i.e. mostly parameters that can be compared to an established guideline
i.e. Categorised, qualitative, not assessed against a guideline
BHR: Coral monitoring in Moreton Bay
Never lose sight of the big picture
Trends from long-term datasets (Case: Bremer River)
EHMP Freshwater Estuarine-Marine 2001 N/A F 2001 F F 2002 F F 2003 DF 2004 DF 2005 DF 2006 DF 2007 D D2008 DF 2009 D+ F
92
Freshwater Streams RC 2009
Improvements in biological indicators (macroinvertebrates and fish), reflecting positive influence of higher flows – more native species and lower proportion of alien fish. Decline in nutrient cycling processes in most reporting areas, reflecting the negative influence of catchment loads (with high nutrients) on the nutrient cycling processes in river systems.
Overall score of streams in 2009 (0.805) very similar to previous year’s (0.803).
Spring 2008
Autumn
Hale Waihona Puke Annual2009
Higher Higher Lower Lower Lower Higher Higher
New Products: On-line Report Card
Launch of health-e-waterways : Data Integration System for SEQ waterways – first product is on-line Report Card
Reality check:
Setting Guidelines Southeast
What goes into a Report Card Grade?
Estuarine Report Card Grade
Water Quality (EHI) (70%) Biological (BHR) (30%)
-
Bay: TN, Chl-a, Secchi depth, Sewage nitrogen (δ15N), Lyngbya Estuary: TN, TP, Chl-a, Turbidity, DO
2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 YR05/06 YR04/05 YR03/04 Sites YR09/10 YR08/09 YR07/08 YR06/07 1 YR02/03 YR01/02 YR00/01 YR99/00 5 TP (m g/l)
Years
Doing the RAP
Riparian Assessment Tool
• records multiple attributes every second
Percentage
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
A lb e
45 46 33 58 47 51 54 28 29 95
Most publicised output of the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership Easy-to-understand snapshot of ecosystem health A to F Designed to provide an insight into the effectiveness of investments in waterway and catchment management Split into two reporting zones, freshwater and estuarine/marine Each has its own objectives, parameters, methods and analysis
Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program
Dr Julia Playford Director Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystem Health
Where do we want to be?
Healthy Ecosystems Poor Ecosystem Health
% Natural for 18 Estuaries in South East Queensland in 2007
Estuary
46 55
5 82 75 62 47
B rt re m C Bri er ab s b ba a n ge e Tr M a r ee oo ch y O C ab xle oo y l C ture oo C me ur r ru a m Ep bin ra pa Lo h M oo gan lo ol ah N er an g N o Pi os m a pa m a Ta lle Pi b u ne dg Ti era ng al pa
Monitor Ecosystem Health of Waterways to:
•
Assess effectiveness of environmental protection measures (e.g. stormwater controls, STP upgrades, riparian vegetation) Meet discharge and other licensing requirements
Years
There have been substantial improvements in some aspects of the estuarine portion of the river system, but those improvements are not yet sufficient to result in changes in EHMP grades.
-
Bay: Seagrass distribution, Seagrass depth range, Coral cover Estuary: Seagrass distribution, Riparian assessment, Sewage nitrogen (δ15N), Nutrient mixing
•
Design of Estuarine/Marine Program
Implementation of Estuarine/Marine Program
Extension to Northern & Southern regions
Establish links between agencies Set objectives based on stakeholder needs
How is the Report Card Used?
Why has the Report Card been successful?
Because it’s really simple, A is good, F is bad and any grade change has been made for a definable reason (environmental or human induced) It has consistently generated lots of public interest, particularly following the launch – has become very political From an early stage it engaged a range of decision makers – politicians, catchment groups etc We tend to get a good media coverage from the launch
135 freshwater sites
254 estuarine and marine sites
Report Card Grades reflect ecosystem health of waterways (achieve environmental values)
What is the Report Card?
Design of Freshwater Trial of Freshwater Program Program
Implementation of Freshwater Program
The SEQ Waterways Ecosystem Health Report Card represents a comprehensive marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystem health monitoring program (snapshot of the health of 18 catchments, 18 estuaries and 9 zones in Moreton Bay)