Why Monitor Water Quality in the Gippsland Lakes ?
There is much discussion and speculation about the future of the Gippsland Lakes. Without the requisite data available, much of this is based on hearsay and assumptions
The only way to assess the true health of the Lakes system is to measure key indicators at a suitable number of locations, both on a regular basis and in peak events. This allows for “early warning” of adverse trends or significant changes that may be impacting the ecosystems, and give time for appropriate action to be taken.
Salinity, oxygen levels, nutrient loads, toxicants, herbicides, microplastics and a host of other impactors all affect the Lakes ecosystems, and must be measured accurately and consistently across the system. Otherwise it is impossible to develop effective short and long term management plans.
Who should be doing it ?
There are many agencies monitoring water quality in a spasmodic and uncoordinated fashion. We maintain that all water quality monitoring across the Lakes system should be performed by a single independent and well resourced watchdog ( e.g. EPA ), with all data made publically available.
Current Monitoring Sites and Agencies
A number of agencies currently monitor water quality around the Lakes. However not all data is made publically available.
CMA Auto Sampling Sites.
East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority operates automatic water sampling sites gathering a variety of parameters. This has progressively been reduced to only a dozen or so actively maintained sites, as seen on the map below. The data from these sites is publicly available on the DEECA Water Measurement Information System
The sites mainly record water level, temperature and EC ( salinity ) while a few also measure pH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Turbidity. It appears nutrients ( e.g. Phosphates and Nitrates ) are not measured. Below is a filtered map of ACTIVE sites ( as of July 2025 ) collecting surface and ground water quality data around the Gippsland Lakes. By going to the WMIS and clicking on each site, you can see the latest data.
Environment Protection Authority
The Environment Protection Authority manually monitors water quality at six sites ( currently ) around the Lakes. EPA typically tests for more substances than the EGCMA/DEECA sites. Raw data from the EPA tests is not available. Instead, EPA produces an periodic “report card” for all the catchments across Victoria with just a high level “traffic light” summary of water quality. The last report card was for the 2023 /2024 period, issued in June 2024.
Other Agencies and NGOs
Southern Rural Water performs water testing of outflows from the Macallister Irrigation District into the western Gippsland Lakes ( Lake Wellington). This includes important nutrient ( phosphate ) loads. This data is not publically available on the WMIS. However, we are working proactively with SRW and have been given access to their data and reports.
Non Government Organisations ( NGO ) such as Marine Mammal Foundation also conduct some water testing as part of their research.
We believe other agencies such as East Gippsland Water also conduct some water testing. We do no know of the frequency or extent of this, as the data is not publically available.
What’s missing in agency water testing ?
Currently we are not aware of any comprehensive or regular testing for emerging toxicants ( e.g. PFAS ), microplastics, pesticides, herbicides or nitrogen loads entering the Gippsland Lakes by any Government agency. We believe this is a serious gap and must be addressed.
Waterwatch
Waterwatch Victoria is a Citizen Science based water monitoring program. It’s main value is education and public awareness.
Waterwatch data is not generally used by agencies, but it can identify potential issues which for reporting to the relevant authority to follow up.
Around 15 years go there were, by our count, over 100 active Waterwatch sites around the Gippsland Lakes, and bordering wetlands and river mouths. Only around 20 are still active ( in the La Trobe River / Heart Morass area, along Forge Creek near Paynesville, and three around MacLeod Morass, Jones Bay and the Tambo River ).
That means in our estimate, that only around 15% of the original Waterwatch sites are still active.
FoGL Water Testing
Under the Waterwatch program, volunteers from Friends of Gippsland Lakes do water testing at 3 sites around Lake King.
We can also do “spot” testing at other sites on request if there is a concern.
FoGL has the ability to test for the following
- Phosphates and Nitrates ( nutrients that can be a key contributor to toxic algae blooms etc )
- pH ( measure of acidity or alkalinity )
- Electrical Conductivity ( EC ) ( a measure of different salts in the water )
- Turbidity ( clarity of the water )
- Dissolved Oxygen ( DO)
- Water and Air Temperatures
How can I get involved ?
We hope to encourage more groups to get involved and revitalise the Waterwatch program around the Gippsland Lakes. If you are in a Landcare group, your insurance via Landcare Victoria already covers this activity. Other community groups can also do water testing.
If interested, get in touch with the local coordinators for Waterwatch, the East Catchment Management Authority or make an enquiry to Waterwatch Victoria . They will advise on the necessary training and equipment to get started.
If you are not associated with a Landcare group, you can become a FOGL Member and assist at our sites. We provide our own training and support to our volunteers.
