Indicator: CO-46 Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons (water quality gradient from north to south)
Data
There does not appear to have been any data collection at this time, comparing water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons along either the western or the eastern Australian coastline. In the future it may be possible to derive some information from remote sensing data.
On the east coast, the Great Barrier Reef represents a substantial component of “coastal lagoons”. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority provides discussion of the principal water quality issues on the Great Barrier Reef.
Twenty-six major river catchments comprising approximately 25% of the land area of Queensland drain directly into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Run-off resulting from land based agriculture, urban development and aquaculture is the largest impact affecting the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef.
Principal water quality influences on Great Barrier Reef ecosystems are: nutrients; sediments and turbidity; salinity; heavy metals; and global climate change.
Source: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website:
- Principal water quality influences on Great Barrier Reef ecosystems
- Environmental Status: Water Quality
What the data mean
No comparative or trend data for the indicator are available.
Data Limitations
No comparative or trend data available.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Coasts and Oceans — Condition of the ocean and coastal waters - Water quality
Water quality in coastal lakes is an indicator of the condition of the aquatic habitat more broadly.
Other indicators for this issue:
Coasts and Oceans — Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Direct pressure of coastal activities (other than shipping and fishing)
Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons, especially along the gradient from north to south, is indicative of the cumulative pressure of human settlements on these systems.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-27 Number, frequency, extent and volume of oil spills from all sources
- CO-28 Quantity of discharges of different substances from humans activities to coastal and marine waters
- CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use
- CO-30 Length and area of coastal and estuarine foreshore altered for human purposes
- CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- CO-53 Evidence or examples of noise or visual disturbance of marine species by human activities
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load
- HS-05 Total population and distribution
- IW-19 Exceedance of total nitrogen and phosphorus water quality triggers
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
- BD-10 Examples of native species whose populations have declined where various invasive species have established resident populations
Coasts and Oceans — Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water - Effect of changes in inland waters on the coasts and oceans
Coastal lakes and lagoons are at the interface of coastal and inland waters and their condition could be indicative of changes either from the oceans or from inland waters
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats
- CO-28 Quantity of discharges of different substances from humans activities to coastal and marine waters
- CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use
- IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load
- IW-13 Catchment sediment load
Coasts and Oceans — Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water - Effect of changes in coasts and oceans on inland waters
Coastal lakes and lagoons are at the interface of coastal and inland waters and their condition could be indicative of changes either from the oceans or from inland waters.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats
- CO-03 Sea level
- CO-68 Examples of sea surge and seawater intrusion events
Biodiversity — Pressures on biodiversity - Pressures on marine biodiversity: pressures of coastal activities
Loss of water quality in coastal lakes and lagoons has the potential to place pressure on coastal and estuarine biodiversity. Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons, especially along the gradient from north to south, is indicative of the cumulative pressure of human settlements on these systems.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-27 Number, frequency, extent and volume of oil spills from all sources
- CO-28 Quantity of discharges of different substances from humans activities to coastal and marine waters
- CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use
- CO-30 Length and area of coastal and estuarine foreshore altered for human purposes
- CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- CO-53 Evidence or examples of noise or visual disturbance of marine species by human activities
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load
- IW-19 Exceedance of total nitrogen and phosphorus water quality triggers
- HS-05 Total population and distribution
Inland Waters — Habitat scale influences - Wetlands
Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons, especially along the gradient from north to south, is indicative of the cumulative pressure of human activities on these systems including wetlands.
Other indicators for this issue:
- IW-27 Extent of significant wetlands (incl. Ramsar)
- IW-33 Abundance and distribution of waterbirds
- IW-34 Examples of deterioration of condition of wetland vegetation
- IW-48 Ramsar wetlands with implemented management plans
- BD-14 Examples of impacts of changed hydrology on biodiversity
Inland Waters — Habitat scale influences — Water Quality (for surface and groundwater) - Nutrients
Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons, especially along the gradient from north to south will provide information on nutrient loads entering coastal waters.
Other indicators for this issue:
- IW-14 Volume of sewage discharge to surface waters by treatment category (primary, secondary, tertiary)
- IW-19 Exceedance of total nitrogen and phosphorus water quality triggers
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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