Background

Smoothy Park and Gore Cove Reserve are host to Berry Creek with is the water source I am using. It is home to exotic trees and shrubs. It is bordered by the North Shore Railway Line, Russell Street, houses of Milray Avenue and Berrys Creek. The total bushland area is approximately 4.5 hectares.

The creek itself is the longest natural creek in North Sydney although the natural elements are dwarfed by the sheer amount of storm water which is the bulk of the creek. In some areas only a few remnant native species remain. This is due to past soil disturbance, nutrient enriched stormwater and urban runoff. Other weed species have spread from the backyards of some residential properties along Milray Avenue.
In other areas, good examples of remnant Hawksbury Sandstone vegetation can be seen. Bush regeneration strategies are also underway by local council. 


General Information on area

Title	Smoothey Park	Gore Cove

Area of Reserve	9 381 m2	36 161m2
Level of Degradation:
<10%	6 443 m2	6 888 m2
10-30%	1 037 m2	8 363 m2
31-60%	1 901 m2	6 847 m2
>60%	NIL	14 062 m
Length of Boundaries	700 m	2 046 m
No. of Properties Adjoining Bushland	1	46
Length of walking track	1 174 m

PLAN

The area I have chosen to sample is the Smoothey Park and Gore Cove Reserve I am sampling 4 locations marked in the map. At the start, the beginning of the creek which is basically all storm water from runoff of the local urban area. Then as close as to the centre of the creek which is also affected by run off as many more pipes run into the creek along the length of the creek. I am also sampling where the creek meets the ocean the impacting factor here is the mangroves which dominate the area and it is basically mud flats for about 50 meters before the harbour. My final sample in just from the harbour about 50 meters from these mangroves.