Dairy for Healthy Estuaries

The Dairy for Healthy Estuaries project is working to reduce nutrient runoff and leaching from dairy farms and improve the water quality of our estuaries. The project is led by Western Dairy in partnership with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and is supported by catchment groups and dairy … Read More

Estuary monitoring and condition

Scientific monitoring of estuary condition is an important part of effectively managing our estuaries. Long-term data allows us to evaluate management actions being implemented as well as the condition and response of our estuaries to typical seasonal weather patterns, atypical events such as summer floods, and shifts in climate. Data … Read More

Capacity building

Restoring and protecting the health of our estuaries is only possible if people with the right skills, knowledge and experience work together. Healthy Estuaries WA is designed to support training and employment opportunities for regional communities; increase community knowledge and engagement surrounding waterway health; and provide the framework for collaborative … Read More

Seagrass monitoring

Seagrass meadows are an important part of estuarine ecosystems, providing habitat and food for birds and marine life and contributing to good water and sediment quality. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s seagrass team currently monitors the distribution, abundance and health of seagrasses in four estuaries. Understanding the condition … Read More

Yakamia Creek Rehabilitation

The Regional Estuaries Initiative and Healthy Estuaries WA partner with South Coast Natural Resource Management to engage and educate landholders along Yakamia Creek in riparian protection work to improve water quality and habitat for native fish. South Coast NRM has been holding workshops with local school children, landholders and community … Read More

Investment planning for catchment actions

Monitoring data, estuary models and catchment models developed by the Regional Estuaries Initiative underpin recommended management actions to protect and improve water quality. Water quality improvement plans outline which catchment management actions will drive the biggest improvement in water quality, taking into consideration cost, feasibility and community values. Where water … Read More

Catchment monitoring and condition

Understanding the quality of water entering an estuary from each subcatchment allows us to recognise the source of high concentrations and loads of nutrients. The data is also used to construct catchment models which estimate the impact of different land uses and predict the effect of different land use and … Read More

Soil improvers

Soil amendments are products that increase the ability of soils or drain sediments to retain phosphorus (known as their phosphorus retention capacity). The Regional Estuaries Initiative has developed partnerships with farmers and local governments to trial soil amendments targeting high phosphorus loss areas in drains, urban sporting fields and paddocks … Read More

Phosphorus binding clay

Healthy Estuaries WA is investigating the effectiveness of a newly developed clay that binds phosphorus making it unavailable for algae growth. As part of the project, scientists are running several trials across the Peel-Harvey and Vasse-Wonnerup catchments in parallel with detailed laboratory testing. Trials in the Vasse-Wonnerup  catchment are being … Read More

Fencing and revegetation

Fencing stock out of waterways and revegetating the foreshore area is important for the environment and is an opportunity to increase farm productivity. By fencing and revegetating your waterways, you can keep nutrients on the farm, improve stock health, and manage grazing more efficiently. Together with catchment groups, community members … Read More