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Agricultural lands are hot-spots for annual runoff polluting the southern Great Barrier Reef lagoon
Authors:Robert Packett  Cameron Dougall  Ken Rohde
Institution:a National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, Rockhampton, 4700, Australia
b The Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management, Rockhampton, 4700, Australia
c Department of Natural Resources and Water, Rockhampton, 4700, Australia
d Department of Natural Resources and Water, Emerald, 4720, Australia
e Department of Natural Resources and Water, Mackay, 4740, Australia
Abstract:The world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), continues to be degraded from land-based pollution. Information about the source of pollutants is critical for catchment management to improve GBR water quality. We report here on an 11-year source to sea study of pollutant delivery in runoff from the Fitzroy River Basin (FRB), the largest GBR catchment. An innovative technique that relates land use to pollutant generation is presented. Study results indicate that maximum pollutant concentrations at basin and sub-catchment scales are closely related to the percentage area of croplands receiving heavy rain. However, grazing lands contribute the majority of the long-term average annual load of most common pollutants. Findings suggest improved land management targets, rather than water quality targets should be implemented to reduce GBR pollution. This study provides a substantial contribution to the knowledge base for the targeted management of pollution ‘hot-spots’ to improve GBR water quality.
Keywords:Great Barrier Reef  Water quality  Hotspots  Inshore pollution  Fitzroy Basin  Agriculture
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