April 2025: Chemical, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Analysis

Hi everyone

Please find attached the sampling results for April, 2025.

Apologies for the late publishing of results however it has been a full and interesting month.

Sampling was difficult with lots of rain and high water levels, and lots of mud around Waterhen Lake (just ask young Helen).

In respect of the results, the following is offered by way of explanation:

Salinity – you will note that the progression of salinity upstream from Paradise Point to the Weir is erratic, with salinity at the Weir less than normally found in fresh water; not too sure why except the vast amount of dirty fresh water pouring downstream.
The physical characteristics of the water were fairly normal with a healthy level of Dissolved Oxygen in almost every sampling site; this bodes well for the creatures calling the Coomera River home. The turbidity did vary but was within reasonable limits except for Waterhen Lake where the inflow from Ruth Terrace pushed the turbidity to 236 which is high, however other readings were significantly lower than that. It should be remembered that at one stage several years ago, the turbidity approached 1,000 NTU which is truly horrendous.

The great news about Waterhen Lake is that there has been no fish deaths at all this year.

Chemical results were within normal expectations, however the Phosphate reading at the weir is higher than normal, most probably due to the aggregation of phosphate in the eddy where the readings are taken.
Waterhen Lake still has the highest chemical concentrations on average due to it being a runoff flood retention basin; this situation will not alter in the foreseeable future. If greater density of housing is permitted in the future, then water quality can only be expected to deteriorate.

Looking forward to seeing most of you at our next planting.

Kindest regards to you all and your families.

Steven Gill