Community groups with an interest in a local stream, wetland or river can use Ribbons of Blue/Waterwatch WA equipment, coordinators and other resources to help monitor its condition. Groundwater can also be a focus for your sampling. Ribbons of Blue has equipment and sampling procedures to enable groups to monitor:

• Physical parameters: temperature, electrical conductivity, pH and turbidity
• Chemical parameters: nitrogen and phosphorus
• Biological parameters: macroinvertebrates, and
• Conduct site assessments

Monitoring is useful to help decide what may need to be done at a particular site, evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment, or simply to gather data to help identify long-term changes in the environment.

Ribbons of Blue can also play a role in coordinating / facilitating rehabilitation projects by liaising with river restoration experts, plant nurseries, local government, and volunteer labour (such as Green Corps teams) depending on the projects' needs. We can also assist our group run a clean drains initiative.

To find out how Ribbons of Blue can help your group, contact your Regional Coordinator. If you are in an area where there is no Ribbons of Blue Coordinator, contact the State Support Team.

Ribbons of Blue / Waterwatch WA is part of the Waterwatch Australia network and can provide their products and services for use by community groups.

Related items

• Regional Coordinator
• Resources - a range of Curriculum-linked resources suited to a range of levels
• Technical Information
• Events - short-term, fun activities such as the Saltwatch and Macroinvertebrate Snapshot
• Case Studies
• Events - short-term, fun activities such as the Saltwatch and Macroinvertebrate Snapshot

“We were so interested and intrigued by what we learnt about the billabong, we were as eager as children to discover what lived below the surface”
– Crooked Brook Forest Community Group Member