Water Quality Monitoring Programs Research Articles

Effect of storm events on riverine nitrogen dynamics in a subtropical watershed, southeastern China

Rain storms are predicted to increase in the subtropical region due to climate change. However, the effects of storm events on riverine nitrogen (N) dynamics are poorly understood. In this study, the riverine N dynamics and storm effects in a large subtropical river (North Jiulong River, southeastern China) were investigated through continuous sampling of two storm events which occurred in June 2010 and June 2011. The results disclosed a strong linkage between N dynamics and hydrological controls and watershed characteristics. The extreme storm in June 2010 resulted in more fluctuations in N concentrations, loads, and composition, compared with the moderate storm in June 2011. There were contrasting patterns (e.g., the hysteresis effect) between nitrate and ammonium behavior in storm runoff, reflecting their different supply source and transport mechanism. Overall, nitrate supply originated from subsurface runoff and was dominated by within-channel mobilization, while ammonium was mainly from over-land sources and flushed by surface runoff. Extreme storm runoff (2010) caused a four-fold increase in dissolved inorganic N fluxes (DIN), with a greater fraction of ammonium (up to 30% of DIN) compared with the moderate storm and background flow condition (less than 15%). Storm-driven sharp increases of N loads and changes in nutrient stoichiometry (more ammonium) might have been connected with algal blooms in the adjacent estuary and Xiamen Bay. Combined with the background flow measurement of N gradients along the main river and a stream together with anthropogenic N load information, the interactive effect of hydrological and biogeochemical process on riverine N was preliminarily revealed. Current results suggested that storm runoff N was controlled by rainfall, hydrological condition, antecedent soil moisture, spatial variability of land-based N source, and damming. These findings could be used as a reference for future water quality monitoring programs and the development of a pollution mitigation strategy.

Evaluation of Changes in Effluent Quality from Industrial Complexes on the Korean Nationwide Scale Using a Self-Organizing Map

One of the major issues related to the environment in the 21st century is sustainable development. The innovative economic growth policy has supported relatively successful economic development, but poor environmental conservation efforts, have consequently resulted in serious water quality pollution issues. Hence, assessments of water quality and health are fundamental processes towards conserving and restoring aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we characterized spatial and temporal changes in water quality (specifically physico-chemical variables plus priority and non-priority pollutants) of discharges from industrial complexes on a national scale in Korea. The data were provided by the Water Quality Monitoring Program operated by the Ministry of Environment, Korea and were measured from 1989 to 2008 on a monthly basis at 61 effluent monitoring sites located at industrial complexes. Analysis of monthly and annual changes in water quality, using the seasonal Mann-Kendall test, indicated an improvement in water quality, which was inferred from a continuous increase in dissolved oxygen and decrease in other water quality factors. A Self-Organizing Map, which is an unsupervised artificial neural network, also indicated an improvement of effluent water quality, by showing spatial and temporal differences in the effluent water quality as well as in the occurrence of priority pollutants. Finally, our results suggested that continued long-term monitoring is necessary to establish plans and policies for wastewater management and health assessment.

Aluminium heterogeneous speciation in natural waters

The presence of aluminium in natural waters is of major concern at present because of the potential threat for the health of a number of species, including humans. In natural water, aluminium exists in different forms depending on the concentrations of various other species, organic matter, the types of minerals, the pH, etc. The aluminium species in the natural water – gibbsite system is considered in this work. The main approaches for estimating of the individual concentrations of the aluminium species involve the use of reliable thermodynamic data, together with experimental measurements of free or total concentrations of major components. The new type of diagrams based on graphical and computerized methods, which quantitatively describe the distribution of soluble and insoluble, inorganic, and organic, and monomeric and polymeric aluminium species in heterogeneous aquatic systems is presented. This approach utilizes thermodynamic relationships coupled with original mass balance constraints, where the mineral phases are explicitly expressed. The factors influencing the distribution of soluble and insoluble aluminium species in aquatic systems were analyzed. The new type of developed diagrams may be used to interpret data obtained within the framework of water-quality monitoring programs.

