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DEPARTMENT OFNATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT, THE ARTS AND SPORT

River Health MonitoringAquatic Health Unit

Julia Fortune, Julia Schult

Overview

• IntroductionIntroduction• New NRETAS fundingNew NRETAS funding• Nutrient monitoring and researchNutrient monitoring and research• Daly River Monitoring Status Daly River Monitoring Status

ReportReport• DiscussionDiscussion

DRMAG Suggested Approach

• Phase 1:– Coordinated reporting of current monitoring

(focus on pressures)

• Phase 2:– New monitoring by NTG

and community– Dependent on extra

resources

Current Work

NRETAS funding $60k:

• Nutrient Monitoring

• Nutrient Limitation Research

• Daly River Monitoring Status Report

Nutrient Monitoring and ResearchWhy nutrients?

• Most likely impact of development: increased nutrients

• Modelling shows potential doubling of algal biomass with nutrient addition

• Some doubt about accuracy of historical nutrient data

Proposed Nutrient MonitoringDry Season 2011

• Extensive nutrient sampling using new more accurate analysis technique

• Determine reference condition and water quality objectives

• Provide opportunities for community involvement in sampling

Nutrient Limitation Research• Limited information on nutrient limitation

and likely effects of nutrient increases

• Nutrient limitation research in collaboration with TRaCK

• Bring together information from different agencies

Status Report

• Provide template for future reporting

• Introduce P-S-R model

• Reporting by subcatchment to highlight areas of greatest pressure

Status Report

• Style similar toDarwin Harbour Report Cards

Status Report (Example only)Pressure Monitoring

• Land Use• Clearing• Water extraction/bores• Fire frequency• Flows/gauge stations• Mining

Grazing

Conservation

Urban

Other

No of licensed bores 999

Total groundwater allocation (GL)

99999

Current Use (2010) 9999

Percent 10%

Subcatchment Water Quality

Fringing vegetation

Hydrology Geo-morphology

1 Bamboo Creek X X X X

2 Bradshaw Creek X X X X

3 Chilling Creek X X X X

4 Daly River √ X X X

5 Dead Horse Creek X X X X

6 Douglas River √ X √ X

7 Fergusson River X X X X

8 Fish River X X X X

9 Flora River X X X X

10 Greenant Creek √ X X X

11 Hayward Creek X X X X

12 Katherine River √ X √ X

13 King and Dry Rivers X X v X

14 Limestone Creek X X X X

15 Seventeen Mile Creek X X X X

16 Stray Creek X X X X

Status Report (Example only)Stressor Monitoring

• Overview of current stressor monitoring

• Historical WQ monitoring (2005-2010)

Status Report (Example only)Biological Monitoring

• Fish monitoring (DoR)– E.g. catch per unit effort data

• Macroinvertebrates (DoR)– E.g. disused mine monitoring

Status Report - Outcomes

• Highlight sub-catchments of concern• Show current bias towards pressure

monitoring• Highlight gaps in current monitoring• Provide background info for public

consultation• Template for future reporting

Expected publication Mid 2011