The Bellinger River Snapping Turtles were almost wiped out in 2015. What is the state of health of their home catchment today ?
"Water quality testing on the Bellinger, Kalang and Never Never Rivers earlier in January found elevated phosphate and low levels of dissolved oxygen at 9 out of 15 sites.
A combination of low rainfall, hot weather and nutrient run-off from fertilizers and animal waste (including humans).
The Australian standard is for available phosphate levels to be under 0.06mg/L but water testing near Gleniffer Hall on Tuesday revealed current levels are 0.37mg/L, which is six times higher." (Post-holiday season 'tourist drive' without toilets?)
Riverwatch testing finds high phosphate levels, The Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, 14.02.2019
Bellinger Landcare Inc
Image:
Adolf Von Hildebrand, Boy drinking, 1870/1873
