The rivers in the Bellingen Shire are some of the most pristine rivers in Australia. Even still, there are river health issues presenting in Bellingen Riverwatch data in many parts of the river. Let's all play our part to change this story.

Citizen scientists and the scientific community working together to collect and communicate long term data of our rivers and ecosystems to enact positive change for future generations.

Bellingen Riverwatch was created to provide consistent water quality data in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments following a disease outbreak that caused a mass death event of the Critically Endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) in early 2015. A lack of water quality data was identified by scientists and community alike as a priority focus area.

Download our full Program Information PDF here

Bellingen Riverwatch is seeking to form partnerships to support this wonderful program.

Please contact Amy on 0490 068 685 or [email protected]

The Bellingen Riverwatch community hosted Ingrid Garland (NSW Waterwatch), John Gooderham (Waterbug Blitz lead expert from Tasmania) and Cecil Ellis (aquatic ecologist from Sydney) in the Bellingen region during 15-17 September to run training workshops for the National Waterbug Blitz Project for Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers. 

Currently, Bellingen Riverwatch runs on extremely limited funding. Sustaining a highly functioning community project such as this requires adequate on-ground and administrative support to ensure that the volunteers are well supported and the partnerships are nurtured. 

By donating to Bellingen Riverwatch, you contribute to this amazing community citizen science project to be able to continue over the years and yield many great outcomes.

Citizen scientists and the scientific community working together to collect and communicate long term data of our rivers and ecosystems to enact positive change for future generations.

The rivers in the Bellingen Shire are some of the most pristine rivers in Australia. Even still, there are river health issues presenting in Bellingen Riverwatch data and other river health reports in several parts of the river.

Bellingen Riverwatch was created to provide consistent water quality data in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments following a disease outbreak that caused a mass mortality event of the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) in early 2015. Collecting scientifically valid and ongoing water quality data was identified by scientists and community alike as a priority focus area to monitor river health, identify priority areas for management actions and educate the community and landholders on the impact they may be having on their environment. 

Bellingen Riverwatch engages 40 local community citizen scientist volunteers and 5 schools to collect monthly water quality data at 30 sites every month across the Bellinger and Kalang catchments. We communicate our data with program partners and the community via our Facebook page and our free River Health Newsletter. Read more about Bellingen Riverwatch, the turtle mortality event, and the turtle recovery and conservation actions currently underway here. Bellingen Riverwatch is seeking to form partnerships to support this wonderful program into the future.

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IMPACT 

Partners

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Country on which we work, the Gumbaynggirr people of the Gumbaynggirr nation.  We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Thankyou to our first Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator, Jane Grant

This month we are farewelling our first Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator, Jane Grant and welcoming Amy Denshire as the new Riverwatch Coordinator.