A number of our research projects have successfully “closed the loop” in terms of developing and implementing practical solutions that are demonstrably reducing the amounts of sediment being delivered to the lagoon of the Great Barrier Reef.
Although only a small portion of the fine sediment from catchments and waterways reaches coral reefs and seagrass meadows, it can still have a significant impact by reducing light and water quality, especially during wet season flooding events. Understanding the sources of this sediment, its effects, and how future discharges can be reduced has been a key focus of the NESP TWQ Hub.
By identifying the ‘most environmentally detrimental sediment’ in terms of transportability and nutrient bioavailability, some of the key sources of sediment have been identified. Subsequent research in gully remediation effectiveness for these areas has informed a number of investments and activities by groups such as Greening Australia and Indigenous land managers. Data from these and many other projects assessing and monitoring sedimentation is available on the Hub’s online data repository, the eAtlas.
New technologies used for monitoring, sampling and analysis have enabled Hub researchers to make a number of timely recommendations to end-users, many of which have since been adopted and incorporated into new practices. These include a standardised classification system for alluvial sediments, site-specific trigger levels associated with routine marine dredging, a ‘desired state’ for GBR seagrass meadows, as well as cost-effective gully remediation methods for land-holders and graziers.
In May 2018, Greening Australia announced that phase one of their gully restoration works using techniques delivered through NESP TWQ research had reduced the sediment concentration leaving the treatment gully by an astonishing 97%. Based on this success, Greening Australia now plans to roll out the techniques used at Strathalbyn Station to erosion hotspots elsewhere along the Reef.
“Recommendations from this work will be considered and incorporated into future programs and monitoring undertaken by the Port of Townsville and also be incorporated into risk assessments and scheduling for our routine dredging.”
Melinda Louden, Port of Townsville
Related Projects
Improved water quality outcomes from on-farm nitrogen management - Project 2.1.8
Risk assessing dredging activities - Project 2.1.9
Impacts of mine derived pollution on Torres Strait environments and communities - Project 2.2.2
Gully characterisation framework to underpin GBR catchment water quality management - Project 4.9
Evaluating the costs and benefits of agricultural land conversion to wetlands - Project 4.10
Gully remediation effectiveness - Project 5.9
Improved water quality outcomes from on-farm nitrogen management - Project 5.11
Reducing nitrogen runoff without reducing industry productivity - Project 6.3
A number of our research projects have successfully “closed the loop” in terms of developing and implementing practical solutions that are demonstrably reducing the amounts of sediment being delivered to the lagoon of the Great Barrier Reef.
Although only a small portion of the fine sediment from catchments and waterways reaches coral reefs and seagrass meadows, it can still have a significant impact by reducing light and water quality, especially during wet season flooding events. Understanding the sources of this sediment, its effects, and how future discharges can be reduced has been a key focus of the NESP TWQ Hub.
By identifying the ‘most environmentally detrimental sediment’ in terms of transportability and nutrient bioavailability, some of the key sources of sediment have been identified. Subsequent research in gully remediation effectiveness for these areas has informed a number of investments and activities by groups such as Greening Australia and Indigenous land managers. Data from these and many other projects assessing and monitoring sedimentation is available on the Hub’s online data repository, the eAtlas.
New technologies used for monitoring, sampling and analysis have enabled Hub researchers to make a number of timely recommendations to end-users, many of which have since been adopted and incorporated into new practices. These include a standardised classification system for alluvial sediments, site-specific trigger levels associated with routine marine dredging, a ‘desired state’ for GBR seagrass meadows, as well as cost-effective gully remediation methods for land-holders and graziers.
In May 2018, Greening Australia announced that phase one of their gully restoration works using techniques delivered through NESP TWQ research had reduced the sediment concentration leaving the treatment gully by an astonishing 97%. Based on this success, Greening Australia now plans to roll out the techniques used at Strathalbyn Station to erosion hotspots elsewhere along the Reef.
“Recommendations from this work will be considered and incorporated into future programs and monitoring undertaken by the Port of Townsville and also be incorporated into risk assessments and scheduling for our routine dredging.”
Melinda Louden, Port of Townsville
Related Projects
Improved water quality outcomes from on-farm nitrogen management - Project 2.1.8
Risk assessing dredging activities - Project 2.1.9
Impacts of mine derived pollution on Torres Strait environments and communities - Project 2.2.2
Gully characterisation framework to underpin GBR catchment water quality management - Project 4.9
Evaluating the costs and benefits of agricultural land conversion to wetlands - Project 4.10
Gully remediation effectiveness - Project 5.9
Improved water quality outcomes from on-farm nitrogen management - Project 5.11
Reducing nitrogen runoff without reducing industry productivity - Project 6.3