EcoH plots

Spring 2008	Autumn 2009

Previous Year Spring 2007 Autumn 2008

Change over time

Legend
		Fish indicator
		Physical/Chemical indicator
		Nutrient Cycling indicator
		Ecosystem Processes indicator
		Invertebrates indicator

A description of the indicators and methods used can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Indices

Legend

The charts show the distribution of the site scores for the catchment in a box and whisker plot. The image to the right shows the meaning of the different elements in the chart.

The number behind the charts is the number of sites with valid data. It can be less than the total number of sites in the catchment if some data could not be collected.

A description of the indicators and methods used can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Summary

Six sites were assessed in the Nerang reporting area, which was awarded a 2009 Report Card grade of ‘B’, slightly lower than its 2008 grade of ‘B+’. Streams were generally in good condition, but declines in all indicators (except Ecosystem Processes) resulted in the reduction in grade.

The three highest scoring indices for the Nerang reporting area during 2008‑09 were Conductivity (Annual Reporting Area Index Score = 1.00), DO (1.00) and δ¹³C (0.97). The three lowest scoring indices for the area were O/E₅₀ (0.75), δ¹⁵N (0.77) and Proportion Alien (0.82).

The assessment site yielding the highest annual score (indicating the best ecological condition) during 2008‑09 was one on Mudgeeraba Creek (site 146‑0008) with an excellent score of 0.99. The assessment site yielding the lowest annual score (indicating the worst ecological condition) during 2008‑09 was one on Bonogin Creek (site 146‑0007) with a good score of 0.77. This site is located within a substantial urban development.

Abbreviations glossary

Site scores

The scores range from 0.0 (worst) to 1.0 (best). A dash ('-') indicates that sufficient data was not available.

Flowchart for calculation of summary statistics based on site scores

Map

Click to open PDF version of the map.

Facts

• Total area: 498km²
• Stream network length: 928km
• Local Councils: Gold Coast City Council, Scenic Rim Council
• Dominant land uses: native bush, grazing, intensive agriculture, rural residential, urban
• Headwaters rise in Lamington and Springbrook National Parks
• The Hinze Dam impounds the Nerang River 36km upstream from its mouth
• Mid reaches flow through rural areas
• Lower reaches extensively transformed into canal developments, with restricted flushing within the canals

Fish

Fish species identified in Nerang streams