Rivers, creek, lakes & ponds 2015 Richard Sharp Presentation

www.ehpartners.com.au

11 August 2015

Forum hosted by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand

Richard Sharp, FEIANZ, CEnvPSenior ConsultantEnvironment & Infrastructure

Issues concerning rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds in the ACT between 2000 to 2011


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Overview• State of the Environment Report

• Canberra’s impact on the Murrumbidgee River

• Exceedance of water quality standards

• Lakes & ponds

• Rivers & creeks


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State of the Environment Report• Commissioner for Sustainability and the

Environment Act 1993 – A state of the environment report must include:

• An assessment of the condition of ….. water ….. human made or modified structures or areas [dams & ponds] ….. ecosystems and their constituent parts [creeks & rivers]

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1993-37/current/pdf/1993-37.pdf





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Impact on the Murrumbidgee River• The quality of water leaving the ACT (Halls

Crossing) is within acceptable limits and comparable to the quality entering the ACT (Angle Crossing)

• Urbanisation is having minimal impact on the riverhttp://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/publications/soe/2003actreport

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/publications/soe/2003actreport



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Sites of Concern• Sites have exceeded water quality standards

on a significant number of occasions– Lake Tuggeranong (chlorophyll ‘a’,turbidity)– Point Hut Pond (turbidity)

– Lake Ginninderra (turbidity)– Lake Burley Griffin, East Basin (chlorophyll ‘a’)





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Lake Burley Griffin• Lake receives poor quality water

– Molonglo River catchment– Sullivans Creek– Jerrabomberra Creek

• Bacterial levels intermittently exceed guideline values

• Algal alerts often issued for different parts of the lake






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Lake Ginninderra• Water quality monitored at two sites– (1) inflow of Ginninderra Creek (2) dam wall– Water considered to be of high quality





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Lake Tuggeranong• Water quality monitored at two sites– (1) Kambah wetland, near the northern inflow (2)

dam wall– Trends show water quality improving





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Point Hut Pond• Poorest water quality site in the ACT

• Water quality improving as urbanisation concludeshttp://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/publications/soe/2007actreport




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Gungahlin Pond• Water quality being

limited by urbanisation



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Rivers & Creeks• Health of the rivers & creeks is improving• Rivers & creeks have been stressed by major

events

• Some rivers & creeks are showing strong resilience• Urbanisation expected to cause ongoing problems

http://reports.envcomm.act.gov.au/actsoe2011/


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Any questions?

Ecology and Heritage PartnersNatural and Cultural Heritage Consultants

Melbourne Geelong Brisbane Adelaide Canberra Phone (03) 9377 0100

Visit our website for further information www.ehpartners.com.au

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Rivers, creek, lakes & ponds 2015 Richard Sharp Presentation

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