Keep It Clean
~ a journey through the Yea catchment

This project is an initiative of LandLearn (a Department of Primary Industries education program) and Forest Education (Department of Sustainability and Environment).

The fieldtrip journey begins in the upper reaches of the Yea River catchment in the cool temperate rainforests of Toolangi Forest. This State Forest is a popular recreation area for bush walking, recreational vehicle use and camping. Land uses in the upper catchment include timber harvesting and intensive horticulture such as strawberry runner production. The river leaves the mountain areas and flows north in a more open valley where the primary land use is grazing of sheep and cattle. In the valley near Glenburn the Yea River Landcare Group has a community-based revegetation project. The journey continues on to Yea Wetlands, another community-based project, before ending at the confluence of the Yea with the Goulburn River just downstream of Yea township.

This fieldwork project investigates the Yea River catchment located on the outskirts of metropolitan Melbourne in Victoria. The Yea River catchment is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The river begins in Toolangi State Forest on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range and flows through native forest, farmland and townships before joining the Goulburn River near Yea.

The fieldtrip in the Yea River catchment allows students to investigate and analyse:

• Characteristics of this section of the Murray Darling Basin
• Potential water quality issues in relation to different land uses in the area 
• Ways that human activities rely on and affect the operations of this water catchment
• Actions currently being undertaken by a range of land managers to contribute to the sustainable use of water and soil resources.

Using their fieldwork data, students can compile a report or develop a policy to address water quality management in this catchment. 

This fieldtrip includes sites where students can collect data relating to water quality issues and observe ways that management of forestry, farming and landcare is contributing to improved management of the Yea catchment.

Fieldwork activity options include:

• Forest environment (water quality tests and observation of forestry landuse and management)
• Farm environment (water quality tests and observations of horticultural and pastoral landuse and land management).

The entire excursion route from Toolangi to Yea can potentially be covered during a full day excursion (depending on the school’s location), or teachers can select sites to suit their focus and time available (eg. just visit the sites in Toolangi Forest and around Toolangi township).

Student Outcomes

These fieldtrip activities will enable students to:

• Make observations of the Yea River, water issues and management activities at locations within its upper, middle and lower catchment, in a natural forest environment, in forestry and horticultural landuse areas and at locations managed by Landcare community groups
• Conduct fieldwork measurement of water quality in the Yea River at locations within its upper, middle and lower catchment.

Resource

To obtain a copy of 'Keep It Clean ~ a journey through the Yea catchment', complete the LandLearn order form [PDF 104KB].  This CD is available at a cost of $15.00.

Biodiversity in Agriculture Landscapes
A case study of an orchard where the farming family has protected and enhanced an area of indigenous vegetation is available in 'Biodiversity in Bushlands, Community & Agricultural Landscapes' and 'Biodiversity & Agriculture' booklets on the LandLearn Resource Booklets CD. A fieldtrip to the site near Shepparton is possible. Contact LandLearn for more information

» Other fieldwork sites to visit