Territory Stories

Darwin Harbour in good health

Details:

Title

Darwin Harbour in good health

Member

Westra Van Holthe, Willem

Political affiliation

Country Liberals

Collection

Media Releases for 12th Assembly 2012 - 2016; Media Releases; ParliamentNT

Date

2015-03-04

Location

Darwin

Notes

Made available by via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT)

Language

English

Subject

Oceans; Marine life

Publisher name

Northern Territory Government

File type

application/pdf

Use

Issued as a Media Release

Copyright owner

Northern Territory Government

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/254788

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/528215

Related items

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/528211; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/528213

Page content

34 Shoal Bay 2014 5.7 Shoal Bay The area is a shallow embayment with a number of sandbars along the coastal fringe and entrance to tidal creeks. Shoal Bay receives sediments and nutrient loads from the Howard River catchment during the wet season. A number of smaller mangrovelined creeks flow to Shoal Bay, these include King, Mickett and Buffalo Creeks. Figure 10 summarises the results of water quality parameters measured at the Shoal Bay monitoring sites. Table 11 reports median values and 20th-80th percentiles (compliance), minimum and maximum values of the data measured. Table 11 - Summary of water quality parameters measured in Shoal Bay One water quality parameter (dissolved oxygen) measured did not comply with the WQOs: Water quality at the Shoal Bay monitoring sites is in very good condition. Dissolved oxygen (DO) can fluctuate widely over short temporal scales particularly with changing tides. Elevations above guidelines can be associated with the natural variation observed in the region. Revision of water quality objectives is needed to better accommodate this natural variation. Sometimes elevated DO can be associated with high algal biomass (Chlorophyll-a). Indicators Water Quality Objectives Shoal Bay min-max 20th-80th percentiles and (median) pH 7.0-8.5 7.6-8.2 7.8- 7.9 (7.8) Dissolved oxygen (% saturation) 80100 97.1-129 100-119 (107) Suspended solids (mg/L) <10 0.4-26.8 1.23 Chlorophyll a (g/L) <1 0.1-11.5 0.2 No (g/L) <10 8-26 12 Ammonia (g/L) <20 2-10 4 Total nitrogen (g/L) <440 90-370 140 Total phosphorus (g/L) <20 5-47 5 Filterable reactive phosphorus (g/L) <10 1-11 2 2014 rating B 34