Water Nitrate

AUS-TSR-FOR-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.02 to 0.1 mg/L
Optimal Range: 0.02 to 0.1
Direction: Higher 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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

A range of 0.02 to 0.1 mg N/L is considered optimal, reflecting a system with sufficient nutrient availability for resilience but well below levels that pose an ecological risk.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range for water nitrate concentration.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal range of water nitrate concentration that balances nutrient availability and ecological risk for tropical and subtropical rainforest production forestry.

Justification:

Range ensures sufficient nitrogen for healthy function and resilience while minimizing ecological harm.

Sources (1)

Preview of Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,
Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025, Government

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (25)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
(PDF) Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of 2016 - Best Management PracƟces for Water Quality - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, accessed July 20, 2025,
2016 - Best Management PracƟces for Water Quality - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

2016 - Best Management PracƟces for Water Quality - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of 5. Nutritional limitations to the early growth of rainforest timber trees in north Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
5. Nutritional limitations to the early growth of rainforest timber trees in north Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

5. Nutritional limitations to the early growth of rainforest timber trees in north Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources - DAFF, accessed May 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - Montreal Process, accessed July 20, 2025,
Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - Montreal Process, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - Montreal Process, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Daintree catchment water quality targets, accessed July 20, 2025,
Daintree catchment water quality targets, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Daintree catchment water quality targets, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Emission Sources of Nitrous Oxide From Australian Agricultural and Forest Lands and Mitigation Options - DCCEEW, accessed July 20, 2025,
Emission Sources of Nitrous Oxide From Australian Agricultural and Forest Lands and Mitigation Options - DCCEEW, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Emission Sources of Nitrous Oxide From Australian Agricultural and Forest Lands and Mitigation Options - DCCEEW, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds - PubMed, accessed July 20, 2025,
Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds - PubMed, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds - PubMed, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds, accessed August 8, 2025
Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Establishing riverine nutrient criteria using individual taxa thresholds - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments, nutrients and pesticides discharged to the Great Barrier Reef from the Tully–Murray Basin, Queensland, Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 20, 2025,
Identifying the land-based sources of suspended sediments, nutrients and pesticides discharged to the Great Barrier Reef from the Tully–Murray Basin, Queensland, Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025
Memorandum - Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Hickey, C. (2002). Nitrate guideline values in ANZECC 2000. Memorandum MFE02237 prepared for Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). NIWA Client Report: HAM2002-126.

View Source
Preview of Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Nitrate in freshwater and marine water - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support

Nitrate - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 1, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nitrogen levels in the Tully River - A long-term view | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of NUTRIENT CYCLING IN MOIST TROPICAL FOREST - Annual Reviews, accessed July 20, 2025,
NUTRIENT CYCLING IN MOIST TROPICAL FOREST - Annual Reviews, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NUTRIENT CYCLING IN MOIST TROPICAL FOREST - Annual Reviews, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrient enhancement, food quality and community dynamics in a tropical rainforest stream, accessed July 20, 2025,
Nutrient enhancement, food quality and community dynamics in a tropical rainforest stream, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient enhancement, food quality and community dynamics in a tropical rainforest stream, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nutrients in Australian tropical rivers: changes with agricultural development and implications for receiving environments | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Nutrients in Australian tropical rivers: changes with agricultural development and implications for receiving environments | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Nutrients in Australian tropical rivers: changes with agricultural development and implications for receiving environments | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,
Rainforest - WetlandInfo - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Rainforest – Processes (Department of the Environment, Tourism ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Rainforest – Processes (Department of the Environment, Tourism ..., accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales

View Source
Preview of Reef regulations and Best Management Practice programs factsheet, accessed July 18, 2025,
Reef regulations and Best Management Practice programs factsheet, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Reef regulations and Best Management Practice programs factsheet - Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 20, 2025,
Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Relationships between land use and nutrient concentrations in streams draining a 'wet-tropics' catchment in northern Australia - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Safeguarding Queensland's iconic Great Barrier Reef and waterways, accessed July 20, 2025,
Safeguarding Queensland's iconic Great Barrier Reef and waterways, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Safeguarding Queensland's iconic Great Barrier Reef and waterways, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Treatment systems for agriculture – Farm and waterway best ..., accessed July 18, 2025,
Treatment systems for agriculture – Farm and waterway best ..., accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Treatment systems for agriculture  Farm and waterway best management practices, accessed August 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Wet Tropics - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 20, 2025,
Wet Tropics - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Wet Tropics - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment methods, accessed July 20, 2025,
wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment methods, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support

wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment methods, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed August 2, 2025,
wet tropics report card 2024 - waterway environment results, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Report Card - Wet Tropics Waterways, accessed August 2, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Acknowledges minor nutrient leakage as unavoidable but within safe ecological limits.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-FOR-WNI family.

0.01 mg/L Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v1
0.5 mg/L Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
UpperThreshold Active v1