Photo: Australian
Water Quality Centre |
Introduction
Warburton Creek is a freshwater stream in the far north of the
state on the eastern side of Lake Eyre. Part of the Diamantina
catchment, it is one of the largest rivers in arid South Australia.
The dominant land use in the catchment is grazing native vegetation.
Elevated turbidity and nutrient levels are the most likely water
quality problem. The site is located in the lower reaches of the
catchment at a large permanent waterhole approximately 150 m wide.
The waterhole is bordered by lignums and eucalypts. >>
Map (800KB 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
Water chemistry is measured each month (or every 3 months in
remote locations). 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
show 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 |
Habitat not present
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| Riffle |
Habitat not present
|
The Warburton Creek was dry in autumn 2006.
Download ecological health data
Water chemistry
The indicators that are measured in Warbuton 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
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Indicator
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Classification
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ID
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ID
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ID
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ID
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ID
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Notes ID = insufficient data available
for this period to allow classification
There was only one sample collected during this monitoring period
(August 2006) due to dry conditions, which is insufficient data
to reliably classify the water quality. Previous results have
indicated that the amount of nutrients and turbidity can be elevated
by animal wastes being washed into the waterhole during storms.
Livestock and native animals accessing the waterhole can also
contribute nutrients to the creek.
The nutrient and turbidity concentrations in August 2006 were
unusually high, compared to the previous results. This may have
been due to very shallow water level in the waterhole, causing
sediment and nutrient re-suspension.
Many rivers in the state's Far North also have naturally high
turbidity levels due to the suspension of very small clay particles.
This site is sampled every three months because of its remote
location. 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 waterholes such as this waterhole
on the Warburton River and to limit water extraction rates.
>> 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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