Water Monitoring
Monitoring is the regular observation, measurement and evaluation of natural resources. It is possible to monitor one specific parameter or a range of parameters to detect change over time – ongoing monitoring is often necessary as many natural resources respond to changing conditions over time.
By monitoring our waterways we can obtain a picture of catchment health. Over time, monitoring can provide information on the state of our catchments, which can assist with the maintenance and rehabilitation of our waterways.
Monitoring can also:
• Screen for potential water quality problems
• Generate data to assist catchment management decision making processes
• Help to identify actions that should be taken to solve catchment health problems
• Provide learning opportunities for the local community (including schools) and encourage responsible catchment management and use
• Support and assist other monitoring programs undertaken by state agencies and local government
Monitoring that aims to collect information for natural resource management decision making requires careful planning. The following questions should be addressed:
• Why do you want to monitor the issue?
• Where do you plan to undertake the monitoring?
• When are you going to do the monitoring?
• Which method you will use to monitor?
• Who will be affected, who will be involved, and who needs to know about the project and your results?
• What data quality do you want?
• How will the data collected be stored and managed?
• How will the collected data be analysed?
• How will you communicate your results to users?
• How do you intend to make this happen eg funding sources, technical support, training requirements?
Most of these questions are addressed by the Waterwatch Water Monitoring program. Further information about his progam can be accessed via the links below, or by using the menu items on the left of the page.
Another form of monitoring that we offer is our Biological Monitoring program.