Monitoring resources
Queensland community waterway monitoring manual (2007)
This comprehensive resource provides advice to community-based groups on all aspects of waterway monitoring from planning through to carrying out a monitoring project. It will be especially useful to groups wanting to collect high quality data for use by others. The monitoring methods outlined in the manual cover water quality, waterbug and stream condition and habitat assessment.
The manual is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the following resources:
- Monitoring plan tool for community-based waterway monitoring;
- A full electronic copy of the manual, including field sheets and other record sheet templates;
- Chapter 7 Spreadsheet Tool to assist with stream condition and habitat monitoring.
A copy of the Waterwatch Queensland stream quality slide is also included with each hard copy of the manual.
Monitoring plan tool for community-based waterway monitoring (2007)
This software tool is designed to assist groups to develop and document a monitoring plan. The tool guides the user through the process in an easy step-by-step manner and then automatically generates a monitoring plan report that can be shared with others. This will allow groups to easily communicate their monitoring activities with others and lead to greater confidence in the data being collected.
This tool has been designed to work in parallel with the Queensland community waterway monitoring manual. A copy of the tool is included with each manual ordered. It is also available for download.
Health and safety guidelines for community-based waterway monitoring (2006)
These guidelines have been developed to assist community groups in identifying and addressing health and safety issues associated with their waterway monitoring activities.
Download (PDF, 503 kB)*
Water bug & riparian vegetation snapshot (2003)
A series of resources have been put together to assist you to do a water bug (macro-invertebrate) 'snapshot' assessment which will give a rough indication of the health of your waterway. It is designed for those with limited experience in this type of assessment who are looking for basic monitoring techniques.
- Water bug & riparian vegetation snapshot (PDF, 370 kB)* — Instructions on how to do the snapshot.
- Water bug identification booklet (PDF, 1.04 MB)* — This booklet has been taken from the Queensland community waterway monitoring manual.
- Record sheet – basic level (PDF, 108 kB)* — Use this sheet to record which water bugs have been found in the waterway you are monitoring. It also includes a simple method for deciding how polluted the waterway is.
- Record sheet – advanced level (PDF, 102 kB)*—Use this sheet to record which macro-invertebrates have been found in the waterway you are monitoring. It also includes a method for determining the level of pollution in the waterway.
Fish snapshot guidelines (2003)
These guidelines outline standard procedures for conducting a community fish monitoring program. They describe simple, rapid techniques that can be used to assess the abundance and diversity of stream fish species within streams of the greater Brisbane area.
These guidelines were developed in collaboration between the University of Queensland, Greening Australia (Qld), Waterwatch Brisbane and Waterwatch Queensland.
Download (PDF, 135 kB)*
Brisbane fish key
A resource which supports the Fish snapshot guidelines.
Download (PDF, 56 kB)*
Monitoring resources are also available from other organisations. For more information see Other publications.
*Requires Acrobat Reader
If you experience problems downloading or ordering any of these documents, or would like further information on these resources, please contact:
Environment and Resource Sciences
Department of Environment and Resource Managment
Ph: 07 3170 5552
Email: waterwatch@derm.qld.gov.au
Last updated 17 February 2011
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