Waterwatch in the Mary River Catchment

For more than 24 years, the MRCCC Waterwatch program has relied on dedicated citizen scientists to collect valuable water quality data throughout the Mary River Catchment. This extensive monitoring provides detailed baseline information on the physical and chemical characteristics of waterways, alongside assessments of riparian and instream conditions. Volunteers also record observations of aquatic fauna such as platypus and turtles, document the presence of water weeds, and report on general river flow conditions.
Currently, nearly 80 volunteers are actively sampling at 103 sites across 81 waterways within the Mary River Catchment As a result, the MRCCC’s Waterwatch database continues to expand, offering members, stakeholders, and the broader community a comprehensive record of water quality across the catchment. The program is generously supported by Noosa Shire Council (NSC), Sunshine Coast Council (SCC), and Gympie Regional Council (GRC).
The transition of this long-term dataset to the Statewide Water Information Management (SWIMS) database, in partnership with the Queensland Water Directorate (QLDwater), highlights the remarkable scale of the data collected. Data collection is further supported by community organisations such as HQPlantations, operating in the Toolara and Imbil forestry areas, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). Sampling crews now operate from QPWS Kenilworth at Booloumba Creek campgrounds, Charlie Moreland and Little Yabba Creek, QPWS Maleny at Mapleton National Park, Kondalilla National Park, and QPWS Gympie, including Amamoor State Forest, Mother Mountain Rock Pools and Glastonbury Creek campground. Together, these combined efforts provide a wide understanding of water quality across the region’s diverse River and tributories.
Coordinating the distribution of water testing kits represents a significant logistical achievement, made possible by the suppozxcvbnm,./rt of local individuals and businesses. MRCCC extends sincere thanks to B&H Rural Tiaro, BOS Rural Kandanga, Amamoor Store, Barung Landcare, Ottiam Realty Mapleton, Conondale Store, and Kenilworth Garage for their ongoing assistance in storing and transporting testing kits for volunteers.
Funding from Noosa Shire Council, Sunshine Coast Council, and Gympie Regional Council remains vital for the purchase, maintenance, and calibration of equipment, volunteer coordination, data entry, analysis, and report production — all essential to the continued success of the MRCCC Waterwatch program.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all Waterwatch volunteers for their time, dedication, and support over the past year. Special recognition goes to those long-term volunteers who have consistently contributed to the program and continue to advocate for its importance, including Garth Jacobson and Leslie and Craig Hansen, Waterwatch Committee delegates. A sincere thank you and acknowledgement to our retiring volunteers who have also contributed to the success of the waterwatch program and wish you all the very best for the future.

Waterwatch Network	Creeks Monitored
Tinana	Big Sandy Creek, Coondoo Creek, Hines Creek, Ross Creek, Sandy Creek, Tagigan Creek, Tinana Creek, Ulirrah Creek, Wolvi Creek, Yards Creek
East Gympie	Deep Creek, Mary River, Peter and Paul Watton Gully, Six Mile Creek, Woondum Creek
West Gympie	Calico Creek, Eel Creek, Pie Creek, Three Mile Creek,
Kenilworth	Belli Creek, Coolabine Creek, Coonoon Gibber Creek, Mary River, Oakey Creek, Walli Creek
Upper Mary	Booloumba Creek, Bridge Creek, Fryers Creek South, Little Yabba Creek, Lobster Creek, Mary River, Obi Obi Creek, Scrub Creek, Skene Creek,
Tiaro	Deep Creek, Fay Smith Wetlands, Gutchy Creek, Mary River, Munna Creek, Ooramera Creek, Saltwater Creek at Aldershot, Spring Creek, Tanyalba Creek, Ululah Lagoon
Imbil to Amamoor	Amamoor Creek, Araucaria Creek, Caseys Creek, Coles Creek, Derrier Creek, Kandanga Creek, Mary River, Traveston Creek, Yabba Creek
Widgee & Wide Bay	Fat Hen Creek, Mary River, Wide Bay Creek, Wonga Creek,
Munna	Calgoa Creek, Chinamans Gully, Dry Creek, Eel Creek, Munna Creek, Sandy Creek, Teebar Creek

Waterwatch statistics throughout the past 20 years:

248 individuals, families and businesses have volunteered their time to support water quality monitoring in the Mary River Catchment
15,008 water samples collected throughout the catchment
740 sites were sampled at least once
232 streams were monitored
71,101 data points were recorded

2021 Waterwatch Results

Click here to view an interactive map showing the location of the sites that have been monitored by our dedicated Waterwatch volunteers throughout the year. View information for each site and download individual report cards by clicking on the markers. The site markers are colour-coded according to the site’s overall grade in 2021.

You can also search for a particular Waterwatch site by typing its site code into the map’s search box.

Waterbugs in the Mary

The SMALLEST critters can tell us MASSIVE amounts of information about waterway health.

Click here to access the link to the Waterbug identification sheet. You can also click on the following links to access the survey form and for more information about Waterbugs.

Waterbug Survey Form

Freshwater Macroinvertebrates and Where You Might Find Them

ALT Key to Macroinvertebrates

Click on the link for information about the Waterbug Blitz.

Click here to access the Waterbug Blitz training video.

For more information, call Shona on 07 5482 4766 or email shona.sengstock@mrccc.org.au