Water Turbidity

AUS-AKW-CON-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

150 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. The scoring engine uses 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Turbidity measurements over 150 NTU can suggest water quality is degraded

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), indicating the concentration of suspended particles in water.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper detrimental threshold for water turbidity in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome under conservation land use, indicating degraded water quality when turbidity exceeds 150 NTU.

Justification:

This threshold is based on direct quantitative evidence from an analogous arid protected area (Karlamilyi National Park) linking turbidity levels above 150 NTU to significant ecological degradation, including a threefold reduction in macroinvertebrate abundance.

Sources (1)

Preview of MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF FERAL CAMELS ... - Ninti One

MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF FERAL CAMELS ... - Ninti One Journal

MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF FERAL CAMELS ... - Ninti One

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

(PDF) Water quality in two Australian dryland rivers: spatial and temporal variability and the role of flow - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of An Assessment of Water Sources for Heritage Listed Organic Mound Springs in NW Australia Using Airborne Geophysical (Electromagnetics and Magnetics) and Satellite Remote Sensing Methods - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 27, 2025,

An Assessment of Water Sources for Heritage Listed Organic Mound Springs in NW Australia Using Airborne Geophysical (Electromagnetics and Magnetics) and Satellite Remote Sensing Methods - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

An Assessment of Water Sources for Heritage Listed Organic Mound Springs in NW Australia Using Airborne Geophysical (Electromagnetics and Magnetics) and Satellite Remote Sensing Methods - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river, accessed July 27, 2025,

An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support

Establishing closure targets for discharge to temporary waters — a review - Australian Centre for Geomechanics

Preview of An Experimental Study on the Behavior of Fish in Response to Turbidity Changes—A Case Study of Korean Fishes - MDPI, accessed July 27, 2025,

An Experimental Study on the Behavior of Fish in Response to Turbidity Changes—A Case Study of Korean Fishes - MDPI, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

An Experimental Study on the Behavior of Fish in Response to Turbidity Changes—A Case Study of Korean Fishes - MDPI, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of APPLICATION - Department for Energy and Mining, accessed July 27, 2025,

APPLICATION - Department for Energy and Mining, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

APPLICATION - Department for Energy and Mining, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water ..., accessed August 5, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

tuvalu-data.sprep.org

Preview of Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters 1992

Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters 1992

Contextual Support Journal

Basin Salinity Management 2030 – strategies and reports

Preview of CONSULTATION INFORMATION PACK Establishing baseline data ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

CONSULTATION INFORMATION PACK Establishing baseline data ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

CONSULTATION INFORMATION PACK Establishing baseline data ..., accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Cyclone Mineral Sands Project Public Environmental Review - EPA WA, accessed July 27, 2025,

Cyclone Mineral Sands Project Public Environmental Review - EPA WA, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cyclone Mineral Sands Project Public Environmental Review - EPA WA, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,

Development of regional water quality and catchment guidelines for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed July 30, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009

Preview of Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed, accessed July 21, 2025

Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed, accessed July 21, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Ecological condition of central Australian arid-zone rivers - PubMed

Preview of Establishing closure targets for discharge to temporary waters — a review - Australian Centre for Geomechanics, accessed July 27, 2025,

Establishing closure targets for discharge to temporary waters — a review - Australian Centre for Geomechanics, accessed July 27, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Salt and Water Flux in an Arid Zone Intermittent River: The Role of the Floodplain Environment - Minerva Access

Preview of Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,

Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 16, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Guidance document for assessing and managing water quality in temporary waters, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Information note - Turbidity of water - Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, accessed July 27, 2025,

Information note - Turbidity of water - Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Information note - Turbidity of water - Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Non-prescribed Surface Water Resources ... - WaterConnect, accessed July 27, 2025,

Non-prescribed Surface Water Resources ... - WaterConnect, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Non-prescribed Surface Water Resources ... - WaterConnect, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Preliminary information for developing sediment guidelines for streams of the West Coast, New Zealand - Envirolink, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater, accessed July 20, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Quantifying Health in Ephemeral Rivers - eWater

Preview of River water quality: clarity and turbidity – published April 2020 - Stats NZ, accessed July 27, 2025,

River water quality: clarity and turbidity – published April 2020 - Stats NZ, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

River water quality: clarity and turbidity – published April 2020 - Stats NZ, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 27, 2025,

The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia: a region of arid zone wetland diversity - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia: a region of arid zone wetland diversity - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology, accessed July 27, 2025,

The aquatic plant communities of the Pilbara region of Western Australia: a region of arid zone wetland diversity - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Land-based aquaculture - Department of Primary Industries and ...

Preview of The Impact of Turbidity on Aquatic Life: Measuring with Meters - BOQU Instrument, accessed July 27, 2025,

The Impact of Turbidity on Aquatic Life: Measuring with Meters - BOQU Instrument, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Impact of Turbidity on Aquatic Life: Measuring with Meters - BOQU Instrument, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Turbidity | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 3, 2025

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

Preview of Up Front - Australian Museum Publications, accessed July 27, 2025,

Up Front - Australian Museum Publications, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Up Front - Australian Museum Publications, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Water in the region - Landscape South Australia - Alinytjara Wilurara, accessed July 27, 2025,

Water in the region - Landscape South Australia - Alinytjara Wilurara, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Falls in groundwater for southern Eyre Peninsula in South Australia force 2024 decision for plant to desalinate seawater | Adelaide AZ, accessed July 27, 2025

Preview of Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Water quality | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Seasonal changes in water quality and macrophytes and the ...

Preview of Water quality in non-perennial rivers, accessed July 27, 2025,

Water quality in non-perennial rivers, accessed July 27, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Water quality in non-perennial rivers, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Water Quality: Turbidity - Experiment - Vernier Software, accessed July 27, 2025,

Water Quality: Turbidity - Experiment - Vernier Software, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Quality: Turbidity - Experiment - Vernier Software, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of What is the effect of turbidity on quality of water? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025,

What is the effect of turbidity on quality of water? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What is the effect of turbidity on quality of water? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

This value is a robust upper boundary for degraded ecosystem state in the biome, supported by ecological principles of turbidity impacts on aquatic life.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-CON-WTU family.