3. Rhyll Inlet Study: Western Port 10-11 December 2007

Aim

Melbourne Water will undertake a preliminary assessment of the impact of catchment activities on Rhyll Inlet with a sediment survey program

Background

A recent analysis of environmental issues at Cowes East recommended to  “…Remove and rehabilitate the existing tip as soon as practicable. Apart from potentially leaching contaminants into Rhyll Inlet, the tip almost certainly attracts dogs, foxes…”.  Biosis Research (2007), Preliminary Environmental and Cultural Assessment for Preparation of the Cowes East Development Services Scheme, Phillip Island, Victoria. This small study will collect preliminary data in Rhyll Inlet to determine whether there is evidence of leachate contamination of marine and estuarine sediments. Data will not be conclusive but may lead to amore rigorous study. 

Logistics

• Sediment core sampler
• Five plastic containers for holding sediment cores
• Zodiac or flat-bottomed punt associated with the Pelican

Personnel

Graham Rooney, Rick Royle.

Plan

·         Sediment core samples from the main channel of Rhyll inlet and from sites on either side of the inlet and away from direct influence of catchment drainage runoff from Blue Gum Creek (see sites below)

·         Three sediment cores from main inlet channel to site close to the mouth of Blue Gum Creek

·         One boat trip sufficient at high tide

·         Samples to be taken to NATA laboratory for suite of analyses on three within-core strata – surface, middle and bottom (63 micron fraction)

·         Analyses based on constituents of tip leachate: full ICP on elements including metals.