Myles Dunphy Creek Water quality

Volunteers from Oatley Flora & Fauna Society,  Bushcare, Friends of Oatley and  community members have been involved in monitoring the Myles Dunphy creek for water quality through.

  • Stream Watch - Sydney Water program to  monitor  2 drainage lines.
  • River Health - Freshwater and Estuarine sites  monitored as a part of a project coordinated by the Georges River Combined Councils Committee.

Myles Dunphy Stream Watch

At the moment we are monitoring the 2 drainage lines that meet in the reserve, one carrying storm water from Oatley shopping centre and the other draining the urbanized catchment upstream of and including Mulga Rd, and another point downstream of the Sydney water sewer carrier, which does have a designed overflow that may impact on the creekline from time to time.

Testing days are generally 4th Tue of the month. We meet at the former Oatley Bowling club site car park in Myles Dumphy Reserve about 9 a.m. Any new visitors are welcome.

Interested volunteers please ring:

Sharyn 9579 1262 or Heather 0425 291 879

River Health

Estuarine and fresh water sites are monitored at Myles Dunphy in the spring  and Autumn River Health testing season. Aproximatley 42 sites in the Georges River catchment from the headwaters near Appin down to Botany Bay are being monitored with the assistance of more than 200 volunteers from Streamwatch and Bushcare groups and schools. Several members from the Myles Dunphy group have been privileged to  visit and test Cobbong and Iluka Creeks which are pristine areas in upper Georges River. Photo slide show available below.

To View Spring 2009 & Autumn 2010 report cards on Georges River Website . Click photo.

Autumn 2010 Report – The overall grade of the Georges River Catchment remains ‘fair’ at C

Below average autumn rainfall led to reduced storm water discharge to waterways, creating a positive effect to water quality across most of the catchment. When compared with results from the spring 2009 monitoring period, reductions in nutrient loads and turbidity levels were observed across a number of sites. Slight changes were observed in macroinvertebrate communities; however these are most likely to be seasonally driven.

WATER QUALITY, RIPARIAN and ESTUARY VEGETATION and MACROINVERTEBRATES were monitored to provide  a ‘snap-shot’ of catchment health.

Monitoring water quality allows us to understand how chemical pollutants, agricultural, industrial and urban runoff affects the structure and function of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. Many organisms are sensitive to changes in water quality and populations of these organisms will become stressed if changes to water quality occur, often leading to reduced numbers or local extinctions.

Riparian and Estuarine vegetation are important factors in maintaining a functioning ecosystem. These vegetation communities play the role of nutrient recyclers, slowing the flow of stormwater run-off into waterways and trapping sediment. They also provide crucial habitat and food for a vast array of organisms.

Macroinvertebrate populationsprovide us with valuable information on the health and quality of the aquatic ecosystem.  Many macroinvertebrates are sensitive to environmental change and in particular to changes to water quality.  By monitoring macroinvertebrates we will gain an understanding of populations living within the Georges River catchment and of the quality of the aquatic habitat they live in.

To see more photos in larger format click on the photo in slide show below