Vulkathunha Gammon Ranges Project

This is a long-term ecological monitoring project in the Arcoona Creek catchment area of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park. Begun in 1988 with the installation of a rain gauge on the Gammon Plateau, the program has expanded to include:

  • Continuous rainfall records at high and low elevations (9 pluviometers)
  • Stream flow recording
  • Photographic botanical monitoring
  • Human impact monitoring
  • Native and Feral animal counts

VGRaSP Expedition Timetable

Each year we do two main trips, one in Autumn and one in Spring.
The trips include a routine check of data loggers, batteries, pluviometers and taking vegetation photos at regular photo points. Trips may also involve maintenance, upgrade or installation work at various sites.

Autumn Trip (April)

Usually coincides with the Anzac Day Long Weekend (and/or Easter if they are close together). Usually a more comprehensive trip that may involve maintenance.

Spring Trip (October)

Usually coincides with the Labour Day Long Weekend. Often only involves the vegetation photos at our regular photo points as data logger maintenance / checking is generally only required once a year.

Leaders Forms

VGRaSP Leaders Forms (pdf format)(364Kb)
VGRaSP Leaders Forms (doc)(315Kb)
VGRaSP Notes for Expeditioners (pdf format)(182KB)

If you would like to join one of these trips, please contact SEG to discuss.

Contact: Garry Trethewey (mob) 0403 929550
Email: Garry Trethewey

Contact: Graham Blair (mob) 0429 806159
Email: Graham Blair

Contact: Michelle Trethewey (mob) 0403 929551
Email: Michelle Trethewey

Usually there is a group get-together (6 to 12 people) about 3 weeks before the start of the trip. As you might imagine, with several groups of people doing various jobs in different places, logistics needs a bit of care. Transport, timetabling, sharing tools and equipment, meeting places and times, all need to be planned.

Expeditioners need to be able to carry a pack with some equipment, plus tent, sleeping bag, stove, food, etc 8 kilometres along a creek to our camp. We stay there for two nights, doing jobs near camp, on our way to and on ‘The Plateau’.

Papers, Presentations and Findings in relation to the VGRaSP Project

  • Kemp, DJ 2023, ‘Arcoona Creek Hydrology Review 2023’. Download here (1.70MB pdf)
  • Kemp, DJ 2017, ‘Arcoona Creek Flood January 2017 A Description and analysis of an extreme flood’. Download here (250KB pdf)
  • Kemp, DJ & Wright CJ 2014 ‘Flood Hydrology in an Arid Area – Findings from the Gammon Ranges Project’. Download here(750Kb pdf)
  • Hickman, R 2013 ‘VGRaSP images and rainfall data. Photos show relationship of vegetation to rainfall’. Download here (1.92MB pdf)
  • Kemp, DJ, Wright, CJ, Jewell, SA 2008 ‘The Gammon Ranges Project – Monitoring Rainfall in a Remote Area’. Download here (337Kb pdf)
  • (author unknown) circa 2004 ‘Gammon Ranges Scientific Project: a general description’. Download here(130KB pdf)
  • Jewell, SA, Wright, CJ, Maier, HR 2003 ‘Analysis of Rainfall in the Gammon Ranges of South Australia 1992 – 2002’. Download here (1.75MB pdf)
  • Maier, HR & Wright, CJ circa 1994 ‘Rainfall monitoring in the Gammon Ranges’ A historical document regarding the rainfall project. Download here (867KB pdf)