Rivers and Estuaries Science Program

DBCA's Biodiversity and Conservation Science division has a key role in monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the environmental health of the Swan Canning Estuary and its catchment.

Environmental monitoring is focused on water quality and biological indicators including fish and seagrass.

What we do

  • develop an understanding of waterway function
  • track trends
  • measure compliance against management targets
  • monitor the extent and severity of low oxygen and algal blooms
  • report changing conditions to the community
  • inform catchment models
  • guide management decisions and incident response
  • determine the effectiveness of estuary and catchment management measures

Microalgae activity

The weekly Microalgae Activity Report (MAR) provides information on microalgae activity levels, the probability of discoloration and/or scum formation, and potential warnings. This is based on data collected at 21 routine monitoring sites throughout the Swan Canning river system. Concentrations of chlorophyll-a, a plant pigment, are used to estimate microalgal activity.

This week's Microalgae Activity Report

Week starting: Monday 25 March 2024 (next update scheduled for 5 April 2024)

  • Microalgae activity was high in the following locations:
    • Ashfield, Rivervale and upstream from Guildford in the Swan Estuary, and
    • from Shelley to Castledare in the Canning Estuary. 
  • An algal bloom is currently occurring in the Upper Swan from West Midland Pool (Woodbridge) to Maali Bridge Park (Herne Hill). This may cause discoloured waters and the public are advised to follow Dept. of Health advice and avoid swimming in water that looks discoloured, murky or smells unpleasant.
  • Please report any sluggish or dead fish to FishWatch on 1800 815 507
 LowMediumHighAlert
 Low levels of microalgae with no likely visible impactPossibility of discolouration and/or scum formationHigh probability of discolouration and/or scum formationPresence of species potentially harmful to aquatic life, OR human health requiring public advice
Chlorophyll-a (µg/L)< 44 - 10> 10N/A

Latest water quality reports

Routine water quality monitoring

Monitoring and evaluating fish communities

In collaboration with Murdoch University, DBCA reports annually on fish communities as an indicator of the condition of the Swan Canning Estuary. Since 2012, fish communities have been monitored in summer and autumn at six nearshore and six offshore sites in the upper, middle and lower Swan, as well as in the lower Canning.

The latest (2022 and 2021) reports are available for download below.

Seagrass health and distribution

Seagrasses are some of the most productive organisms in the world. Productivity rates can be twice that of forests. There are three main species of seagrass in the Swan Canning Riverpark, with paddleweed (Halophila ovalis) the dominant species. They play a role in maintaining oxygen levels at the sediment/water interface, support diverse and productive faunal assemblages and are an important food source for animals such as WA’s iconic black swan. Since 2011, seagrass has been monitored annually between November and March at six locations. A five-year report on seagrass condition is being compiled.

Contaminants

DBCA investigates the type, distribution, and concentration of non-nutrient contamination in the Swan Canning Estuary. Non-nutrient contaminants include metals, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. These are typically the result of historic and current agricultural, urban and industrial activities. They can enter the Swan Canning Estuary system through drains, tributaries, groundwater, in-river activities such as recreational boating and the disturbance of acid sulphate soils. The most recently released reports on contaminants are available for download below.

Previous water quality reports

Canning water quality reports

Swan water quality reports