water and the data becomes part of regional data gathered for the Yarriambiack Creek.

DATA

Salinity of the Yarriambiack Creek, Warracknabeal Town water and a Bangerang Dam in 2005

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1/01/2

005

15/01

/2005

29/01

/2005

12/02

/2005

26/02

/2005

12/03

/2005

26/03

/2005

9/04/2

005

23/04

/2005

7/05/2

005

21/05

/2005

4/06/2

005

18/06

/2005

2/07/2

005

16/07

/2005

30/07

/2005

13/08

/2005

27/08

/2005

10/09

/2005

24/09

/2005

date

sali

nit

y in

uS

/cm

EC

's

Creek at Apex ParkCreek at Fong Tong AveCreek at Lions Park BridgeCreek at Ski Boat RampWood St drain waterApex Drain waterTown water dam water

rain water quality

World Health Organisation Limit for good drinking water

too salty for human drinking water, and for many plants

TURBIDITY How clear the water is

WSDS Advance group found that the creek water is mostly murky, but that the plants help to clear it.

WSDS Advance group found that

the creek water is soft, from its source as

rainwater off the streets.

HARDNESS=how soft or hard the water is

or how well it makes bubbles!

Comparing water

quality from different sources

Water quality tests

Water source salinity pH turbidity

hardness

Rain None, low = great

Neutral = good

Low = very clear

Soft

Creek Mostly low Mostly neutral

Mostly murky

Mostly soft

Town Mostly over WHO drinking water guidelines, and becoming too salty for the leaves of many garden plants

Mostly neutral

Very clear

Very soft

Dam Fine for sheep, too salty for most garden plants

Slightly alkaline but ok for chemical sprays

Mostly fair but worse after rain or stock use.

Hard water – a problem for some chemical sprays

WEED and SEED pulling up the garden escapee Gazaniaand planting the native Wallaby Grass

An Arbour Week activity, involving WSDS, WCW and YSC Landcare Officer Ietsyn Hosking.

Six teams of three students dug out about 400 Gazanias, invading the Wallaby Grassland under the River Red Gum Trees. Plants were bagged and disposed off site.. Only those beneath the bee’s tree were left!

WCW/Warracknabeal SDS Advance Group Teacher Reference Sheet by J. Clark, WCW lower Catchment coordinator

WEED and SEED afternoonWe will WEED GAZANIA and plant local WALLABY GRASS SEED

Tough dryland daisy plant of AfricaEscapee of Wimmera gardensGaining ground from native plantsNon-native of our creek reserveHas:Large bright flowers in springSoft light feathery seeds carried by wind Wide long leavesDark green top side of leaves Silver green under side of leavesa clump formStrong thick root systemsNeeds to grow:Some rain in winterLots of sun to open flowers in springTough enough to survive:DroughtSalty soil

Tough dryland grass of South East Australia

Losing ground to the GazaniaNative of our creek reserve

Has:Tiny mauve and/or cream grain seed flowers in springSoft light V or 3 pronged seeds carried by wind Narrow spiky leavesBright green fading to cream leaves over timea clump formStrong root systemsNeeds to grow:Some rain in winterLots of sun to ripen flowers in springTough enough to survive:DroughtSalty soil

TREE PLANTINGIn Spring,

Warracknabeal SDS Advance group planted• 6 River Red

Gums • and 6

Black Boxes

CATCHMENT MODEL

Warracknabeal SDS Advance group created a sand pit model

of the Wimmera Catchment

in preparation for their field trip upstream from Warracknabeal.

CATCHMENT TOUR•Warracknabeal SDS Advance tour went to the sources of the: • Yarriambiack Ck (distributary in flat cropping land) and •the Wimmera River (tributary in forested hilly land).

VALUES and ATTITUDES

Student answers to What did you most enjoy learning ?

•Mez - how to test water•Sharna – how to test with chemicals and what water testing readings mean•Thomas – wildlife at the creek•Tara – frogs and tadpoles•Dean – birds and listening to bird song•Joel – planting and weed and seed day•Scott – how trees grow and how to plant them •Michael – seeing the stormwater drain fill and gushing over the rock wall•Pat- being out at the creek•Nikita–the trip to Longerenong and Elmhurst•Mark – Creek became healthier over 8 months (after it was sprayed, mowed and dried out) •Ellie – doing something to help the creek

Background: In April someone sprayed and mowed all the plants at the WSDS creek site. Then it dried up and smelt bad. The students monitored its recovery. Here it is in November.

VALUES and ATTITUDES

Teacher answers to What did you most enjoy learning ?

Marilyn – amazed by the wildlife at the creek Lynne – the amount of animals at this creek site, below the bridge only driven over beforeWendy – enjoyed the opportunity to learn the testsJeanie – heaps of damselfly nypmhs out this spring, and the ability of each individual student to tune into and think about this environment.

We were all pleasantly surprised by the attention that students develop in their observations of this and other environments as a result of this program.

I would strongly recommend the Advance program to other Waterwatch programs. J.Clark.

Background: The WSDS Advance group comprised 13 students, 4 support teachers, and one Waterwatch coordinator, supported by others from the community and agencies. Despite a huge range of general and communication abilities in this group, each individual learnt to care more about the environment and express their opinions of its values.

New activities: •administrative

•Team now each has the same digital cameras and computing equipment

•Projects: Story Books, Wimmera Specific Identification Sheets

•WWVic Database upgrade and WCW monthly reporting database implemented

•Staff

•Waterwatch in the Wimmera became 10 years old in January 2005

• long service of WCW staff:

• Pat completed 10 years service in October 2004

• Jeanie completed 10 years service in January 2005,

• Harvey completed 8 years of service in December 2005

•Recognition of Pat’s 10 years service at WW Aust Conference and

at Wimmera CMA board meeting.

•Leigh employed as fourth local Waterwatch facilitator in March 2005

•Resignations:

•Pat resigned in August.

•Brad resigned in October, returned to Berri, SA .

Proposed new for 2006 : •In schools and the community

•Launch of the Identification sheets and of the Story Books

•East – West School exchange

•Stormwater Education focus on drain stencilling in Horsham and other centres

•Rollout of more monitoring kits

•Jeparit PS/WW shop window display

•Administrative

•Staff

•Waterwatch in the Wimmera in its 12 th year!

•Leigh to work in Upper Catchment

•New middle catchment facilitator to begin in January

•New regional coordinator to begin as early as possible in 2006

A program of the Wimmera CMA gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors :

And of its participant

community members

and schools.

Northern GrampiansS h i r e C o u n c i l

West Wimmera Shire Council