Checking the Pulse of the Hawkesbury River
Biophysical Interactions
Dyrubbin - The Hawkesbury River
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Darug people, on which this fieldwork program is conducted. We would like to pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and future and acknowledge our Aboriginal Elders and knowledge holders who have helped us to understand the special connection Aboriginal Peoples have with the land.
Welcome
The following is a virtual fieldwork program to support NSW Stage 6 Geography Syllabus: Biophysical Interactions. This geographical inquiry into the biophysical processes at work in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system investigates interactions and how human activities impact on sustainable management.
How to use this resource
This site is designed to supplement a fieldwork excursion with Brewongle EEC. There is sample data in the Fieldwork section which can be utilised to prepare students for their excursion and for students to compare their data against.
Step 1 - Download the Student Fieldwork Booklet and save in to your own drive before you begin.
Step 2 - Use the top menu on this site or the next page buttons to navigate through the activities, completing each of the pre-visit tasks in your Student Fieldwork Booklet. You will complete the Fieldwork tasks at Brewongle, but may like to compare your data against the example results given in the Fieldwork section of this site.
Step 3 - Consult your classroom teacher for clarification or email us for help at brewongle-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au
For teachers:
Syllabus Inquiry Questions
What are the biophysical interactions which occur between components of the biophysical environment?
How is water quality affected by hydrological and physio-chemical processes?
How are riverbank and riparian zone health affected by erosion, run-off and biodiversity?
How do biological characteristics such as plankton affect river health?
What are the effects of human impacts on the functioning of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment and the quality of water in the river system?
How is the biophysical environment of the Hawkesbury-Nepean changing in response to climatic variations?
Outcomes
See Student Fieldwork Booklet.
Geographical skills
This program is structured to provide opportunities for students to implement a number of geographical skills such as
testing physio-chemical water samples
identifying, collecting and recording data about erosion and deposition from primary sources
undertaking biological sampling of river water