Archived water quality assessments
Ecological health
We collect two samples of macroinvertebrates, one from riffle
(or flowing water) habitat and one from edge (still water) habitat.
The diversity of the macroinvertebrate community is used to describe
ecological health as being in good,
moderate or poor
condition.
Ecological health assessment for November 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Poor
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
Usually the edge habitat is rated moderate. On this occasion,
it was rated poor because a few macroinvertebrates were not found,
although they have been collected from this site in the past.
A riffle habitat has not been present at this site since monitoring
began.
Ecological health assessment for May 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Good
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in the Dutton River are nutrients
(nitrogen and phosphorus), turbidity and salinity.
The concentration of these indicators is used to classify the
water chemistry as being in good,
moderate or poor
condition, according to the needs of aquatic ecosystem protection.
Water chemistry classification for October 2005 to March 2006
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Good
|
These classifications are consistent with previous results. The
amount of nutrients can become elevated as a result of fertilisers
or animal wastes being washed off farms during storms.
Water chemistry classification for April to September 2005
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Poor
|
|
|
Good
|
The amount of nitrogen and phosphorus can become elevated as
a result of fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms
during storms or due to effluent outfalls. The poor nutrient results
for the recent samples are consistent with previous results.
This page was last modified 13-09-2007
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