Mallee
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Mallee Waterwatch - raising community awareness of river and wetland health issues and encouraging people to become active in their community.
Mallee Waterwatch Program
The Mallee Waterwatch program is hosted by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and has two main roles; to facilitate a community water quality monitoring program, and to provide education to school groups and the wider community on river and wetland health issues. Increasingly, the work of the Mallee Waterwatch team is being intergrated within Mallee CMA projects, in particular the projects of the Rivers and Wetlands Unit.
The Victorian Mallee is a semi-arid region, located in Victoria's north-east. It contains approximately 760 kilometers of Murray River frontage between Nyah and the South Australian border, and the associated floodplains and waterways. On a whole however, the Mallee region has a low annual rainfall (250-350mm) and the majority of creeks and wetlands are dry for significant periods of time.
Monitoring Program
Mallee Waterwatch provides equipment and training to allow community volunteers to collect local water quality data from a diverse range of natural and artificial water bodies including rivers, creeks, wetlands, dams and bores. In doing so, Mallee Waterwatch aims to increase community awareness and understanding of water issues, and increase community involvement in water management decisions. The program also aims to build up a water quality database that is credible, accepted and used.
Education Events Program
Mallee Waterwatch would be happy to visit your school (primary or secondary) for educational presentations or activites. These can all be adapted to suit age level and subject themes and can be related back to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. All presentations and activities are free of charge. The Mallee Waterwatch team have at their disposal the fantastic Interactive Trailer, making outdoor education a breeze - even if you do not have access to a waterbody!
Mallee Waterwatch is also responsible for putting on community events such as the ever popular Catch A Carp Day, the Environmental Schools Festival and National Water Week activities. These events aim to raise community awareness of environmental issues and to encourage people to become active in their community.
From: Mallee Catchment & Land Protection Board (1997) Mallee Regional Catchment Strategy
