FEATURE
An intake of new volunteers has allowed for water quality monitoring to resume at Wentworth Falls Lake, as part of the Living Streams Streamwatch program.
Wentworth Falls Lake
Wentworth Falls Lake was created by the damming of Jamison Creek to supply water for the steam railway. The Lake is now home to native and introduced waterfowl, native fish such as Gudgeons, and water bugs including freshwater crayfish, freshwater shrimp and dragonfly nymphs. It is also a popular picnic spot, with barbeque facilities and children’s play equipment.
Blue Mountains City Council advises against feeding the ducks and geese at Wentworth Falls Lake, as feeding encourages the birds to behave aggressively towards visitors and allows for the establishment of large numbers of feral birds that compete with the native waterfowl. The birds also defecate into the Lake water, so large numbers of feral birds mean degraded water quality and reduced environmental and recreational values.
Much of the Lake is surrounded by sensitive hanging swamp, which is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community and is home to threatened species such as the Giant Dragonfly and the Blue Mountains Water Skink. Hanging swamps occur where groundwater comes to the surface, acting like giant ‘sponges’ that slowly release water - providing base flows to our creeks and waterfalls. Wentworth Falls Lake feeds Jamison Creek, which passes under the Great Western Highway near the Wentworth Falls shops, continues alongside Darwin’s Walk, over the Falls and on to join the Kedumba River, Lake Burragorang and ultimately Warragamba Dam, Sydney’s drinking water supply.
Water quality in the Lake varies, but in general is worse after rain, when pollutants are washed into the Lake with stormwater. During the summer months, Blue Mountains City Council conducts weekly water quality monitoring to assess the Lake’s suitability for recreation. See the downloads or contact Council on (02) 4780 5000 for further information. The Lake is also monitored by volunteers as part of the Living Streams Streamwatch program. For this data see www.streamwatch.org.au or contact the Sydney Catchment Authority on (02) 4725 2503.
Links:
Recreational Water Quality Reports: www.streamcare.com.au
