2016-02-02 P&O Committee - Item 3 - Attachment 3 - Noosa River Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives

    Noosa River environmental values and water quality objectives




    3.1.2 Biological WQOs

    Table 3 provides biological water quality objectives for freshwaters (lowland streams, wallum/tannin-stained
    streams and coastal streams, upland streams) throughout the catchment, as shown on the plan.

    Table 3 Aquatic ecosystem EV: Biological water quality objectives for freshwater streams (refer to
                                         1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Plan WQ1401 for location of streams)


                                              Wallum
                       4       Percentile     /tannin- Lowland     Upland     Coastal Oper
           Indicator                                                                       5               Units
                                 used         stained freshwater freshwater freshwater ant
                                            freshwater


       4
Fish

Percent of native
species expected        original
(PONSE*)               guideline                100            100        100        100         >=          %
Observed to expected                                                                                        ratio
species ratio (O/E*) used for all                 1             1          1           1         >=      (number)
Percent Alien
individuals          fish indices                 0             0          0           0         =           %
                  4
Invertebrates

Richness (family)                20th            11             22        22          22         >=       number
PET taxa (taxa
sensitive to human
disturbance)                     20th             3             4          5           4         >=       number
SIGNAL score (stream
invertebrate grade
number average level)
1 = most tolerant
10 = most sensitive              20th             4             4         4.6          4         >=       number

Ecological processes
4

Gross primary
                                                                                                              2
production (GPP)                 80th            0.5           0.5        0.25        0.5        <=     gC/m /day
                                                                                                              2
Respiration (R24)                80th           0.35          0.35        0.15       0.35        <=     gC/m /day
Carbon isotope ratio
              13
measure (Del C)                  20th            -28           -28        -28         -28        >=     delta units
                                                                                                                    2
                                                                                                       mg Chl a/m
Chl a                            80th            12             12         8          12         <=       /day
                           4
Nutrient cycling
                                                                                                            ratio
Algal bioassay (N+P)/C           80th             4             4          4           4         <=      (number)
Nitrogen isotope ratio
              15
measure (Del N)                  80th             5             5          5           5         <=     delta units

    Notes:
    1. Unless otherwise stated, objectives apply to support waters at a moderately disturbed level, and do not apply to high
    ecological value waters.
    2. Refer to Plan WQ1401 for locations of streams.
    3. Refer to section 1 of this document for definitions of stream types.



                                                                     19