Photo: Australian
Water Quality Centre |
Introduction
Neales River is a brackish stream in the far north of the state
which flows towards Lake Eyre. The catchment is very dry and the
dominant land use is grazing and natural vegetation. Elevated
turbidity and nutrient levels are the most likely problems. The
river at Algebuckina waterhole is a permanent pool, which is partly
fed by relatively saline groundwater. The waterhole is surrounded
by native vegetation; eucalypts and lignum. >>
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. >>
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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. >>
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Water chemistry is measured every 3 months in the Neales River
because of its remote location. We measure chemical indicators
because when they reach a certain level they can cause stress
or toxicity to animals and plants in an ecosystem. >>
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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 |
Moderate
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
This site is usually in good to moderate condition. This section
of the Neales River rarely flows due to low rainfall and is effectively
a disconnected waterhole. As such, riffle habitat is rarely available
for sampling.
In autumn 2006, 24 different types of macroinvertebrates were
found in the edge habitat. The most common species were two midges
from the sub-family Chironominae (Tanytarsus species and
Cladotanytarsus species) and damselfly nymphs.
The site rated as moderate (slightly impaired) due to the absence
of worms, mites, beetles, waterbugs and mayflies. This probably
relates more to limited aquatic plant habitat rather than any
water quality effects. The occasionally elevated nutrient concentrations
tend to support filamentous algal and phytoplankton growth rather
than macrophytes (plants). The most interesting records for this
sample included the presence of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium
species and three types of biting midge larvae from the family
Ceratopogonidae.
Download ecological health data
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in Neales River 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
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Moderate
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
The results in this monitoring period were generally consistent
with previous results for this site. The soluble nutrient concentrations
(oxidised nitrogen and soluble phosphorus) tend to be quite low
at this site because uptake into algae is quite rapid. Occasionally
elevated total nitrogen and phosphorus levels are generally bound
up in suspended sediment or phytoplankton.
The main nutrient input to the waterhole is likely to be from
livestock that have direct access to the waterhole, although stocking
density in the area tends to vary according to drought conditions.
The South
Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board released
a catchment water management plan for this region in May 2006.
Among other things, the plan identifies the need to control direct
stock access to waterbodies such as the Algebuckina waterhole.
>> 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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