Aquatic biological survey of Pencil Pine Creek: Spring-Summer 2011/12

A survey of the status of instream biota of Pencil Pine Creek, Cradle Valley, is being conducted annually to monitor the effects of discharge of wastewater from the new Cradle Mountain Water (CMW) wastewater treatment plant, collection and discharge system (Figure 1) which now releases treated water to Pencil Pine Creek.

This document describes the approach, methods and results of the stream biota survey conducted in each of spring (November) 2011 and summer (January) 2012. The survey is collects data to assess the status and condition of instream biota – benthic macroinvertebrates and aquatic algae – at sites adjacent to and downstream of the proposed new discharge point in Pencil Pine Creek (i.e. receiving water sites). Two reference sites are also sampled to provide reference/control data against which to assess changes in Pencil Pine Creek.