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WI_KNT705 Natimuk Creek @Mitchell St Footbridge (west side)

20 November 2020

Overview Notes Phy Chem Tests Habitat Creatures Diary Photos 1
Site visit details

Overview

Catchment Wimmera
Site Natimuk Creek @Mitchell St Footbridge (west side) WI_KNT705
Date and Time Friday 20th November 2020 13:30pm
Approved Approved

Notes

Physical Chemical Tests

EC µS/cm pH pH Units Water ° C Turb NTU
Sample 5300 9 25 13
Weather overcast
Last rainfall During the last week
Flow estimate
Water Appearance Stained brown
Stream depth 0 - 50cm
Stream width 2m - 5m
Hazards
Litter/Pollutants

Plentiful gambuzia

 

There was a plentiful Gambuzia in the water, and really very few water bugs.  The Damselfly nymphs had their tails eaten (Gambuzia suspected).

The total abundance  was poor, but the bug score on this tally  gave a result of good,

This is different to the the one on the River Detectives website that we used from the NCCMA:

On 13 Nov 2020, we found 12 species which gave a total of 28 as a bug count  - 

This makes 28/12 = 2 .3 = a very poor rating for stream health by its waterbug diversity.

Causes: high salinity, basic pH , but most of all the plentiful  Gambuzia.

 

Habitat

<p>26 = fair rating.</p> <p>Creek verge is being managed for passive recreation and as such is no longer natural&nbsp;</p>
Bank Erosion Stability Bank Vegetation In Stream Cover Riffles Pools Bends Verge Vegetation Overall
Good 4 Fair 6 Good 8 Good 4 Poor 4 26

Creatures Waterwatch method

Image Species Score Quantity
Caddis-fly Larvae (Trichoptera) Caddis-fly Larvae (Trichoptera) 7 2
Damselfly Nymph (Odonata) Damselfly Nymph (Odonata) 6 2
Water mites (Acarina) Water mites (Acarina) 5 10
Aquatic Beetles - Diving Beetles, Whirligig Beetles (Coleoptera) Aquatic Beetles - Diving Beetles, Whirligig Beetles (Coleoptera) 3 1
Beetle larvae (Coleoptera) Beetle larvae (Coleoptera) 4 1
Freshwater Snails (Gastropoda) Freshwater Snails (Gastropoda) 3 1
Leeches (Hirudinea) Leeches (Hirudinea) 3 1
True Bugs - Backswimmers, Water-boatmen, Water-striders (Hemiptera) True Bugs - Backswimmers, Water-boatmen, Water-striders (Hemiptera) 4 1
Mosquito Larvae (Diptera) Mosquito Larvae (Diptera) 2 2
Segmented Worm (Oligochaeta) Segmented Worm (Oligochaeta) 1 1
Total bug score
Total abundance 0 - 35 35+
0 - 200 Poor Good
200+ Fair Very good
Total abundance: 22 Total score: 38 Overall rating: Good

Diary photos

Diving Beetle and Caddisfly nymph found in the sample - only one of each of these.

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