Water Nitrate

AUS-TGP-FOR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.19 mg/L
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

This benchmark represents the 80th percentile trigger value for nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−​-N) in upland rivers, derived using the ANZECC (2000) methodology.

Metric Definition:

Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−​-N) concentration in water

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark indicates the upper limit of nitrate-nitrogen concentration in water for maintaining high ecological health in Australia's Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains under sustainable production forestry. Values above this suggest a decline from the reference condition.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from the ANZECC (2000) guidelines and regional application for Tasmanian upland rivers, representing a scientifically defensible value for best available condition in the biome.

Sources (2)

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, Government

Drivers of water quality in Afromontane-savanna rivers - Frontiers

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Preview of Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025
Water Quality Objectives - Border Rivers - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

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

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Supporting Sources (38)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A review of sediment and nutrient concentration data from ..., accessed August 5, 2025
(PDF) A review of sediment and nutrient concentration data from ..., accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support

Nitrate in shallow groundwater in typical agricultural and forest ecosystems in China, 2004-2010 - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
A guide to managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Manning, A. D., Cunningham, R. B., Tongway, D., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2020). Woodlands and woody debris: Understanding structure and composition to inform restoration. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0224258.

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion

View Source
Preview of Attribution of river water-quality trends to agricultural land use and climate variability in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025,
Attribution of river water-quality trends to agricultural land use and climate variability in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Attribution of river water-quality trends to agricultural land use and climate variability in New Zealand - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The potential impact of climate change on Australia's soil organic carbon resources - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Native Forests and Water IFA Forestry Policy Statement 5.1, accessed August 10, 2025,
Australian Native Forests and Water IFA Forestry Policy Statement 5.1, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Desktop review – Impact of bushfires on water quality

View Source
Preview of Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 4. Nutrient limitation in global forests: current status and future trends - USDA

View Source
Preview of Close, D. C., et al. (2021). Temperate woodland under environmental stress: Great Otway National Park, Anglesea.
Close, D. C., et al. (2021). Temperate woodland under environmental stress: Great Otway National Park, Anglesea.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands Is Influenced More by Soil Nutrient Enrichment than by Recent Weed Invasion or Livestock Exclusion - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Deriving guideline values using reference-site data - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025
Methodology Source Government

Water Quality Guidelines Home - Water Quality Australia

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Preview of Desktop review – Impact of bushfires on water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,
Desktop review – Impact of bushfires on water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Ecology of Australia: the effects of nutrient-poor soils and intense fires - PubMed, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Study on Distribution of Forms of Phosphorus in Calcareous Soils ..., accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Murrumbidgee valley annual surface water quality report: 2022–2023, accessed August 10, 2025,
Murrumbidgee valley annual surface water quality report: 2022–2023, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Murrumbidgee valley annual surface water quality report: 2023–2024

View Source
Preview of Murrumbidgee valley annual surface water quality report: 2023–2024, accessed August 10, 2025,
Murrumbidgee valley annual surface water quality report: 2023–2024, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report

View Source
Preview of Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - NHMRC, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZG 2018)

View Source
Preview of Nitrate in shallow groundwater in typical agricultural and forest ecosystems in China, 2004-2010 - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,
Nitrate in shallow groundwater in typical agricultural and forest ecosystems in China, 2004-2010 - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality Index - Marine and Coasts

View Source
Preview of nitrogen - River water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,
nitrogen - River water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

nitrogen - River water quality, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient limitation in soils exhibiting differing nitrogen availabilities: what lies beyond nitrogen saturation? - PubMed, accessed August 10, 2025,
Nutrient limitation in soils exhibiting differing nitrogen availabilities: what lies beyond nitrogen saturation? - PubMed, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient limitation in soils exhibiting differing nitrogen availabilities: what lies beyond nitrogen saturation? - PubMed

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Patterns and Drivers of Groundwater and Stream Nitrate Concentrations in Intensively Managed Agricultural Catchments - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025
Patterns and Drivers of Groundwater and Stream Nitrate Concentrations in Intensively Managed Agricultural Catchments - MDPI, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support

Patterns and Drivers of Groundwater and Stream Nitrate Concentrations in Intensively Managed Agricultural Catchments - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,
Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Vegetation change in an urban grassy woodland 1974–2000 - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,
Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices

View Source
Preview of Report Card 2021-22 - EPA Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025,
Report Card 2021-22 - EPA Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Report Card 2021-22 - EPA Victoria, accessed August 10, 2025,

View Source
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,

View Source
Preview of Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Sweet end to weeds - Virtual Herbarium - Faculty of Science and Health, accessed August 10, 2025,
Sweet end to weeds - Virtual Herbarium - Faculty of Science and Health, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
The Abundance of Microbial Functional Genes in Grassy Woodlands ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
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

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Report, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025
The water quality and economic benefits of agricultural management practices, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

DRINKING WATER QUALITY ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 - Alpine Resorts Victoria

View Source
Preview of Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Total Nitrogen - DCCEEW

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Preview of Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ..., accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate in freshwater, toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems

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Preview of Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 – Summary Report, accessed August 10, 2025,
Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 – Summary Report, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022; Macroinvertebrate Responses to Conductivity in Different Bioregions of Victoria, Australia

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Preview of Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report - Water and ..., accessed August 12, 2025,
Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report - Water and ..., accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Victorian Water Quality Analysis 2022 Technical Report

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Preview of Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed July 16, 2025,
Water quality - DCCEEW, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Water quality - DCCEEW

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Preview of Water Quality Guidelines for Nitrogen (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia) - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 10, 2025,
Water Quality Guidelines for Nitrogen (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia) - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Water Quality Guidelines for Nitrogen (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia) - Gov.bc.ca, accessed August 10, 2025,

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Preview of Water Quality Index - Marine and Coasts, accessed August 10, 2025,
Water Quality Index - Marine and Coasts, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Report Card 2021-22 - EPA Victoria

View Source
Preview of WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR FRESH AND MARINE WATERS - DBCA Library, accessed July 16, 2025,
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR FRESH AND MARINE WATERS - DBCA Library, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATER QUALITY ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 25, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower critical threshold is not relevant; the benchmark is the upper limit for high ecological health; toxicity thresholds are much higher; optimal range is from lowest measurable to this benchmark.