Click on this link to visit the EstuaryWatch database
What is an Estuary?
So what is an Estuary?
It is not a river!
It is not the ocean!
It is something completely unique in between!
An estuary is the place where fresh water from a river interacts with salt water from the sea.
EstuaryWatch is a community monitoring and engagement program establishing an invaluable dataset of estuary conditions within the Corangamite region.
EstuaryWatch is part of a holistic approach from Corangamite CMA toward improving knowledge and action for estuary management. Currently undertaking the Great Ocean Road Estuary Restoration project, the CMA is working to improve the condition of key estuaries across the region through such things as rehabilitation of floodplain wetlands, provision of fish passage supporting the EstuaryWatch program.
Within the region there are 40 estuaries (see map) in a wide variety of shapes, varying from long narrow river-like estuaries such as Wild Dog Creek to broad open water estuaries such as the Curdies River at Peterborough and Painkalac Creek, Aireys Inlet.
As of February 2008, there are EstuaryWatch groups established at nine estuaries from the Barwon in the East to the Gellibrand in the west, measuring and recording conditions for each site.
EstuaryWatch data is now being entered online, with each group responsible for their own data. The data is stored for public viewing at www.ccma.geomatic.com.au
It is important to gather this data so that we can all learn more about the structure and function of the estuaries and how they evolve over time. From studies elsewhere, we know that all estuaries are unique environments and include some of the most biologically productive ecosystems on earth. Estuaries help to filter pollutants, act as buffers to protect shorelines from erosion and flooding and provide essential food and habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife.
Download the EstuaryWatch brochure (here)
Download Issue One, September 2007 of EstuaryWatch News (here)
Download Issue Two, February 2008 of EstuaryWatch News (here)
Download the EstuaryWatch update for February - March 2008. (here)
Download the EstuaryWatch update for March - April 2008. (here)
Download the EstuaryWatch update for April - May 2008 (here)
Download the EstuaryWatch update for May-June 2008 (here)
Download the EstuaryWatch update for July-September 2008 (here)
What is EstuaryWatch?
We know that estuaries here in the Corangamite Region are interesting and unique, but there is also a lot we don’t know about them. EstuaryWatch is a new program aiming to help local communities learn more about their estuary - how it functions and how healthy it is and use this information to help conserve their estuaries into the future! EstuaryWatch will do this by:
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Helping you and other locals gather information about your estuaries through an EstuaryWatch Monitoring Program. EstuaryWatch monitoring will be a means of scientifically measuring the condition or ‘health’ of your estuary and to understand changes that occur. Getting involved in EstuaryWatch monitoring can be as simple as taking a photo when you see something unusual in the estuary and sending it to the Corangamite CMA; or as fun as getting involved in monitoring bird life, the vegetation surrounding your estuary or the physical and chemical properties of the water within your estuary;
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Providing fun opportunities to learn amazing information about your local estuary. EstuaryWatch Education activities will be run in estuaries right along the coast on all sorts of interesting topics such as the plants and animals you find living there, how you can help conserve your local estuary and how an estuary changes throughout the seasons of the year. Anyone and everyone is most welcome to join in and activities will be run for school groups, local community members and visitors to the region; and
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Using the information collected through the EstuaryWatch Monitoring Program and valuable community knowledge and skills developed through EstuaryWatch Education in decision making on estuary management.
Upcoming EstuaryWatch Events
How to Get Involved in EstuaryWatch
All EstuaryWatch groups are always looking for new members, and you don’t need any previous monitoring experience to get involved.
What you DO need to do is to attend an EstuaryWatch Training Day.
Download the latest EstuaryWatch training flyer for more information.
EstuaryWatch training flyer (here).
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