Macro Muster 5 : A citizen science adventure connecting the community
OzGREEN invites all Bellinger and Kalang river users to participate in ‘Macro Muster 5’, a citizen science event at the Bellingen Showground on Friday 20th October from 4.00pm to 6.30pm, followed by a free community dinner.
This unique opportunity will encourage people who love and use the beautiful Bellinger River catchment to dive into the fascinating world of macroinvertebrates and learn about the very important role they play in keeping our rivers and our critically endangered species healthy.
The highly inclusive, highly interactive event aims to bring friends and families together for a fun and engaging, after-school and after-work activity that contributes to a meaningful cause. Experienced scientists and community mentors will work alongside participants to collect and identify waterbugs. The number and types of waterbugs found will tell a story about how healthy the river is and certain types of waterbugs are important for the diet of the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle.
OzGREEN’s Bellingen Riverwatch’s Program Manager, Amy Denshire, is excited about the event saying,
" This event is a fantastic opportunity for friends and families to come together for a hands-on experience that not only connects them with nature but also empowers them to keep our rivers healthy. To show our gratitude to our community, we will also be offering a free thank you dinner afterwards so participants can get to know each other. The dinner is an optional waterbug masquerade, where you can wear a mask to look like your favourite waterbug - for a bit of fun!”
OzGREEN’s macroinvertebrate monitoring program is the largest of its kind in Australia and the upcoming event is an excellent opportunity for people in the Bellingen Shire to demonstrate their commitment to protecting their rivers, which are some of the healthiest rivers in Australia.
Amy adds,
“This event helps foster community connection and responsibility to care for the Bellinger River catchment. Please come down and have some fun, meet these little creatures that are so important for our rivers and learn something new about our local environment”.
The free event will be held in the Luncheon Pavilion at Bellingen Showground and is suitable for people aged eight and up. For more information, see www.ozgreen.org/macromuster
Dr Tracey MacDonald, Director of Water Wetlands and Coastal science at the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) said:
“DPE is really supportive of the Bellingen macroinvertebrate monitoring program as it’s a fabulous opportunity to connect our science and community science which builds better outcomes for the environment.”
DPE has recently released the Bellinger River Health Program 2017-2022 on the SEED portal so that anyone can access this data: Bellinger River Health Program 2017-2022: DPE Science, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate data - Asset - Information Asset Register | NSW Environment & Heritage
The free event will be held in the Luncheon Pavilion at Bellingen Showground and is suitable for people aged eight and up. For more information, see www.ozgreen.org/macromuster
OzGREEN would like to thank DPE and its’ Saving our Species program, the Bellingen Shire Council, Arborgreen and Vendart Diagnostics for their support of this program. This event is being part-funded by the DPE Flood Recovery Water Quality Monitoring Project, delivered through the NSW Environment Protection Authority's Flood Recovery Program for Water Quality Monitoring, in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. The Program is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
How do you identify the turtles of the Bellinger and Kalang Catchments?
The Bellingen Riverwatch Steering Committee has released a new resource to help community members to identify any turtles that they’ve seen locally, including the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle.
There are three freshwater turtles known from the Bellingen area - the Eastern Long-necked Turtle, the Murray River Turtle and the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST).
Firstly, there is no need to pick the animal up to identify it and it is never recommended to do so. Instead, there are four simple questions to ask to help tell these three turtles apart from each other.
The critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle is endemic to this area.
Image - Shane Ruming
The Eastern Long-necked Turtle lives in the Kalang River, in the Bellinger River (including downstream of Lavenders Bridge at Bellingen), in creeks and dams and on land, away from water, often crossing roads. The Murray River Turtle lives in the Bellinger River (mostly upstream of Lavenders Bridge at Bellingen), in the Kalang River, and is not usually seen on land unless basking or laying eggs and even then it will remain close to the water. The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle lives in a 60km stretch of the Bellinger River.
It is not ever recommended that you capture a turtle or pick it up, especially if it looks sick. However, if you find a sick or dead turtle on our rivers, please call Enviroline on 02 6659 8200.
Bellingen River Snapping Turtles have been successfully bred at Taronga Zoo Sydney and Symbio Wildlife Park since 2007, with several successful reintroductions into the wild.
Image - Paul Fahy
Bellingen Riverwatch is one of the largest water monitoring programs in Australia, which sees more than 60 community members working together with the scientific community to collect long term water quality and macroinvertebrate data, undertake river restoration activities and communicate information to support the protection of our rivers and ecosystems for future generations.
Waterbug Open Day stall at Bello markets
OzGREEN is partnering with Inspiring Australia to host a National Science Week ‘Waterbug Open Day’ stall at the Bellingen Growers Market on Saturday 12 August. This interactive event is an opportunity for people to learn about the role waterbugs play in helping scientists and the community understand the health of the Bellinger River. Activities involve waterbug challenges and prizes.
