2022-10-24 General Committee Meeting- Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project - Final Report (1)

Figure 10: Maddi from NICA at Cooran School working with NICA. Photo by John News.

Noosa River sediment accumulation study
NPA, working closely with Ecological Service Professionals, with funding from The
Nature Conservancy and Reef Builder is undertaking a sediment accumulation study of
the Noosa River (Figure 11).

Sediment can smother important estuarine habitats, such as seagrass and shellfish
beds. These habitats are essential places for baby prawns, fish, and their food.

The breakdown of nutrients and decaying organic matter in the fine sediment can alter
the benthic community, and also result in a lack of oxygen on the bottom, creating
a dead zone.

Knowing how much fine sediment is in the system, and where it accumulates, helps target restoration efforts, contributing
to protecting and enhancing our unique and valuable estuarine ecosystems. Baseline maps, such as that presented here, will
be a valuable resource for decision makers who are looking at sedimentation patterns in the river (Figure 12).




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