| MANAGING
RIVERBANK
VEGETATION
Vegetation growing along riverbanks and around
farm drainage systems prevents sediment run-off and also filters
contaminants flowing into streams, rivers and wetlands.
Researchers are developing tools to assess the
influence of soil type, land use, vegetation structure, and width
of the vegetated zone on the performance of riverbank vegetation.
From this work, they will develop guidelines for designing vegetation
buffer zones in agricultural areas. |
RIVER
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
TOOLS
Researchers are developing physical, chemical and
biological indicators to assess river health in the Wet Tropics.
Each indicator must be sensitive to land use, riverbank
disturbance, or run-off from catchments.
Researchers will compare measured values of different
components of the river system, such as the biodiversity of fish
life and the amount of attached algae, against values expected under
pristine conditions. Differences between measured and expected values
of indicators can signal the health of a system, and if it is declining,
suggest reasons for the decline. |
PRIORITISING
RIVER REHABILITATION
The Great Barrier Reef catchment is a patchwork
of different land and water uses, with different levels of disturbance,
ecological health and protection of ecological functionsand values.
Researchers are producing frameworks to prioritise
river rehabilitation and restoration actions.
This will improve river health and water quality
across the Great Barrier Reef catchments. It will also help to ensure
that water of high quality enters the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. |
| ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGIES FOR MONITORING WATER QUALITY IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Researchers are testing the ability of satellite
imagery of ocean colour to provide accurate estimates of water quality
on reefs and coastal areas.
They are also trialling new passive sampling technologies
to measure pollutant levels in reef waters. This will enable cost-effective
monitoring of water quality on the Reef. |
NEW
TOOLS TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF INSHORE ECOSYSTEMS
Different organisms react
to the stresses of nutrient, pollutant and sediment run-off in different
ways.
Tiny microbes on the Reef
respond to changes in water quality much faster than more complex
animals such as coral or fish.
Researchers are investigating
how a range of microscopic organisms, algae, seagrasses and corals
react to changes in water quality. They will develop sensitive biochemical
indicators to act as an early warning system for deteriorating water
quality on inshore reefs. |
IMPROVED
WATER QUALITY
MONITORING
Many factors, such as time of day, extent of river
vegetation, and recent disturbances of the water system affect water
quality. Monitoring is often flawed because these factors are not
considered.
Site selection is very important. Most monitoring
is done at the end of river systems. However, as contaminants may
enter and leave the system at different points, end-of-system monitoring
gives incomplete information. It also overlooks the role of wetlands
in filtering out contaminants.
Researchers are establishing better methods
for site selection and effective monitoring across the catchment.
|
| ACHIEVING
OUTCOMES
An essential component of the Catchment
to Reef Program is converting the outputs of each task into tools
that can be adopted by land users and managers across the catchment.
Tools will be tailored for, and communicated to, different users
throughout the community, from school groups to farmers and management
agencies. |
