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Lake Macquarie Seagrass Monitoring at Eraring Power Station

Eraring Power Station (EPS), Australia¡¯s largest coal-fired power station, is located on the western shore of Lake Macquarie, Australia¡¯s largest coastal lake. The operation of EPS has the potential to influence the lake¡¯s environment and marine ecology. Specifically, warm water discharged via the cooling water system has the potential to affect benthic habitats, particularly seagrasses. Effective at capturing and storing carbon, as well as supporting fisheries, seagrasses are also sensitive to environmental change and protected by legislation.

Since 2018, our Marine Ecology team has been working with Origin Energy, the operator of EPS, to implement a comprehensive seagrass survey and monitoring program in Lake Macquarie. We use high-resolution spectral remote sensing and quantitative surveys conducted by scientific divers to determine the areal extent of seagrasses, species distribution, and plant densities and determine how the extent of seagrass changes in relation to changes in water temperature.

We incorporate new technologies where we can. For example, we recently started using underwater remote operated vehicles and aerial drones to enhance underwater habitat mapping. We¡¯ve also used our drone capabilities as an additional safety measure, giving us eyes in the sky to spot sharks, which pose a hazard in our dive sites.

These surveys provide Origin Energy with essential environmental data and confirm the station¡¯s compliance with license limits. The data also allows us to track how seagrasses have responded over time to natural events, such as marine heatwaves and floods.

As Australia transitions to renewable energy, Origin Energy is shifting their focus toward preparing for the future closure of EPS. In support of this, we¡¯ve begun conducting studies to better understand the wider influence of the station on Lake Macquarie and its fish, benthic invertebrates, macroalgae, threatened seahorses, and fisheries resources.