Water Turbidity

AUS-TSR-FOR-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 2 to 4 NTU

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 15

Optimal Range: 2 to 4

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value represents the median (T50) to 90th percentile (T90) range of turbidity observed across 61 long-term monitoring sites in coastal GBR waters.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured as the median (T50) to 90th percentile (T90) range of turbidity observed in coastal GBR waters integrating runoff from least disturbed forested catchments.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines water turbidity levels in tropical and subtropical rainforest production forestry areas as the typical range observed in least disturbed coastal catchments, representing good ecological health and near-natural water clarity.

Justification:

Derived from a proxy reference condition approach using data from least disturbed catchments and a robust long-term dataset analyzed with percentile-based statistics.

Sources (2)

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Aquatic Conservation Assessments (ACA), - WetlandInfo, accessed July 20, 2025, Journal

Aquatic Conservation Assessments (ACA), - WetlandInfo

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Supporting Sources (33)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

(PDF) Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - ResearchGate

Preview of (PDF) Marine Monitoring Program: Annual Report for Inshore Water Quality Monitoring 2022-23 - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

(PDF) Marine Monitoring Program: Annual Report for Inshore Water Quality Monitoring 2022-23 - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Quality, River Discharge and Remote Sensing Data Base

Preview of (PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

(PDF) Revegetation of water supply catchments following bushfire: A review of the scientific literature relevant to the Lower Cotter catchment - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU

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(PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate 6the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia, accessed July 21, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (Compilers) (2011) Managing Water Quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An Overview of MTSRF Research Outputs, 2006-2010. Synthesis Report prepared for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF). - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

(PDF) Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (Compilers) (2011) Managing Water Quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An Overview of MTSRF Research Outputs, 2006-2010. Synthesis Report prepared for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF). - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support

Identification of priority pollutants and priority areas in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre

Preview of 2019-20 water quality data report - Seqwater, accessed July 20, 2025,

2019-20 water quality data report - Seqwater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

2019-20 water quality data report - Seqwater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp

A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp

Contextual Support Journal

A review of paired catchment studies for determining changes in water yield resulting from alterations in vegetation - lerf/esalq/usp

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

Preview of Australian Paired Catchment Studies: The Rise and Fall of a Forest Hydrology Work Horse?, accessed July 20, 2025,

Australian Paired Catchment Studies: The Rise and Fall of a Forest Hydrology Work Horse?, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (Compilers) (2011) Managing Water Quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An Overview of MTSRF Research Outputs, 2006-2010. Synthesis Report prepared for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF).

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Bird diversity increases after patchy prescribed fire: implications from a before–after control–impact study - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Bird diversity increases after patchy prescribed fire: implications from a before–after control–impact study - CSIRO Publishing

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Brodie, J., Pearson, R., Lewis, S., Bainbridge, Z., Waterhouse, J. and Prange, J. (2009) Water Quality Research: Baseline Synthesis and Year 1 Summary - ResearchOnline@JCU - James Cook University, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - Facets Journal, accessed July 20, 2025,

Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - Facets Journal, accessed July 20, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Cautions on using the Before-After-Control-Impact design in environmental effects monitoring programs - Facets Journal, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Chapter 2: Water Quality and Forestry Activities - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 20, 2025,

Chapter 2: Water Quality and Forestry Activities - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Best Management Practices - National Association of State Foresters, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Environment | HQPlantations, accessed July 20, 2025,

Environment | HQPlantations, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests

Preview of Identification of priority pollutants and priority areas in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed July 20, 2025,

Identification of priority pollutants and priority areas in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Brodie, J., Pearson, R., Lewis, S., Bainbridge, Z., Waterhouse, J. and Prange, J. (2009) Water Quality Research: Baseline Synthesis and Year 1 Summary - ResearchOnline@JCU - James Cook University

Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Managing forest operations to protect the water environment - Forest Research, accessed July 20, 2025,

Managing forest operations to protect the water environment - Forest Research, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Chapter 2: Water Quality and Forestry Activities - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Preview of Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate

Preview of Published on DAF Disclosure Log RTI Act 2009 - Department of ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

Published on DAF Disclosure Log RTI Act 2009 - Department of ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Macdonald, Rachael K. (2015) Turbidity and light attenuation in ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of forestry impacts on waterway health in NSW coastal forests - Natural Resources Commission, accessed August 9, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Review of the current state of knowledge for the monitoring of ..., accessed July 31, 2025,

Preview of Safe Havens Protected Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation - Global Mangrove Alliance, accessed July 20, 2025,

Safe Havens Protected Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation - Global Mangrove Alliance, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support

Safe Havens Protected Areas for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation - Global Mangrove Alliance, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality in and adjacent to the great barrier reef, accessed July 20, 2025,

sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality in and adjacent to the great barrier reef, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality in and adjacent to the great barrier reef, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of South Galilee Coal project – EIS – Appendix O - Aquatic ecology technical report, accessed July 20, 2025,

South Galilee Coal project – EIS – Appendix O - Aquatic ecology technical report, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

South Galilee Coal project – EIS – Appendix O - Aquatic ecology technical report, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 20, 2025

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 20, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Turbidity | River Detectives, accessed July 16, 2025,

Turbidity | River Detectives, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Kosciuszko National Park's health a mixed diagnosis in first EcoHealth Scorecard

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Using monitoring data to derive and assess against guideline values, accessed July 20, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

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Water quality - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Water quality - Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,

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Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

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Water Quality, River Discharge and Remote Sense Database - Research Data JCU, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Water Quality, River Discharge and Remote Sensing Data Base, accessed July 20, 2025,

Water Quality, River Discharge and Remote Sensing Data Base, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water Quality, River Discharge and Remote Sensing Data Base, accessed July 20, 2025,

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Water Quantity and Quality - Southern Research Station, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Quantity and Quality - Southern Research Station, accessed July 20, 2025,

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Water resource assessment for the Southern Gulf catchments - CSIRO, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water resource assessment for the Southern Gulf catchments - CSIRO, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of WATER RESOURCES & MANAGEMENT, accessed July 20, 2025,

WATER RESOURCES & MANAGEMENT, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian Paired Catchment Studies: The Rise and Fall of a Forest Hydrology Work Horse?

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

The range reflects typical ambient conditions and the upper boundary of normal variability, excluding extreme flood events. Sustained turbidity above 15 NTU is detrimental. Low turbidity values (1-2 NTU) indicate excellent ecological condition. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.