Catchment Studies
Year 11 and 12 Program
Catchment studies is a full day program immersing the students in a directed data collection as they travel through
Bulimba catchment. The aim of the data collection is to deeply understand how a catchment works, its connection to
Moreton bay health and the impacts of urbanisation and how these are being managed.
Studies are focused around upper, middle and lower catchment and may include:
 The impact of increased hard surfaces on stormwater quality, volume and flood levels
 Urban Changes to the riparian zone and its impact on water quality
 Water sensitive urban design, its replication of natural processes and effect on water quality and reducing storm
water flows
Pre-excursion activities ensure the students are introduced to the Bulimba creek catchment and our study. Students
adopt the role of Geographer, or Biologist tasked with gathering data for vital research needed for the management of
the Catchment. Students become familiar with equipment and data collection protocols so that independent
participation is possible during the data gathering exercise. One Note files are created and students are challenged to
find out more about the catchment and their study and to formulate research questions prior to travelling down the
catchment.
On program day students start their journey at Brady Bushland Park Runcorn focusing on:
 catchment features prior to urbanisation
 upper catchment water quality and stream characteristics
 development and impacts on the flood plain
At the middle catchment location near Carindale Parklands students gather data on:
 water quality and macroinvertebrate biodiversity
 stream characteristics prior to urbanisation – walking along the creek
 water sensitive urban design
At the lower catchment at Minnippi parklands students gather data on:
 Stream characteristics with emphasis on width of floodplain
 development and impact issues in relation to filling wetlands, building on the floodplain and flooding
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre
“Inspiring Champions for the Bay”
(07) 3906 9111 • www.moretoneec.eq.edu.au
admin@moretoneec.eq.edu.au
Geography Curriculum Intent
Geography students will write a report using the information collected on the day based on Focus Unit 2 Managing
catchments - Catchment studies demonstrate the interrelatedness of people and the environment. A catchment is a
dynamic system which includes land, water, vegetation, crops, wildlife, people, animals, farms, industries and cities. The
students will design and implement a research plan, gather data and demonstrate analytical and decision making processes.
Some alternatives for their evaluation process could include:
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Increase the number of creek filtration systems installed by the city council
Remove development controls on the flood plain ie allow individuals to manage their own risk
Provide subsidies or rate reductions for households to install rain gardens or other water sensitive urban design
features to reduce the stormwater impacts
Resume and rehabilitate to a more natural state any properties that are flooded
Require property owners of any hard surface greater than 10000m2 to install and maintain water sensitive urban
design features to reduce peak flows and improve discharge water quality or pay increase rates to City council
Straighten and deepen creeks and remove vegetation within the flood plain to reduce flooding
Biology Curriculum Intent
The students will complete an EEI based on the data collected focusing on the following parts of the syllabus
Key ideas
18. Abiotic and biotic factors in an environment influence the size of populations and the composition of communities.
20. Human actions have significant impacts on interactions within an environment.
Suggested subject matter
 An ecosystem consists of both living and non-living components.
 Changes in ecosystems can occur as a result of natural processes and human activity.
 An understanding of the various interactions within ecosystems is an integral part of environmental
management.
This field work will provide 5hrs in a natural environment and will require students to use
 techniques for identifying organisms (e.g. keys and field guides)
 sampling techniques (e.g. quadrats, and transects )
 methods to measure environmental data (salinity, temperature and availability of light)
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre
“Inspiring Champions for the Bay”
(07) 3906 9111 • www.moretoneec.eq.edu.au
admin@moretoneec.eq.edu.au