Frys Creek and Myall River Bulahdelah Biological Assessment Spring 2022

Summary and scope

MidCoast Council is required to undertake a biological assessment of 5 sample site: three at Frys Creek and two from the Myall River Bulahdelah. This is a requirement of the Bulahdelah STP EPA licence. The plant discharges treated effluent to Frys creek. The work includes determination of abundance of periphyton and Macroinvertebrates using the Signal index classification for each site. The field work is scheduled to be completed during the first two weeks of November 2022. A written report is also to be completed The written report is to include comments and interpretation of the results from the biological assessment (macroinvertebrate and periphyton) and quarterly water quality monitoring (ammonia, chlorophyll a, conductivity, DO, Entercocci, Faecal coliforms, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, TKN, TSS, temp, total phosphorus, turbidity, pH) from 5 sites (3 sites on Frys Creek and 2 Myall River, Bulahdelah). MidCoast Council collects the water quality samples from the 5 sites quarterly and will provide the results. Midcoast Council will also provide results from previous monitoring periods for trend analysis. The written report is required to be submitted to the EPA with the STP annual return. The the field assessment must be completed in November prior to the licence anniversary date. The report and annual return is due for submission to the EPA before 03/02/2022. A copy of the finalised written report is to be submitted to MidCoast Council by the 20th January 2023. Below is an extract from the licence detailing the environmental monitoring requirements. Environmental Monitoring Program The data collected as part of the environmental monitoring program for Frys Creek and the Myall River is to be submitted in an annual report to the Regional Manager, Hunter with the licensee's annual return. The report must include but not be limited to a tabulation of the results and a discussion of any trends that can be determined from all of the data collected under the monitoring program.