Hotham River - Pumphreys Bridge
Basin : Murray River
Catchment : Murray - Serpentine rivers
River condition at the Pumphreys Bridge site (site code: MR1312HOTH1, site reference: 6144444) on the Hotham River has been assessed as part of the Healthy Rivers Program (Healthy Rivers), using standard methods from the South West Index of River Condition (SWIRC).
The SWIRC incorporates field and desktop data from the site and from the broader catchment. Field data collected included the following indicators, assessed over about a 100 m length of stream:
- Aquatic biota: fish and crayfish community information (abundance of native and exotic species across size classes, general reproductive and physical condition)
- Water quality: dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductivity, and pH (logged in-situ over 24 hours) as well as laboratory samples for colour, alkalinity, turbidity and nutrients
- Aquatic habitat: e.g. water depth, substrate type, presence of woody debris and detritus, type and cover of macrophytes and draping vegetation
- Physical form: channel morphology, bank slope and shape, bioconnectivity (barriers to migration of aquatic species), erosion and sedimentation
- Fringing zone: width and length of vegetation cover within the river corridor and lands immediately adjacent, structural intactness of riparian and streamside vegetation
- Hydrology: measures of flow (velocity) at representative locations (compared against data from stream gauging stations within the system)
- Local land use: descriptions of local land use types and activities (compared against land use mapping information for the catchment)
Field assessments were conducted by Wetland Research and Management (WRM), in collaboration with Peel Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) and the department, between 23–24 October 2019 and between 10–11 March 2020. This was the first assessment of this site using the SWIRC methods.
Condition summary
A summary of aquatic biota detected over the different sampling events is provided in the section below. For other site data, please contact the department’s River Science team (please reference the site code and sampling dates).
Species found in subcatchment
Species found at the site
Fish and crayfish
As this was the first time this site had been sampled using SWIRC methods, the species expected to occur here (listed below) are based on species reported from studies conducted elsewhere in the catchment. As differences in habitat within a reach naturally influence species distributions, and variability in methods between sampling programs can affect the species caught, so this list is only indicative.
4 species of fish (3 native and 1 exotic) and 1 native crustacean were recorded at the Pumphreys Bridge HRP site in 2019 and 2020, see Table 1, below, for details.
Click here for full size table.
Only fish and freshwater crustaceans (crayfish and shrimp) that typically inhabit river channels are targeted by the standard SWIRC sampling methods.
Note: collection of fauna from WA’s inland aquatic ecosystems requires a license from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and also the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). All species collected must be reported to these agencies as part of license conditions.
Other aquatic fauna
The south-western snake-necked turtle (Chelodina colliei) was also found at this site.
Explore other sites in the catchment
- Buchanans Drain
- Hotham River - Hotham River Nature Reserve
- Hotham River - Popanyinning
- Hotham River - Ranford Pool
- Lower Nambeelup Brook
- Lower Nambeelup Brook 2
- Lower Punrak Drain
- Lower Punrak Drain 2
- Murray-Marrinup Brook
- Serpentine River - Birriga Drain
- Serpentine River - Dog Hill
- Serpentine River - Downstream Peel Main Drain
- Serpentine River - Lowlands
- Serpentine River - Lowlands Road
- Serpentine River - Rapids Road
- Serpentine River - Ruperts
- Serpentine River - Summerfield Road
- Williams River - Boraning Reserve
- Williams River - Quindanning