Photo: Australian
Water Quality Centre |
Introduction
Margaret Creek is in the far north of the state, draining east
towards Lake Eyre South. The dominant land use in the catchment
is grazing, although there is a small area of nature conservation.
Elevated turbidity and nutrient levels due to cattle grazing are
the most likely problems. Margaret Creek is naturally saline due
to groundwater springs, although the creek does not flow very
often as rainfall in the catchment is very low. The monitoring
site near the South Oodnadatta Track is near the creek's outfall
and the catchment area upstream of the site is about 4900 km².
The monitoring site has vegetation typical of a saline stream,
with sparse lignum and samphire aquatic plants and salt bush giving
riparian cover. >> Map
(1.2MB PDF)
Water quality assessment
Water quality is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor
condition by interpreting water chemistry data in the context
of protecting environmental values. >>
More
The ecological health is assessed in spring and autumn. We use
macroinvertebrates for this purpose because they provide a relatively
simple way to assess the health of an aquatic ecosystem. >>
More
We measure chemical indicators because when they reach a certain
level they can cause stress or toxicity to animals and plants
in an ecosystem. Water chemistry is measured in Margaret Creek
every three months (rather than monthly) because of its remote
location. >> More
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.
Go
here to find out how we classify ecological health in streams.
Ecological health assessment for May 2006
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Habitat not present
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
This site was dry in autumn 2006 and consequently no results
are available.
Download ecological health data
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in Margaret Creek 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.
Go here
to find out how we organise and classify the chemistry data.
Water chemistry classification for April to September 2006
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
NS
|
|
|
NS
|
|
|
NS
|
|
|
NS
|
|
|
NS
|
NS = Not sampled due to dry conditions
There were no samples collected from Margaret Creek during this
period due to dry conditions.
>> Archived results
Download water chemistry graphs
Download raw chemistry data
What is being done to improve the condition
of South Australian rivers and streams
Efforts to improve the condition of South Australia's rivers
and streams are being driven by various government agencies, primarily
The Environment Protection Authority
The Department
of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation
Natural
Resource Management Boards
Department
for Environment and Heritage (SA)
Collaborative projects and programs being run by these agencies
are based on the protection of environmental values, as explained
in the National
Water Quality Management Strategy. >>
More
This page was last modified 25-09-2007
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