Inland waters and wetlands: Condition of rivers

• Authors
• Reviewer
• Key findings
• Indicators and summary of status
• Pressure and condition
• Importance
• Response
• References

Authors

Julie Coysh, Natasha McKenzie, David Roberts, Alisha Steward and Glen Moller, Department of Natural Resources and Water
Zafer Sarac, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

Reviewer

Heather Hunter, Department of Natural Resources and Water

Key findings

• River condition at almost 70% of sites monitored across the state during the reporting period was good based on the macroinvertebrate communities.
• Northern regions tend to be in better condition than southern regions, with condition generally good in the Wet Tropics, the Central region and the Western Cape and Gulf, and potentially of concern in the Murray-Darling Basin and Southeast Queensland.
• For most surface-water-quality indicators, water quality was judged as good or of concern, rather than poor.
• The statewide summary for water quality shows that the proportion of sites in poor condition has dropped considerably since the 2003 assessment; however, some areas are still considered poor or of concern.
• Approximately 27% of the total length of stream bank assessed for riparian vegetation condition was in poor condition (based on sampling in three catchments only).
• The number of native fish species across catchments remained the same as in 2003. However, the number of exotic species had increased by one in the Herbert, Mary and Warrego catchments since 2003.
• The major pressures on riverine condition were identified as changes in land use and land-management practices, and changes to the natural flow regime.
• Attempts to lessen these pressures come from a number of State Government and interagency programs: the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality; water resource plans; land and water management plans; the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan; and the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy.

Indicators and summary of status

Indicator	Status of indicator
Water quality	Overall water quality is improved since the 2003 reporting period; however, it is still of concern in some regions. By parameter: nitrogen-of concern, some improvement since 2003; phosphorus-of concern, some improvement since 2003; turbidity-generally good across the state; electrical conductivity (EC)-generally good across the state, slight improvement since 2003. []
Macroinvertebrates	Almost 70% of sites monitored across the state during the reporting period were in good condition. River condition was generally good in the Wet Tropics, the Central region and the Western Cape and Gulf. Condition was potentially of concern in the Murray-Darling Basin and Southeast Queensland region. []
Fish	The number of native fish species in each catchment is unchanged from the previous reporting period. The number of exotic species has increased by one in the Herbert, Mary and Warrego catchments compared with 2003. []
'Stream and estuary assessment program'	Pilot program currently being developed for one of the nine freshwater biogeographic provinces. []
National Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality	To date, twelve of Queensland's 14 regions have had their plans accredited. []
Water resource plans	Approximately 91% of the state is covered by water resource plans (WRPs) and, to date, 16 WRPs and amended WRPs have been completed. []
Land and water management plans	At present, 4.5% of irrigation farms have a land and water management plan (LWMP): 4.4% of irrigated land and 4.8% of irrigation water are represented and covered by LWMPs. []

Key drivers of riverine condition

Riverine condition is controlled by multiple drivers. Changes in these may affect physico-chemical water quality, which may in turn influence biological condition. The stream and estuary assessment program (SEAP) has identified the main pressures influencing riverine condition in Queensland (Marshall et al. 2006a). These pressures can be grouped into six broad categories: land use; water use; urbanisation; harvesting and translocation of biota; recreation and tourism; and landscape management. They influence riverine condition through vectors such as suspended and deposited sediments, habitat removal and disturbance (riparian and instream), altered flow volume, timing and variability of flow, pest species, nutrients, toxicants, organic matter, salinity, pathogens and thermal alteration .

Significant drivers that are considered in more detail in this issue are:

• changes in land use or land-management practices; and
• changes to the natural flow regime.

Point source discharges are also considered a significant driver; however, there is no information readily available on the origin and extent of statewide point sources.

Pressure and condition

Pressures

Changes in land use and land-management practices

Land clearing, plantation forestry, irrigated and non-irrigated cropping, horticulture, animal production, mining, dredging and extractive activities are examples of intensive land uses that may affect riverine condition. Land clearing is considered as an example of the extent of land use change in the state.

Land clearing

Most of Queensland has relatively continuous native vegetation cover (82% remnant vegetation in 2003). However, the fertile landscapes in wetter parts of the state have been reduced to less than 30% of native vegetation cover, a widely accepted critical threshold for habitat retention.

