WaterWatch Publications

Now and Then, A collection of some aquatic larval and adult invertebrates (waterbugs) that depend on Victorian rivers

This booklet has been produced as a versatile visual aid for waterbug identification in the field. It aims to portray the diversity between and within common groups of organisms rather that offering formal classification.

The booklet is a collection of common organisms captured over a short period of time at several sites along the lower reaches of the Barwon River in Geelong showing many juvenile and adult forms (not necessarily the same species)

View the annual achievements of the EstuaryWatch & Waterwatch programs through regional case studies and statistics.

The EstuaryWatch and Waterwatch Annual Achievements Report 2017-18 provides a statewide update on the activities of the Victorian citizen science programs, describes how community monitoring programs are used to inform waterway management decisions, while strengthening community engagement and participation in waterways.

Funding for these community citizen science programs is part of the Victorian Government’s $222 million investment over four years to improve the health of waterways and catchments.

Annual Achievements Report 2017-18

Annual Achievements Report 2016-17

Annual Achievements Report 2015-16

Annual Achievements Report 2014-15

The Plan for Waterwatch Victoria provides direction for the Victorian Waterwatch Program (2015-2023)

The management objective of the Waterwatch Program is to increase the knowledge of the community and waterway managers to inform waterway management decisions and encourage waterway stewardship. It will achieve this by:

• increasing community participation in waterway engagement events and monitoring activities
• increasing community knowledge and skills on how to monitor waterway condition
• increasing the availability of reliable and relevant waterway condition data and information to the community and waterway managers
• increasing community awareness and knowledge of waterway management and condition.

The Plan for Waterwatch Victoria will provide the connection between State policy, Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (VWMS), and the delivery of the Waterwatch program across the State. The Waterwatch Program will be delivered in line with key state and regional waterway management priorities and thereby make significant contributions to the management of Victoria’s waterways.

The program will be able to assess its progress, demonstrate its successes and inform continuous improvement using the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting plan (MER) . The Plan for Waterwatch Victoria and the MER plan will support a sustainable Waterwatch Program into the future.

From Gippsland to the Mallee, volunteers with a passion for the environment have celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the Waterwatch Victoria program (1993-2013).

The Waterwatch program was initiated in 1993 to enable the community to become involved in the monitoring and management of waterways in their catchment.  Waterwatch aims to raise knowledge in the community about water issues and to encourage water quality monitoring groups to undertake constructive action  The data is used to monitor waterways over time to establish their condition and whether change (positive or negative) is occurring. The Waterwatch Celebrating 20 Years Report recognises and celebrates the significant contribution of all volunteer monitors who have contributed to the program.

A YouTube video has also been created, featuring images of some of the fantastic volunteers who have driven the success of the program. 

Download a copy of the report

Waterwatch Victoria has produced monitoring manuals specifically for community monitors. The content of these documents cannot be changed in any way or copied without permission

Data Interpretation Manual

This manual is designed to help interpret the basic surrogate measures of river health that Waterwatch monitors collect.

Waterwatch Victoria Data Confidence Manual

Waterwatchers are becoming more confident about their data. Why? Because we have developed our own protocol on Waterwatch data collection, adopted Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) guidelines and implemented regional data confidence plans.

Waterwatch Victoria Equipment Manual

This manual contains information on some useful, scientifically accurate and cost effective monitoring equipment for community monitors.

Waterwatch Methods Manual

So what methods should you use and why? This manual documents methodologies for the key water quality parameters used by community monitors across Victoria.

This statewide manual, developed in June 1999, contains a selection of methods for field monitoring equipment for the most commonly measured parameters. It includes information on each parameter to be tested, safety and calibration procedures, as well as step by step set of procedures for each test.

Waterwatch Victoria Macroinvertebrate Voucher Collections: Best Practice Guidelines

These Best Practice Guidelines contain helpful hints and tips for those setting up their own macroinvertebrate voucher collections.

Are you learning to identify your local macroinvertebrates? At first, it can be a bit daunting as there are literally hundreds of different aquatic beasties out there.

Don't despair, there are plenty of excellent taxonomic tools and guides available to help you. A local voucher or reference collection of macroinvertebrates commonly found in your waterway is a useful resource that, if well maintained, will educate Waterwatchers for years.

The Waterwatch Victoria Macroinvertebrate Voucher Collections: Best Practice Guidelines were developed in 2005 to support Waterwatch Coordinators and monitors interested in creating their own voucher collections.

Our Yearbooks provide excellent case studies of Waterwatch activities across Victoria (2002-2008)

Ever wondered what sort of activities Waterwatch is involved in each year? Reach for a Waterwatch Yearbook and see for yourself!

Waterwatch Victoria has captured and celebrated the diversity of Waterwatch community groups, activities and events through the publication of Yearbooks. The Yearbook acts as an archive of regional and state case studies, a snapshot of National Water Week activities, and includes information on Waterwatch Coordinators, program sponsors and program participants, groups and monitoring sites.

List of Yearbooks arranged by date:

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2007/2008 Exploring change

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2006/2007 Connecting to place

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2005 Program achievements

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2004 Communities and values

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2003 International Year of Freshwater

Waterwatch Yearbook - 2002 Regional highlights

The West Gippsland Waterwatch program produces their 'Streamlines' newsletter quarterly for monitors and supporters. It includes information on local news, events and projects, volunteer and sponsor profiles, and data interpretations.

Please note that, given this resource was published in 2002, some of the information (such as contact details) may now be out of date. However, as there is still valuable information in this resource, it remains available from this website.

Do you want to bring stormwater into your classroom? Use this Stormwater Education Manual to teach your students about stormwater pollution and how they can help care for their local environment. The activities are linked to CSF II (Curriculum and Standards Framework) Learning Outcomes for Levels 3, 4 and 5 Science and SOSE.

This manual was initiated by the City of Greater Geelong, with their commitment of funds to producing an education manual and providing training for local teachers. This project was also assisted by funding from the Environment Protection Authority's Victorian Stormwater Action Program. 

You can download sections of this resource. Please note that this resource is provided for educational purposes only. The information on this page may not be reproduced, republished or mirrored on another webpage or website. Waterwatch Victoria should be acknowledged when referring to this resource.

The Waterwatch Education Kit was published in 1994 (edition 1) and 1997 (edition 2), providing information on water quality related issues and over 30 classroom and field activities for upper primary and lower secondary level students. The Kit was developed for use within the CSF Levels 4 and 5 Science and Studies of Science and Society (SOSE) key learning areas.

You can download electronic sections from the Waterwatch Education Kit (Edition 2) using the following links. Please note that this resource is provided for educational purposes only. The information on this page may not be reproduced, republished or mirrored on another webpage or website. Waterwatch Victoria should be acknowledged when referring to this resource.