Water Turbidity

AUS-TSW-LVG-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

14 NTU

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, 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

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on a critical review of available evidence, the most scientifically defensible benchmark for water turbidity representing the best available condition in a sustainably grazed temperate semi-arid landscape is <14 NTU.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured as Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) during baseflow or low-flow conditions.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable water turbidity level in a sustainably grazed temperate semi-arid landscape, indicating the best available condition for water clarity and aquatic ecosystem health.

Justification:

This value is derived from a study in the Fitzroy Basin where turbidity was measured across a gradient of riparian health, showing sites with highest riparian condition scores consistently recorded turbidity levels below 14 NTU during ambient flow conditions.

Sources (1)

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025 Journal

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern Australia

Supporting Sources (20)

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 A semi-arid lowland river: the River Murray, Australia. - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

A semi-arid lowland river: the River Murray, Australia. - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A semi-arid lowland river: the River Murray, Australia. - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,

Alice Mulga SuperSite | Soil & Vegetation Monitoring - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Great Western Woodlands, Ground Water Data, 2014 - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report - WaterNSW, accessed July 10, 2025,

Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report - WaterNSW, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Annual Water Quality Monitoring Report - WaterNSW, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Critical limits for water risk management | Queensland Health, accessed July 21, 2025,

Critical limits for water risk management | Queensland Health, accessed July 21, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Turbidity Measurement: A Simple, Effective Indicator of Water Quality Change, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia

Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia

Methodology Source Government

Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia, accessed July 17, 2025

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,

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Guidelines for grazing in the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes - Managing stock water - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 10, 2025,

Guidelines for grazing in the Gwydir Wetlands and Macquarie Marshes - Managing stock water - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face ... - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration and water quality from a Bothriochloa pertusa site in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration and water quality from a Bothriochloa pertusa site in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration and water quality from a Bothriochloa pertusa site in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration and water quality from a Bothriochloa pertusa site in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 15, 2025,

Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration and water quality from a Bothriochloa pertusa site in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed August 8, 2025

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Grazing water quality risk framework 2017-2022, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food

Regen Ag #9- Nurture the Water Cycle - Dirty Clean Food

Regulatory Framework GreyLiterature

Water Quality Guidelines Level of protection, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of The influence of riparian vegetation on water quality in ... - UQ eSpace, accessed July 10, 2025,

The influence of riparian vegetation on water quality in ... - UQ eSpace, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The influence of riparian vegetation on water quality in ... - UQ eSpace, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Understanding the relationship between livestock grazing and wetland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed July 10, 2025,

Understanding the relationship between livestock grazing and wetland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding the relationship between livestock grazing and wetland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of Water quality for livestock, accessed July 29, 2025,

Water quality for livestock, accessed July 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,

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

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

Regulatory Framework Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

wetland management profile - arid and semi-arid lakes - WetlandInfo, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

wetland management profile - arid and semi-arid lakes - WetlandInfo, accessed July 10, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse for water clarity and aquatic health. This benchmark applies to baseflow/low-flow conditions and is derived from evidence in the Fitzroy Basin. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.