The Freshwater Report Card is a simple snapshot of freshwater ecosystem condition that aims to increase awareness about the health of rivers and creeks in the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchment and factors that may impact waterway health. It complements the kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary Report Card which specifically focuses on the health of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary.

The Freshwater Report Card assesses waterway health across the five major sub-catchments of the broader kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchment. The sub-catchments are the North and South Esk, Macquarie, Brumbys-Lake, and Meander sub-catchments.

Key components of waterway health are assessed, which include:

• Aquatic habitat - based on analysis of water quality.

• Aquatic life - based on analysis of macroinvertebrate sampling.

• Riparian habitat - based on an assessment of condition and extent of native riparian vegetation.