The rate of clearing of woody vegetation as measured by the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS), has varied over the past decade (DNRM 2006). Comparison between the period 1997-99, monitored in the previous reporting period, and 1999-2003, the most recent interval for which data are available, indicates that clearing rates decreased in the period 2000-01. This coincided with the introduction of the Vegetation Management Act 1999 in September 2000. After that, clearing increased, although the 2001-03 rates were generally lower than the pre-2000 rates. Table 5.6 provides a summary of vegetation loss in Queensland from 1991 to 2004, based on SLATS (DNRM 2006). The reduced pressure from land clearing across the state compared to the period 1999-2000 may have contributed in part to the overall improvement in water quality in the 2007 reporting period (see the following section on riverine condition).

It has been observed that fertile landscapes in wetter parts of the state have been reduced to less than 30% of native vegetation cover in recent years. Clearing rates increased notably in the Mitchell Grass Downs, Mulga Lands, Desert Uplands and Brigalow Belt, and have decreased in the Southeast Queensland and Central Queensland Coast bioregions, when comparing rates from 1991-95 to rates from 1997-99. In bioregions where regional ecosystem mapping has been completed, 54% of the clearing in the period 1997-99 occurred in endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems. Some taxa, especially plants with restricted distributions, are at risk of extinction if clearing continues (refer to 'Habitat protection', page 240, chapter 7, Biodiversity, for more information).

Changes to the natural flow regime

Water abstraction is a significant pressure on riverine condition. Abstraction is being managed by water resource plans to ensure sustainable water use. Based on the limited data available, the surface water taken from SunWater schemes reduced by approximately 18% over the period 2001-02 to 2005-06. Conversely, there was a general increase in groundwater abstraction across most of the state. A number of water resource plans are currently being amended to include rules for groundwater abstraction. More detail can be found in 'Surface water quantity' and 'Subartesian groundwater levels', the third and fourth issues in this chapter.

Importance

Why riverine condition is important

A healthy river ecosystem supports the biological processes, plants and animals living within it. It is also valued for its scenic and recreational appeal. In addition, healthy ecosystems provide many 'services' from which humans benefit. If we allow natural assets to decline, so do the benefits. Conversely, if we look after and maintain our natural assets, our returns are greater. To ensure that the health of river ecosystems is being maintained for the benefit of all Queenslanders, the condition and trend over time in riverine condition (river health) is monitored regularly.

Representative indicators of river health that are monitored in Queensland include biological attributes such as macroinvertebrates, riparian vegetation and fish condition, together with drivers that affect these attributes such as physico-chemical water quality. The importance of these ecosystem components to river health and their suitability as indicators of riverine condition is discussed here.

Macroinvertebrates play a central role in the ecology and condition of rivers and are an important link in the food web. They are consumers of organic matter and algae in streams, and are a food source for vertebrates such as fish. The sensitivity of macroinvertebrates to changes in local conditions such as flow, stream shading, organic matter, nutrient and toxic inputs makes them an ideal indicator of overall riverine condition.

The riparian zone encompasses the strip of land containing distinctive vegetation along the margin of a stream. The vegetation may include trees, woody shrubs, herbs, grasses and sedges (Anderson 1993a, 1993b). The vegetation in the riparian zone differs from other vegetation because of the influence of the stream on it and vice versa. Riparian vegetation is important to in-stream function, contributing organic debris to the stream, stabilising stream banks and providing shade and cover for in-stream communities. It may also act as a buffer to nutrients and pollutants entering the stream, and function as a wildlife corridor for native fauna.

Fish are high in the food web and, therefore, rely heavily on a healthy ecosystem for their food. A decline in healthy riverine condition will be reflected in a loss of diversity, condition and age classes of fish found in a river. Native fish are excellent indicators of overall riverine condition and are also highly valued by the community.

Water quality provides the conditions for ecosystems to function and may control whether a river is in good or poor condition. For example, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for primary production (for example, growth of algae) in aquatic ecosystems, but elevated nutrient concentrations can cause algal blooms and excessive growth of aquatic plants, which in turn can deplete dissolved oxygen supplies. Excessive nutrient concentrations can occur when fertiliser, sewage or other organic wastes enter waterways. Turbidity is a measure of water clarity and can be elevated by increases in suspended sediments from catchment runoff or destabilisation of stream banks. Elevated electrical conductivity may indicate salinity problems caused by human pressures. Together, various water quality parameters can indicate changes in riverine condition and potential causes. If problems are diagnosed early, the resulting impacts on aquatic ecosystems might be prevented or reduced.

