Howard Springs Nature Park: Synthesis of What We Know
Maintenance Regimes at the Waterhole
A review of Howard Springs Nature Park management archives, park maintenance diaries and discussions with former Park rangers outlines some of the difficulties that have faced managers of the waterhole. Many of these issues, dating back to the 1970’s are of a similar nature being experienced today.
Overview
Maintenance of the pool during the late 1970’s, and throughout the 1980’s, consisted of pruning of overhanging vegetation and periodic removal of water weeds. During the wet season the sluice pipes were opened up to facilitate a flush of debris and silt from the pool area. This had limited success and as a result the stream bed was opened up down stream and a “Penstock” gate was installed to replace the pipes. When the usual maintenance regimen failed to make any difference to the water quality and the number of complaints received, a radical removal of silt was undertaken. This had limited success for a short period. There are references to ear infections attributed to the water quality but these are anecdotal and not quantified. There is also a record of the spring flow ceasing completely and some excavation by Rangers to clear the spring of silt. Water samples were taken once a month for analysis.
The maintenance regime during the 1980s and 1990s consisted of daily water weed removal facilitated but a “boat dozer” which is basically a steel frame on the front of a punt used to push weed over the weir. Overhanging vegetation was removed regularly. During the wet season the bottom of the waterhole is disturbed and the Penstock gate opened to flush silt when the flow was great enough. An aeration system was fitted to the pool and run once a week. Flow at the spring was monitored during the dry season. Water samples were taken for testing each week.
The following methods have been conducted in recent years in an attempt to improve the waterhole’s quality:
- Trees trimmed
- Water weed raked over the weir on a daily basis
- Water weed growing on the bottom dredged out and removed
- Trees growing close to the banks and shading the water are removed.
- Floating weed removed
- Daily E. coli and enterrococci sampling done.
- Swimouts cleaned of submerged leaves when necessary
- Aeration switched on at appropriate times.