Research of Online Water Quality Monitoring System Based on Zigbee Network

For the characteristics of time consuming, complicated steps and lack of automatic of the traditional water quality monitoring, an automated real-time online water quality monitoring program based on wireless sensor network (WSN) is presented in this paper. This system combined micro-UV-Vis Fiber Optic Spectrometer with ZigBee Wireless Communication Technique to constitute Wireless Sensor Network Node which is placed at the monitoring water,and then used the ZigBee protocol’s real-time transmission and monitor data to raise the automation and monitoring level. This paper discussed the network architecture based on ZigBee protocol, maked design of Optical System of sensor node and the hardware and software and then maked spectroscopy signal real time collection and communication test. The experiment results show that the industrial monitoring system of water quality has few transmission errors, better anti-jamming ability, small size of sensor node, fast inspection speed. All these features are suitable for real-time and continuous monitoring the pollution level of industrial sewage.

Estimating Point and Non-Point Sources of Pollution in Biñan River Basin, the Philippines

A Pollution Load Model was developed for Biñan River Basin, one of the sub-basins of Laguna de Bay, Philippines, to estimate waste loads to surface water by different sources. This model consists of two major elements, a Pollution Load Generation module which quantifies the amount of pollution load at source and a Pollution Load Treatment module specifying the kind of treatment (capacity, efficiency, and location), the output of which is the estimated waste load discharged to the public waters after treatment. The annual waste load at source was estimated at about 9,592 MT for BOD (biochemical oxygen demand). After undergoing purifications or decay processes along the channels and waterways, BOD drops to 66% or 6,388 MT, considered as the annual BOD loading from Biñan River that eventually enters Laguna de Bay. Domestic effluents predicted the highest at 3,850 MT (60%), followed by livestock sources at 1,446 MT (23%). The industrial and non-point sources contribute about 747 MT (12%) and 345 MT (5%) of annual BOD load, respectively. The Pollution Load Model, combined with regular monitoring programs for hydrologic and water quality, provides better understanding on the state of the river system hence, are important evaluation tools for decision making.

Detection limits can influence the interpretation of pesticide monitoring data in Canadian surface waters

Water quality monitoring programs rely on residue data that are frequently left censored, due to some observations occurring below the Method Detection Limit (MDL). Our objective was to determine the influence the MDL has on the interpretation of pesticide residues in surface waters. Water samples from tributaries in southern and central Ontario were collected by Environment Canada from 2003 to 2008 and were analyzed for 27 pesticides, with MDLs that averaged 7.02 ng −1 L (range 0.39–25.1 ng −1 L). We then simulated MDLs ranging from 25 to 1700 ng −1 L, to determine the impact this would have on the reporting of pesticide concentrations and detections. The mean number of pesticides detected simultaneously declined with increasing, i.e. less sensitive MDLs, from 5.02 pesticides (native MDL) to 0.08 pesticides detected (MDL < 1700 ng −1 L). We compared the proportion of sites where pesticides were detected in surface waters under five MDL scenarios for 13 selected pesticides. The proportions decreased sharply with increasing MDLs. We calculated detection probabilities in an effort to compensate for higher MDLs using maximum likelihood; while adjusting for detection probabilities generally improved estimates of the presence of pesticides, as the MDLs increased the ability to compensate for detection probabilities deteriorated and became unviable at high MDLs. Depending on the method of substitution for observations below MDL (replacement with ½ × or 0 × MDL), the mean and median pesticide residues became increasingly over- and underestimated, respectively, at higher MDLs. Although monitoring programs that are focused on exceedences of water quality guidelines may not require low MDLs, the achievable goals of monitoring programs oriented towards other ecological and toxicological objectives may be limited by higher MDLs.

False-positive identification ofEscherichia coliin treated municipal wastewater and wastewater-irrigated soils

