Bellingen Riverwatch was created to provide consistent water quality data in the Bellinger and Kalang catchments following a disease outbreak that caused a mass death event of the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) in early 2015. A lack of water quality data was identified by scientists and community alike as a priority focus area.

Bellingen Riverwatch is an initiative of OzGREEN and The Department of Planning, Industry & Environment in partnership with Bellingen Shire Council, NSW Waterwatch, Western Sydney University, Taronga Zoo Sydney, Bellinger Landcare, Earthwatch Institute, Eco Logical Australia, North Coast Local Land Services and Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance.

They test every month for dissolved oxygen, available phosphate, turbidity, pH, conductivity, temperature and use the DelAgua Water Testing Kit to conduct faecal coliform testing 2–3 times a year.

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