Home | Water | Water Quality & Ecology | Algae | 2008

Council monitored the Porters Creek and Bamarang Dam water catchments again this reporting period for the presence of algal blooms and algae levels. The monitoring in these catchments revealed no significant levels of blue green algae or other algae species.

In the unlikely event that potentially toxic blue-green algae increases to critical levels in any of Shoalhaven's drinking supplies, a Contingency Plan has been established to ensure that a safe water supply is maintained to consumers at all times.

Kangaroo Valley water supply has the potential to have high cell counts of blue-green algae which were first identified through the water monitoring efforts of Council in 1997. Since 2001, blue-green algae monitoring in Kangaroo Valley has been undertaken by the Sydney Catchment Authority with sampling closely linked to the water transfers between Fitzroy Falls Reservoir, Bendeela Pondage and Lake Yarrunga. During the reporting period levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae species were below incident levels.

Graph 40 and 41 shows that the blue green algae levels in Bendeela Pondage and at Lake Yarrunga have remained relatively constant from 2005 to 2008 with blue-green algae levels decreasing during the winter months.

Results of algal monitoring in Kangaroo Valley 2005/2008

Graph 40 - Blue Green Algal Testing Bendeela Pondage Kangaroo Valley

Graph 41 - Blue Green Algal Testing Lake Yarrunga Kangaroo Valley

Home | Water | Water Quality & Ecology | Algae | 2008