Stream Condition and Water Quality

See also Statewide Stream Condition and Water Quality

Many water quality issues in the North East region are related to land use and tenure since this is the major determinant of the condition and level of disturbance. It also determines access and management arrangements applicable to a specific area within the catchment.

Photo: Post bushfire sedimenation in a tributary of the Big River near Angler's rest.
Post bushfire sedimenation in a tributary of the Big River near Angler's Rest Water quality issues in the North East include nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, eutrophication and turbidity of surface water. In general, water quality is very good in the forested areas of the North East but there is a trend for water quality to deteriorate in the lower catchments in response to land uses in non-forested areas (DWR, 1989). Meanwhile, a reduction in water quality through erosion of roads and tracks attributable to forest activities and recreational vehicle use has been identified within some areas in the North East, though it is not widespread.

(C of A and Victorian RFA Steering Committee, 1998)

Surface water quality monitoring programs are in place for Lakes Dartmouth, Buffalo and William Hovell. The Murray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) (external link) provides funds to Goulburn-Murray Water (external link) for monitoring the Murray River and major inflows on six sites. GMW has a further 16 sites on major streams, testing for a range of indicators including Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen as part of the Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network (external link). As part of the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPAs) (external link) role in the region, routine monitoring is undertaken at two sites. Bacteriological and chemical quality of some urban water supplies are regularly monitored (NECALPB, 1997).

Community water quality monitoring is undertaken by Landcare groups in the region and also by Waterwatch (external link). Waterwatch is a National Program introduced into Victoria in 1991, continues throughout the State today. It brings together schools and community groups, Landcare groups, and landowners, councils and water authorities to test the quality of their local stream or water source so that practical actions can be taken to maintain and improve water quality.

Additional information regarding Water Quality Monitoring in the Ovens River Basin (external link) is also available online. Also, a status report of the Upper North East part of the region included measuring the following parameters:

Turbidity
Suspended solids
EC
pH
Temperature

(Lanigan, 1998)

Current North East Catchment Management Authority (external link) strategies which intend to improve catchment water quality include those listed below. Summary information for some of these is available for download from the Publications section of the North East Catchment Management Authority website.

Ovens Basin Water Quality Strategy
Upper North East Water Quality Strategy
Ovens Basin Stream Restoration Plan
Waterway Action Plan for - Indigo Creek
Waterway Action Plan for - Upper Fifteen Mile Creek
Waterway Action Plan for - Morses Creek & Bakers Gully
Waterway Action Plan for - Black Dog & Whim Creeks
Mitta Mitta River Waterway Management Strategy
Waterway Action Plan for - Corryong Creek
Waterway Action Plan for - Cudgewa Creek
Waterway Action Plan for - Tallangatta Creek
Waterway Action Plan for - Tributaries of the upper Kiewa River
Waterway Action Plan for - Yackandandah & Kinchington Creeks
Waterway Action Plan for - Tributaries of the mid Kiewa River
Lower Kiewa River Stabilisation Waterway Action Plan

Related Links

Downloadable information on the EPA Victoria website
The Health Of Streams In The Ovens Catchment (external link).
The health of streams in the Ovens catchment declines from the upland forested sites to lowland riverine areas, but overall the health of streams in the catchment is reasonably good compared to many other catchments in Victoria. Generally, river health decreases with increasing distance downstream, reflecting the accumulation of impacts, higher populations and more intensive land use at lower altitudes. There are some impacts on water quality in the upper catchment from ski resorts on Mt Buffalo (and presumably the other resorts) and their associated roads and services. The majority of significant impacts however, occur in the foothills and plains where land clearing, erosion, cropping and grazing can affect river condition in a number of ways.

The Victorian Catchment Indicators Online website (external link) provides current information about the management and changing condition of Victoria's land and water resources.

Maps of the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) (external link) are available on the Victorian Water Resources Data Warehouse (external link).

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