Table 5.6 Loss of vegetation in Queensland 1991-2004

	Interval
	1991-95	1995-97	1997-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04
Hectares cleared per year	289 000	340 000	425 000	757 000	380 000	498 000	554 000	482 000
Percentage of Queensland	0.17	0.20	0.26	0.46	0.23	0.29	0.33	0.28

Source: DNRM 2006

Riverine condition

Riparian condition

Three additional basins have been sampled using the 'state of the rivers' methodology since the previous reporting period, these being the Bowen-Broken, the Isaac and the Upper Brisbane rivers. The length of riparian vegetation in good condition varied considerably among these three catchments (Table 5.7). Overall, approximately 27% of the total length of stream bank sampled was in poor condition, 19% was in moderate condition, 31% was in good condition and 23% was unclassified. This compares to more than half the streams surveyed in the previous reporting period being classified as in poor condition. Overall condition is not inferred for the current reporting period as the coverage of data is insufficient to make a statewide assessment of riparian condition.

For more information on native vegetation extent, refer to 'Habitat protection' (page 240), chapter 7, Biodiversity.

Physico-chemical water quality

Surface water quality was assessed across the state by comparing indicator site data against guideline values for the protection of aquatic ecosystems (EPA 2006; ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000). Separate assessments have been made for each of the freshwater biogeographic provinces in Queensland (Figure 5.5). The provinces were defined according to their aquatic macroinvertebrate and fish fauna (Marshall et al. 2006b). Table 5.7 summarises the condition of selected water quality parameters and a discussion of these results is provided below.

Total nitrogen and total phosphorus

Comparison of results with assessments from the previous reporting period indicates that, across the state, there has been some improvement in the total nitrogen and total phosphorus nutrient indicators, with fewer poor quality sites for both indicators since 2003 (Table 5.7). The proportion of poor quality sites reduced significantly for both indicators in the Central province, and for total phosphorus in the Southeast Queensland province.

Table 5.7 Percentage of total stream length classed
in each condition

	Good	Moderate	Poor	not classified
Bowen-Broken	54	21	9	16
Isaac-Fitzroy	25	23	27	25
Upper Brisbane	13	13	45	29

Source: State of the Rivers (Johnson 2005a and 2005b; Van Manen 2006)

Electrical conductivity

Most sites across Queensland are classed as in good condition for the EC indicator (Table 5.8). There has been an overall improvement in condition since 2003, which could be partly explained by the conductivity guideline being revised since 2003. Province by province, the proportion of sites in good condition has increased since 2003 for Central, Southeast Queensland and Murray-Darling. However, the proportion of sites in good condition reduced in Western Cape and Gulf, and Wet Tropics.

Turbidity

In general, turbidity was classed as good at most sites in each province, with the exceptions of Murray-Darling and Central (Table 5.8). More than half the sites in Central were classed as of-concern or in poor condition, and no sites were considered in good condition in Murray-Darling. No comparison with the previous reporting period is available for turbidity.

Figure 5.5 Freshwater biogeographic provinces for water quality and macroinvertebrate reporting
Source: Marshall et al. 2006b

Table 5.8 Summary of statewide condition for specific parameters as assessed against the Queensland Water Quality Guidelines

Province	Year	Conduc- tivity	Sites	Total nitrogen	Sites	Total phosph- orous	Site	Turbidity	Sites
Eastern Cape and Jardine	2003		12		1		1	*NA
	2007	**ID		ID		ID		ID
Western Cape and Gulf	2003		24	NA			3	NA
	2007		11		6		6		11
Wet Tropics	2003		42		16		18	NA
	2007		17		14		14		17
Central	2003		115		24		37	NA
	2007		37		32		32		37
Lake Eyre and Bulloo	2003		3	ID				NA
	2007	ID		ID				ID
Murray-Darling	2003		40		6		27	NA
	2007		14		1		1		9
Wallum	2003	NA		NA				NA
	2007		3		3		3		3
Southeast Queensland	2003		115		13		19	NA
	2007		43		39		39		37
Statewide indicator summary	2003		351		60		105	NA
	2007		213		158		158		191

