About Barwon EstuaryWatch
Measuring water quality of the Barwon River estuary is an important citizen science activity supported by Corangamite CMA.
Volunteers meet each month to measure water quality tests including dissolved oxygen, temperature, electrical conductivity (salinity), turbidity (clarity of the water) and pH (acid/base). These indicators provide a picture of the condition of this highly valued estuary from the heads right up to Lake Connewarre – a Ramsar wetland.
EstuaryWatch volunteers have skills in the use of a multi-probe meter with sensors attached to cables allowing operation at different depths. This is important because, unless the water is well mixed, fresh water will form a layer over the saltwater and water quality can be very different above and below this interface. The measurements form a long term data set valuable for evaluating water quality condition change over time.
Photo: Justine Holmes – state facilitator for EstuaryWatch and WaterWatch learning from the Barwon EstuaryWatch team
