Volunteer

Join a citizen science program that connects people with their local waterways and helps protect the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment. Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch has been supporting this work for more than 30 years, across an area of more than 14,000 square kilometres.

Current volunteers can find our Volunteer resources here

Go above and beyond for our waterways

Volunteering with Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch is a practical way to care for local rivers, creeks, wetlands and catchments. Our volunteers help collect the information we need to understand waterway health, spot changes over time and support better outcomes for our catchment.

Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch works with the community to monitor local waterways, raise awareness about catchment health and uses volunteer data to inform policy and on-ground catchment management. You could participate in one-off survey events or get involved with regular monthly water monitoring.

Why volunteer with Waterwatch?

Healthy waterways matter to everyone. They support plants and animals, provide places to walk, fish and enjoy nature, and are part of the wider health of our landscapes and communities. By volunteering with Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, you can help build a long-term picture of catchment health and contribute to an early warning system for waterway issues.

Volunteer data helps show where waterways are doing well, where they are under pressure and where restoration efforts can make the biggest difference.

Volunteering is also a way to learn more about your local environment, build practical monitoring skills and become part of a community that cares for our waterways and the catchment.

Who Can Get Involved

Anyone who cares about waterways can take part. You do not need to be a scientist, just willing to give it a go. Most activities need no prior experience, and all training, guidance, and resources are provided. Some roles are monthly and ongoing, others are one-off events that suit people who want to help occasionally.

Wildlife Surveys

Help track the health of native species across the catchment through seasonal surveys:

Platypus Surveys in August
Frog Monitoring in October
Submit Platypus and Rakali Sightings when you see them

A great way to give volunteering a go without a long-term commitment.

Regular Monitoring Volunteers

Take part in monthly water quality monitoring at a dedicated site:

Hands-on outdoor environmental work each month
Full training, monitoring methods, and volunteer manual provided
Long-term data feeds directly into our Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) report

Best suited to people who enjoy getting outdoors regularly and contributing to long-term environmental data.

Seasonal Waterbug Survey Volunteers

Join our spring or autumn surveys to assess stream health through aquatic macroinvertebrates:

Social, hands-on, and group-based
Learn about freshwater ecology in the field
Survey data feeds into the Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) report

A great fit for people who want to help up to twice a year and learn while they contribute.

Schools and Community Groups

We offer education and field-based learning for schools and community groups:

Education sessions about freshwater systems
Field-based learning at local streams and wetlands
Activities that connect everyday actions to river health

A great way to build local connection with our waterways through learning, discovery, and shared experiences.

Join a community of passionate volunteers making a measurable difference to our rivers, creeks and wetlands.
No experience needed, just a willingness to get outside and get involved.

Volunteer Resources

Everything you need to start or continue volunteering with Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch — manuals, data sheets, and training videos. If you'd like to begin regular monitoring, contact our Regional Facilitator at waterwatch@act.gov.au.

ACT Waterwatch Volunteer Resource Manual

PDF, 1.8 MB

Instructions for measuring phosphorus at high-nutrient sites

PDF, 287 KB

Sign on / sign off sheet

PDF, 209 KB

Water quality field data sheet

PDF, 545 KB

Macroinvertebrate (water bug) survey results sheet

PDF, 545 KB

Rapid Assessment of Riparian Condition (RARC) data sheet

PDF, 227 KB

Volunteer Training Videos

Our team has produced a series of short videos that walk through the Waterwatch program and explain how to carry out each water quality test correctly. Whether you're new to volunteering or have been with us for years, they're a helpful refresher to make sure we're all generating high-quality, consistent data.

Why we do water quality testing

Waterwatch Safety Check

Testing Water Temperature

Testing Dissolved Oxygen using the Visocolour Grey Kit

Testing Dissolved Oxygen using the LaMott Blu Kit

Testing pH of water samples

Testing Phosphorus levels in your water samples

Testing Nitrates in your water samples

Testing Electrical Conductivity of your water sample using the Brown Eutech EC tester

Testing Electrical Conductivity of your water sample using the Green Eco tester

Measuring turbidity of your water sample