Freshwater - Melbourne's Freshwater Systems & Issues


	freshwater systems of Melbourne

	Go to the freshwater directory for additional resources - 25+ subjects & 200+ links Melbourne's freshwater system is made up of complex relationships between catchments, creeks & rivers, lakes, ponds, dams, reservoirs, floodplanes, wetlands and groundwater. It also includes stormwater and wastewater. They are home to many species of native flora and fauna. Water quality, erosion and water saving are vital to the health of our freshwater systems. Go to the Edgars Creek webpage on this website. Water Subjects on this page Click on a subject below to go to the relevant links... Catchments Creeks & Rivers Wetlands Groundwater Water Saving Water Quality Erosion Environmental Law & Policy Victorian Water & Water Catchment Authority Links List of Major Creeks & Rivers of Melbourne Major Reservoirs of Melbourne Links Water Links (general) References Want to know more about a particular site, creek, river or water body? Here's a few things you could try: - Contact the relevant friends group. Go to our friends groups & NGO's page to see if a community group exists which is currently working to preserve & protect your site of interest. They are likey to have already collated quite a bit of information. - Contact your local council. Local, state & federal governments are required to care for our natural assets and they usually are great resources of information. Go to "governemnt" in the freshwater directory to find out more about governemnt. - Check out your local librarby. Go to the "Reference Bookshelf" @ Libraries Victoria to browse all libraries by subject. Or "Library Locator" to find the catalogues of your local libraries. There are also some good refrences, particularly for Melbourne's inner north & north, in the freshwater recommended reading. - Contact local historical societies. Go to "History" in the freshwater directory for more information. - Start a friends group of your own. Go to the Making Waves Project at Merri Creek Management Committee's web site for expert advise. - Contribute your stories & information to this website. Click here to find out how. A great way to get connected with others! - Use the freshwater directory - search by subjects, such as "Flora", "Indigenous Australian Communites" or "Water & Catchment Authorites". There are over 25 subjects and 200+ links to choose from. back to top » Catchments Melbourne's catchments are the high Mountain Ash forests of the Yarra Ranges. Rain clouds collect on the mountains, bringing with them rain, snow and an overall cooler & wetter climate. Water from rain melted snow soaks into the bedrock to replenish the groundwater, while also gathering on the surface into streamlets or rivulets, joining to form streams, creeks and rivers. The water is stored in lakes, reservoirs and dams. As water seeks lower ground it filters through wetlands and lastly passes estuaries to meet the bay. Melbourne is one of the world's few cities that have protected mountain catchments, which catch the rain fall and act as natural filters to fill Melbourne's stores with clean water. Click here to go to links of Melbourne's Catchments and Water Authorities. back to water subjects list » back to top » Creeks & Rivers Melbourne has many rivers and a complex network of creeks and streams connected to them. Many of our original small and seasonal creeks and streams have been transformed into belowground, concreted drains, while still connecting up to the larger system. A large percentage of our creeks and rivers have been modified, have poor waterquality, and have suffered erosion. Click here to view a list of the major creeks & rivers of Melbourne. Check out River Landscape fact sheets, "Managing Our Rivers" (Topics such as Managing Riparian Land, Streambank Stability, Improving water Quality, Maintaining In-Stream Life, Riparian Habitat for Wildlife and more...) - back to water subjects list » back to top » Wetlands Wetlands are areas of land with mostly shallow water levels. They act like filters, slowing down and cleaning water of sediment, nutrients and minerals. Wetlands are often fertile ecosystems, home to an abundance of plant and animal life, including 270 bird species. Wetlands assist in the replenishment of groundwater and in the reduction of flood impact. Wetlands are often sites of cultural and spiritual significance to indigenous Australians, such as Bolin Bolin Billabong in Bulleen is for the Wurundjeri People. They provided rich food supplies and were the meeting places for ceremonial gatherings. Man-made wetlands are often purpose-built in existing flood-prone areas to filter the stormwater, which enter associated creeks or rivers. Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants feed on the excess nutrients, such as nitrogen, thus reducing the amount that flows into creeks, rivers and eventually the sea, where it can have devastating consequences on wildlife. Check out Western Treatment Plant at Werribee to learn more about one such man-made wetland area and the vital role it plays. back to water subjects list » back to top » Groundwater The term groundwater refers to the table of water below ground level. Like the surface water it has areas where bodies of water are stored and sections of moving water. Sometimes creeks and streams seem to disappear and later reappear at lower ground level; in fact they are traveling as groundwater through the bedrock below. Check out DSE's Groundwater at the Department of Sustainability& Environment web site to learn more. back to water subjects list » back to top » Water Saving Australia is the driest continent in the world. Victoria, along with much of Australia's east, has experienced an extended period of below average rainfall. Our water stores are at about half their capacity and compulsory water restrictions are again in place throughout Melbourne. Is it a direct result of climate change? While the heated debate continues, we can all help to do our bit to save water. Click here to view a list of sites where you can find out more. back to water subjects list » back to top » Water Quality Water can become polluted by many factors such as sediment, nutrients, toxic organics, microorganisms, heavy metals, ph levels, oils and surfactants. Sadly, litter and debris left behind after flash flooding has become a far too familiar sight - and these are just the pollutants we can see. Whenever it rains water falls on covered ground that can no longer soak up and filter it. It washes over roads, residential, industrial and rural surfaces alike; collecting a mix of litter and harmful pollutants that flow into stormwater drains. These, in turn, pour into our creeks, rivers and waterways, eventually traveling out to sea. Fertilizers (used in both commercial farming and domestic gardens), sewerage overflows, animal waste and detergents have had disastrous impacts on freshwater ecosystems. The vast quantities of nutrients, such as nitrogen, that they contain have contributed to devastating outbreaks such as botulism, ecoli and bluegreen algae. The impact of pollutants from the use of motor vehicles is extensive - run off of detergents and grime from washing a car, sediments from roads and pavements, heavy metal discharge to name but a few. Spillage and illegal discharge of harmful and toxic pollutants is still a serious problem. There are many ways we can all reduce the amounts of pollutants that reach our waterways. Waterwatch - the leading community organisation on water quality. "Melbourne Waterwatch is a free river health education and monitoring program, which aims to increase community understanding, participation and ownership of local river health issues. It achieves this goal by providing a broad range of structured activities, which encourage schools and community groups to become actively involved in monitoring the health of Melbourne’s rivers, creeks and wetlands. Through monitoring, Waterwatch groups can help to identify pollution sources, determine the major issues facing their local river, creek or wetland, and establish what needs to be done at a local level to help improve its health. Melbourne Waterwatch groups include primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, community, conservation and landcare groups, corporate groups, individuals and local government representatives." Melbourne Waterwatch Click on one of the links below to find out more about Waterwatch in your area and how you or your group can get involved. Waterwatch Melbourne Waterwatch Victoria Waterwatch Australia Click here to view other Water Quality links. back to water subjects list » back to top » Erosion Sections of the banks of our creek and rivers are literally being washed away, leading to excess sedimentation building up downstream. Factors contributing to bank erosion are disturbances by human, stock animal and vehicle and the loss of indigenous plants along the banks and escarpments of our creeks, making them vulnerable to erosion. Much of the ground surface, which once would soak up water during rainfall, is now covered with concrete, roads and buildings. This results in extensive run off, which floods into already vulnerable creeks and rivers, via the stormwater system. Check out River Landscapes' "Streambank Stability Fact Sheet" to find out more. back to water subjects list » back to top » Environmental Law & Policy The Environment Defenders Office Victoria (EDO) is an independent, non-profit, community