Report Card Autumn 2024
The Richmond River catchment faces persistent challenges impacting its ecological health as highlighted by the recurring C- grade in the RREHP report card. The lower catchment areas exhibit reduced water quality and limited macroinvertebrate diversity, while the upper catchment zones with comparatively better water quality still face issues of compromised aquatic habitats. Notable improvements have been observed in specific sites such as Coopers Creek, Lynches Creek, and Websters Creek at Stoney Chute, attributed to the presence of more sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa. However, concerns persist across the catchment, with citizen scientists reporting poor bank and bed conditions, particularly in the Upper Richmond and Wilsons catchment areas.
Heavy rainfall during sampling resulted in several sites not being sampled due to unsafe conditions for sampling due to high water. The rainfall and high streamflow. caused short-term disruptions to the natural balance in stream ecosystems with high flows dislodging macroinvertebrates, disturbing habitats, and leading to a reduction in the number of macroinvertebrates collected.
For more detailed information, please refer to the full report.
Report Card Spring 2023
The recurring C- grade in the second RREHP report card echoes the challenges identified in the initial assessment, reflecting persistent issues in the catchment's ecological river health. Lower catchment sites continue to show poor water quality and low macroinvertebrate diversity, while even upper catchment areas with relatively better water quality exhibit low diversity, indicating widespread compromised aquatic habitat. The impact of significant flooding events in February 2022, leading to landslides and a legacy sediment load, poses ongoing risks to aquatic health and exacerbates the ecological challenges faced by the Richmond River catchment.
Sampling riparian condition, water quality and river health using macroinvertebrates the Richmond River Ecological Health Program was created to provide publicly available ongoing riparian and ecological river health information for the Richmond River and its waterways and catchment. Thanks to funding by a Southern Cross University VC Flood Recovery Grant and support from the Richmond Riverkeeper Association and River Ecology Australia. The first sampling campaign was completed in May 2023 by our 11 trained citizen science groups.