The increasing use of treated wastewater for irrigation heightens the importance of accurate monitoring of water quality. Chromogenic media, because they are easy to use and provide rapid results, are often used for detection of Escherichia coli in environmental samples, but unique levels of organic and inorganic compounds alter the chemistry of treated wastewater, potentially hindering the accurate performance of chromogenic media. We used MI agar and molecular confirmatory methods to assess false-positive identification of E. coli in treated wastewater samples collected from municipal utilities, an irrigation holding pond, irrigated soils, and in samples collected from storm flows destined for groundwater recharge. False-positive rates in storm flows (4.0%) agreed closely with USEPA technical literature but were higher in samples from the pond, soils, and treatment facilities (33.3%, 38.0%, and 48.8%, respectively). Sequencing of false-positive isolates confirmed that most were, like E. coli, of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and many of the false-positive isolates were reported to produce the β-d-glucuronidase enzyme targeted by MI agar. False-positive identification rates were inversely related to air temperature, suggesting that seasonal variations in water quality influence E. coli identification. Knowledge of factors contributing to failure of chromogenic media will lead to manufacturer enhancements in media quality and performance and will ultimately increase the accuracy of future water quality monitoring programs.

Sustainable microbial water quality monitoring programme design using phage-lysis and multivariate techniques

Contamination of surface waters is a pervasive threat to human health, hence, the need to better understand the sources and spatio-temporal variations of contaminants within river catchments. River catchment managers are required to sustainably monitor and manage the quality of surface waters. Catchment managers therefore need cost-effective low-cost long-term sustainable water quality monitoring and management designs to proactively protect public health and aquatic ecosystems. Multivariate and phage-lysis techniques were used to investigate spatio-temporal variations of water quality, main polluting chemophysical and microbial parameters, faecal micro-organisms sources, and to establish ‘sentry’ sampling sites in the Ouse River catchment, southeast England, UK. 350 river water samples were analysed for fourteen chemophysical and microbial water quality parameters in conjunction with the novel human-specific phages of Bacteroides GB-124 (Bacteroides GB-124). Annual, autumn, spring, summer, and winter principal components (PCs) explained approximately 54%, 75%, 62%, 48%, and 60%, respectively, of the total variance present in the datasets. Significant loadings of Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, turbidity, and human-specific Bacteroides GB-124 were observed in all datasets. Cluster analysis successfully grouped sampling sites into five clusters. Importantly, multivariate and phage-lysis techniques were useful in determining the sources and spatial extent of water contamination in the catchment. Though human faecal contamination was significant during dry periods, the main source of contamination was non-human. Bacteroides GB-124 could potentially be used for catchment routine microbial water quality monitoring. For a cost-effective low-cost long-term sustainable water quality monitoring design, E. coli or intestinal enterococci, turbidity, and Bacteroides GB-124 should be monitored all-year round in this river catchment.

Documenting measurement sensitivity and bias of field-measured parameters in water quality monitoring programs

Measurement sensitivity and bias quality control metrics are commonly reported for water-quality parameters measured in the laboratory. Less commonly recognized is that they should also be reported for field-measured parameters. Periodic evaluation helps document data quality and can help serve as early warning if there are problems with methods or techniques that could negatively affect ability to interpret threshold values and trends over time. This study focuses on traditional assessment of bias and introduces a new method for estimating measurement sensitivity of water-quality parameters measured monthly in the field. Alternative measurement sensitivity is a new data quality indicator used to demonstrate how quantifying sensitivity at the measurement level can improve understanding the uncertainty affecting each reported data value. That, in turn, can help interpret the meaning of results from many separate data points measured in the field. In this 30-month study, pH and specific conductance consistently met, and dissolved oxygen did not always meet NPS and USGS quality control standards for bias. Evaluation of dissolved oxygen bias and sensitivity during the study provided impetus to improve calibration techniques that resulted in data that later met quality goals.

Water quality management of aquifer recharge using advanced tools

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with recycled water or other alternative resources is one of the most rapidly growing techniques that is viewed as a necessity in water-short areas. In order to better control health and environmental effects of MAR, this paper presents two case studies demonstrating how to improve water quality, enable reliable tracing of injected water and better control and manage MAR operation in the case of indirect and direct aquifer recharge. Two water quality management strategies are illustrated on two full-scale case studies, including the results of the combination of non conventional and advanced technologies for water quality improvement, comprehensive sampling and monitoring programs including emerging pollutants, tracer studies using boron isotopes and integrative aquifer 3D GIS hydraulic and hydrodispersive modelling.

Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective

ABSTRACT The technology to recover natural gas depends on undisclosed types and amounts of toxic chemicals. A list of 944 products containing 632 chemicals used during natural gas operations was compiled. Literature searches were conducted to determine potential health effects of the 353 chemicals identified by Chemical Service (CAS) numbers. More than 75% of the chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Approximately 40–50% could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and mutations. These results indicate that many chemicals used during the fracturing and drilling stages of gas operations may have long-term health effects that are not immediately expressed. In addition, an example was provided of waste evaporation pit residuals that contained numerous chemicals on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) lists of hazardous substances. The discussion highlights the difficulty of developing effective water quality monitoring programs. To protect public health we recommend full disclosure of the contents of all products, extensive air and water monitoring, coordinated environmental/human health studies, and regulation of fracturing under the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act.

Modelling and monitoring towards ‘ecologically good' status

Ambitious goals set for all EU states in the water framework directive call for the development of appropriate tools that support the implementation of the directive. Mathematical modelling can be utilised for devising the methodologies that address its many aspects, from evaluation of management alternatives to design of operational monitoring programmes. A major difficulty is the lack of detail in the directive regarding the implementation of monitoring programmes. This paper reviews and discusses the role of modelling in the implementation of the directive, with particular emphasis on integration of modelling into directive monitoring systems. New approaches, such as the Bayesian maximum entropy method, are discussed. The method utilises models in the processes of waterbody mapping and assessment and optimisation of water quality monitoring programmes; the authors are currently implementing the method to Irish coastal waterbodies. It is concluded that one of the main difficulties in implementing the directive is the lack of a structured approach in the development and management of monitoring programmes; mathematical models are recommended tools to help overcome these difficulties.

The Niagara River mussel biomonitoring program ( Elliptio complanata): 1983–2009

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has monitored the concentrations of contaminants in mussel ( Elliptio complanata) tissue and bottom sediments at sites in the Niagara River since 1983 to describe the general contamination of the river and identify contaminant sources. More recently, the data have been used to document the effectiveness of remedial actions implemented at identified sources along the river. Results from Canadian sites and five U.S. sites at which remedial actions have been implemented [Bloody Run Creek (Hyde Park Hazardous Waste Site); Gill Creek; Occidental Chemical Company (Buffalo Avenue Plant); 102nd Street Hazardous Waste Site; and Pettit Flume Cove] are discussed. p,p′-DDE, PCBs and dioxins were the only contaminants detected at Canadian sites at concentrations probably representative of background. Results from the five sites showed the effectiveness of implemented remedial actions in reducing the flow of contaminants to the river ranged between very effective (Gill Creek: PCBs; and 102nd Street, CBs) to no effect (Bloody Run Creek: PCBs, CBs, and dioxins). Remedial actions at the Pettit Flume Cove (for dioxins/furans) initially appeared to be effective, but were subsequently shown to have missed a source to the cove. The effectiveness of the actions taken at these sites in improving contaminant conditions in the Niagara River since the 1980s as demonstrated by our mussel and sediment results is corroborated by the data from other fish and water quality monitoring programs. Additional remedial efforts are still required at these sites and other known sources of contaminants to the river.

The origin of salinity and sulphate contamination of groundwater in the Colima State, Mexico, constrained by stable isotopes

Chemical compositions and stable isotope ratios of water and sulphate were used to characterise sources and processes responsible for elevated concentrations of sulphate and other constituents in groundwater from aquifers at Colima State along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The δ18O and δ2H values of the groundwater were similar to those of precipitation indicating a meteoric origin, and recharge processes are relatively uniform in large parts of the study area with only slight local evaporation effects. δ34Ssulphate and δ18Osulphate analyses indicated that high sulphate concentrations of up to 1,480 mg/l are mainly due to dissolution of evaporites and volcanic exhalations. Chloride is largely related to sources other than seawater. The Marabasco sub basin is affected by anthropogenic contamination through manganese and iron ore mining activities. The obtained knowledge regarding sources and areas of contamination will be essential for the development and design of a water quality monitoring program in the study area.

