Nth Qld: 24 September - 27 September 2007

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (RWQPP) monitoring in the Far North kicked off at Dunk Island on the 24th and finished at Yule Point on the 27th.   With perfect weather and excellent low tides, all eight RWQPP/Seagrass-Watch sites were monitored over four days by Len McKenzie and Rudi Yoshida (Seagrass-Watch HQ). This Dry Season monitoring included the standard Seagrass-Watch sampling, as well as seagrass tissue nutrients, sediment nutrients and seagrass reproductive health (seeds, fruits, flowers and meristems).  Monitoring results will enable managers of the Great Barrier Reef to determine if water quality is improving.

The meadows at Lugger Bay are making a remarkable recovery after being devasted by Tropical Cyclone Larry in early 2006. A number of dugong feeding trails were also spotted in the meadows (the first time in nearly 2 years). 

	Green Island 26 September 2007

Yeppon - Gladstone: 24 September - 28 September 2007

Western Australia: 30 August - 3 September 2007

From 30 August to 3 September, Len McKenzie (Seagrass-Watch HQ) visited the Kimberley region in Western Australia with the assistance of Kimberley Land Council - Land & Sea Unit and Environs Kimberley. The trip was to conduct a training workshop in Broome and to scope potential monitoring sites on the Dampier Peninsula.

The Kimberley coast region of Western Australia displays wide variation with embayments and sounds with wide sandy beaches which give way to mudflats. Mangrove inlets and tidal creeks are interspersed with coastal cliffs. There are numerous offshore islands and much of the coast remains uninhabited. The coast is prone to large tidal variation from <1 to 11m and these strong tidal flows dramatically influence the coastal environment.

As a guest of the Bardi Jawi Land and Sea Rangers (Daniel, Shawn, Mark and Trevor), Len visited Chile Creek, one of the locations recommended for future monitoring. Located south of Cape Leveque, the creek seascape is significantly influenced by the high tidal range (9.6m). Patches of Enhalus acoroides with Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis are founds scattered amongst the large tidal pools. Dugongs have been reported to visit these meadows over time.  For more information, download Seagrass-Watch News Issue 30 2007

	One Arm Creek 01 September 2007

With the Bardi Jawi Land and Sea Rangers (Daniel, Shawn and Trevor), Len visited One Arm Creek, another of the locations recommended for future monitoring. Seagrass meadows are located in the shallow waters of the perched fringing coral-reefs. The tidal range is extreme in this location (11m), and during low tides, water is trapped (ponded) on fringing reef flats, while water is several metres below the reef crest on the seaward side. The majority of the meadows are low - moderate in abundance, and are dominated by Thalassia hemprichii with Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis and Enhalus acoroides. Dugongs and turtles are often reported feeding on these meadows.  For more information, download Seagrass-Watch News Issue 30 2007

	Broome workshop 01- 02 September 2007

Over the weekend of Shinju Matsuri (Japanese for "Festival of the pearl) and “stairway to the moon”, Len conducted a Seagrass-Watch training workshop jointly hosted by Environs Kimberley and the Department of Environment and Conservation, with local coordination by Danielle Bain. On the Saturday afternoon, 14 participants learnt seagrass biology, ecology, identification, and Seagrass-Watch monitoring. Early on the Sunday morning, partipants ventured onto the sand flats of Roebuck Bay to put their newly learnt skills into practice, by monitoring a site (RO1). The morning was finished with a morning tea and vanilla slices.  Click Here to download the Workshop feedback pdf .  For more information, download Seagrass-Watch News Issue 30 2007