About WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch Victoria

WaterWatch started in Victoria in 1993 as part of the broader national WaterWatch initiative. The program was first piloted in select regional catchments, including the Wimmera and Corangamite regions, to address local waterway health concerns. It quickly gained momentum, with schools, community groups, and individuals participating in water quality monitoring to protect and restore Victorian rivers, wetlands, and estuaries.

The program’s success in Victoria highlighted the value of community-led environmental stewardship, becoming a model for fostering partnerships between local communities, Catchment Management Authorities, and government agencies.

In 2006, in response to a groundswell of public interest in estuary health and in an effort to meet the estuary manager’s information needs, EstuaryWatch was initiated as part of the Large Scale River Restoration Initiative – Managing our Great Ocean Road Estuaries (a program coordinated through the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority). Following the successful implementation of the EstuaryWatch Program in the Corangamite Region the program was expanded in 2010 to enable other interested communities throughout Victoria to participate in EstuaryWatch.

Today there are 18 estuaries monitored by EstuaryWatch groups in Victoria. These groups are supported by EstuaryWatch Coordinators at Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Corangamite CMA, Melbourne Water and West Gippsland CMA.Mapping Data

What we do

WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch groups convene regularly, typically on a monthly basis, at various locations along their respective local waterways. Each group undertakes distinct data collection activities to monitor and assess the health of these aquatic environments.

EstuaryWatch groups focus on gathering specific parameters from both the top and bottom of the water column at different sites within the estuary. The parameters include turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. Additionally, observations are made at the estuary mouth, noting whether it is open or closed, recording the flow status (flowing or not), and measuring the water level at this particular location.

On the other hand, WaterWatch groups gather data along local rivers, encompassing electrical conductivity, pH, reactive phosphorus, air temperature, water temperature, and turbidity. Furthermore, these groups assess habitat conditions across various categories such as bank erosion, bank vegetation, in-stream cover, riffles, pools, bends, verge vegetation, and overall habitat. The documentation process involves taking photos of noteworthy events in the river, such as flooding, low flow, occurrences of blue-green algae, and instances of fish kills.

WaterWatch and EstuaryWatch:

Collect water quality data from across Victoria that is used by waterway managers, community members, scientists, and contractors.
Link you to the community and other relevant stakeholders to mobilise projects.
Foster a connection between communities and their waterways, empowering them to actively nurture and preserve these natural resources.

Our vision and mission

Vision: To leave waterways and areas in the catchment in better environmental condition.

Mission: To empower individuals and communities to become stewards of estuaries and rivers through data collection, education and engagement.

What is citizen science?

Citizen science is scientific research conducted by volunteers. Why should you get involved in a citizen science program like EstuaryWatch?

It connects you to people in your community with similar interests
You get to collaborate with scientists and people who make decisions about your local environment
You may have a unique skill set that adds value to a research project
It gives you a sense of community and place
Citizen science projects can collect large data sets in a short period of time
You can make a scientific discovery
With good quality assurance and quality control, citizen science data can be just as good if not better that data collected by professionals

To find out more about EstuaryWatch in your region please contact us.