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?
(Click here for our Brochure)​

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
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                           Clean Up Australia Day Event
When:  Tuesday 2 March 2021
Time:    8am to 11:30am                               
Where:  Meet at the old sailing club site on Wharf Road, Nowra
BYO:      Water bottle, hat, gloves and old shoes which may get wet.
The working bee will be followed by the usual barbecue lunch at the old Sailing Club site

​​For more working bee information please email:  shoalhavenriverwatch@gmail.com

For other events please see our Calendar.

Nursery Working Bee

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Riverwatch working bee at our mangrove nursery. We were delighted that founding life member, Charlie Weir was able to attend the working bee and entertain the group with his stories of the river.

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.

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.

PFAS contamination:
​EPA issues fish consumption warning for Shoalhaven River

USA Toxics Action Centre Video "What is PFAS and What Can You Do About It"
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.  See
EPA Investigation Summary and Dietary Advice.
​For further information see:
22Apr20 HMAS Albatross and Jervis Bay Range might be included in PFAS class actions
EPA Website: 100,000 litres of PFAS discharged into Shoalhaven River.
ABC TV News Video: Chemical Fears Shoalhaven River.
ABC News Item: Authorities tight-lipped over PFAS -contaminated water release into Shoalhaven River.
EPA Issues Fish Consumption Warning for Shoalhaven River
South Coast Register News Article

Should you have any queries about PFAS at HMAS Albatross 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

NSW Rivers & Dams Information

Links to the following sites with useful information:
Shoalhaven Water Snapshot
South Coast Rainfall and River Conditions.
Greater Sydney Dam Levels.
Greater Sydney Environmental Flows.
NSW Dam & River Levels Website.
Water NSW Real Time Data Website.
SCA Water Licences & Approvals Package 2012.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology Water Data Online Website.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology NSW Rain & River Data.
Shoalhaven River Water Quality Website.
Shoalhaven Estuary Characteristics Website.
Water Sharing Plan 2011 (SeePart 6)

Citizen of the Year – Shoalhaven Medal Recipient: Peter Jirgens

Peter has been an outstanding volunteer in the Shoalhaven for over twenty five years, in a number of community based organisations. 
This nomination covers his activities with the Cambewarra Rate Payers Association, Tapitalee Creek Landcare, Shoalhaven Riverwatch and the Shoalhaven Landcare Fox Control Program. 
Peter has been an active volunteer throughout the Cambewarra Village area over many years with planting of many trees, providing engineering advice and assistance with the construction of walking tracks, bridges and playground equipment. 
As a life-long resident in the region, Peter brings a deep commitment and understanding to the environmental impact of development and how to implement sustainability practices. 
He has shown exceptional leadership in both his work as an engineer, establishing Jirgens Civil and his time in volunteer-based roles. 
Find out more about the Shoalhaven Australia Day Awards 2021 winners: https://bit.ly/36ca7uA

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.

Riverwatch supports Council in Cigarette Butt CleanUp

Shoalhaven City Council’s Rangers are working to combat Cigarette Butt Litter in collaboration with the Riverwatch community group and Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO). ​

Clean Up Australia Day 2020

Thanks to all those who attended the Clean up Australia Day for 2020. We had a great day cleaning up the river with 25 volunteers collecting a mountain of rubbish. See Press Release

Our Sponsors

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Shoalhaven Riverwatch are proud that we receive sponsorship from North Nowra Friendly Grocer and the North Nowra Mountain Side Meats Butchery to supply food for our working bee BBQs. 
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​If anyone is interested in sponsoring Riverwatch, please contact us on our Contact Us webpage.

Blue Carbon &
​Value of Mangroves

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 store up to 50 times more carbon than their terrestrial counterparts and stores the carbon for millions of years, rather than simply for the lifespan of trees.
For more information and videos see:
Introduction to Mangroves
Why are Mangroves Important
Saltmarsh is Important
The Blue Carbon Initiative
Mangrove Watch. A new monitoring program that partners mangrove scientists and community participants.
ABC 7:30 Report with Dr Peter Macreadie.
Also check out our Publication Page on more articles and our Education Page.

Healthy Estuaries, Healthy Oysters - Australia's Oyster Coast

Aerial Videos

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 Riverwatch has been utilising the use of drone aerial videos of our work.
The videos give a different perspective to our work.
For the videos see our Nikon ImageSpace website.
Note that the videos are in an AVI format to reduce size. 
Replay Resolution maybe affected and the files are large.

Shoalhaven Favourite Walks Website.
Updated on: 11Feb21
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.