Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)

AUS-AMR-FOR-WEC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 30 to 350 µS/cm

Optimal Range: 30 to 350

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 3 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The optimal range for maintaining high ecological health, supporting sensitive native biota, and aligning with best-practice management goals is considered to be the benchmark itself: 30 – 350 µS/cm.

Metric Definition:

Water Electrical Conductivity (EC) in freshwater upland river systems

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of water electrical conductivity in freshwater upland river systems within the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome under production forestry. It represents water quality conditions that support high ecological health and sensitive native species, aligned with conservation management goals.

Justification:

A benchmark synthesized using the most relevant, scientifically defensible proxy: the default trigger values from the ANZECC (2000) guidelines for the protection of "Upland rivers" in south-east Australia, justified by analogous hydro-ecology and sustainable forestry goals.

Sources (3)

Preview of ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025,

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 18, 2025, Government

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025 Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

View Source

Preview of SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025,

SA Arid Lands Landscape Regional Summary 2022 Aquatic ..., accessed July 30, 2025, Government

(PDF) Effects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,

An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria - MDPI, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

An Examination of Stream Water Quality Data from Monitoring of Forest Harvesting in the Eastern Highlands of Victoria.

View Source

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

ANZEC Guidelines - Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in New Zealand, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF

Direct Evidence Journal

ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH FOR THE ...

View Source

Salinity - Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Salinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View Source

TERN - Australia's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

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

The effects of forest management on water quality - SLU, accessed July 31, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Rainforest timber plantations and the restoration of plant ...

View Source

tuvalu-data.sprep.org, accessed May 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Palaeovalley Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Australia - Geoscience Australia, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No lower detrimental threshold is defined because low EC signifies high-quality fresh water. Increasing EC above the natural baseline is detrimental with defined thresholds beyond the optimal range.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-FOR-WEC family.