Swamp Creek Beach - Murrumbidgee River

Stromlo, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Managed by Transport Canberra & City Services - ACT Government

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

This area is CLOSED to Primary Contact Recreation due to increased bacteria levels.

Swimming, diving, bathing, novice Secondary Contact Recreation, and windsurfing are currently not permitted.

Adverse health reactions may include intestinal illnesses, such as self-limiting gastroenteritis, which may often be of short duration, respiratory illness, ear infections and skin and eye problems.

Standing Bacteria Alert: Swimming should be avoided for several days after heavy rainfall as bacterial levels are strongly affected by such events.

SITE INFORMATION

Uriarra West (Swamp Creek) Crossing is located where Uriarra Road crosses the magnificent Murrumbidgee River, and is accessed off Uriarra Road. There are great spots for shady river-side picnicking. On hot summer days you will find many Canberrans enjoying the easy access to the river, lovely swimming spots and picnic areas. Fishing and canoeing are also popular activities.

This is one of our DOG-FRIENDLY picnic areas.

Facilities include:

•Toilets
•Wood barbecues
•Shelter
•Picnic tables
•Off leash dog exercise area
•Fishing
•Swimming
•Canoe entry points

There are no bins provided, please take your rubbish home and recycle.

Be aware that phone reception is not reliable throughout the Murrumbidgee River Corridor. Do not depend on your phone for safety or directions.

For further information go to - https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/murrumbidgee-river-corridor/uriarra-crossing-eastwest

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Failed to meet water quality standards
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on November 29th, 2021. Transport Canberra & City Services - ACT Government updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on December 1st, 2021 at 11:07 PM.

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Environment Protection (EP) monitors freshwater recreational sites for blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria). Health Protection Services (HPS) monitors sites for bacteria by testing for intestinal enterococci, a faecal indicator organism used to assess water quality. Sampling and analysis is carried out in accordance with the ACT Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality.

Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) and Bacteria (intestinal enterococci, a faecal indicator) are monitored to evaluate water quality for recreational purposes. Bacteria water quality criteria only applies to primary contact activities e.g. swimming, water-skiing, diving etc. Blue- green algae water quality criteria applies to both primary and secondary contact activities e.g. sailing, rowing, kayaking etc.

Blue-green algae is tested all year-round on a weekly basis. Faecal indicators are tested weekly during the recreation season (September/ October to April).

Samples are typically collected on Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a public holiday). Secondary resampling if required occurs on the following day.

Water quality results are posted on the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) website, Water Quality in Our Lakes, Ponds and Rivers.
Water quality advisory signs are located at all recreational areas where sampling occurs and as required are changed to reflect the status of a designated site.
Microbial results are entered into a spreadsheet which is sent out to designated stakeholders. From October 2017 the microbial results may be available from the data act website. Certificates of analysis are sent to Environmental Health at the HPS.

Advisories are issued when water quality exceeds either cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin criteria or when enterococci levels exceed public health risk criteria.

Beaches are given a green (pass) status if their most recent sample results meet both of the following protective criteria :
Enterococci: 200 cfu/100mL

Cyanobacteria: less than 20,000 Indicative Microcystis aeruginosa algae cells/ml

Beaches are given a red (fail) if they exceed either of the following protective criteria:
Enterococci: 200 cfu/100mL

Cyanobacteria: 20,000 Indicative Microcystis aeruginosa algae cells/ml (Medium alert)

Additional warnings are issued when cyanobacteria level reach high (≥50,000 cells/ml) or extreme ( ≥125,000 cells/ml) levels.

Water Quality Graph