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 November 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Moderate
|
| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
The moderate condition of the edge habitat and the lack of riffle
habitat is likely to be due to low rainfall in the region reducing
flow in the river. Previously the site has been rated in moderate
to good condition.
Ecological health assessment for May 2005
| Habitat |
Ecological health
|
| Edge |
Good
|
| Riffle |
Moderate
|
The moderate condition of the riffle habitat is likely to be
due to low rainfall in the region reducing flow in the river.
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in the Wakefield 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.
Water chemistry classification for October 2005 to March 2006
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Moderate
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
The amount of total nitrogen can become elevated as a result
of fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms during.
The moderate total nitrogen results are unusual. Previously total
nitrogen was classified as good. The other classifications are
consistent with previous results.
Water chemistry classification for April to September 2005
|
Indicator
|
Classification
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Moderate
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
|
|
Good
|
The amount of total nitrogen can become elevated as a result
of fertilisers or animal wastes being washed off farms during
storms or due to effluent outfalls. The moderate total nitrogen
results are unusual. Previously total nitrogen was classified
as good.
This page was last modified 13-09-2007
|
