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.
Ecological health assessment for November 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Moderate
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
This rating is consistent with previous results. This site on
the Warburton Creek is at a non-flowing waterhole and so a riffle
habitat has never been present.
Ecological health assessment for May 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Moderate
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
This site is often rated in moderate condition.
The indicators that are measured in Warbuton 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.
Water chemistry classification for October 2005 - March 2006
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
IS
|
|
|
IS
|
|
|
IS
|
|
|
IS
|
|
|
IS
|
Notes IS = insufficient data available
for this period to allow classification
There was only one sample collected during this monitoring period
due to dry conditions. Previous results have indicated that the
amount of nutrients and turbidity can be elevated by animal wastes
being washed into the waterhole during storms. Livestock and native
animals accessing the waterhole can also contribute nutrients
to the creek. Many rivers in the state's Far North also have naturally
high turbidity levels due to the suspension of very small clay
particles. This site is sampled every three months because of
its remote location. The
South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board
released a catchment water management plan for this region in
May 2006. Among other things, the plan identifies the need to
control direct stock access to waterholes such as this waterhole
on the Warburton River and to limit water extraction rates.
Water chemistry classification for April to September 2005
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Poor
|
The amount of nutrients can be elevated by animal wastes being
washed off farms during storms. The water in several river systems
in the state's north is naturally quite turbid due to the suspension
of very small clay particles. The poor nutrient and turbidity
results for the recent samples are consistent with previous results.
This site is sampled every three months because of its remote
location.
