Weetootla Gorge is located on the Eastern side of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park (V-GRNP). It is one of very few places, perhaps the only place, in the ranges where water flows more or less permanently and over some distance. An endangered fish, the purple spotted gudgeon, lives in the water. Yellow-footed rock wallabies are occasionally seen in the Gorge.

Map of walking trails in Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park

Marked walking trails allow people to walk into the area from Weetootla camping ground and Grindell’s Hut. In 2012, surveys of the Weetootla and Balcanoona creeks assessed the quality of the creek environments as good but not as good as had been expected. The Friends of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park has committed itself to an environmental monitoring program for Weetootla Gorge and this program is about to commence.

Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park is a wilderness park with most of it being accessible only on foot. Adelaide Bushwalkers club (ABW) has a history of trips to the park and a long-standing interest in the conservation of wild places. This article aims to let club members, who might be interested in participating, know about the V-GRNP friend’s group environmental monitoring program. Anyone who is interested can contact me by e-mail at raywen@bigpond.net.au. The Friends of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park have a website at www.rayh.id.au/vulkathunha.

The elements of the monitoring program include:

1. Measurement of water temperature, pH (acidity) and electrical conductivity (salinity) in the pools of water fed by the Weetootla and Nepourie springs and in which the purple spotted gudgeon live.
2. Estimation of fish numbers and size.
3. Survey of aquatic macroinvertebrates (water bugs) in the pools inhabited by fish.
4. Recording of frog sounds.
5. Sightings and locations of significant weeds.
6. Impact of browsing by goats and other herbivores on native plants.
7. Establishment of a photographic record at selected points of interest.

Participation in the monitoring project is on the basis that people meet their own expenses in getting to and from the park. For each working visit to the park the Friends group will be applying, beforehand, for free accommodation during the park stay.

There is a small group of people who will get this project going but, to ensure its viability over the long term, more are needed. The group has a capacity to provide training to people joining it and anyone who is interested should not feel reluctant to get involved just because they do not currently have experience or expertise related to the project.

It is intended to make two visits per year to the park with each visit involving 2/3 days of work on site. Most monitoring will be done at locations 1-2 hours walking time from a vehicle.