North Para River at Turretfield

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Introduction

The North Para River is a large fresh to brackish stream flowing through the Barossa. This site is near the bottom of the catchment, just upstream of the junction with the South Para River (see South Para River). This monitoring site is one of two sites on the North Para River (see North Para River: Penrice). The site is located at a gauging station, from which Stream flow data is available from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. The main land use in the catchment is viticulture. Elevated turbidity and nutrient levels are the most likely water quality problems, although salinity can also become elevated. >> Map (782KB 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. Water chemistry is measured each month. >> More

Water chemistry

The indicators that are measured in the North Para River at Turretfield 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	Moderate
Total Nitrogen	Good
Soluble Phosphorus	Poor
Total Phosphorus	Poor
Turbidity	Good

The nutrient concentrations (especially phosphorus) in the North Para River at Turrettfield were high in this period, which is generally consistent with previous results. The nutrient concentrations in the river can be increased by fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms during storms. Nutrient concentrations at Turretfield are significantly higher than those at Penrice which is further up the catchment and less impacted by agricultural runoff.

The salinity is also markedly higher at Turretfield than at the Penrice site. This is probably because saline groundwater inflows have a greater influence on this reach of the North Para River.

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 North Para River at Turretfield
  
• Total nitrogen in North Para River at Turretfield
  
• Total phosphorus in North Para River at Turretfield
  
• Soluble phosphorus in North Para River at Turretfield
  
• Turbidity in North Para River at Turretfield
  
• Salinity in North Para River at Turretfield

Download raw chemistry data

• All chemistry data for North Para River at Turretfield

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