Water wizards to present research on national stage

Jason Tozer

Two students from the University’s Institute for Applied Ecology, Mike Peat and Chris Levings, will present their environmental research as part of the National Water Prize held at the OzWater Conference next year.

Mike Peat and Chris Levings

22 November 2006: Mr Peat and Mr Levings were placed first and second respectively in the ACT Branch division of the Australian Water Association’s (AWA) undergraduate water prize.

Both students’ work is involved in managing and improving water environments in the Cotter River catchment.

Mr Peat has been conducting research on biological conditions of river sections below the Cotter Dams since completing his undergraduate degree in 2003.

“I’ve been looking at the effects the dams have on animals and plants downstream of them,” Mr Peat said.

“What we’ve found is that despite environmental flows, the biological condition of those streams is still impaired with changes to the habitat and food resources..”

Mr Levings has been monitoring and studying the effect the 2003 bushfires had on the Cotter River catchment.

“We’re monitoring the amount of sediment entering the streams from where the large pine plantation was destroyed and taking biological samples of the stream every sixmonths,” Mr Levings said.

“We’re looking at how the area is recovering and how the government’s land management activities are working.”

Both students’ work is being used to inform managers of the river and recommend options for improving the conditions of the catchment and areas downstream.

Mr Peat completed his Applied Science honours this year and Mr Levings, who also works as a research assistant with the University, completes his Environmental Science degree in July next year.

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