TORBAY CATCHMENT REPORT CARD 2005
This report card gives an update on the health of the Torbay catchment and efforts to improve its condition. The community selected 6 factors as highly valued. The current state of these factors and any changes are reported and compared to targets in the TORBAY RESTORATION PLAN.

improving

getting worse

no change

insufficient data

Catchment Overview: Is the health of the catchment changing?
WATER QUALITY & ALGAL BLOOMS			Lake Powell & Marbelup Brook: worst blooms in Western Australia. Torbay Inlet improved in 2004/05 compared to the last five years.
WATER QUALITY CATCHMENTS & WATERWAYS			NITROGEN (N) concentrations are high in four of the six sub-catchments but decreasing in two subcatchments. PHOSPHORUS (P) remains high in five sub-catchments.
REPAIR WORK ON WATERWAYS			Levels of fencing and revegetation of waterways by landholders increasing.
CONTROL OF WEEDS			Areas of watsonia controlled increasing. Need to map weeds to see if control is getting on top of spread.
pH AND PHOSPHORUS IN SOILS			pH levels increasing - soils less acidic. Increasing stores of P in soils - could end up in waterways.
SATISFACTION LEVELS			Many people involved in groups but need more data on satisfaction to see trends.

TORBAY CATCHMENT HEALTH REPORT CARD 2005
How are we going?
WATER QUALITY & ALGAL BLOOMS					Restoration plan theme 1
Target for 2025: Reduce algal blooms by one third.			Months in bloom		5 yr average		2004/05
					Non toxic	Toxic	Non toxic	Toxic
			Lake Powell		2.4	4	3	4
			Marbelup Brook		1.2	1	2	2
			Torbay Inlet		0.6	1.4	-	1
WATER QUALITY & ALGAL BLOOMS CATCHMENTS & WATERWAYS					Restoration plan theme 1
Target for 2025: Reduce nutrients from each sub-catchment so total catchment nutrient load is reduced by 38% for nitrogen and 24% for phosphorus.					1997 - 2004 concentration levels & trends
	N	P			Total Nitrogen		Total Phosphorus
			Five Mile Creek		High - decreasing		Very High - no change
			Seven Mile Creek		Mod - decreasing		High - no change
			Cuthbert Drain		High - no change		Moderate - no change
			Grasmere Creek		High - decreasing		High - no change
			Marbelup Brook		Low - no change		High - no change
			Torbay Drain		High - no change		High - no change
LEVEL OF REPAIR WORK ON WATERWAYS AND DRAINS					Restoration plan themes 1 and 5
Targets for 2010: Fence and revegetate 150kms key waterways ie: 30 kms per year.					Total 2000 - 2005		2005
			Fencing of waterways		68.5 kms		17.5 kms
			Supported via Torbay Catchment Group - individual landholders are doing lots more !
CONTROL OF WEEDS					Restoration plan theme 4
Target for 2015: Map priority weeds. Achieve 10% reduction in priority weeds per year.				2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
			Kms road verge sprayed	4	30	60	65	70
			Catchment group and others spray annually - road verges, Elleker townsite, railway and drain reserves with 2 years of follow up.
			Is control on top of the spread of weeds? Regular mapping is needed to know!
FARMING SYSTEMS STATUS OF pH AND PHOSPHORUS STORED IN SOILS					Restoration plan theme 5
Target for 2025: Total catchment nutrient load is reduced for nitrogen and phosphorus.			Status of soils		Year	High	Medium	Low
			pH (acidity/ alkalinity index - high means less acidic soils higher productivity)		1988/89	17%	36%	46%
					2004	26%	36%	37%
			Phosphorus (P not taken up by plants is more likely to be lost to waterways)		1988/89	51%	20%	29%
					2004	75%	18%	7%
SATISFACTION ABOUT LIVING IN THE CATCHMENT					Restoration plan theme 7
Target: Maintain high level of satisfaction in catchment.			2002 landholder survey showed: high levels of involvement in local groups 49% of responses, 15% of respondents had volunteered for community landcare.
			Needs more data on satisfaction. A repeat survey to look at trends is planned.

A Report giving much more detailed information on each of the factors reported here is available on the website www.torbay.scric.org.au, from the Department of Environment 9842-5760 or call your Torbay Catchment Group committee member:
Phil Mellon	chair	0428-446-371, (a/h) 9844-6371
Maurice McCormick	deputy chair	0428-451-044, 9845-1044
Graeme Heighton	treasurer	(w) 9842-1199, (a/h) 9841-4114
Pauline Irving	secretary	0429-965-602
Andrew Marshall	committee member	9845-1081
Chris Westcott	committee member	9841-5474
Phillip Marshall	committee member	9845-1045
John Blaney-Murphy	committee member	9844-6320

The Torbay Catchment Group working for the community with the Departments of Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Land Management, the Water Corporation and the City of Albany to improve the health of the whole Torbay catchment.