Link. Back.

Theme 2: Biodiversity & Ecosystems

Topic: Monitoring the Environment

Why monitor the environment?

Monitoring the environment helps us to understand it and to make decisions about how to manage it better. By monitoring, we are able to compare human impacts on the environment and changes to it over time. We can continually review this information to ensure we are working towards sustainable environmental management.

What is community-based monitoring?

Community-based monitoring involves local residents, businesses and landholders getting involved in monitoring the local environment. This often leads to taking action to manage the local area in a sustainable way. Community-based monitoring builds the community's understanding of local environmental issues and encourages groups to undertake constructive actions to rectify any problems.

Note - the term community incorporates individuals, community groups, landholders, business and industry, schools and government (local, state, federal).

What aspects of the catchment environment can the community monitor?

There are many aspects of the catchment environment that can be monitored by the community including:

Biodiversity

  • Frogs
  • Fish
  • Birds
  • Aquatic Invertebrates
  • Reptiles
  • Mammals

Water Quality

  • Chemical
    (pH, nitrates, phosphates)
  • Physical
    (turbidity, temperature)
  • Biological
    (aquatic invertebrates, fish, frogs)

Riparian Vegetation

  • Variety of vegetation
  • Health of vegetation
  • Buffer zones
  • Invasion of weeds

Environmental Pollutants

  • Leaf litter
  • Plastic bags
  • Gross pollutants
  • Stormwater pollution
  • Animal faeces

Which aspects can be monitored by school children?

Students can monitor water quality, biodiversity (frogs, fish, aquatic invertebrates, birds) and some aspects of riparian vegetation through the Waterwatch and Our Patch programs.

Students can also monitor other pollutants by getting involved in:

  • Gutter Guardians - a program to monitor and remove leaf litter from gutters
  • Clean-Up Days - organising and participating in clean-up days to help monitor and remove environmental pollutants
  • Drain stencilling - a program that involves learning about stormwater pollution and stencilling local drains with water quality messages.

Student Activity Ideas

  • Students to become involved in a monitoring program in your local area e.g. monitoring a local river or creek.
  • Students to research the biodiversity they are monitoring e.g. fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates.
  • Students to map your catchment area and locate local environmental monitoring sites.
  • Students to develop a monitoring plan for your local waterway. Partner with a community group or a local business to look at ways they can contribute to the management of the local environment.

Enquiry Learning

  • Why is it important to monitor the environment?
  • Which aspects of the catchment environment can be monitored?
  • How could our school contribute to community based monitoring?
  • Which aspects of the environment can be monitored by students?

Internet Resources

Type Description Resources Covering the Topic
Easy
  • The National Community Based Water Quality Monitoring Program.
 Waterwatch Australia
www.waterwatch.org.au/library/
involve.html
  • Chemical, physical and biological monitoring.
  • Communities across the State monitoring water quality.
  • Many regions in SA have Waterwatch Officers who can assist you in monitoring of the environment.
 SA Waterwatch
www.sa.waterwatch.org.au/
monitoring.htm#Biological%20Parameters
  • Our Patch/Catchment Care.
  • A range of activities related to biological monitoring in and around watercourses.
 Catchment Water Management Boards in the metropolitan Adelaide area
www.catchments.net
More Comprehensive
  • Biological indicators - a summary.
 NSW EPA
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/
cw/cw_5.2.htm
  • Monitoring river health.
  • Biological assessment.
 SA EPA
www.environment.sa.gov.au/epa/
water.html
  • The National Community Based Water Quality Monitoring Program.
  • Good summary of monitoring of waterways.
 Waterwatch Australia
www.waterwatch.org.au/library/
involve.html
  • Macroinvertebrates and water quality in WA.
  • PDF download covering the main issues.
 Water Resources WA
www.wrc.wa.gov.au/public/
waterfacts/2_macro/WF2.pdf
  • Water quality and monitoring.
  • Comprehensive review of main water quality issues in the Murray catchment.
 Murray Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/education/
encyclopedia/water_quality.htm

Activities

Band Activity Contact
Early Years
  • What is an Ecosystem? (Ecological monitoring!)
 Environment Canada
www.eman-rese.ca/eman/
faq.html#head6_2

Who Can Help?

Organisation Who Can Help?
Waterwatch SA

Waterwatch State Office

Waterwatch: Broughton Wakefield

Waterwatch: KESAB Patawalonga & Torrens

Waterwatch: North Adelaide & Barossa

Waterwatch: River Murray (Upper)

Waterwatch: River Murray (Lower)

Waterwatch: South East

Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network