Embedded Files
USE THE VIRTUAL FIELDWORK WORKBOOK PROVIDED BELOW.
Workbook provided as a PDF and a Google document
Use Google Earth and maps to investigate PCW
Use Google Earth and maps to investigate PCW
Locate Porters Creek Wetland and the surrounding catchment using Google Earth and topographic maps (See home page for these maps).
Identify drainage lines, nature corridors, urban and industrial developments and major infrastructure such as the M1 motorway and Pacific Highway using satellite images and maps. Compare current to images to the 1980's to early 2000's.
Use the Google Earth tools to measure the spatial extent of the wetland and proximity to new urban developments, infrastructure and other developments.
Use the interactive GIS online mapping tool on the Central Coast website to examine features of the wetland and surrounding landuses
https://maps.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/public/
Locate areas of land recently cleared for urban development
Sample image July 2021
Vegetation communites and runoff direction in PCW.
Source : Wetland Web Teaching Resource Wyong Shire Council
Interactive GIS Mapping tool on the Central Coast Council website
https://maps.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/public/
Instructions to navigate the site provided on the map.
Create a sketch map
Create a sketch map
Use all of the maps you have viewed to produce your own sketch map to show the location of PCW, drainage lines and major urban and infrastructure features.
Draw the sketch in the centre of the relevant page in your fieldwork worksheet to allow annotations in a later activity.
Create a scale and a title for your sketch map and the N direction.
Alternatively, create a digital map for this activity.
Find instructions for using MyMaps here https://royalnatpk-e.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/r/royalnatpk-e/files/Google_MyMaps.pdf
NOTE: Sketch maps can be incorporated into HSC exam responses.
Locate the fieldwork site
Locate the fieldwork site
Find a location on the satellite image and map that could be the site where the following Virtual Tour, 360 degree images and photographs were taken.
Mark these locations on your sketch map.
Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour
Take a Virtual Tour into Porters Creek Wetland with Central Coast Council's interactive 360 degree virtual reality experience below.
(Best viewed through virtual reality glasses but can also be viewed from any device with the Google Chrome internet browser.)
Annotate your sketch map with information from the virtual tour.
Use 360 degree images to investigate PCW
Use 360 degree images to investigate PCW
Use these images to examine the diversity of vegetation communities within the wetland and around a large billabong. You should be able to identify paperbarks, wollybutts, sedges and reeds. Locate these vegetation communities on the map and satellite image above.
Record your observations on your virtual fieldwork worksheet. Refer to species, tree size, density, understorey and surrounding environment.
Image 1: Paperbark forest Image 2 : Billabong Image 3: Sedgeland
Virtual Water Bug Identification activity
Virtual Water Bug Identification activity
Use the Waterwatch ID Charts to identify the water bugs shown in the video collected by a school Group in May 2021 at PCW.
Assess the quality of the water based on the tolerance level of the bugs you identified and record this in your workbook.
Water Bug Dectective Guide - Freshwater.pdfUsing fieldwork data to assess the water quality in PCW
Using fieldwork data to assess the water quality in PCW
Use data collected at the Billabong and Fishburn Drain to assess and compare the state of the water quality at both locations.
Complete a NSW Waterwatch Result sheet for each location.
Fieldwork data
Fieldwork data
Investigate human impact and change over time
Investigate human impact and change over time
1. STORMWATER RUNOFF
Compare the satellite image of Watanobbi below to a recent satellite image of the same area. Identify sites where increased stormwater runoff into the wetland would have occured.
Identify and explain features around Site 2.
Use Google Earth OR satellite images to examine the extent of recent urbanisation in the northern section of Porters Creek Catchment.
Image 1: Past image of Watanobbi.
Image 1: Past image of Watanobbi.
Fishburn drain is at Site 6.
Fishburn drain is at Site 6.
The highest point is at Site 4.
The highest point is at Site 4.
Source Wetland Web Teaching Resource.
Source Wetland Web Teaching Resource.
Image 2: Watanobbi 2021
Image 2: Watanobbi 2021
Image 2: Google Earth July 2021.
Image 2: Google Earth July 2021.
Locate and identify newly cleared land and WSUD features.
Locate and identify newly cleared land and WSUD features.
Investigate human impacts
Investigate human impacts
2. INTRODUCED SPECIES
2. INTRODUCED SPECIES
Examine the photographs of introduced weeds and fish in the Environmental Science Virtual Fieldwork tab.
Write a statement about the variety of introduced weeds found in the PCW in October 2021 (Observed approximately 100 metres from Fishburn Drain).
Suggest the source of weeds in PCW and comment on the challenges environmental managers might face in efforts to control or eliminate this type of plant invasion.
Top: Sagittaria
Bottom: Quadrat showing the density of Sagittaria plants in PCW
Above: Eastern Gambusia (Also known as Mosquito Fish)
Examine photos to identify and explain management strategies
Examine photos to identify and explain management strategies
Water Sensitive Urban Design is aimed at reducing the impact of stormwater runoff and pollutants from new urban developments.
Identify common features in the images below and explain how they work.
Locate examples of constructed wetlands in Google Earth or a recent Satellite image such Image 2 above.
Show these locations on the map you produced earlier.
Comment on the statement
'Constructed wetlands are more than just a stormwater treatment device'.
Water Sensitive Urban Design
Water Sensitive Urban Design
Wadalba
Wadalba
Halloran
Halloran
Woongarrah
Woongarrah
Wadalba
Wadalba
Warnervale
Warnervale
Woongarah
Woongarah
Extension: Visit a local constructed wetland
Extension: Visit a local constructed wetland
If you have a constructed wetland near your home or school you can
Visit the site
Draw a field sketch or take a photograph.
Label features of the wetland on the sketch or on your photograph using a tool such as Skitch.
Use visual evidence to assess the effectiveness of the wetland. Create your own criteria to make this jusgement. Your criteria could include features such as size, position, surrounding development, maintenance, litter and wildlife.
Virtual Fieldwork Porters Creek Wetland.pdfDownload and print the worksheet to the left
OR
Use the google doc below.
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