Water Quality on New England wool properties

Abstract

During the Land, Water & Wool (LWW) Northern Tablelands Project (NSW), water quality in Monitor farm dams and creeks was measured to establish a baseline for the future. This Fact Sheet reports the results of water chemistry testing, and the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates ('water bugs') on farms. (See Box for methods.) Water bugs play a central role in aquatic food webs as food for fish and birds. As they are also sensitive to pollution or unnatural fluctuations in the physical and chemical environment, they are commonly used to indicate water quality and departure from natural conditions.