14/10/2026
The Mary River Catchment Crawl crew are absolute legends! ๐
Every October since 2002, citizen scientists have headed out along the Mary for the MRCCC Water Quality Catchment Crawl, timed for when the riverโs threatened species start breeding and spawning.
This year more than 70 people, in three teams, sampled 32 sites on the river and its major tributaries -
from the headwaters near Conondale all the way to the Great Sandy Strait, across Jinibara, Kabi Kabi and Butchulla country.
At each site, they test the water (temperature, salinity, nutrients, E. coli and more) and check how the banks and in-stream habitat are holding up.
Doing it the same way every year means any shifts in the riverโs health stand out clearly over time.
The whole TPS team here in Brisbane were happy as Larry to see that they did a solid chunk of their water quality testing using our meters.
Here's some of what they found during the crawl:
โ Flows are down right through the catchment.
โ The river below Gympie is getting saltier as a result.
โ A few new w**ds have made an appearance, including Colombian wax w**d and purple spider flower.
โ Mary River turtles are already sizing up the sandbanks at Home Park, one of their key nesting spots.
Many thanks to Jess Dean for letting us share this outstanding photo from the crawl.
If youโve ever wondered where good source water starts, itโs out here with a crew like this! ๐๐ง