Assessment of river water quality in the South Baltic coast by multivariate techniques

Abstract The paper presents an example of using multivariate techniques to interpret a large data set obtained during a 4-year water quality monitoring program in the Gdansk Municipality region, on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. From 2004 to 2007, 11 physicochemical water parameters were analyzed monthly at 15 sites within eight watercourses. Principal-components analysis and cluster analysis were used to explore the data. Spatio-temporal trends in water quality were evaluated, the variables that determined the data set’s structure and the factors that affected the water’s physicochemical composition identified, with the goal of helping to optimize future monitoring. To reduce the number of analyzed variables, relationships between the analyzed parameters were also identified. The results revealed that the differences in physicochemical water properties among stations were generally smaller than those between the warmer and cooler seasons. It was determined that seasonal intrusions of brackish water from the Gulf of Gdansk can modify the water properties of some watercourses in the study area, but that dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, and total phosphorus were the main parameters responsible for the overall variation in the observed data. These parameters are related to pollution of anthropogenic origin.

Spatial and seasonal variations in atrazine and metolachlor surface water concentrations in Ontario (Canada) using ELISA

Concerns regarding the impacts of pesticides on aquatic species and drinking water sources have increased demands on water quality monitoring programs; however the costs of sample analysis can be prohibitive. In this study we investigated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a cost-effective, high through-put method for measuring pesticide concentrations in surface waters. Seven hundred and thirty-nine samples from 158 locations throughout Ontario were analysed for atrazine and metolachlor from April to October 2007. Concentrations ranged from <0.1 to 3.91 μg L −1 (median = 0.12 μg L −1) for atrazine and from <0.1 to 1.83 μg L −1 (median = 0.09 μg L −1) for metolachlor. Peak concentrations occurred in late spring/early summer, in rural agricultural locations, and decreased over the remainder of the growing season for both herbicides. About 3% of the samples that had ELISA results occurring above the limit of quantification (0.10 μg L −1) were evaluated against gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Linear regression analysis revealed a R 2 value of 0.88 and 0.39, for atrazine and metolachlor, respectively. ELISA tended to overestimate concentrations for atrazine and metolachlor, most likely because the ELISA kits also detect their metabolites. Atrazine data suggest that ELISA may be used complementary with GC–MS analysis to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of a water quality monitoring study. The commercially available metolachlor ELISA kit requires further investigation. ELISA may be used to detect atrazine and metolachlor in surface water samples, but it is not recommended as a quantitative replacement for traditional analytical methods.

Uncertainties in Assessing Annual Nitrate Loads and Concentration Indicators: Part 2. Deriving Sampling Frequency Charts in Brittany, France

In water quality monitoring programs, standard sampling frequency schemes tend to be applied throughout entire regions or states. Ideally, the common standard among monitoring stations ought not to be the sampling frequency but instead the level of uncertainty of the estimated water quality indicators. Until now, there was no obvious way of doing this. This article proposes, for the first time, guidelines to select appropriate sampling frequencies to harmonize the level of uncertainty in the case of yearly nitrate indicators for the regional river water quality monitoring network in Brittany, France. A database of 50 watershed-year datasets (nine watersheds of 4 to 252 km2 in size) was used for which high temporal resolution data (hourly and daily) were available for flow and nitrate concentrations. For each dataset, the uncertainty levels were calculated by numerically simulating sampling intervals varying from 2 to 60 days. The precision limits of the uncertainties were successfully correlated to a hydrological reactivity index. The correlations were used to derive sampling frequency charts. These charts can be used by watershed managers to optimize the sampling frequency scheme for any watershed for a desired uncertainty level, provided that the dimensionless local hydrological reactivity can be calculated from previous records of continuous flow rates. The sampling frequency charts also suggest that, depending on the hydrological reactivity, expected uncertainties generated by monthly sampling range between 6% and 14% for the annual load and between -5% and +2.5% to +7.2% for the annual concentration average.

