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Bug count gives health tick to Bass RiverWesternport Water is funding the first major census of bugs and fish living in the Bass River near Candowie Reservoir. By Susan Webster - 3rd December 2007 - Back to News The eight-month project is comparing the state of aquatic animal populations before and after the opening of the Bass River pumping station.
The surveys are showing that the pumping station is having no adverse effects on the river water quality or wildlife.
Westernport Water established the pumping station as a response to last year’s drought and the water drawn during times of high river flows has been a vital addition to the current 93% Candowie Reservoir levels.
Westernport Water’s Managing Director David Mawer said: "The influx of water is welcome but must never come at any ecological cost. We instituted these surveys last autumn to check for any harm to river fauna or water quality.
"And so far, there have been none.
"The first surveys were undertaken prior to any building work to benchmark the river health. The subsequent surveys have actually shown improvements in water quality."
The survey of macro-invertebrates and megapods … fish and water bugs … extends over five sites covering more than 120m upstream and downstream of the pump inlet.
Water quality of the river and its possible effects on the animals is also being studied.
Mr Mawer said: "One of the big things to come out of the sampling was that the river’s base level of dissolved oxygen was very low and the level of electrical conductivity (EC) – which measures salt content – was very high.
"In short, at the end of the drought and before we started pumping, the water health wasn’t very good because of the low summer river flows.
"But the latest results show that dissolved oxygen was up to healthy level and the EC levels are what you’d expect for this time of year after the winter we’ve had.
"Again, in short, the results are what you’d expect after the healthy winter rains we’ve had. And it shows that the pumping has not affected river water quality in any way."
The survey is also conducting a census of the aquatic animals including eels, galaxids and other fish, along with the bugs they eat, such as wrigglers, boatmen, small yabbies and damsel flies.
Scientists from Ecowise Consulting took water samples in March and again in early November. "It allows our survey to cross over the different breeding cycles," said Cameron Amos, the senior aquatic ecologist.
"It also allows for the seasonal difference in river flows," said co-researcher Claudette Kellar.
She flicked away mosquitoes as she picked through the wriggling bugs caught in her tray of river water. With a pair of long tweezers she lifted up a damsel fly.
"These are usually quite sensitive to pollution so having them in the water suggests that the river health is not too bad," she said.
Results from the surveys will be compiled for the water corporation and will be made available for wider research, Mr Mawer said.
"Additionally, as part of the works on the riverbank, Westernport Water has removed a lot of willows – which are an environmental pest. These will be replaced with native vegetation in autumn, now that we have completed earthworks and fencing at the site," he said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: susanw@ptarmigan.com.au
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