Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
councils, government agencies and regional NRM bodies develop
strategies to deal with water quality issues in their catchments. The
Commonwealth Government has provided funding for Waterwatch
coordinators and education projects.
In NSW, twice a year hundreds of schools, community groups and
individuals sample the range of macro-invertebrates (water bugs)
present in local waterways. In 1997 over 20,000 people searched high
and low for insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and worms. The information
collected during the NSW 'Water Bug Survey' is collated and provides
a snapshot of the health of waterways in NSW.
In 2007, Queensland government agencies produced a manual for
the use of community groups like Waterwatch to provide a strategic
approach to waterway monitoring and enhance data confidence. It
includes advice on designing a study, methods for monitoring water
quality, biological and stream condition and habitat, as well as data
management and reporting. It includes record sheets with visual
prompts and indicators (DNRW 2007).
Box 9.3: Community monitoring of impact of Pak Mun Dam on
downstream subsistence
The Pak Mun Dam, situated on the Mun River close to its confluence
with the Mekong River, was completed in 1994 by the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand to generate hydroelectricity.
Community concerns about the impact of the dam on the downstream
subsistence fishery, led to a trial opening of eight sluice gates from
April 2001 to June 2002 to allow studies on fisheries, social impacts
and impact of the dam on Thailand's electricity supply. Community-
based monitoring contributed to the assessment.
Villager-led Thai Baan research, 'grassroots people's research', was
conducted with the help of the Southeast Asia Rivers Network. It
documented fish and flora species and fishing gear and demonstrated
the communal values and culture in relation to the river. The economy
of villagers below the dam had depended exclusively on fishing because
there is little land suitable for agriculture. It is thus the most important
resource base for the majority of people in the region - landless villagers
and those who possess small amounts of land.
The study used inclusive consensus-based approaches to research,
local researchers, and formed an expert panel of locals (e.g. fishermen).
The Thai Baan researchers included 200 villagers from 65 communities
nominated to collect data by the local communities for their expertise