Optimizing water quality monitoring networks using continuous longitudinal monitoring data: a case study of Wen-Rui Tang River, Wenzhou, China

Identification of representative sampling sites is a critical issue in establishing an effective water quality monitoring program. This is especially important at the urban-agriculture interface where water quality conditions can change rapidly over short distances. The objective of this research was to optimize the spatial allocation of discrete monitoring sites for synoptic water quality monitoring through analysis of continuous longitudinal monitoring data collected by attaching a water quality sonde and GPS to a boat. Sampling was conducted six times from March to October 2009 along a 6.5 km segment of the Wen-Rui Tang River in eastern China that represented an urban-agricultural interface. When travelling at a velocity of ∼2.4 km h(-1), this resulted in water quality measurements at ∼20 m interval. Ammonia nitrogen (NH(4)(+)-N), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity data were collected and analyzed using Cluster Analysis (CA) to identify optimal locations for establishment of long-term monitoring sites. The analysis identified two distinct water quality segments for NH(4)(+)-N and EC and three distinct segments for DO and turbidity. According to our research results, the current fixed-location sampling sites should be adjusted to more effectively capture the distinct differences in the spatial distribution of water quality conditions. In addition, this methodology identified river reaches that require more comprehensive study of the factors leading to the changes in water quality within the identified river segment. The study demonstrates that continuous longitudinal monitoring can be a highly effective method for optimizing monitoring site locations for water quality studies.

Why stream mayflies can reproduce without males but remain bisexual: a case of lost genetic variation

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are important to the food web of most stream, river, and lake ecosystems and are critical to water-quality monitoring programs. They are widespread and ancient (predate dinosaurs) and have primitive reproductive systems and the shortest adult life spans of all insects. Here we formulate and test the hypothesis that facultative parthenogenesis occurs as a widespread adaptation in most, if not all, mayflies. A rare form of reproduction, facultative parthenogenesis combines the short-term advantages of parthenogenesis, which doubles reproductive output, with the long-term advantages of genetic variation associated with sex. For 7 species of bisexual mayflies, we show that their eggs hatched whether fertilized or not and that unfertilized eggs took longer to develop and hatch. However, once hatched, larvae produced via parthenogenesis grew and developed to the adult in a manner similar to that of larvae produced sexually. In addition, for all study species, female adults produced parthenogenetically were diploid and could reproduce either sexually (producing males and females equally) or parthenogenetically (producing mostly females and some males). Males produced parthenogenetically were viable and occurred either as 1st generation (F1) offspring or as offspring of F1 gynandromorphs (intersex individuals). Last, we show that parthenogenetic descendants lose ~10 to 22% of their genetic variation as a result of each parthenogenetic generation. We use these findings and observations and other published data to support the hypothesis that most, if not all, mayflies are facultatively parthenogenetic. We propose that this ability increases mayfly reproductive success by giving eggs from unmated or incompletely fertilized females a 2nd chance. We then formulate 3 additional hypotheses: 1) parthenogenetic development of mayfly eggs proceeds automatically soon after emergence but can be and normally is preempted by fertilization, and that this mechanism both helps to compensate for and is enabled by the peculiarities of life history and primitive reproductive biology in this ancient group; 2) that facultative parthenogenesis enhances mayfly dispersal and gene flow because it enables virgin females to transfer genes within and among catchments and to form bisexual populations in new habitat; and 3) that mayflies remain bisexual despite being able to reproduce without males because of lost genetic variation associated with the parthenogenetic process.

Assessment of the eutrophication status of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Australia)

Current scientific consensus is that inshore regions of the central and southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, are at risk of impacts from increased nutrient (as well as sediment and pesticide) loads delivered to Reef waters. Increases in the discharge of water quality contaminants to the Reef are largely a consequence of the expansion of agricultural practices in northern Queensland catchments following European settlement in the 1850s. In particular, the presence of elevated chlorophyll a and nutrient concentrations in many parts of the inshore Great Barrier Reef together with intense and extensive phytoplankton blooms following the discharge of nutrient-rich river flood waters suggest that the central and southern inshore area of the Great Barrier Reef is likely to be significantly impacted by elevated nutrient loads. The biological consequences of this are not fully quantified, but are likely to include changes in reef condition including hard and soft coral biodiversity, macroalgal abundance, hard coral cover and coral recruitment, as well as change in seagrass distribution and tissue nutrient status. Contemporary government policy is centered around promotion and funding of better catchment management practices to minimize the loss of catchment nutrients (both applied and natural) and the maintenance of a Reef wide water quality and ecosystem monitoring program. The monitoring program is designed to assess trends in uptake of management practice improvements and their associated impacts on water quality and ecosystem status over the next 10 years. A draft set of quantitative criteria to assess the eutrophication status of Great Barrier Reef waters is outlined for further discussion and refinement.