NA: Not assessed in 2003 ID: Insufficient data available for that province
Source: EPA 2006

Macroinvertebrates

Results of macroinvertebrate sampling across the state for the reporting period are summarised in Figure 5.6. Sites were classed as being in reference condition, below reference condition, well below reference condition or richer than reference condition. Reference condition indicates the site is in good condition and unaffected by human activity. Below reference condition suggests an impairment of either water and/or habitat quality. Well below reference condition suggests substantial impairment of water and/or habitat quality. Richer than the reference may indicate the site is experiencing mild nutrient enrichment or may indicate a biodiversity 'hot spot'.

Areas sampled include the Western Cape and Gulf (49 sites), the Wet Tropics (19 sites), Central (25 sites), Lake Eyre and Bulloo (5 sites), Murray-Darling (17 sites) and Southeast Queensland (63 sites). The Eastern Cape and Jardine were not sampled during the reporting period and only one site was sampled in the Wallum region.

Most of the sites in the Western Cape and Gulf were assessed as being in reference condition (71%), with 21% below reference condition, 2% well below reference condition and 6% richer than reference. The Wet Tropics and Central regions had a high proportion of sites in reference condition, with the remaining sites assessed as richer than reference condition.

Of the five sites sampled in the Lake Eyre and Bulloo regions, three sites were in reference condition. Just under half of the Murray-Darling sites were in reference condition, with another 41% of sites in richer than reference condition and the remaining 12% of sites below reference condition. Two-thirds of the Southeast Queensland sites were in reference condition; however, almost a quarter were below reference.

Figure 5.6 Proportion of the total number of sites sampled across the state for macroinvertebrates in each condition class for the reporting period 2003-07. Note that no sampling was undertaken in 2006.
Source: DNRW

Fish

The Queensland Government collects information on the distribution of native and exotic fish species as part of its long-term monitoring program. The aim of the program is to monitor changes in key recreational and commercial fish species in freshwater river systems. The current distribution and status of fish species across Queensland are summarised in Table 5.9. The number of native fish species in each catchment is unchanged from the previous reporting period. However, compared with 2003, the number of exotic species has increased by one in the Herbert, Mary and Warrego catchments.

Table 5.9 has been updated with the distribution of three declared species since the 2003 report, although these species were declared before 2003. The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) is a vulnerable species currently found in the Mary River. Oxleyan pigmy perch (Nannoperca oxleyana) and honey blue eye (Pseudomugil mellis) are endangered species currently found in the Noosa River.

Table 5.9 Summary of native and exotic fish species distribution and status in Queensland, 2007

NRM region and catchment	Indicators
	Fisheries-independent data-distribution of native and exotic fish species	Conservation status of freshwater fishes
Cape York		2 CE, 1 V
Northern Gulf		1 CE, 1 V
Mitchell	38 NS
Gregory	29 NS
Wet Tropics		2 V, 1 LR
Johnstone	49 NS, 1 ES
Daintree	49 NS
Herbert	45 NS, 1 ES
Southern Gulf		1 CE
Fitzroy		1 LR
Burnett-Mary		1 CE, 2 E
Mary	24 NS, 2 ES	1 CE, 1 V
Southeast
Logan	32 NS, 2 ES
Noosa	24 NS, 1 ES	2 E
South West		2 V
Condamine	13 NS, 3 ES	2 V
Warrego	11 NS, 2 ES	2 V
Desert Channels		3 CE

NS Native species E Endangered
ES Exotic species V Vulnerable
CE Critically endangered LR Lower risk
Source: DPIF

Response

Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality

The purpose of the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and National Action Plan (NAP) for Salinity and Water Quality is to identify high-priority, immediate actions to remediate salinity, particularly dryland salinity, and to improve deteriorating water quality across the state. Regional natural resource management plans (NRMPs) form the basis for investment from the NHT and NAP.

Regional plans identify each region's major NRM issues and ways of fixing them, including planning improvements to land and water management, biodiversity and agricultural practices. They also outline the contributions that all involved groups will make.

Consultation, feedback and negotiation between regional bodies and stakeholders was a major part of the development of the plans. Key stakeholders included communities, Indigenous peoples, environmental groups, industry groups, universities and the three tiers of government.

