Townsville field training area ecological monitoring November 2016 - July 2017

This report commissioned by the Department of Defence comprises the ambient water quality and aquatic invertebrate’s component of the annual Aquatic Ecology Monitoring and Assessment of the Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA) undertaken by TropWATER, James Cook University. Routine monitoring of aquatic habitats on the TFTA has been carried out since 1994 and has followed a three yearly rotational monitoring schedule since 2004/2005. The 2016/2017 program initiates the fifth cycle of this schedule and required an assessment of water quality, aquatic invertebrate communities and riparian vegetation at key aquatic ecosystem monitoring sites for the pre-wetseason, and riparian vegetation and sediment quality at key monitoring sites in the post-wet season. Sampling of 17 key waterhole sites selected for long-term ecological monitoring of the TFTA was undertaken in November and December 2016 (pre-wet season) and again in early July 2017 (post-wet season). The results obtained from these monitoring events contribute to the growing water quality and aquatic ecology database for the TFTA, from which we have developed (and should continue to refine) local trigger values (referred to as TFTA TVs). This will allow the more accurate assessment of the condition of aquatic habitats in the TFTA relative to any military and land management activities in the area. The Condition Report Card has gradually been refined and enhanced since this reporting system was first developed, and it now encapsulates all key conclusions and recommendations relating to riverine ecosystems. Effectively the report card now functions as an executive summary in its own right and accordingly is presented at the beginning of the report. The report card comprises two tables and a map, which are shown on pages v to x: • Table 1 provides individual condition ratings for each key aspect of water quality and/or ecology that has been assessed, along with overall compliance ratings. • Table 2 identifies the main factors currently influencing the condition of sites, explain the rationale behind any necessary adjustments to initial compliance ratings, document any management issues that have arisen since the last report, and where necessary, recommend ameliorative measures.

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