Streamwatch: SEED's first community-generated dataset

Streamwatch volunteers get a first look at their datasets on the SEED portal. Photo credits: Maureen Huang 2019, DPIE

Twenty-eight years worth of existing data from the citizen science water monitoring program Streamwatch is publicly available on the Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data portal, making its mark as the first community-generated dataset on the platform.

The SEED data team worked with the Australian Museum to bring nearly 11,000 data points to life and present them visually on the SEED map. In June, Streamwatch volunteers got a first look at how their hand-on science and environmental monitoring information was translated and viewed on the SEED map, with many bringing questions on how to layer different charts to see trends over time and view different areas.

Those accessing Streamwatch data through the SEED map viewer can see and compare collected water monitoring information such as PH levels, turbidity and electrical conductivity in Streamwatch monitoring areas over time.

Streamwatch and its hundreds of dedicated volunteers deliver scientifically accurate data on water quality and health of local waterways across the greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions.  

From July 2019, management of Streamwatch and the activities of its volunteers have transferred to the Greater Sydney Landcare Network.

View the Streamwatch data here.