the area. Steam ships, cutters and hand-loaded punts were the most common vessels. For navigation purposes the river was surveyed in 1871 from its mouth upstream to McLean. Wharfs were initially built at McLean, Beenleigh, Waterford and Logan Village with more built due to public demand. Unofficial ferry crossings were conducted as early as 1862. Long-term services were established at Alberton, Loganholme and Waterford. The rail bridge at Loganlea was operating in 1885 only to be demolished two years later during floods. A new bridge opened in 1888 and lasted until 1972 when another bridge was built. In 1905, a crocodile was found dead on the banks of the river. The find was preceded by reports of sightings for several years which were met with skepticism because southern Queensland is well south of their natural distribution. A toll bridge on the river north of Beenleigh was opened and began collecting tolls in 1931, as weekend traffic between Brisbane and the Gold Coast increased. The worst flooding in the lower reaches of the river in the 20th century occurred during the 1974 Brisbane flood. Water quality and conservation The quality of the water in the Logan River is very turbid. The annual Healthy Waterways Report Card for the waterways and catchments of South East Queensland in 2007 rated the condition of the Logan River as very poor. Much of the environmental degradation has been caused by land clearing, the Bromelton Industrial Estate, nutrient run-off, and pumping wastewater directly from several wastewater treatment plants in and around the Logan River. In 2009, the Healthy Waterways Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program rated the River's freshwater area at a "D"; its Estuarine area was given an "F". Historically, cholera has been found in the Logan River from around 1977. Community projects in the Logan catchment area aim to improve the quality of the ecosystem. Competitions such as Carp-busters are aimed at reducing the number of carp and hence allowing native species of fish a better chance of survival. See also References External links Logan City Scenic Rim Region Gondwana Rainforests of Australia