Bryant, Catherine, and Rasheed, Michael (2013) Gladstone Permanent Transect Seagrass Monitoring: monthly report December 2013. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

[Extract] Seagrass condition has been monitored quarterly at permanent transects at seven locations in Port Curtis and Rodd's Bay since November 2009. These include Pelican Banks North, Pelican Banks South, Facing Island, Wiggins Island, Fishermans Landing, Redcliffe and Rodd's Bay (Redcliffe was monitored from August 2010) (see maps on pages 2 to 5). The program was established to determine within and among year variation in seagrass condition and form the key sensitive receptor sites for assessing seagrass condition during the Western Basin dredging operation. In September 2011, Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited commissioned additional monthly surveys outside of the regular quarterly monitoring to provide more frequent assessments of seagrass condition during dredging operations. These additional monthly surveys are conducted aerially to avoid damaging sites through repeated on-ground sampling. Over the course of the monitoring program, a number of additional sites were added. A new site was established at Wiggins Island (December 2011) due to the development of the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal near the original site and also at Facing Island (March 2012) where changes in meadow distribution resulted in the original site being situated at the edge of the meadow. In August 2012, a new site was also established at Redcliffe in closer proximity to the main channel where any impacts associated with dredging were more likely to occur. Both the original and new sites at these locations were monitored to determine if there were significant differences in seagrass communities between sites. In August 2012 three new sites were also established in the Narrows region to monitor seagrass during dredging occurring as part of the Narrows Pipeline Crossing (Duffy Creek, Black Swan Island and Graham's Creek). In line with conditions attached to the Narrows Pipeline Crossing and Western Basin Dredging projects these sites are no longer actively reported on since the completion of the dredging programs. With dredging for the Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project (WBDDP) complete, monitoring of seagrass condition will revert to the original seven seagrass sensitive receptor sites established for the WBDDP and outlined above and in the Water Quality Management Plan to assess post dredge recovery or potential longer term impacts. During the post dredging period, the quarterly assessments will continue for three years to assess seagrass recovery and any potential longer term impacts to seagrasses. The Redcliffe site will be substituted with the Black Swan Island site where more suitable seagrass occurs for the assessment of post dredge recovery.

Item ID:	45764
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	seagrass, monitoring, dredging, Gladstone, Port Curtis, Western Basin dredging and disposal project
Related URLs:	https://research.jcu.edu.au/tropwater/
Additional Information:	A Report for Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC). Report No. 13/50
Funders:	Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited
Projects and Grants:	Port Curtis Seagrass Monitoring
Date Deposited:	20 Sep 2016 04:27
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 100%
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