The Finniss River near Yundi

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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 December 2005

Habitat	Ecological health
Edge	Good
Riffle	Habitat not present

The ecological health of this site has always been rated good. A riffle habitat is rarely available for sampling, however when one is present it has been rated in good condition as well.

Ecological health assessment for May 2005

Habitat	Ecological health
Edge	Good
Riffle	Habitat not present

Water chemistry

The indicators that are measured in the Finniss River near Yundi are nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), turbidity and salinity. The concentrations of these indicators are 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
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good
Total Nitrogen	Poor
Soluble Phosphorus	Moderate
Total Phosphorus	Moderate
Turbidity	Good

Both oxidised nitrogen and total nitrogen levels are often elevated. Fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms during storms can contribute nitrogen to the river. Phosphorus and turbidity classifications are consistent with previous results.

Water chemistry classification for April to September 2005

Indicator	Classification
Oxidised Nitrogen	Moderate
Total Nitrogen	Poor
Soluble Phosphorus	Good
Total Phosphorus	Good
Turbidity	Good

Nitrogen levels can be elevated by fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms during storms or due to effluent outfalls. The elevated nitrogen results for the recent samples are consistent with previous results.

This page was last modified 13-09-2007