Testing the waters

Our NRM team love getting out and about, being on Country and exploring all sorts of different ways to read and heal Country. If that makes your heart sing too – read on!

Recently our NRM team and JM Rangers joined staff from the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to learn about environmental DNA (eDNA) with EnviroDNA.  

What is eDNA I hear you ask? Well, it’s just DNA left behind by all the critters using the waterways.

Since then, our eager crew have been out testing the waters – sampling and studying the eDNA in our waterways. It’s amazing what it can tell us! It helps us know where some of our culturally significant species are using Country, as well as what introduced species are in the waterways.

When we know where the pests are it helps us know how to manage the place better. This could be through an improved understanding of water health, implementing fox control to protect our native birds and small mammals, or fencing off areas to keep deer out of vulnerable places.

Since eDNA is a snapshot of what’s in the water at any point in time, we test regularly. NRM Team Leader, Corey and the rest of the NRM crew are excited to be tracking seasonal changes in migration and spawning, identifying what is, and isn’t, around.

“I’ve enjoyed going out to different spots, different Country, and seeing what’s there. You think you know what is out there but then you get a surprise – Hey! There’s been a platypus here! That can be exciting.”
– Corey Jack, NRM Team Leader

The crew are currently testing at different points around the Gippsland Lakes catchment area and hope to be able to cover more of Country in the future.

Big thanks to our friends at the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee for helping to make this all happen.