Recent research has shown that with adequate professional support community-based water monitoring can reliably contribute to professional datasets. The SA Murray-Darling Basin region’s Waterwatch program is one of the longest running citizen science programs in South Australia and has engaged the community in catchment management through data collection since the 1990s. Since this time it has worked hard to ensure the data is fit for purpose, with adequate data quality protocols. However, Waterwatch has continued to suffer from the perception by many scientists that water quality and macroinvertebrate data collected by volunteers is unreliable.
To assuage these fears, a new Waterwatch model has been developed in consultation with government researchers, policy makers, and local catchment groups to ensure the data collected is useful for scientific analysis and policy decision making. A key component is the twice yearly Waterbug Bioblitzes, held across multiple catchments and wetlands, in which macroinvertebrate sampling and water quality measurements are undertaken by volunteers with scientists alongside to verify results.
This Waterwatch project is particularly important for: education- imparting knowledge so community knows and cares about catchment management issues; community engagement- especially in conjunction with potentially controversial government water policies; and data collection and research- for long term monitoring and other freshwater research purposes.
Strong partnerships and open communication with scientists and community members is key to restoring faith in Waterwatch and creating a sustainable catchment management model for the future.