Stream rehabilitation : impact on water quality and long-term effectiveness in an urban environment

Shrimptons Creek is a small catchment in the suburban-commercial area of North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. The original channel system was significantly modified by firstly agricultural, then suburban, and finally commercial development in its catchment and along the channel. Sewer lines, uncontrolled stormwater outlets, major road systems and culverts and significant weed infestation occurred over a period of more than 150 years. The opportunity was provided to rehabilitate a section of the channel and monitor the effectiveness of the rehabilitation. It is concluded that the rehabilitation impacted on the aesthetic amenity of the channel and had some limited effects on water quality. However, the failure to maintain the system, a problem identified elsewhere by the authors, has reduced the effectiveness of the rehabilitation.