Chapman Brook - Warner Glen Road

The condition of the Chapman Brook - Warner Glen Road site (site code: CHAPX1), in the lower catchment of the Chapman Brook, was assessed between 23 and 24 October 2012, over a 100-m length of stream. At this time no previous assessments of river ecology had been reported.

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. A water quality sample was also taken on 18 June 2012. The site was visited in February 2013 but could not be sampled as it was only a series of small disconnected pools.

Four fish and three crayfish species were found at this site in October 2012:

• Bostockia porosa (Nightfish)
• Galaxias occidentalis (Western minnow)
• Nannoperca vittata (Western pygmy perch)
• Gambusia holbrooki (Eastern gambusia)
• Cherax cainii (Smooth marron)
• Cherax quinquecarinatus (Gilgie)
• Cherax crassimanus (Restricted gilgie)

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

• 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.