Water Nitrate
Benchmark Value
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
Evidence & Context
For context, the more stringent 99% species protection level, which would be applied to high conservation value waters, is 0.64 mg/L N.2
High conservation value trigger nitrate concentration based on ANZG 99% species protection level for soft water
This benchmark represents the nitrate concentration threshold indicating risk to the most sensitive species in high-value aquatic ecosystems.
Exceedance suggests a risk to the most sensitive species in high-value ecosystems.
Sources (1)
Using the ANZECC Guidelines and Water Quality Objectives in NSW, accessed July 21, 2025,
View SourceSupporting Sources (31)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
and the Great Barrier Reef,
View SourceANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines - Water Quality Australia
View SourceBest management practice for maintaining and improving land condition on grazing lands,
View SourceVEGETATION 0}' LORD HOWE ISLAND - Botanic Gardens of Sydney, accessed July 28, 2025,
View SourceDaintree Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health, North Queensland,
View SourceDigging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceDo 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,
View SourceLudwig, 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.
View SourceDo 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,
View SourceThe effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,
View SourceEffects of time-controlled grazing on runoff and sediment loss - ResearchGate,
View SourceEnvironmental Monitoring of Nitrates and Other Water Quality Parameters: pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity - Hanna Instruments Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,
View SourceUnderstanding the economics of improved management practices ..., accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceJohnstone catchment water quality targets,
View SourceJohnstone Freshwater Basin: Wet Tropics Waterway Health,
View SourceReducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,
View SourceLand-based run-off - Reef Authority,
View SourceSoil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 27, 2025,
View SourceManaging riparian lands to improve water quality: optimising nitrate removal via denitrification - CSIRO Research Publications Repository,
View SourceNitrate retention under sugarcane in wet tropical Queensland deep soil profiles, accessed July 18, 2025
View SourceNitrification (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,
View SourceOur Plan for the Upper Herbert,
View SourceQuestion 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,
View SourceReef Plan First Report Card - Wet Tropics Region,
View SourceReef Water Quality - Grazing Program - Burnett Catchment Care Association,
View SourceRelationships between land use and nutrient ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 22, 2025,
View SourceToxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...
View SourceUnderstanding how sediments and nutrients reach the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO,
View SourceSalinity | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 8, 2025,
View SourcePotassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 28, 2025,
View SourceSediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status (Technical Report No. 62, Australian Rainforest CRC, 2006)
View Source