Marine Monitoring Program: Annual Report for Inshore Water Quality Monitoring 2020-2021
Other Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
The water quality component of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program reports on the annual and long-term condition in inshore water quality of the Great Barrier Reef with reference to data over more than 15 years. Individual water quality indicators are monitored for trends and compared against water quality guideline values. In general, concentrations of chlorophyll a and dissolved inorganic phosphorus are improving, while total suspended solids concentrations are stable or improving and all three parameters met guideline values in most regions in the 2020-21 year. Particulate phosphorus and Secchi depth values were generally stable across all regions and particulate phosphorous was just meeting guideline values in most regions in the 2020-21 year. In contrast these parameters exceeded guideline values in most or all regions during 2020-21: • Nitrate/nitrite • Particulate nitrogen While this report presents some positive results for inshore water quality in the Great Barrier Reef for the 2020-21 sampling period, broad reaching and sustained improvements in the marine water quality of the inshore reef have not yet been observed. The complexity of the relationship between land-based runoff and water quality, the influence of inter-annual variability and external drivers and pressures, the progress of changed management practice adoption, and the expected slow response timeframes between land-based changes and marine water quality all contribute to this lack of observed change.
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2208-4096
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338
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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
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Townsville, QLD, Australia
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