Skillogallee Creek

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Introduction

Skillogallee Creek is in the Mid North of the state and flows into the Wakefield River. The creek flows through vineyards and grazing areas. Elevated turbidity and nutrient levels are the most likely water quality problems.

Skillogallee Creek is a fresh to brackish small creek with reeds and other aquatic plants growing extensively in the channel. Flows in the creek are driven by rainfall in the region. The average annual rainfall in the Skillogalee Creek sub-catchment is greater than 600mm and has hydrological characteristics that are similar to the higher rainfall zones of the Mount Lofty Ranges (source: Favier, Rixon and Scholz 2000). >> Map (689KB PDF)

Water quality assessment

Water quality is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting ecological health and water chemistry data in the context of protecting environmental values. >> More

Ecological health is assessed in spring and autumn. We use macroinvertebrates for this purpose because they provide a relatively simple way to assess the health of an aquatic ecosystem. >> More

Water chemistry is measured each month. We measure chemical indicators because when they reach a certain level they can cause stress or toxicity to animals and plants in an ecosystem. Some indicators can also indicate if the water is suitable for drinking water or for activities such as swimming. >> More

Ecological health

We collect two samples of macroinvertebrates, one from riffle (or flowing water) habitat and one from edge (still water) habitat. The diversity of the macroinvertebrate community is used to describe ecological health as being in good, moderate or poor condition.

Go here to find out how we classify ecological health in streams.

Ecological health assessment for June 2006

Habitat	Ecological health
Edge	Good
Riffle	Habitat not present

The edge habitat at this site is usually rated in good condition. A riffle habitat has not been present at this site in spring since sampling began in 2003.

In autumn 2006, the edge sample had a high diversity of 39 different types of macroinvertebrates. The most common species were oligochaete worms, non-biting midges from the genus Corynoneura, and amphipods (Austrochiltonia australis). A wide range of species from all the major macroinvertebrate families was present at this site, resulting in the good ecological health assessment. The site is, however, impacted by the presence two introduced species of snail (Physa acuta and Potamopyrgus antipodarum).

Download ecological health data

• All the macroinvertebrate data for Skillogallee Creek

Water chemistry

The indicators that are measured in Skillogallee Creek are nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), turbidity and salinity. The concentrations of these indicators are used to classify the water chemistry as being in good, moderate or poor condition, according to the needs of aquatic ecosystem protection.

Go here to find out how we organise and classify the chemistry data.

Water chemistry classification for April to September 2006

Indicator	Classification
Oxidised Nitrogen	Poor
Total Nitrogen	Good
Soluble Phosphorus	Good
Total Phosphorus	Good
Turbidity	Good

The results in this monitoring period were generally consistent with previous results for this site, with oxidised nitrogen often at elevated concentrations.

The oxidised nitrogen classification is poor which is probably due to fertilisers or animal wastes being washed into the creek during storms. Elevated oxidised nitrogen can lead to excessive filamentous algal growth, although this is controlled to some extent by the aquatic reeds in the creek. The nutrients and turbidity levels also tend to vary according to creek flows, with high concentrations most often recorder in winter months. This issue is likely to be influenced by the degraded stream condition and relatively intensive agricultural landuse.

The River Management Plan for the Wakefield Catchment (2000) contains useful information relating to the Skillogalee sub-catchment. The Management Plan identifies several priorities requiring attention: the protection of riparian habitat, exotic weeds, unrestricted stock access and poor bank stability. The Northern and Yorke NRM Board is working towards addressing these issues, which should help to improve water quality in the creek.

>> Archived results

Download water chemistry graphs

• Oxidised nitrogen in Skillogallee Creek
  
• Total nitrogen in Skillogallee Creek
  
• Total phosphorus in Skillogallee Creek
  
• Soluble phosphorus in Skillogallee Creek
  
• Turbidity in Skillogallee Creek
  
• Salinity in Skillogallee Creek

Download raw chemistry data

• All chemistry data for Skillogallee Creek

What is being done to improve the condition of South Australian rivers and streams

Efforts to improve the condition of South Australia's rivers and streams are being driven by various Government agencies, primarily

The Environment Protection Authority
The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation
Natural Resource Management Boards
Department for Environment and Heritage (SA)

Collaborative projects and programs being run by these agencies are based on the protection of environmental values, as explained in the National Water Quality Management Strategy. >> More

This page was last modified 25-09-2007