Great Barrier Reef water quality
Our Great Barrier Reef marine park and World Heritage Area contributes significantly to our economy; locally, regionally and nationally.
It's the world's largest system of coral reefs and is home to extensive seagrass beds, mangrove forests, sponge gardens and a vast range of marine animals.
In the Reef catchments, land and water management practices affect water quality in local waterways, wetlands, estuaries and the Reef lagoon. Over the past 150 years, activities on the land have undergone extensive changes for urban development. agricultural production, tourism and mining. Some activities associated with this change have lead to declining water quality in waterways that flow into the Reef lagoon.
Water quality impacts on the health of the aquatic ecosystems, the survival of dependent reef species and the viability of industries dependent on healthy waterways.
In this context, the term water quality is used to describe the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the water body. It usually relates to the water's suitability for a particular purpose.
Water quality can be defined for groundwater and surface (fresh and marine) water. It results from combined effect of the factors that influence the water body and interact within the body of water. These effects are sometimes so varied and complex that it is not possible to define them all.
To overcome this, water quality tends to be described in terms of its measurable physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
Water quality issues are being identified, monitored and addressed through a number of initiatives, including but not limited to:
- the Natural Heritage Trust.
- the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
- the Coastal Catchments Initiative and water quality improvement plans.
- the Queensland Wetlands Programme.
- Community Water Grants.
- WaterWatch Queensland.
- industry-based activities.
- community-based activities.
Last updated 31 August 2007