RESULTS
Experimental Site 3
Site: Five Mile Brook Constitution Street and Adam Road
Water Test |
Results |
June 2005
|
September 2006
|
April 2007 |
|
Constit. St |
Constit. St |
Constit. St |
Adam Rd |
Nitrate mg/L
|
- |
- |
2.33 |
1.496 |
Phosphate mg/L
|
- |
- |
0.28 |
0.720 |
Ammonia mg/L
|
- |
- |
0.04 |
0.108 |
pH
|
- |
- |
7.35 |
7.13 |
Salinity ppk
|
- |
- |
0.28 |
0.64 |
Conductivity ms/cm 3 |
- |
- |
0.52 |
1.10 |
Turbidity
|
- |
- |
10 |
<10 |
Macro Invertebrate Sampling in Water Sites in Bunbury City
Water Condition Index |
Water Body Quality Rating |
19 or less |
Poor |
20 - 34 |
Fair |
35 - 49 |
Good |
50 or more |
Excellent |
Site: Five Mile Brook Constitution Street
Species sampled |
Sensitivity Rating |
Constitution Street
June 2005 |
Adam Rd
September 2006 |
Adam Rd
April 2007 |
Dragonfly larvae |
6 |
- |
6 |
Water mites |
- |
5 |
- |
Beetle larvae |
- |
4 |
- |
Beetle coleoptera |
- |
- |
3 |
Bugs (water boatmen) |
3 |
- |
3 |
Daphnia/ water fleas |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Cyclops |
3 |
- |
- |
Freshwater shrimp |
- |
- |
- |
Flatworm |
- |
- |
3 |
Ostracods |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Amphipods |
- |
3 |
3 |
Water Snails |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Fly larvae |
- |
- |
2 |
Midgie larvae |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Aquatic earthworms |
1 |
- |
- |
Macroinvertebrate
Water condition |
20 Fair |
22 Fair |
30 Fair |
Vertebrates |
Gambusia |
Gambusia |
Gambusia |
Ducks |
Ducks |
- |
- |
Long necked turtle |
- |
 |
Clearing out rubbish and trimming grass at Five Mile Brook at Constitution Street. |
Water Index Rating for Test Sites
Site: Five Mile Brook
Date |
Water Index Rating |
Star Rating Guide |
June 2005 |
× × × Gambusia |
Wetland is in reasonable condition now. Keep monitoring it |
March 2006 |
× × × Gambusia
|
Wetland is in reasonable condition now. Keep monitoring it |
April 2007 |
× × × Gambusia
|
Wetland is in reasonable condition now. Keep monitoring it |
 |
 |
Shopping trolleys, bikes, blinds and car engines were some of the items removed. |
Clearing out rubbish from Five Mile Brook near Adam Road. |
 |
 |
The area alongside the hockey stadium was cleaned out by students. |
Litter accumulates along the length of Five Mile Brook, much from drains emptying into the creek. |
Conclusion
The main concern with Five Mile Brook is the amount of rubbish finding its way into the water. There are many drains emptying storm water into the creek. This is the source of litter such as plastic bottles and food wrappers. However there is also a large proportion of household refuse which has been discarded into the creek. Hopefully our Habitat signs will inform people that the creek is a valued ecosystem. The City Council has also made a great contribution by cleaning out sections and revegetating banks near Adam Road and Hay Park .
In spite of the litter, our water sampling has indicated the presence of sensitive macro invertebrates, but their numbers aren’t high. Tadpoles and long necked turtles are still seen swimming in the creek. The high number of gambusia remain a concern. Our regular trapping collects many but they are proliferic breeders and can tolerate poor water conditions and higher salinity than the Western Pygmy Perch and Western Minnow.
The aquatic plants are plentiful along the creek and they provide a good habitat for the development of juvenile fish.
We have released Western Pygmy Perch and Western Minnow into Five Mile Brook in 2006 and 2007. Because of its flow and length we do not expect to recapture any in the near future but will continue to release the fish and sample in summer when the water flow slows.
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Sign at Constitution Street of Five Mile Brook |
|
Sign at Adam Road of Five Mile Brook |
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