Bellingen Riverwatch co-coordinator Sam Daykin told News Of The Area, “OzGREEN’s Macro Open Day is so important for our community as we are aiming to foster curiosity amongst all ages and make science fun and accessible to everyone. “This event is part of a bigger citizen-science program, Bellingen Riverwatch, which has more than 60 volunteers come together across two programs to gather data, educate the community, and help protect our river systems.
“Participating in initiatives like these offers vital opportunities to proactively care for and preserve our natural environment, ensuring the protection of our rivers and ecosystems for generations to come,” he said. “We invite people of all ages to the stall and embark on a captivating adventure into the realm of macro invertebrates. We are aiming to foster curiosity amongst all ages with this event and make science accessible to everyone… and fun.”
Amy Denshire, Bellingen Riverwatch program manager said the rivers of the Belliunger and Kaling catchments were unique and some of the healthiest rivers in Australia. “All residents and tourists need to work together to protect what we have,” she said.
“Events like these help raise awareness about river health, the role that waterbugs play in the ecosystem, and the threatened species that rely on these rivers,” she said.
Bellingen Riverwatch began following a sever mortality event of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle in 2015. This turtle is now listed as critically endangered and scientists estimate there are less than 200 turtles left in the river. Sam and Amy urged people to go along and hear more about this and numerous other projects and find out how to participate in future citizen-science activities.
Visit the market stall anytime between 8am and 11am, or if you would like an event reminder emailed to you, register at www.ozgreen.org/waterbug-open-day. Any questions, email Sam at sam@ozgreen.org.au
This National Science Week project is an OzGREEN initiative supported by the Australian Government. Part funded by the Bellingen Shire Council, it is supported by the Department of Planning and Environment’s Saving our Species Program.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW visits OzGREEN
We were delighted to spend an hour on the banks of the beautiful Never Never Creek in Bellingen Shire with Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of NSW and some of our Bellingen Riverwatch partners.
We were delighted to spend an hour on the banks of the beautiful Never Never Creek in Bellingen Shire with Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of NSW and some of our Bellingen Riverwatch partners.
The Governor and her husband, Mr Denis Wilson, were very interested in the Critically Endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle and the ways in which the Bellingen Shire community is working together with State and Local Government to ensure the Bellinger River remains healthy to support all life forms for many generations to come.
Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers and staff collected a waterbug sample to showcase Bellingen Riverwatch’s macroinvertebrate monitoring program, the largest of its kind in Australia.
Hosted by Sue Lennox, AM, and Anton Judovalkis from OzGREEN, speakers included Josh Maher and Natalie Engelman, Australian Fauna Management, Andrew Yager, from Bellinger Landcare, Amy Denshire from OzGREEN, Justine Elder from Bellingen Shire Council and Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers, Helen and Tess.
A huge thanks to our Bellingen Riverwatch partners - the Department of Planning and Environment and its Saving our Species Program, the Department of Planning and Environment’s Flood Recovery Program for Water Quality Monitoring, Bellingen Shire Council, Healthy North Coast, Vendart Diagnostics, North Coast Local Land Services, and Apex Enviro Solutions - and our community volunteers as well as the Governor of NSW for recognising the important environmental work being done in Bellingen Shire.
For more information about Bellingen Riverwatch, visit www.ozgreen.org/br or contact Sam on sam@ozgreen.org.au.
Bellingen Riverwatch receives national award
Bellingen Riverwatch, one of the largest citizen science water quality monitoring programs in NSW, and the largest citizen science macroinvertebrate monitoring program in Australia, recently received two national awards at the River Basin Management Society Awards Gala.
Amy Denshire, Bellingen Riverwatch Program Manager, OzGREEN, and Anna Juodvalkis, Partnerships Manager, OzGREEN, very excited to represent the Bellingen Riverwatch partners at the awards night and to receive recognition for the 5-year-long leading-edge citizen science program that operates in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments.
Bellingen Riverwatch, one of the largest citizen science water quality monitoring programs in NSW, and the largest citizen science macroinvertebrate monitoring program in Australia, recently received two National awards at the River Basin Management Society Awards Gala.
Competing with projects from all around Australia and capital cities, this impressive program from the small town in Bellingen won the people's choice for and was a finalist in the 'Involving Community in Waterway Management' category. Their people's choice category got 50% more votes than any other category, which indicates the high level of support this community has for the program.
This recognition helps to propel Bellingen Riverwatch forward.
“We aim to be an exemplar of best practice citizen science and are very much on the journey to becoming this. These awards help shine a light on the work we are doing - supporting the recovery of the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping turtle and helping to protect our waterways - and strengthening our community while we do it!”- Amy Denshire, Bellingen Riverwatch Program Manager, OzGREEN
Bellingen Riverwatch’s water quality monitoring citizen science program sees 40 volunteers and 4 schools work together to test our rivers at 20 sites every month. Here, Andy Core, Teacher, Bellingen High School, demonstrates techniques to his students.
Bellingen Riverwatch sees more than sixty volunteers come together across two citizen science programs, to test our rivers for water quality and monitor macroinvertebrates (waterbugs).
