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Quantifying the effects of land management interventions on water quality in the Coal River Catchment
conference contribution
posted on 2023-05-24, 11:21 authored by Suresh Panta, Richard DoyleRichard Doyle, Cotching, W, Edward LefroyEdward Lefroy, Arko LucieerArko LucieerHistorical water quality data from stations at Baden, downstream of the Craigbourne Dam, Richmond and White Kangaroo Rivulet collected between 1999 and 2008 were obtained from DPIPWE. Riparian land use within one kilometre of the river was assessed and digitised using 2005/7 colour aerial photographs and water quality data for that period were examined and possible linkages investigated. The historical data demonstrates complex spatial patterns of in-stream water quality parameters in the Coal River Valley. There was a significant negative correlation between dissolved oxygen and water temperature observed in the Coal River. However, positive correlations were found between stream flow and rainfall with turbidity at all stations except downstream of the reservoir. Stream nitrogen and phosphorus showed a significant relationship with rainfall at Richmond. Positive correlations of turbidity with nitrogen and phosphorus show nutrients bound to sediment are a likely source of nutrients in the river. Subcatchment riparian land use and water quality data from 2005/7 suggests that lower turbidity at Richmond (2.82 NTU) compared to White Kangaroo Rivulet (4.25 NTU) and Baden (4.70 NTU) may be due to the impact of higher percentages of riparian vegetation. Similarly, riparian land management works such as planting native vegetation and fencing on the river banks could have reduced the sediment load and nutrient in the river by preventing erosion caused by stock access to river water.
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the Joint Soil Science Australia and New Zealand Society of Soil Science ConferencePagination
283ISBN
978-0-646-59142-1Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)Publisher
SSA & NZSSSPlace of publication
Hobart, TasmaniaEvent title
Joint Soil Science Australia and New Zealand Society of Soil Science ConferenceEvent Venue
Hobart, TasmaniaDate of Event (Start Date)
2012-12-02Date of Event (End Date)
2012-12-07Repository Status
- Restricted