World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997. Since then government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands. For more see Department of Environment
 
 Our Stream Watch group were fortunate to have a on site visit from Professor Banati Leader of the ANSTO Plastics project. The increased presence of certain degradable plastics, including biodegradable plastics, is a challenge for the recycling of plastics more generally since the various plastics can be difficult to sort. Contamination of the waste stream with similar appearing but non-recyclable material by many seen as the Achilles heel of recycling. A significant portion of plastic waste ends up in our oceans.
Professor Banati said the team’s observations were changing perceptions about how the increased degradability of a material, such as plastic, may help to reduce the litter problem but, if not properly managed, might cause a contamination problem in the future.
Recent research shows that this is problematic due to the chemicals contained within plastics, as well as the pollutants that plastic attract once they are in the marine environment. For more see Guardian Dec 2014
ANSTO contributes to this collaborative research effort by using nuclear technologies to measure minute quantities of material such as the contaminants potentially leaching or being absorbed by degrading plastic material. ANSTO has national and international collaborations current work is being undertaken with Monash University, UTAS and CSIRO.
 Other Research
In a new study, published Dec 2014 by the journal Royal Society Open Science, a British scientist reports the riddle of the “missing” plastic as solved: It sits in deep waters, broken down into tiny fibers and embedded in the sediment of the most remote places on Earth.
The discovery of microplastic in such remote marine habitats raises new questions about the potential for plastic debris to contaminate the food chain. Scientists have already documented that fish, birds, turtles, and other marine animals eat plastic. Thompson and his team found an even greater accumulation of plastic than previously suspected. The more plastic there is, he says, the more potential for toxicity to marine life.
Read more on the National Geographic article – Where has all the (Sea Trash) Plastic Gone
 At the October meeting of Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society, Dr Ian Wright from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) presented startling evidence of environmental damage caused by coal mining in the Sydney Region. Dr Wright worked as a scientific officer with Sydney Water investigating the impact of human activities on creeks and rivers in the Sydney basin before taking up a research fellowship at UWS in freshwater ecology and water pollution.
Ian is now a full-time lecturer teaching students in water quality and management, environmental planning and environmental regulation areas. Conducting his research on a limited budget and often faced with a hostile reception from mining interests in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands, Dr Wright and his students have persevered, comparing water samples taken upstream of mining activity with those down stream. They have found significant deterioration in water quality attributable to waste water discharge from mining operations. Toxic levels of salt, bicarbonate, zinc, nickel and other minerals have impacted on aquatic life and degraded the waters flowing through prized wilderness areas and World Heritage sites. 
Long-wall mining, in particular, is responsible for subsidence in the bedrock of some creeks and streams feeding into Sydney’s water catchments. Dr Wright showed photographic evidence of streams simply disappearing into cracks, only to re-emerge further ‘downstream’ polluted by mining waste. Dr Wright was critical of the Environmental Protection Agency, responsible for regulating the discharge of wastewater from mines. Pollution licence conditions need to be tightened requiring mining companies to meet higher standards, although he conceded the regulator had lifted its game recently but only under pressure from the community and, in turn, government.
Asked how Oatley Flora & Fauna Conservation Society members could help to stop mining companies from causing environmental damage, Dr Wright suggested the best way would be to keep the pressure on our politicians to introduce more stringent rules on mining activities. Dr Wright gave an undertaking to keep the Society informed of future developments in the regulation of the coal industry.
Ian Wright-OFF-presentation-Short-8-nov-2015
150171-clarence-colliery-discharge-investigation
Impact of a coal mine waste discharge on water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE DR WRIGHT’S PUBLICATIONS CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT UPLAND SWAMPS
15 NOVEMBER 2015 – LEADER ARTICLE “Coal Mining Risk revealed at Conservation Society meeting”
The Myles Dunphy Streamwatch group once again participated in River Health Monitoring by GRCC (Georges River Combined Council) for the Spring season. Our results for Myles Dunphy and Dairy Creek were similar to previous years. For more see River Health Report Cards
 
The day at Dharawal started very foggy and a light drizzle as we tested the Iluka site in the upland swamp. It cleared up as we moved further away from the coast. We welcomed our new coordinator to Dharawal, He is passionate about his bugs and put on his waders at Cobong Creek.
  CLICK HERE TO SEE GALLERY
 Sydney has a significant number of rivers and their tributaries which touch the lives of the majority of Sydneysiders. An e-book captures some of the unique qualities of these ecosystems and the people who live near them. Guide to Sydney Rivers has extraordinary photographs and poems celebrating our rivers.
LONGWALL by DAEL ALLISON
Longwall: somewhere south of sydney
an unremarkable stream is made remarkable
by its vanished water.
wander your mind on a river, how it refracts
a skipping stone, disappears quicksilver
from your hand, envelops
your plummeting body.
waratah rivulet wrote water’s history in rapid
calligraphic scrawl
mirrored cloud-blow, kingfisher
impetus. it fed the woronora—damned
for the shire.
now the quick, gleaming bed
is fissured, cracked wide open. dry rust
and ochre. hard landing.
machines craze the subterranean certainties
of rock.
longwalls 20 and 21 of peabody’s mine
chisel ancient strata with new calligraphies.
a shattering they’ll patch
uselessly with polyurethane.
in black flooding tunnels
mudeyes and caddisflies scratch the solid
meniscus, tap vainly
for light. men crack rocks for coal
and rivers shudder.
throw a stone into water, hear only
clatter.
in sydney’s southern catchment lands
an unremarkable stream
is no longer a stream.
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Upcoming Events APRIL
29th Monday Meeting - OEH Researcher, Ross Crates – updates us on the fate of the endangered Regent Honeyeater. Meeting at 7.30 pm in Oatley RSL & Community Club- Lower level, 23 Letitia Street, Oatley.
MAY
5th Sunday – Field day - Hard walk with easier alternative – spectacular Bargo R and Gorge. Leader: Sharyn Cullis
27th Monday Meeting - Deb Andrew on Wildlife wonders of the Burragorang Valley – hidden refuge near here. Meeting at 7.30 pm in Oatley RSL & Community Club- Lower level, 23 Letitia Street, Oatley.
JUNE
2nd Sunday – Field day - Medium walk - Red Hand Cave stencils, axe-grinding grooves, Glenbrook. Leader: Matt Allison
24th Monday Meeting - Anna Moltchanski from GRC -partnered Our Energy Future - Solar energy & reducing bills. Meeting at 7.30 pm in Oatley RSL & Community Club- Lower level, 23 Letitia Street, Oatley
30th Sunday – Field day - Medium walk (some off-track) - Blue Labyrinth, Mt Whaite nr Wentworth Falls. Leader Julian Sheen
JULY
24th Monday Meeting - Alan Fairley & Kim Wagstaff showcase the natural wonders of Western Australia - flora & landscape. Meeting at 7.30 pm in Oatley RSL & Community Club- Lower level, 23 Letitia Street, Oatley
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