The Bellingen Riverwatch partnership would like to thank the community for the support they have for this program, and would like to extend a massive congratulations to the incredible, dedicated Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers.
“We also host events to foster connection between volunteers, the community, and the environment. With the support of partners, the program is set to expand in 2023, with riverbank repair work at Gordonville Crossing, which our volunteers are very excited about!”
- Sam Daykin, Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator, OzGREEN
Bellingen Riverwatch is set to launch a new riparian program arm in 2023, starting with a riparian restoration project at Gordonville Crossing. Here, volunteer, Toni, plants trees with her granddaughter at a Bellingen Riverwatch event at Thora.
Bellingen Riverwatch could not do this important work without the support of its partners and would like to thank the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Bellingen Shire Council, Healthy North Coast, Vendart Diagnostics, NSW Waterwatch, Bellinger Landcare Inc, EnviroComm Connections and OzGREEN.
If you are interested in joining the Bellingen Riverwatch family of volunteers, please contact Sam on sam@ozgreen.org.au.
Bellingen Riverwatch releases 5-year data report
This month, Bellingen Riverwatch is releasing it’s 5-year data report. Bellingen Riverwatch data (2017-2022) indicates that the condition of the rivers in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments are in very good health. It supports the Bellingen Riverwatch Steering Committee partners’ understanding that these are very unique rivers and some of the healthiest rivers in Australia.
“Are our rivers healthy?” is one of the most commonly asked questions of Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers and partners. Bellingen Riverwatch is a local citizen science program that sees 60- volunteers and 14 steering committee partners working together to test our rivers health - this program has become one of the largest citizen science water quality monitoring programs in NSW and the largest citizen science macroinvertebrate monitoring program in Australia.
This month, Bellingen Riverwatch is releasing it’s 5-year data report. The overall condition of rivers across NSW is moderate, according to NSW State of Environments website, however, Bellingen Riverwatch data (2017-2022) indicates that the condition of the rivers in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments is far from moderate, and are in very good health. It supports BR partner’s understanding that these are very unique rivers and some of the healthiest rivers in Australia.
“With water quality data, the Bellinger catchment scored 90% and the Kalang scored 94%; our macroinvertebrate (waterbug) data indicates relatively healthy to very healthy macroinvertebrate communtities, our Platypus eDNA data tell s us that this region is a stronghold for the platypus, and our pesticide data tells us that no pesticides were detected in the seven sites sampled.”
- Sam Daykin, Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator.
“Despite these fantastic results, there are four main areas of concern arising from this data: 1) Upper Bellinger River; 2) Summervilles Road; 3) Caratti Creek; and 4) Spicketts Creek.”
- Justine Elder, River and Biodiversity Officer, Bellingen Shire Council, Bellingen Riverwatch Steering Committee member.
The first recommendation in the report is to protect what we have. Caring for the environment doesn't only look like improving areas of poor health.
“In terms of stream health it is usually more effective to protect (preserve) reaches of stream that remain in good condition, than to spend huge amounts of money trying to rehabilitate reaches that are already damaged. Similarly, it is usually more efficient to stop a stream deteriorating than to try to fix it later.”
- Rutherford (1999)
“There are opportunities to protect Australia’s most important aquatic areas so that future generations do not have to pay the high costs of rehabilitation (e.g. as has happened for the River Murray)".
- Kingsord et al (2005)
The Bellingen Riverwatch Steering Committee believes that the residents of this area, and the tourists that visit these river systems are facing this opportunity here now.
They ask all residents and tourists to work together to protect these special river systems. For the diverse species that rely on these rivers now (such as the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle), for the ecosystems downstream, and for future generations.
The three key takeaways of what we can do to help, as outlined in the report, are:
Continue collecting data - an important aspect of protecting pristine rivers includes long term data collection.
Continue regenerating the riverbank - The report recommends 20 metres of good quality riparian zone along all rivers in both catchments (with the exception for where structural works are required).
Undetake further investigation - Three areas of further investagation are recommended: 1) The origins of high phosphorous at Upper Bellinger sites (B1, B2, B2.1, B3, B3.1); 2) The potential sources of elevated levels of phosphate and turbidity and lower levels of dissolved oxygen at B7.1 (Caratti Creek).; and 3)The cause of these continuing poor water quality results at S1 (Spicketts Creek).
Read Bellingen Riverwatch’s 5-Year Data Report here.
Bellingen Riverwatch would not be possible without our incredible family of volunteers and partners. Bellingen Riverwatch would like to thank the NSW Government and its Saving our Species Program, Bellingen Shire Council, Healthy North Coast, Vendart Diagnostics, Vincent Fairfax Foundation, NSW Waterwatch, Bellinger Landcare Inc, EnviroComm Connections and OzGreen; as well as the volunteers who have contributed to the data included in this report:
If you are interested in joining the BR family of volunteers, please contact Sam on sam@ozgreen.org.au.