Healthy Catchments

This page contains the following sections
	Understanding Catchments • Healthy Catchments Resources • Water Quality Resources • Water Quantity Resources • Biodiversity Resources • Activities • Who Can Help?

How are catchment environments interconnected from the top of the watershed to the sea?
How is the health of ecological communities in catchments linked to the quality and quantity of water flowing through the system?
How does the quality of water in a natural catchment depend on the interactions between physical, chemical and biological processes?
Ecological communities across catchments are adapted to natural water flow patterns, whether it is in arid, tropical, temperate or any other climatic region. Why does the healthy functioning of catchments rely on appropriate flow patterns for any given region?
What role do diverse ecological communities have in maintaining the quality of water in catchments?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- What is Water Quality? - Colour cartoon poster to print. - Includes sketches and brief descriptions of water quality.	United States Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/outreach/poster5/Poster5.html
	- The State of Health of the Mt Lofty Ranges. - Covers the issues involved and demonstrates improvements being made.	EPA - The Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office http://www.dehaa.sa.gov.au/epa/pdfs/fact2.pdf
	- The State of Health of the Mt Lofty Catchment. - Aquatic ecosystems in the Mt Lofty Ranges. - Looks at macroinvertebrates, vertebrates, fish and frogs. Clear summary of the issues. - PDF download worth the wait.	EPA - The Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office http://www.dehaa.sa.gov.au/epa/pdfs/fact3.pdf
	- The Murray-Darling Catchment Before Europeans. - Overview of the environment.	National Museum of Australia http://www.nma.gov.au/education/ann/game4info.htm
	- Without Water We Cannot Live. - Poster with a message about healthy water and why water is important. - Open the links at the bottom of the poster for more information.	Kids for Saving Earth http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org/water/water1.htm
	- A Fact Sheet On Water Quality. - Summary of main issues.	United States Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/fs-027-01/
	- The Interconnectedness of Land and Sea. - Brief description covering the main issues.	The Coast Kit http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/coasts/coastkit/ch1/
More Comprehensive	- Catchment plans give an overview of the central themes of catchment health. - Navigate through the Catchment Board websites and look at catchment plans.	SA Catchment Water Management Boards http://www.catchments.net/
	- The system of interconnected water bodies.	NSW EPA Backgrounder http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/bw/ bw_1.htm#bw_1_h003
	- Catchments Affect the Coast. - Brief and succinct summary of the issues.	The Coast Kit: Human Use of the Coast http://exwb01.nre.vic.gov.au/coasts/coastkit/ ch2/resource.htm#2.141
	- What Makes Up a Healthy Catchment? - Work your way around the site to find interesting maps, explanations and environmental monitoring strategies.	Healthy Waterways Qld EPA http://www.healthywaterways.org/

What role does water play in shaping physical and chemical processes in the environment?
How do these processes interact with plants, animals and other living things to maintain water quality?
What are the unique characteristics and roles of wetlands, rivers, estuaries, creeks, lakes and ponds that maintain water quality?
What role does vegetation play in water quality?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- A Fact Sheet on Water Quality. - Summary of main issues.	United States Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/fs-027-01/
	- Catchments and Water Quality. - PDF download with summary of main issues.	Natural Resources and Mines (Qld Government) http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/factsheets/pdf/water/ W72web.pdf
	- State of the Environment 2000. - Summary of water quality issues.	NSW EPA http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/cw/ cw_waterquality.htm#cw_waterquality_h035
	- How pollution from agriculture affects water quality.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/section1/1-27.htm
	- Comprehensive look at water quality in the Murray.	River Murray Urban Users http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/
	- Industry/Urban Pollution Affecting Water Quality.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/section1/1-28.htm
	- Clean Water - Life Depends On It!	Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/manage/poll/e_life.htm
More Comprehensive	- What is Water Quality? - Broad overview of major issues.	EPA NSW http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/envirom/waterqual.htm
	- Water Quality. - Comprehensive review of main water quality issues in the Murray catchment.	Murray-Darling Basin Commission http://www.mdbc.gov.au/education/encyclopedia/ water_quality.htm
	- Water quality and pollution.	US Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS/fs-027-01/
	- Causes of poor water quality set out in an easy to read table format.	The Upper Parramatta River Trust http://www.uprct.nsw.gov.au/water_quality/facts/ causes_of_poor_wq.htm
	- 14 good reasons to care for rivers. - Includes overall water quality and others.	Land and Water Australia http://www.rivers.gov.au/training/ ramblers/rivram_reasons_goodreasons.htm

When and how does water flow through the environment?
What source does the water come from?
How are catchment environments shaped by the amount and natural flow of water through the environment?
How are ecosystems shaped by the flow of water?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- Natural Water Flows. - A thorough introduction to water for the environment.	Environment Australia http://www.ea.gov.au/water/rivers/nrhp/flows.html#flows
	- Environmental Flows Fact Sheets. - Comprehensive summary of environmental flow issues.	NCC Water and Fisheries http://www.nccnsw.org.au/water/context/flows_fs.html
	- Comprehensive look at flows in the Murray River.	River Murray Urban Users http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/river_flows.htm
	- Is Flooding Good or Bad? - All about floodplains and why they are important.	River Murray Urban Users http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/floodplains.htm
More Comprehensive	- Environmental Flows in the Murray River.	Murray-Darling Basin Commission http://www.mdbc.gov.au/naturalresources/ policies_strategies/projectscreens/flowproject.htm
More Comprehensive	- Why Flows Are Important. - Covers the main issues in NSW.	NSW EPA http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/cw/ cw_flows.htm
More Complex	- Comprehensive look at the issue of environmental flows.	Inland Rivers Network http://www.nccnsw.org.au/member/wetlands/news/ media/19991118_EFpaper.html
More Complex	- Environmental Flows in the Murray River.	Murray-Darling Basin Commission http://www.mdbc.gov.au/naturalresources/ policies_strategies/projectscreens/flowproject.htm