To date, twelve of Queensland's 14 regions (Figure 5.7) have had their plans accredited by State and Commonwealth Government Ministers.

More information on these projects and other activities under the NAP is available at: www.wqonline.info and www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au.

Figure 5.7 DNRW and NAP regions for Queensland
Source: DEWR 2003; DNRMW 2006

Stream and estuary assessment program

The stream and estuary assessment program (SEAP) is a combined government agency program currently being developed to integrate stream and estuary assessment programs that report on aquatic ecosystem health. Nine freshwater biogeographic provinces have been adopted for Queensland for monitoring and reporting. Conceptual models developed for each of the provinces will direct future monitoring and assessment activities, focusing on key pressures, vectors and responses in each province.
The program will complement existing monitoring undertaken for the GBR and NRM bodies. Freshwater and estuarine components will be integrated with combined activity from DNRW, EPA and DPIF. The SEAP program will be piloted in Central province in 2007.

Water resource plans

The Queensland Government has in place a robust water resource planning framework. Currently water planning activities are occurring in 22 plan areas covering over 90% of the state. To date, 16 WRPs and amended WRPs have been completed. In order to implement the objectives of the WRPs, resource operations plans (ROPs) are developed after or parallel with the WRP for the corresponding catchment. The ROPs are developed to establish rules for water trading and to specify how water use will be managed in parallel with environmental needs.

More information on the water resource planning process and status of activities for catchments across the state can be found at: www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wrp.

Land and water management plans

A land and water management plan (LWMP) provides individual landholders with a practical property management tool to plan and review an irrigation enterprise, and to identify and manage risks to land and water associated with irrigation practices. An LWMP is required by law under certain circumstances before water can be used for irrigation. An LWMP encompasses environmental issues related to the use of allocated water: soil erosion management; stream bank stability; impacts on the riparian zone; and water quality.

To date, the most LWMPs have been submitted and approved in the north and south-east of Queensland and the fewest have been submitted and approved in the south-west. Data gathered by an ABS publication on irrigation establishments in 2004-05 indicates that only 4.5% of irrigation farms have an LWMP. In addition, 4.4% of irrigated land and 4.8% of irrigation water is represented and covered by LWMPs (ABS 2006).

Over the next 12 months, the number of LWMPs triggered will depend on finalisation of resource operations plans, release of unallocated water and interest in water trading.

More information on LWMPs can be found at: www.nrw.qld.gov.au/land/management/lwmp.

Queensland Water Recycling Strategy

The Queensland Water Recycling Strategy is a State Government initiative to encourage water recycling that is safe, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. This initiative will develop the best and most effective ways to manage municipal, industrial and agricultural effluents and urban stormwater as a resource rather than as waste. There are a number of advanced treatment technologies that can improve the quality of recycled water. These start from conventional filtration technologies such as deep bed gravity filters with upstream coagulation/flocculation and continue to modern membrane technologies, electrostatic treatment, distillation, ultrasound and hybrid technologies. More information on the water recycling strategy can be found at: www.derm.qld.gov.au.

Wild rivers

A wild river is a river system that has all, or almost all, of its natural values intact (for example, flow regime, sediment regime, water quality, riparian vegetation and connected wildlife corridors). Natural values help sustain healthy ecological processes in rivers and support the habitat needed for our native plants and animals. They also support sustainable economic activities, such as grazing, fishing and ecotourism.

The Queensland Parliament passed the Wild Rivers Act 2005 in October 2005. The purpose of the Act is to preserve the natural values of wild rivers. The Act doesthis by regulating most future development activities within the declared wild river and its catchment area. This makes the Act the first of its type in Australia. The Act provides a process for declaring wild rivers. The process involves the release of a proposal to declare, which outlines the proposed management areas, resource limits and requirements for managing future development. The process includes community consultation and the consideration of public submissions. In 2007, six wild river areas are expected to be declared. Further declaration proposals could also be released for other rivers and river systems. More information on wild rivers is available at: www.nrw.qld.gov.au/wildrivers.

Regional and multiple agency responses

Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan

The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and State governments. The Reef Plan was released in December 2003. Since then, it has used the combined resources of all levels of government, industry and the community to further its ten-year goal of halting and reversing the decline in water quality entering the GBR.

