Cygnet River estuary

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Introduction

The Cygnet River estuary is the interface between the Cygnet River and Nepean Bay. The estuary reaches approximately 3 km inland from the mouth at Nepean Bay. The surrounding land use of the estuary is mainly rural. Water quality in the estuary is mainly affected by water flowing down from higher in the catchment where broad-acre cropping and grazing are practised.

What is an estuary?

Water quality assessment

Water quality in the Cygnet Estuary is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting water chemistry and algal (chlorophyll) data. >> More

Water quality classification for April to September 2006

Indicator	Ecosystem	Recreation	Aquaculture
Ammonia	Good	NA	Good
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good	NA	NA
Total Nitrogen	Good	NA	NA
Soluble Phosphorus	Moderate	NA	NA
Total Phosphorus	Good	NA	NA
Turbidity	Good	Good	NA
Chlorophyll (a)	Poor	NA	NA

Notes NA = not applicable

The water quality monitoring results for this period were generally consistent with previous seasonal results for this site.

Chlorophyll (a) was classified poor and soluble phosphorus as moderate in Cygnet river estuary. The other nutrient levels were relatively low during this period, although they have been elevated previously. The nutrient levels can be increased by fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off rural land during storms or possibly due to contaminated groundwater flows from the nearby effluent disposal scheme. Nutrient enrichment can lead to excessive algal growth as indicated by the chlorophyll (a) concentration in the water.

>> Archived results

Download water quality graphs

• Ammonia within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Oxidised Nitrogen within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Total Nitrogen within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Soluble Phosphorus within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Total Phosphorus within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Turbidity within the Cygnet Estuary
  
• Chlorophyll (a) within the Cygnet Estuary

Download water quality data

• Water Quality within the Cygnet Estuary Site 1
• Water Quality within the Cygnet Estuary Site 2

What is being done to improve the condition of the Cygnet Estuary?

The EPA is working with the Kangaroo Island Natural Resource Management Board to educate farmers and land owners about stream bank rehabilitation, restricting stock access to streams and promoting the sustainable use of fertilisers and pesticides.

Reports

Ambient Water Quality of Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island 1999-2004 (2.8MB PDF)

Links

Kangaroo Island NRM Board

This page was last modified 31-07-2007