Water Turbidity

AUS-TMS-LVG-WTU General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20 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 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A persistent turbidity >20-25 NTU during low-flow periods is likely to be detrimental.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity during low-flow (dry season baseflow) conditions

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets a maximum turbidity threshold during low-flow dry season conditions, above which water clarity is likely detrimental to aquatic life in tropical monsoonal savannas under livestock grazing.

Justification:

Based on observations that light penetration becomes significantly limited above such levels in shallow systems, potentially reducing photosynthesis by benthic algae and submerged macrophytes.

Sources (1)

Preview of Benthic Algal Resilience to Frequent Wet-Season Storm ...
Benthic Algal Resilience to Frequent Wet-Season Storm ... Journal

Benthic Algal Resilience to Frequent Wet-Season Storm ...

View Source

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia
(PDF) Water Quality Degradation of Coastal Waterways in the Wet Tropics, Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Water resource assessment for the Victoria catchment - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of a new approach for achieving ownership and change in catchment ...
a new approach for achieving ownership and change in catchment ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Normanby Catchment Water Quality Management Plan - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 24, 2025
Discharge-driven seasonal pattern of ionic solutes, suspended sediment and water clarity for a tropical savanna river in northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 24, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Marine and Freshwater Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

View Source
Preview of East Gippsland region - Water and catchments
East Gippsland region - Water and catchments
Contextual Support Journal

East Gippsland region - Water and catchments

View Source
Preview of Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ..., accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Evaluation of genetic markers for the metabarcoding of ...

View Source
Preview of Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA
Environmental Factors Affecting Australia's Livestock Industries - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

nesplandscapes.edu.au

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 era.dpi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
era.dpi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes

View Source
Preview of Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration ...
Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration ...
Contextual Support

Long-term monitoring and modelling of pasture regeneration ...

View Source
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
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
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

View Source
Preview of Normanby Catchment Water Quality Management Plan - WetlandInfo
Normanby Catchment Water Quality Management Plan - WetlandInfo
Contextual Support Journal

Normanby Catchment Water Quality Management Plan - WetlandInfo

View Source
Preview of The ecology of rivers in the Australian dry tropics. - ResearchGate
The ecology of rivers in the Australian dry tropics. - ResearchGate
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Characterising the relationship between water quality and water quantity

View Source
Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,
Methodology Source Government

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

View Source
Preview of Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,
Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...
Water Quality Guidelines Assessing discharges from a uranium ...
Direct Evidence Journal

Water scarcity exacerbates feral ungulate use of ephemeral savanna waterholes in northern Australia - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of www.reefplan.qld.gov.au
www.reefplan.qld.gov.au
Contextual Support Journal

Relating sediment impacts on coral reefs to watershed sources, processes and management: A review

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Low-Flow (Dry Season Baseflow)
  • Season Dry Season
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Range provided as 20-25 NTU; 20 NTU used as the threshold value.

Related Benchmarks

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

100 NTU Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · High-Flow (Wet Season Event) · Wet Season
MaximumOnly Active v2
— NTU Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Low-Flow (Dry Season Baseflow) · Dry Season
OptimalRange Active v1
50 NTU Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · High-Flow (Wet Season Event) · Wet Season
MaximumOnly Superseded v1