Water Nitrate

AUS-TSR-LVG-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.05 mg/L

Range: 0.019 to 0.05 mg/L

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0.05

Optimal Range: 0.019 to 0.05

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.

Evidence & Context

The WQO for this water type for oxidised nitrogen (NOx, which is the sum of nitrate-N and nitrite-N) is a single value: <50 g/L N. Since nitrite concentrations in surface waters are typically very low and often negligible compared to nitrate, the WQO for oxidised nitrogen serves as a valid and slightly conservative proxy for nitrate. Converting this value to the required units gives the benchmark: <0.050 mg/L N

Metric Definition:

Water nitrate concentration as oxidised nitrogen (NOx, sum of nitrate-N and nitrite-N) in developed fresh water within the Johnstone River Basin

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable water nitrate concentration in developed fresh water in the Johnstone River Basin, based on oxidised nitrogen levels as a proxy for nitrate.

Justification:

This benchmark is a derived proxy based on the Queensland Government's Water Quality Objective (WQO) for oxidised nitrogen in 'Developed fresh water' within the Johnstone River Basin, a representative catchment in the Wet Tropics biome with significant grazing land use (16%). It was selected due to a lack of direct, published field measurements from verifiably 'best-practice' or 'regenerative' grazing sites.

Sources (1)

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 Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

Supporting Sources (31)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of and the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

and the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

and the Great Barrier Reef,

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

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

Contextual Support Government

ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia

Preview of Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed July 19, 2025,

Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed July 19, 2025,

Direct Evidence Government

Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Best management practice for maintaining and improving land condition on grazing lands, accessed July 19, 2025,

Best management practice for maintaining and improving land condition on grazing lands, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Best management practice for maintaining and improving land condition on grazing lands,

Preview of Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Catchments and corals: terrestrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

VEGETATION 0}' LORD HOWE ISLAND - Botanic Gardens of Sydney, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Daintree Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, North Queensland, accessed July 19, 2025,

Daintree Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, North Queensland, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Daintree Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, North Queensland,

Preview of Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 19, 2025,

Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of 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 - Bounties - ResearchHub, accessed July 19, 2025,

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 - Bounties - ResearchHub, accessed July 19, 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 - Bounties - ResearchHub,

Preview of 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 August 5, 2025,

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 August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

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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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 17, 2025,

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

Preview of Effects of time-controlled grazing on runoff and sediment loss - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Effects of time-controlled grazing on runoff and sediment loss - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of time-controlled grazing on runoff and sediment loss - ResearchGate,

Preview of Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed July 19, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Environmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 Management practice methods - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, accessed July 19, 2025,

Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 Management practice methods - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Understanding the economics of improved management practices ..., accessed July 18, 2025

Preview of Johnstone catchment water quality targets, accessed July 19, 2025,

Johnstone catchment water quality targets, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Johnstone catchment water quality targets,

Preview of Johnstone Freshwater Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, accessed July 19, 2025,

Johnstone Freshwater Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support

Johnstone Freshwater Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health,

Preview of Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025

Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,

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Land-based run-off - Reef Authority, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Land-based run-off - Reef Authority,

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,

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Managing riparian lands to improve water quality: optimising nitrate removal via denitrification - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Managing riparian lands to improve water quality: optimising nitrate removal via denitrification - CSIRO Research Publications Repository,

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Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 18, 2025

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Nitrification (DMPP) and urease (NBPT) inhibitors had no effect on pasture yield, nitrous oxide emissions, or nitrate leaching under irrigation in a hot-dry climate - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Nitrification (DMPP) and urease (NBPT) inhibitors had no effect on pasture yield, nitrous oxide emissions, or nitrate leaching under irrigation in a hot-dry climate - CSIRO Publishing,

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Our Plan for the Upper Herbert, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

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Preview of Question 3.4 What are the primary biophysical drivers of anthropogenic sediment and particulate nutrient export to the GBR and how have these drivers changed over time? - CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Publication, accessed July 19, 2025,

Question 3.4 What are the primary biophysical drivers of anthropogenic sediment and particulate nutrient export to the GBR and how have these drivers changed over time? - CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Publication, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Question 3.4 What are the primary biophysical drivers of anthropogenic sediment and particulate nutrient export to the GBR and how have these drivers changed over time? - CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Publication,

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Reef Plan First Report Card - Wet Tropics Region, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Reef Plan First Report Card - Wet Tropics Region,

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Reef Water Quality - Grazing Program - Burnett Catchment Care Association, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Reef Water Quality - Grazing Program - Burnett Catchment Care Association,

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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 Direct Evidence Journal

Relationships between land use and nutrient ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Understanding how sediments and nutrients reach the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 4, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

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www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status (Technical Report No. 62, Australian Rainforest CRC, 2006)

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Target Condition
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold is not ecologically relevant; optimal range is from 0.019 to 0.050 mg/L.

Related Benchmarks

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