What is biodiversity and why is it important?
What adaptations do plants, animals and other organisms have to live and interact in aquatic environments?
How diverse is Australia's biodiversity in our aquatic ecosystems?
What is the role of Native vegetation in the environment?
The way in which the whole environment in and around waterways functions including flood plains (riparian zone)
How do the unique and biodiverse environments (such as rivers, creeks, wetlands, coastal, estuaries, mangroves and arid areas) function? What role does biodiversity play in the overall ecological health of catchments?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- Summary of the main issues of creek and river habitats, including sketches and a habitat survey guide. - The PDF download is lengthy, but worth the wait.	Water and Rivers Commission WA http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au/public/waternotes/pdf/8.pdf
	- Biodiversity - State of the Environment 1996. - A summary of key issues for biodiversity in Australia.	Environment Australia http://www.ea.gov.au/soe/2001/key-findings/ biodiversity.html
	- Introduction to Biodiversity of Waterways. - Includes some pictures to copy and use.	Qld Government Resource Net http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/education/ modules/primary/primarybiodiversity/ biodiversity_of_waterwaysi.html
More Comprehensive	- State of Environment Report 2000. - A comprehensive summary of aquatic biodiversity.	NSW EPA http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/cb/ cb_aquaticbiodiversity.htm
	- Biodiversity Management Issues Brochures. - Thorough and informative covering all the main biodiversity issues.	NRE VIC http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/cm_da/ nrenpa.nsf/frameset/ NRE Plants and Animals?OpenDocument
	- The Murray River is a Biodiversity Jungle.	Environment Australia http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/ articles/billabong.html
	- Biological Indicators. - A succinct summary.	NSW EPA http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/cw/ cw_5.2.htm

Band	Activity	Contact
Early Years	- What About Catchments? - Sandpit activity.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch Curriculum Resource http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/
	- Act a Catchment. - Hands on activity.	Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board http://www.onkaparinga.net/caring/ waterwatch.shtml#catch
	- Act a Catchment. - Is your catchment up-the-creek?	North Adelaide Barossa Waterwatch http://www.nab.waterwatch.org.au/
Primary Years	- What is a Catchment? - Explanation and web interactives.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/section1/1-01.htm
	- For maps, definitions, plans, community projects and local catchment information.	SA Catchment Water Management Boards http://www.catchments.net/
	- Catchment Crusaders. - Interactive web activity.	KESAB Watercare Club http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/interactive/cc/index.htm
	- What About Catchments? - Sandpit activity.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch Curriculum Resource http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/
	- Act a Catchment. - Hands on activity.	Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board http://www.onkaparinga.net/caring/ waterwatch.shtml#catch
	- Act a Catchment. - Is your catchment up-the-creek?	North Adelaide Barossa Waterwatch http://www.nab.waterwatch.org.au/
	- The River Murray Story. - Classroom session looking at catchments and land uses. - Follows a story about the river as it travels from the source to the sea. - Offered in Upper and Lower Murray Regions.	River Murray Waterwatch http://www.sa.waterwatch.org.au/catchmen.htm http://www.lm.net.au/~sacare/waterwatch/index.html
Middle Years	- Catchment Crusaders. - Interactive web activity. - Many interactive activities to explore catchments.	KESAB Watercare Club http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/interactive/cc/index.htm
	- For maps, definitions, plans, community projects and local catchment information.	SA Catchment Water Management Boards http://www.catchments.net/
	- Map and interactive tour of the Murray- Darling Basin.	Murray Darling Basin Commission http://www.mdbc.gov.au/tour/tour.htm
Senior Years	- Catchment Crusaders. - Interactive web activity. - Many interactive activities to explore catchments.	KESAB Watercare Club http://www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/interactive/cc/index.htm
Senior Years	- For maps, definitions, plans, community projects and local catchment information.	SA Catchment Water Management Boards http://www.catchments.net/

Organisation	Who Can Help?
Catchment Water Management Boards across the State	Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Arid Areas Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Eyre Peninsula Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): North Adelaide & Barossa Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Torrens Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Patawalonga Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): River Murray Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): South East
Community Action: Local Action Planning Committees	Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): River Murray
Waterwatch SA	Waterwatch State Office Waterwatch: Broughton Wakefield Waterwatch: KESAB Patawalonga & Torrens Waterwatch: North Adelaide & Barossa Waterwatch: Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network Waterwatch: River Murray (Upper) Waterwatch: River Murray (Lower) Waterwatch: South East
Our Patch/Catchment Care	Our Patch - Patawalonga and Torrens CWMBs Our Patch - Onkaparinga CWMB Catchment Care - North Adelaide and Barossa Catchment Water Management Board (CWMB)
Urban Forest Biodiversity Program	Urban Forest Biodiversity Program
Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office	Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office
Gould League	Gould League