Moran, D., Robson, B., Gruber, R., Waterhouse, J., Logan, M., Petus, C., Howley, C., Lewis, S., Tracey, D., James, C., Mellors, J., Bove, U., Davidson, J., Glasson, K., Lefevre, C., Macadam, A., Shanahan, M., Vasile, R., Zagorskis, I., and Shellberg, J. (2022) Marine Monitoring Program: Annual Report for Inshore Water Quality Monitoring 2020-2021. Report. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

The water quality component of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program reports on the annual and long-term condition in inshore water quality of the Great Barrier Reef with reference to data over more than 15 years.

Individual water quality indicators are monitored for trends and compared against water quality guideline values. In general, concentrations of chlorophyll a and dissolved inorganic phosphorus are improving, while total suspended solids concentrations are stable or improving and all three parameters met guideline values in most regions in the 2020-21 year. Particulate phosphorus and Secchi depth values were generally stable across all regions and particulate phosphorous was just meeting guideline values in most regions in the 2020-21 year. In contrast these parameters exceeded guideline values in most or all regions during 2020-21:

• Nitrate/nitrite

• Particulate nitrogen

While this report presents some positive results for inshore water quality in the Great Barrier Reef for the 2020-21 sampling period, broad reaching and sustained improvements in the marine water quality of the inshore reef have not yet been observed. The complexity of the relationship between land-based runoff and water quality, the influence of inter-annual variability and external drivers and pressures, the progress of changed management practice adoption, and the expected slow response timeframes between land-based changes and marine water quality all contribute to this lack of observed change.

Item ID:	80730
Item Type:	Report (Report)
ISSN:	2208-4096
Keywords:	water quality, inshore Waters Great Barrier Reef, monitoring
Related URLs:	https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/
Copyright Information:	© Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Institute of Marine Science) and James Cook University (TropWATER), 2022. Published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 4.0 International licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logos of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University and TropWATER, any other material protected by a trademark, content supplied by third parties and any photographs. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0
Funders:	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program, Austrlain Institute of Marine Science, James Cook Univeristy
Date Deposited:	17 Oct 2023 02:23
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4199 Other environmental sciences > 419999 Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1899 Other environmental management > 189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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