A new WaterWatch group has commenced monitoring the health of the McIvor Creek in Heathcote, central Victoria. McIvor Creek starts in the rolling hills of Baynton East, flowing through predominantly cleared farmland to Tooborac and Argyle, past the forested foothills of the Heathcote-Greytown National Park before passing though the Heathcote township and flowing into Lake Eppalock.
The passionate group says they’re keen to raise awareness of the condition of the creek, highlighting both its values as well as its problems. “We’re all keen to see the ecological health of the creek improve from its current condition. We know that many of its problems are hard to fix, such as weeds and land clearing, but if we don’t start measuring it now, it will never improve. There are good elements of a healthy creek there already. It just needs to be given a chance” says Leon, one of the groups instigators.
Some of the group have professional backgrounds in aquatic ecology and are keen to apply their knowledge to their local creek. “We’re starting small with just two sites being regularly monitored but have plans to add another two sites in the future, at the top and bottom of the catchment. This will give us a broader ‘snapshot’ of the creek’s overall health”.
The group are keen for others in the community to be involved, especially kids, and are hoping the local schools will also sign up to River Detectives (a WaterWatch sister program aimed at connecting young people to nature). At a recent waterbug monitoring session, the two most eager waterbug enthusiasts were a couple of two-year-olds, so we reckon the group is off to a good start with engaging local children.
Photo: Heathcote WaterWatch Group
