Southern River

Basin : Swan-Coastal

Catchment : Canning River

The condition of the Southern River site (site code: SRBDS), in the middle catchment of the Southern River, was assessed between 14 and 15 November 2012, over a 100-m length of stream. The site was also assessed in spring of 2006 (pilot study) 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The assessment was conducted using standard methods from the South West Index of River Condition. Measures chosen for this assessment included fish and crayfish, macroinvertebrates, aquatic habitat, water quality (dissolved oxygen and temperature logged over 24h, and electrical conductivity, pH, colour, alkalinity, turbidity and nutrients), fringing vegetation, channel morphology, erosion, connectivity, local land use and flow.

Condition summary

This site was assessed as part of the River Health Assessment Scheme project.

An online condition summary for this site has not been prepared. Please contact the River Science Branch for site information, and see below for links to information on some of the species found at the site, and some images taken in November 2012.

Fish and crayfish

Seven fish and three crayfish species were found at this site across all sampling events:

  • Pseudogobius olorum (Swan River Goby)
  • Bostockia porosa (Nightfish)
  • Galaxias occidentalis (Western Minnow)
  • Nannoperca vittata (Western Pygmy Perch)
  • Tandanus bostocki (Freshwater Cobbler)
  • Gambusia holbrooki (Eastern Gambusia)
  • Phalloceros caudimaculatus (Speckled Mosquitofish)
  • Cherax cainii (Marron – smooth)
  • Cherax quinquecarinatus (Gilgie)
  • Cherax destructor (Yabby)

Only fish and crayfish are targeted by sampling methods. Other species that were caught and/or observed are listed below:

  • Palaemon australis (South-west glass shrimp)
  • Chelodina oblonga (South-western snake-necked turtle)
  • Westralunio carteri (Carter’s Freshwater Mussel)

Please contact the River Science Branch for specific yearly species counts.

Click on the images below to learn more.

Species found in subcatchment

This includes all species found within the subcatchment of the assessment site, from this and previous studies in the area. The photos are linked to more information about each species, including maps of where they are expected across the south-west.

Explore other sites in the catchment