North Para River at Penrice

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Introduction

The North Para River is a large fresh to brackish stream flowing through the Barossa Valley. The site is located at a gauging station, from which stream flow data are available from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.

This site is one of two sites monitored on the North Para River (see North Para River: Turretfield). It is near a quarry, but the predominant land uses upstream are grazing and viticulture. Elevated turbidity and nutrient levels are the most likely water quality problems, although salinity can also be elevated. >> Map (782KB PDF)

Water quality assessment

Water quality is assessed as being in good, moderate or poor condition by interpreting ecological health and water chemistry data in the context of protecting environmental values. >> More

Ecological health is assessed in spring and autumn using the AUSRIVAS model. We use macroinvertebrates for this purpose because they provide a relatively simple way to assess the health of an aquatic ecosystem. >> More

Water chemistry is measured each month. We measure chemical indicators because when they reach a certain level they can cause stress or toxicity to animals and plants in an ecosystem. Some indicators can also indicate if the water is suitable for drinking water or for activities such as swimming. >> 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	Good
Riffle	Habitat not present

This site is usually in good condition. A riffle habitat is occasionally present in spring and is usually rated good. However a riffle has not been present at this site since 2001 due to low flows in the river.

In autumn 2006, the most common edge habitat species were amphipods (Austrochiltonia australis), Baetidae mayflies (Cloeon species), non-biting midges (Cladotanytarsus species) and Hypogastruridae springtails. The site included many of the normal inhabitants of disconnected pool habitats including low numbers of freshwater shrimps (Paratya australiensis), yabbies (Cherax destructor), and various waterbugs, worms, midges and beetles.

The most unusual finds at the site were the rectangular silk-case dwelling caddisfly Hellyethira simplex and rock-crawling mayflies Atalophlebia australis.

Download ecological health data

• Macroinvertebrate summary for the North Para River at Penrice
• All the macroinvertebrate data for the North Para River at Penrice

Water chemistry

The indicators that are measured in the North Para River at Penrice 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
Oxidised Nitrogen	Good
Total Nitrogen	Good
Soluble Phosphorus	Good
Total Phosphorus	Good
Turbidity	Good

The results in this monitoring period were generally consistent with previous results for this site. In general, the soluble (i.e. oxidised) nitrogen levels are quite low and the total nitrogen can become elevated, albeit predominantly bound up in algae or suspended sediment. The phosphorus tends to have a higher soluble fraction. The salinity levels vary quite significantly. They tend to increase during dry periods due to saline groundwater inputs and then freshen up after large rainfall periods.

The Penrice monitoring site is in the upper reaches of the North Para River and tends to have lower nutrient concentrations than the site at Turrettfield, which is further down the catchment. The Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board is developing a regional NRM Plan, which will build on the catchment water management plans prepared previously. The NRM Board is also developing a Water Allocation Plan for the Barossa Valley. These plans will be invaluable in establishing strategies for long term water quality improvement.

>> Archived results

Download water chemistry graphs

• Oxidised nitrogen in the North Para River at Penrice
  
• Total nitrogen in the North Para River at Penrice
  
• Total phosphorus in the North Para River at Penrice
  
• Soluble phosphorus in the North Para River at Penrice
  
• Turbidity in the North Para River at Penrice
  
• Salinity in the North Para River at Penrice

Download raw chemistry data

• All chemistry data for the North Para River at Penrice

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

Reports

SA's Rivers and Streams (Chemical and Physical Quality)-Report No 1 (554KB PDF)

This page was last modified 25-09-2007