Testing the Waters

The Upper Murray Catchment Farm Tree Group are concerned about the long term effects agricultural activities have on waterways which feed into the Murray river. They have developed a waterwatch project to monitor the quality of water in and around the Cudgewa and Koetong Creeks, near Corryong. The project is called the Cudgewa and Koetong Catchment Planning and Water Quality Monitoring Project, and involves the Cudgewa and Koetong Landcare Groups.

Major agricultural activities in this district are cattle farming, sheep grazing, and a large softwood plantation. The area also includes Pine Mountain National Park. Testing occurs on sites in each land-use environment in order to identify those activities creating problems. Water is tested for turbidity (dirtiness), oxygen levels, and nitrate and phosphate (nutrients that cause algal blooms), as well as temperature, depth, pH levels and electrical conductivity. If a problem is found, the group tries to help land holders address the issue, and promotes awareness about catchment degradation and its impacts upon water quality. Water testers are all land holders. They use kits developed with assistance from the Murray Darling Fresh Water Research Centre and sponsored by Victorian Plantations Corporation.

Group coordinator, Lyn Coulston, runs a nursery in Koetong and helps land holders revegetate stream banks and gullies with native trees and shrubs. Streams are then fenced off from cattle to prevent further erosion. She hopes the simplicity of their project will inspire other groups to monitor and improve water quality in their catchments. The Upper Murray Catchment Farm Tree Group were finalists of the 1997 Victorian Landcare and Farm Management Awards.

Kiewa Murray Water, Goulburn Murray Water and Victorian Plantations Corporation fund this co-operative venture. Creating partnerships between industry, farmers and the community has been a major achievement for this project. Lyn works tirelessly to obtain grants for further works and projects and to encourage group members. As a result, the group has developed a catchment plan that will provide all land holders with guidelines for improving their environment.

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Cattle farmers are doing their bit to improve water quality

High country around the Upper Murray Valley

Tony Jarvis testing water at the Cudgewa Creek

Lyn Coulston works with Victoria Plantations Corporations to help prevent erosion

Lyn Coulston runs a nursery for the Upper Murray Farm Tree Group in Shelley