Manningham's Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Health Report

2. Waterway EcologyHard Surfaces and FloodingHeavy rainfall over a short time framecan cause significant and damagingstormwater surges. Reducing orslowing down these stormwater surgescan be a challenge. Household watertanks that collect rain water for onsiteuse is a great way to reduce this stormsurge. Engineering solutions caninclude raingardens, and waterretaining basins such as Ruffey Lakecan also slow surge events.Andersons Creek discharging turbidwater into the Yarra after heavy rainfallIn peri-urban environment good landmanagement practices and retention ofcatchment vegetation is extremelyimportant to the ecology of streams.Large areas of vegetation promotesseepage of rainfall into the substrateand reduces runoff during heavy rains.Streamside vegetation also plays animportant role by filtering outsuspended sediments and absorbspollutants from runoff water. It alsohelps hold the soil profile together andHarris Gully Tributary in floodreduce creek and river erosion.Andersons Creek flash flood at Everard DriveWaterwatch 2013 Annual Report 134