Shoalhaven Riverwatch goal is to:
Improve the health of the Shoalhaven River by working in partnership with Government and the Community.​

What is Shoalhaven Riverwatch?
​

Shoalhaven Riverwatch is a group of people who care about the health and management of the Shoalhaven River.  Members of Riverwatch come from a variety of backgrounds and interests. 
​This variety allows Riverwatch to undertaken bank restoration work as well as working with Governments to improve the management of our river system.

​​Next Working Bee

PictureWorking Bee at Bamarang



​(Working Bee at Bamarang. Link to SCR Article)
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​When:  Tuesday 28 May 2019
Where: Nowra Golf Club
Time:   10am - 12:30pm
Lunch:  BBQ
We will tidy up the nursery, complete the sand sausage near the nursery, plant some mangroves and remove the last bit of fencing.
Please remember to bring water, hat, suitable footwear and sun screen. 
​​For more information please email:  shoalhavenriverwatch@gmail.com

For other events please see our Calendar.

Volunteers Wanted

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If you would like to be a Riverwatch volunteer, or just like more information about Riverwatch in the Shoalhaven, please complete the form on our Contact Us webpage.
Generally our half day working bees are held on the Shoalhaven River on a weekday and include planting mangroves, fencing and weeding. They always include a barbecue lunch.
​This social aspect is an important part of our working bees and brings together people from all walks of life.

Fish Habitat Innovation Recognition & Shoalhaven/Illawarra Muster Award

Shoalhaven Riverwatch has been recognised with a Fish Habitat Innovation Award, for its work in developing the Shoalhaven Sand Sausage at the 2017 NSW Landcare Awards.
Riverwatch has also been awarded a Champion of the Catchment award at the 2018 Shoalhaven/Illawarra Landcare Muster. 
​For more information see:
South Coast Register Article
Local Land Services Website
Landcare NSW Website
Letter from local NSW member Shelly Hancock.

Our Sponsors

PicturePeter Hanson (Shoalhaven Riverwatch), Wayne Kennedy (North Nowra Butchery) & Daniel Regnault (North Nowra Friendly Grocer) Ron Cowlishaw, Ian Bice and Peter Jirgens (Shoalhaven Riverwatch).
Shoalhaven Riverwatch are proud to announce that we have received sponsorship from North Nowra Friendly Grocer and the North Nowra Butchery to supply food for our working bee barbecue lunches.
​If anyone is interested in sponsoring Riverwatch, please contact us on our Contact Us webpage.

Shoalhaven River Information

Links to the following sites with useful information:
South Coast Rainfall and River Conditions.
Greater Sydney Dam Levels.
NSW Dam & River Levels.

Shoalhaven River rehabilitation--
​Charlie Weir, a life’s work 


​One of the founders and strong supporter of Riverwatch.
Charlie's leadership and bank restoration initiatives has saved many kilometers of Shoalhaven River banks from erosion.
Shoalhaven Rivers Catchment Management Authority Case Study link.

Blue Carbon & Value of Mangroves

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Have you heard of Blue Carbon and the carbon capture value of mangroves? 
Blue Carbon is carbon [dioxide] that is captured and stored by the oceans.
Mangroves reserves are said to capture carbon 40 times faster than rainforests and store it for millions of years, rather than simply for the lifespan of trees.
For more information and videos see:
The Blue Carbon Initiative
ABC 7:30 Video Report with Dr Peter Macreadie.
ABC 7:30 Report with Dr Peter Macreadie.
The Movement of Carbon Around the Earth's Atmosphere Explained.
ABC Gardening Australia: My Garden Path Salt Water Story.
ABC Gardening Australia: Mangroves
ABC Gardening Australia: Magic in Mangroves
​
Also check out our Publication Page on more articles.

Clean Up Australia Day 2019

Thanks to all those who attended the Clean up Australia Day for 2019. We filled up a 6m3 skip bin from rubbish collected on the Numbaa Island and along Broughton Creek.
If you want to read more, see the South Coast Article.

The Shoalhaven Sand Sausage

Shoalhaven Riverwatch has developed the Shoalhaven Sand Sausage to reduce riverbank erosion.
​The sausage is a continuous sandbag that blocks wave action undercutting the soft riverbanks thereby providing a stable area for planting mangroves and other trees.
Also check out this great video put together by ABC Illawarra about the sand sausage at Riversdale.
https://www.facebook.com/abcillawarra/videos/1583060651739782/
Sand Sausage Video 8MB
This video was taken at Longreach NSW on the Shoalhaven River showing the effectiveness of the Sand Sausage stopping the erosional impact of waves generated by a passing wakeboarding boat.
​Note that the water that does goes over the Sausage can deposit additional silt between the sausage and bank.

Healthy Estuaries, Healthy Oysters - Australia's Oyster Coast

PFAS contamination: EPA issues fish consumption warning for Shoalhaven River

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The NSW Government has released dietary advice about Luderick, Sea Mullet, Sand Whiting, Dusky Flathead and Silverbiddy fish caught in the Shoalhaven River, after testing found elevated levels of PFAS in these species. This dietary advice recommends that fishers in the local area limit their personal intake of these fish.
For further information see:
EPA Investigation Summary and Dietary Advice.
The ABC News Item.
SCR News Article.

Should you have any queries or require further information please:
 
•           Visit the project website at http://www.defence.gov.au/Environment/PFAS/Albatross/
•           Call the information line on 1800 856 491
•           Email the project team at HMAS.Albatross@aurecongroup.com
​

Aerial Videos

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 Riverwatch has been utilising the use of a drone for aerial videos of our work.
While in the initial stages, the videos give a different perspective to our work.
Some videos which may be of interest are:
Bank Restoration work at Numbaa. (7.7MB)
Bank Restoration work on Numbaa Island. (11.7MB)
For more videos see our Nikon ImageSpace website.
Note that the videos are in an AVI format to reduce size. 
Replay Resolution maybe affected.
​Full resolution videos are available upon request.
Updated on: 17May19
All care is taken to ensure the information on our website is accurate.
​Please email Riverwatch at shoalhavenriverwatch@gmail.com if there are any issues, corrections or omissions from this website.
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