Water Management
Barwon Regional Algal Coordinating Committee
The Barwon RACC coordinates responses to, and monitoring of, algal events in water bodies within the Namoi, Gwydir and Border Rivers catchments.
The agency managing the algal affected water body is responsible for monitoring algal levels, preparing emergency plans, issuing algal warnings and communicating to water users. When an algal bloom affects a water body that is managed by more than one agency, the response to the bloom is coordinated by the RACC.
The Barwon RACC is composed of representatives from state and local government and the community. The lead agency, providing chair and secretariat roles is the NSW Department of Water and Energy. Other agencies include the NSW Public Health Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Regional Catchment Management Authorities and the District Emergency Management Officer of the NSW Police Service.
The Barwon RACC coordinates a weekly blue-green algae report for the region. Information on blue–green algal blooms in recreational waters is distributed regularly through the region's media.