The Reef Plan identifies actions, mechanisms and partnerships to build on existing government policies, and industry and community initiatives, to help halt and reverse the decline in the quality of water entering the reef. The Reef Plan controls diffuse sources of pollution from broadscale land use entering waterways. The strategies in it provide actions to minimise pollutants from diffuse sources and to reduce the entry of those pollutants to the reef. Diffuse sources of pollution are those that enter waterways through many different sources and that cannot be directly attributed to one point of dispersal, such as a pipe or waste outlet. They include nutrients, chemicals and sediment that washes into waterways and ultimately flows into the reef lagoon. More information on the plan is available at:
www.deh.gov.au/coasts/pollution/reef.

Sustainable rivers audit

The sustainable rivers audit (SRA) is an initiative of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and involves partner agencies in each state and territory within the basin. The SRA monitors the ecological condition and trend of health of river valleys in the Murray-Darling Basin. This information will trigger changes to natural resource management by providing a more comprehensive picture of river health than is currently available. The audit uses scientific indicators of health to determine the current status of the basin's rivers and any potential trends. To date, indicators have been sampled for fish, macroinvertebrate and hydrology themes. Indicator themes to be developed over the next three years include floodplains; riparian vegetation; and physical form of river channels.

Implementation of the SRA in Queensland began in 2005; however, sampling was delayed by the random site-selection process nominating a large number of dry sites. In 2006, a wetted stream network, based on waterhole persistence, was identified for site selection in the Condamine-Culgoa, Warrego and Paroo catchments. Thirty-five sites were sampled for macroinvertebrates in each of these catchments in 2006. Fish sampling has also been completed for the Warrego (16 sites) and Paroo (18 sites), with sampling for fish in the Condamine-Culgoa expected to be completed in 2007.

More information on the sustainable rivers audit is available at: www.mdbc.gov.au/SRA.

The native fish strategy provides a response to the key threats to native fish populations in the Murray-Darling Basin. These range from flow regulation, habitat degradation, lowered water quality, man-made barriers to fish movement, the introduction of alien fish species, fisheries exploitation, the spread of diseases and translocation and stocking of fish. Native fish populations in the basin's rivers have declined under these threats with experts estimating that current levels are about 10% compared to pre-European settlement.

The vision of this strategy is to ensure that the basin sustains viable fish populations and communities throughout its rivers. The goal of this strategy is to rehabilitate native fish communities in the basin back to 60% of their estimated pre-European settlement levels after 50 years of implementation.

Lake Eyre Basin rivers assessment

The Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) rivers assessment is a monitoring program designed to assess the condition of watercourses and catchments within the LEB 'agreement area'. Methodologies for assessing rivers and catchments elsewhere in Australia and the world have limited application to the ephemeral rivers of a large, internal basin spanning multiple jurisdictions such as the LEB. In this regard, the rivers assessment is the first of its kind in the world. More information on progress with this assessment can be found at: www.lebmf.gov.au/projects.html#assessment.

Ecosystem health monitoring program

The ecosystem health monitoring program (EHMP) delivers a regional assessment of the ambient ecosystem health (or 'pulse') for each of south-east Queensland's (SEQ) 18 major catchments, 18 river estuaries and Moreton Bay, highlighting where the health of our waterways is getting better or worse. The EHMP is managed by the Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership on behalf of its various partners and is implemented by a large team of experts from the Queensland Government, universities and CSIRO. Assessments for the freshwater EHMP are based on five indicators: physical and chemical; nutrient cycling; ecosystem processes; aquatic macroinvertebrates; and fish. More information on this program can be found at: www.ehmp.org.

Queensland Wetlands Programme

The Queensland Wetlands Programme (QWP) is a five-year (2003-08) joint initiative of the Commonwealth and State governments that aims 'to support projects and programs that will result in long-term benefits to the sustainable use, management, conservation and protection of Queensland wetlands'. The QWP is funded through two subprograms: the Great Barrier Reef Coastal Wetlands Protection Programme and the Natural Heritage Trust Extension Wetlands Programme. For more information refer to 'Extent and condition of wetland systems', page 144.

