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




1.4 Water types and basis for boundaries
1.4.1 Water types

Waters in this document have been classified into different water types from the list below. The water types
are based on the AWQG (2000) and mapping and definitional rules contained in the QWQG (2009). Further
detail on water types is contained in these sources.

•   open coastal: waters extending to the seaward limits of Queensland waters;
•   enclosed coastal/lower estuary: waters occurring at the downstream end of estuaries and including
    shallow coastal waters in adjacent enclosed bays;
•   mid estuary: waters extending the majority of the length of estuaries with a moderate amount of water
    movement from either freshwater inflow or tidal exchange;
•   upper estuary: waters in the upper reaches of estuaries, with limited flushing. This water type is absent
    from short estuaries, less than 15km total estuary length;
•   tidal canals, constructed estuaries, marinas and boat harbours;
•   lowland freshwaters: larger slow flowing freshwater streams and rivers, shown on the accompanying
    plan as freshwaters under 150 metres altitude. This water type has been further divided into three sub
    types in south east Queensland, derived from work carried out for the Ecosystem Health Monitoring
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    Program :
          lowland freshwaters: Larger (third, fourth and fifth order), slow flowing and meandering streams
           and rivers. Gradient very slight. Substrates sometimes cobble and gravel but more often silt, sand
           or mud.

          wallum/tannin-stained freshwaters: Tannin-stained, generally low gradient, small to mid-sized
           streams, many with sandy substrates and low pH, tea-coloured water draining through wallum
           vegetation.

          coastal freshwaters: Mix of small and large slow-flowing lowland rivers and creeks between
           Caboolture and the NSW border, that flow across the coastal plain. Substrates are often cobble
           despite the low gradient. Does not include steeper upland streams that feed these systems.

•   upland freshwaters: small upland streams, moderate – fast flowing with steeper gradients than lowland
    freshwaters. Shown on the accompanying plan as freshwaters above 150 metres altitude;
•   freshwater lakes/reservoirs;
•   ground waters; and
•   wetlands.

Water types identified in this document are shown in Tables 2–3 and the accompanying plan (WQ1401).

1.4.2 Water type boundaries
The boundaries of different water types have been mapped using a variety of attributes, including:
   1) geographic coordinates;
   2) catchment or sub-catchment boundaries;
   3) highest/lowest astronomical tide;
   4) tidal limiting structure (weirs);
   5) maritime mapping conventions;
   6) coastline;
   7) surveyed terrestrial boundaries; and
   8) altitude.

The basis of different boundaries is shown in the plan. The boundaries of water types may be confirmed or
revised by site investigations. Refer section 1.3 above.

6
 Refer Queensland Water Quality Guidelines (DERM, 2009) and EHMP (2004) Ecosystem Health Monitoring
Program 2003-2004 Annual Technical Report. Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership.


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