| Key indicators |
Indicator compliance |
% compliance |
|
|
0 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
0 |
| ■ <0.5 × water quality objective |
| ■ 0.5-1.0 × water quality objective |
| ■ 1.0-1.5 × water quality objective |
| ■ ≥1.5 × water quality objective |
|
The Caboolture estuary received a “D-” in the
2009 Report Card, a small increase from the previous year (“F”). This
improvement was due to a slight decrease in phytoplankton biomass along
with a small increase in DO concentrations in the upper reaches. There
was also some improvement in the BHR in relation to sewage nitrogen
(δ15N). However, the Caboolture failed to
comply with QWQ guidelines throughout 2008/2009 for median nutrient
concentrations (TN, TP) and was only 15% compliant for DO and 19% for
turbidity (the latter unchanged from the previous year). High rainfall
during the reporting period led to the lowest median salinities recorded
throughout the estuary since the inception of the EHMP and consequently
some of the highest turbidity’s in the lower and middle reaches of the
system.
Overall, 63% of the total Caboolture estuarine
riparian zone contains unmodified habitat with the majority found in the
intertidal zone on both sides of the estuary. In the background beyond
the intertidal zone, the lower reaches of the estuary still contain
unmodified habitat with stands of mangroves and saltmarsh; however, much
of the natural habitat in the upper estuary has been removed for
agricultural use and residential developments.
Abbreviations glossary |
Indicators and methods
|