Restoration of fish passage

SunWater and regional natural resource management groups have been working to restore fish passage throughout Queensland by installing fishways and fishlifts. SunWater has recently completed the Clare Weir fish lock, which has been shown to successfully pass around 1.2 million fish in 12 months (Renfree and Marsden 2006). The fish lift on the Burnett River Dam also successfully commenced operation recently. NRM groups have installed a number of small fishways across Queensland, including in the Burdekin, Mackay-Whitsunday and Fitzroy regions. Each NRM group now has fish passage rehabilitation included in future regional investment plans.

Environmental Protection (Water) Policy

The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 (Water EPP) is subordinate legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The object of the Water EPP is to achieve the object of the EP Act (ecologically sustainable development) in relation to Queensland waters.

The Water EPP is intended to protect Queensland's aquatic environment. It does this by providing a framework for:

• identifying environmental values for Queensland waters;
• setting water quality guidelines and objectives to enhance or protect those values;
• consistent and equitable decision making about Queensland waters that will promote efficient resource use and best practice environmental management;
• consulting and educating the community, and promoting community responsibility.

The Water EPP also provides for development and implementation of environmental plans by local governments and by the chief executive of water resources, and for the management of certain sources of contamination of waters.

The Water EPP was recently amended to include environmental values and water quality objectives for riverine (freshwater), estuarine and coastal waters in these areas:

• Moreton Bay and south-east Queensland;

• Mary River Basin and Great Sandy region;

• Douglas Shire waters.

The Water EPP expires (as outlined in section 54 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 ) on 31 August 2008, and is currently being drafted. The first round of public consultation on the structure of the Water EPP closed in October 2007. Further public consultation on the content of the Water EPP will occur in early 2008.

References

ABS 2006, Water Account, Australia, 2004-05, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 12 December 2006, www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4610.0.

Anderson , J.R. 1993a, State of the Rivers Project. Report 1. Development and Validation of the Methodology, a report to the Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Anderson , J.R. 1993b, State of the Rivers Project. Report 2. Implementation Manual, a report to the Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000, Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, National Water Quality Management Strategy, paper no. 4, volume 1, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.

DEWR 2003, Nation Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality Regions (NAP) , Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra, viewed 10 January 2007, www.napswq.gov.au/napswq/pubs/priority-regions-mar07.pdf (PDF)*.

DNRM 2006, Landcover Change in Queensland 2003-04: A Statewide Landcover and Trees Study, a SLATS report, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Brisbane.

DNRMW 2006, Natural Resource Management Regional NRM Bodies , Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Brisbane, viewed 30 January 2007, www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/library/pdf/regional_nrm_groupsmap.pdf (PDF)*.

EPA 2003, State of the Environment Queensland 2003, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.

EPA 2006, Queensland Water Quality Guidelines , Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.

Johnson D.P. 2005a, State of the Rivers: Bowen, Broken and Bogie Rivers Catchments, An ecological and physical assessment of the condition of the streams in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie rivers catchments , Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.

Johnson D.P. 2005b, State of the Rivers: Upper Brisbane, Mid Brisbane and Stanley Rivers and Major Tributaries, An ecological and physical assessment of the condition of the streams in the Upper Brisbane and Stanley rivers catchment, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.

Marshall, J., Mcgregor, G., Marshall, S., Radcliffe, T. and Lobegeiger, J. 2006a, Development of Conceptual Pressure-Vector-Response Models for Queensland's Riverine Ecosystems, Aquatic Ecosystems Technical Report no. 57, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Brisbane.

Marshall, J., Prior, A., Steward, A. and Mcgregor, G. 2006b, Freshwater Bioregionalisation of Queensland's Riverine Ecosystems, Aquatic Ecosystems Technical Report no. 54, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Brisbane.

MDBMC 2003, Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin , Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, Canberra.

Renfree, M. and Marsden, T. 2006, Clare Weir Fishlock Monitoring Project, six-monthly report for SunWater- July 2006, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.

Van Manen N. 2006, State of the Rivers: Fitzroy and Isaac Rivers and Capricorn Coastal Tributaries, An ecological and physical assessment of the condition of the streams in the Fitzroy River, Isaac River and Capricorn coastal catchments, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Brisbane.

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Last reviewed 16 May 2011
Last updated 13 February 2008

Inland waters and wetlands

• Extent and Condition of Wetland Systems
• Extent and condition of wetland systems (continuing)
• Condition of rivers
• Surface water quality
• Subartesian groundwater levels
• Artesian bore pressure
• Groundwater quality