Introduction

Vegetation alongside a body of fresh water
Freshwater can be found in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes.

Australia’s freshwater ecosystems include wetlands, rivers, creeks, floodplains and groundwater systems – all of which support a vast array of plant and animal life and contribute substantially to Australia’s ecological diversity. Water is a natural resource humans and animals need to survive.

How humans use fresh water

Humans use freshwater for drinking, cleaning, producing food and other materials, swimming, fishing and boating. Australians enjoy spending time participating in recreational and relaxation activities close to the water.

Catchments

Water that runs off hard surfaces when it rains is called stormwater. Natural bowls created by mountains and valleys on the Earth’s surface are called catchments. Different catchments collect stormwater on all the Earths land surfaces. We all live in a catchment and the quality of water collected within our catchment is directly affected by our actions.

Freshwater ecosystems

Freshwater ecosystems are significant ecologically because of the aquatic habitat (home) they provide for plants and animals and the contribution they make to ecological biodiversity (the number and diversity/variety of living things).

Water as a resource

Freshwater is significant economically because it provides a precious resource that is essential for industry and production. Water can also be:

  • a tourist attraction

  • used to farm aquaculture

  • a recreational or tourism asset that can provide significant financial benefit to the local economy.

Google Earth

An example of a freshwater habitat lies in the area around the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre on Google Earth. To move out of street view level and look at the wider area click the yellow person icon in the bottom right hand corner.

Location

Small plants and a large tree next to a body of water
Small and large plants help to stabilise the riparian zone.

An aquatic ecosystem is a waterbody where plants, animals, the water and climate all interact in a delicate balance.

Natural freshwater ecosystems

Examples include:

Man-made freshwater ecosystems

Examples include:

Significance - Animals

Lizard on a rock next to a body of fresh water
Many reptiles utilise the freshwater ecosysyem for both food and shelter.

Animals that live in freshwater waterways rely on their habitat (the water environment) being healthy and clean to survive and maintain their populations.

Animals that live around freshwater waterways rely on the riparian area (the vegetation and land bordering the waterway) being productive, healthy and well balanced for their survival.

Significance - Plants

Aquatic plants on the surface of a lake
Aquatic plants can be found in a variety of zones in freshwater.

Types of plants

Role of plants

Plants play an important role in helping to keep waterways healthy by:

  • providing instream habitat (homes) and food for animals

  • stabilising banks (holding together the bank with the root system) to prevent soil from being transported away from the site through the process of erosion

  • protecting waterways from sunlight (maintain temperature)

  • providing terrestrial (out of water) habitat for animals.

Conservation

A shopping trolley filled with plant material sits abandoned in a lake
Visible signs of water pollution

The cause of water pollution can vary dependent on the locality, either urban (in towns or cities, large population in small area) or rural (less populated areas, no curb and gutter on roads) environments.

Urban areas

Possible causes of polluted stormwater include:

  • car washing

  • chemicals poured down drains (intentionally or otherwise)

  • litter

  • dog faeces

  • grass clippings

  • paint

  • oil

  • garden fertiliser

  • sewage

  • dirt/soil and other loose sediment.

The Office of Environment and Heritage suggest a range of strategies to reduce stormwater pollution.

Rural areas

Rural water pollution can come from single point and diffuse sources such as:

  • urine and faeces from livestock

  • pesticides

  • herbicides

  • farm grade fertiliser

  • livestock access (eroding the banks and stirring up the mud-turbidity)

  • increased salt from salinity and industries that turn up the ground

  • sewerage from septic tank leaks

  • dirt/soil and other loose sediment.

Water NSW has a leadership role in minimising water pollution in all catchment areas.

Environmental Education Centres

Pelican floats on the surface of wetlands
Freshwater wetlands provide a refuge for many birds.

To maintain waterway health we need healthy catchments. Everything we do in catchments affects the fragile water ecosystems.

Your role

Actions we can take every day to keep our catchments healthy include:

  • keeping livestock out of rivers and creeks

  • using fertiliser responsibly

  • making sure rain is the only thing to go down the drain

  • washing our cars on the lawn and

  • planting trees around waterways to increase their structural strength and provide habitat for wildlife.

Contact information

  • Contact your local Waterwatch Coordinator to find out how you can be involved in positive environmental action in your school or community.

  • Contact your regional Catchment Management Authority to find out how to improve your land management practices on your farm.

Freshwater Environmental Education Centres

NSW DEC Environmental Education Centres providing access to freshwater ecosystems include: