There are three survey procedures to be used for assessing the biodiversity and health of the Anabranch waters. The methods established are aimed at assessing the biological, chemical and physical conditions of these waters. The survey procedures that have been developed to assess the conditions of the Anabranch will cover water quality, macro-invertebrates, crustaceans (shrimp and yabbies) and larger fauna (turtles and fish).

Before conducting the following surveys three sites must be identified and established (Sites 1-3) along the Anabranch passing through Tona. These sites are determined by stream geomorphology i.e. 1 x straight, 1 x gradual bend, 1 x sharp bend. Each of the three sites should have the following surveys carried out consecutively over three nights:

• Water quality testing (use of Horiba W22)
• Macro-invertebrate survey (use of sweep nets)
• Crustacean survey (use of bait traps)
• Large fauna survey (use of fyke and seine nets)

Equipment

1. Waders
2. Clipboard
3. Field data sheets
4. Pencils and sharpener
5. Horiba W22
6. Fyke nets ( x3) (6 if available)
7. Tomato stakes ( x6-8)
8. Sweep net (micro net)
9. Bait trap ( x6)
10. Fresh meat bait
11. Seine net
12. 40 litre tub ( x6)
13. White sampling tray
14. Water sampling containers
15. 70% ethanol solution
16. Labels and marker
17. Flagging tape
18. Aquatic field identification books

Method for each site (1-3) - One Hour before Dusk

Water Quality

1. At Site 1, record the date, your names and location on the field data sheet
   NB: repeat process for remaining sites if not limited by equipment
2. Ensure you have your waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
3. Enter the water from the bank, taking the Horiba W22 with you
4. Step into the water towards the centre of the waterway until you reach an approximate 1m depth
5. Enter the Horiba W22 probe into the water and record on your field data sheet (WQ1) the values of the following water parameters:
   1. Dissolved oxygen (OC) (oxygen levels)
   2. Electro conductivity (EC) (salt levels)
   3. Temperature (⁰C)
   4. pH (alkaline or acidic?)
   5. Turbidity (suspended sediments)

Crustacean (shrimp and yabbies)

1. Ensure you have waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Enter the water from the bank, taking two of the bait traps containing fresh meat bait with you
3. Place the first bait trap in a water depth sufficient to cover the top of the net and the second in an open area adjacent to snags
4. Ensure that the float is attached and visible or select a snag or fallen piece of timber to tie each one of the bait traps to; marking it with a piece of flagging tape. This will make the traps easier to find.
5. Leave overnight

Larger Fauna (turtles and fish) – requires more than 2 people

1. Ensure you have waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Enter the water from the bank, taking two fyke nets with you
3. Install the fykes net using the tomato stakes to hold the net in place NB: be sure to position the end of the fyke net out of the water so that turtles are able to breathe if caught
4. Leave overnight

Visual representation of the correct positioning of the fyke net

Water Quality - Early Next Morning
Repeat the same steps conducted before dusk

Macro invertebrate

1. Ensure you have waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Enter the water from the bank, taking the sweep net with you
3. Once you have reached an approximate 30cm depth, establish a 10 metre transect
4. Sweep the net along the 10 metre transect (refer to Figure 7) NB: sweep the net from your right side to your left creating an 180⁰ sweep infront of you. Be sure to turn the net in the opposite direction across your body turning the net without taking it out of the water or losing it's contents

Visual representation of the correct positioning of the ‘sweeping’ process

5. After you have swept along the transect line, empty the contents of the net into the white sampling tray
6. With the contents of your net in the tray, add water to a one inch depth to ensure any invertebrates that you have caught are able to breathe and move freely
7. Record the species present on your field data sheet (AF1) using an identification field guide to assist you. Record a split percentage of the species that you have caught (e.g. if the majority of the invertebrates caught are water boatman than they will be scored a higher percentage). Your percentage total should equal 100.
8. Collect a sample of each invertebrate species found and place them in a water sampling container for lab analysis
   NB: be sure to add the 70% ethanol solution for preservation
9. Label the container with your names, date and site number

Crustacean (shrimp and yabbies)

1. Ensure you have your waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Locate and retrieve bait nets
3. Empty the contents into a 40 litre tub
4. Identify the species caught using the aquatic field identification books
5. Record the species and measure the length of up to 100 replicates where applicable on the field data sheet (AF2)
6. If more than 100 replicates of species are found, simply count and record the remainder

Larger Fauna (turtles and fish) – requires more than 2 people

Fyke net:

1. Ensure you have your waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Locate and retrieve the fyke nets
3. Identify the species caught using the aquatic field identification books
4. Record the species and measure the length of up to 100 replicates where applicable on the field data sheet (AF3)
5. If more than 100 replicates of species are found, simply count and record the remainder

Note: It is illegal to return carp to the water. If any carp are caught, use these for bait or dispose of them

Seine net:

1. Ensure you have waders and/or adequate footwear to maintain safety
2. Person 1 stays stationary at the waters edge holding one end of the net (kept low to ensure net passes through the river bed)
3. Person 2 enters the water. Extending the net to its full length, perform a 180⁰ sweep from bank to bank
4. The catch is then dragged onto the bank for assessment NB: ensure that the retrieval of the net is slow so that contact is maintained with the bottom
5. Empty and store the contents of the net into a 40 litre tub
6. Record the species caught and measure the length of up to 100 replicates where applicable on the field data sheet (AF3)
7. If  more than 100 replicates of species are found, simply count and record the remainder

Note: It is illegal to return carp to the water. If any carp are caught, use these for bait or dispose of them