legal service, practising in public interest environmental law. The EDO's activities include: Providing the community with legal advice and representation on public interest planning and environmental matters; Developing and promoting community legal education programs; Contributing to environmental and planning law reform and policy. Contact EDO: PO Box 12123 A'Beckett Street PO Melbourne VIC 8006 (L3, The 60L Green Building, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053) (03) 8341 3100 Email: edovic@edo.org.au back to water subjects list » back to top » Victorian Water & Water Catchment Authorities Barwon Region Water Authority Central Gippsland Region Water Authority Central Highlands Region Water Authority City West Water Coliban Region Water Authority Corangamite Catchment Management Authority East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority East Gippsland Region Water Authority Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority Glenelg Region Water Authority Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Valley Region Water Authority Goulburn-Murray Water Authority Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Authority Lower Murray Water Authority Melbourne Water Corporation North Central Catchment Management Authority North East Catchment Management Authority North East Region Water Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Portland Coast Region Water Authority South East Water South Gippsland Region Water Authority South West Water Authority Southern Rural Water Sunraysia Rural Water Authority West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Western Water Westernport Region Water Authority Wimmera Catchment Management Authority Yarra Valley Water back to water subjects list » back to top » Major Creeks & Rivers of Melbourne Yarra Catchment Andersons Creek Arthurs Creek Brushy Creek Cockatoo Creek Corduroy Creek Darebin Creek Diamond Creek Edgars Creek Gardiners Creek Jumping Creek Koonung Creek Little Yarra River Merri Creek Middle and Lower Yarra Moonee Ponds Creek Mullum Mullum Creek Olinda Creek Pauls Creek Plenty River Ruffey Creek Steels Creek Stony Creek Stringybark Creek Upper Yarra river Woori Yallack Creek Watts River Watsons Creek Watts River Woori Yallock Creek Western Catchment Balcome Creek Bunyip River Cherry Creek Chinamans Creek Deep Creek Dunns Creek Kororoit Creek Lang Lang River Laverton Creek Main Creek Maribyrnong River Merricks Creek Skeleton Creek Steele Creek Tarago River Taylors Creek Toomuc Creek Warrangine Creek Watsons Creek Dandenong Catchment Blind Creek Corhanwarrabul Creek Dandenong Creek Elster Creek & Elwood Canal Eumemmerring Creek Ferny Creeks Kananook Creek Mile Creek Monbulk Creek Mordialloc Creek Patterson River Westernport & Mornington Peninsular Catchment Ararat Creek Bunyip River Cardinia Creek Deep Creek Lang Lang River South East Mornington Peninsula Waterways Toomuc Creek back to water subjects list » back to top » Major Reservoirs of Melbourne Cardinia Reservoir Greenvale Reservoir Thomson Reservoir Maroondah Reservoir O'Shannassy Reservoir Silvan Reservoir Sugarloaf Reservoir Upper Yarra Reservoir Yan Yean Reservoir back to water subjects list » back to top » Major Lakes of Melbourne Albert Park Lake Bridgewater Lakes Lake Bellfield Lake Cobbler Lake Dartmouth Lake Eildon Lake Monibeong Lake Surprise Lake Wartook Lysterfield Lake Pink Lakes Sanatorium Lake Swan Lake Tali Karng Tower Hill Lake back to water subjects list » back to top » Water Saving Links CERES Water Trail Green Plumbers Museum Victoria "Water Smart Home" Our Water Our Future Savewater Water Matters Yarra Valley Water back to water subjects list » back to top » Water Quality Links Check out what your local council is doing. Waterwatch Melbourne Waterwatch Victoria Waterwatch Australia River Landscapes "Improving Water Quality - Fact Sheet" Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Saltwatch back to water subjects list » back to top » Water Links Australian Society for Limnology Australian Water Association Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry eWater Fisheries Co-Management Council Our Water Our Future River Landscapes Victorian Water Resources Data Warehouse (State gov) Waterwatch Melbourne Waterwatch Victoria Waterwatch Australia Water Studies Centre, Monash University Yarra River & Catchments Bibliography (Monash University) Yarra River Ecological Study (CRC) Water Safety Water - Learning & Living (SA) back to water subjects list » back to top » References :: Department of Sustainability & environment "Groundwater " webpage. :: River Landscapes website. :: Melbourne Water Corporation website. back to top »
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