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February 2026: Chemical, Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Analysis
- Alison Loxton
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
Hi everyone
I trust you are all keeping as well as you can and enjoying life and good health.
Please find attached the results of our Water Quality Monitoring for the month of February, 2026.
As this is saltwater month plus Waterhen Lake, we examined water quality in the saltwater sections of the Coomera River.
Points of interest are as follows:
Salinity is about average with salinity reducing as progress upstream – salinity at Paradise Point is about 34 parts per thousand (ppt), with only 12.89 ppt at the weir. Interestingly Regatta Waters is higher than the adjacent river at 26 or so ppt.
pH varies between salt and freshwater however no more than normal
Regatta Waters now contains good evidence of fish life, with some large stingrays up to 1.5m across, and significant numbers of mullet. I have been asked about sharks however there is no evidence of sharks inhabiting the lake
There were significant levels of phosphates in the waters of Santa Barbara and the Watersports Centre: Santa Barbara most likely due to stormwater drainage adjacent to the sample site coming from fertilized gardens in that vicinity, and at Regatta Waters a similar problem with stormwater runoff from gardens. People probably should use less fertilizer – less is best
Waterhen Lake is looking mostly good except for the eastern end where contaminant levels are still high: there is no algal bloom at present which is great news, and the egrets are still breeding there. The water in most parts has a growing clarity; let’s hope that continues.
Just a reminder our next planting at Regatta Waters Park will take place on the 11th April, 2026 and you are most welcome to attend. Details will be provided in another week or so.
Kindest regards to you all
Steven Gill
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