Water Turbidity

AUS-TDG-LVG-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

50 NTU
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Sustained turbidity levels exceeding 25 NTU in upland rivers and 50 NTU in lowland rivers are indicative of a degraded state and likely to cause adverse ecological impacts, particularly if occurring outside natural high-flow events.

Metric Definition:

Upper detrimental threshold for water turbidity in lowland rivers indicating ecological harm.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum turbidity level of 50 NTU in lowland rivers above which ecological degradation is likely under livestock grazing in this biome.

Justification:

Based on ANZECC/NSW guidelines and ecological impact studies indicating degradation above this level.

Sources (1)

Preview of Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality of surface water environments - NSW Government Water, accessed August 1, 2025, Government

National Guidelines for Water Quality | Department of Natural ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (25)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Ambient Water Quality Monitoring of South Australia's Rivers and Streams - EPA SA, accessed July 13, 2025,
Ambient Water Quality Monitoring of South Australia's Rivers and Streams - EPA SA, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ambient Water Quality Monitoring of South Australia's Rivers and Streams - EPA SA, accessed July 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed May 13, 2025,
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of case study 7: south east queensland healthy waterways partnership - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025,
case study 7: south east queensland healthy waterways partnership - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

case study 7: south east queensland healthy waterways partnership - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of communities.unep.org, accessed May 15, 2025,
communities.unep.org, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support

The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species

View Source
Preview of DEVELOPING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR SUSPENDED AND BEDDED SEDIMENTS (SABS) | US EPA ARCHIVE DOCUMENT, accessed May 13, 2025,
DEVELOPING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR SUSPENDED AND BEDDED SEDIMENTS (SABS) | US EPA ARCHIVE DOCUMENT, accessed May 13, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

DEVELOPING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR SUSPENDED AND BEDDED SEDIMENTS (SABS) | US EPA ARCHIVE DOCUMENT, accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,
Ecosystems | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Wetlands: Literature Review - Waikato Regional Council

View Source
Preview of Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,
Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment

View Source
Preview of Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed May 13, 2025,
Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework

Environmental Protection (Water and Wetland Biodiversity) Policy 2019 | Environment, accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Feral horses (Equus caballus) increase suspended sediment in subalpine streams - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 13, 2025,
Feral horses (Equus caballus) increase suspended sediment in subalpine streams - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Feral horses (Equus caballus) increase suspended sediment in subalpine streams - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,
National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW

View Source
Preview of Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil PhD Research | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Integration on Australian Cattle Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,
Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Integration on Australian Cattle Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Integration on Australian Cattle Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Riparian restoration 6 ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,
Riparian restoration 6 ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Riparian restoration 6 ANU Sustainable Farms, accessed May 13, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Riparian restoration – ANU Sustainable Farms
Riparian restoration – ANU Sustainable Farms
Contextual Support Journal

Section 8 – Responsible Grazing – Stock And Waterways

View Source
Preview of Section 8 6 Responsible Grazing 6 Stock And Waterways, accessed May 13, 2025,
Section 8 6 Responsible Grazing 6 Stock And Waterways, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ambient Water Quality Monitoring of South Australia's Rivers and Streams

View Source
Preview of Sedimentation sifted out of pollution priorities - Griffith News, accessed May 13, 2025,
Sedimentation sifted out of pollution priorities - Griffith News, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Sedimentation sifted out of pollution priorities - Griffith News

View Source
Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of The Regional Distribution and Significance of Stream Turbidity in Victoria - CORE, accessed May 13, 2025,
The Regional Distribution and Significance of Stream Turbidity in Victoria - CORE, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support

The Regional Distribution and Significance of Stream Turbidity in Victoria - CORE

View Source
Preview of Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality for farm water supplies | Managing dams - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock Integration on Australian Cattle Farms

View Source
Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025
Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Impact of mitigated forestry activities on turbidity: assessing ...

View Source
Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Murray River catchment (NSW), accessed May 13, 2025,
Water Quality Objectives - Murray River catchment (NSW), accessed May 13, 2025,
Direct Evidence Regulatory Framework Government

Establishment of reference conditions and trigger values for chemical, physical and micro-biological indicators in New Zealand streams and rivers - Ministry for the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025,

Preview of www.rcsaustralia.com.au, accessed May 13, 2025,
www.rcsaustralia.com.au, accessed May 13, 2025,
Contextual Support

www.rcsaustralia.com.au, accessed May 13, 2025,

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

Indicates significant degradation and likely detrimental ecological impacts if consistently exceeded, especially outside high-flow events. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-WTU family.

5 NTU Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1
10 NTU Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1
— NTU Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
CompositeFramework Active v1
25 NTU Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1