How Healthy is Moreton Bay?

How Healthy is Moreton How Healthy is Moreton Bay?Bay?

Ivan Holland, Francis Pantus, Andrew Watkinson, Dan Wruck & Ivan Holland, Francis Pantus, Andrew Watkinson, Dan Wruck &

Bill DennisonBill Dennison

M O N I T O R I N G P R O G R A M M O N I T O R I N G P R O G R A M

CRC for Coastal ZoneCRC for Coastal ZoneEstuary & Waterway ManagementEstuary & Waterway Management

Adrian Jones & Angela GriceAdrian Jones & Angela Grice

EHMP Project TeamEHMP Project Team


Angela GriceAngela Grice

Ivan HollandIvan Holland

Paul LutzPaul Lutz

Andrew MossAndrew Moss

Mark DavidsonMark Davidson

John FerrisJohn Ferris

Michelle LeuttonMichelle Leutton

Myles WallerMyles Waller

Ray ClarkRay Clark

Darren RenoufDarren Renouf

Chris OvendenChris Ovenden

Nathan JohnstonNathan Johnston

Phil ThorntonPhil Thornton

Nicola UdyNicola Udy

Bill DennisonBill Dennison

Adrian JonesAdrian Jones

Courtney HendersonCourtney Henderson

VolunteersVolunteers

Francis PantusFrancis Pantus

Peter ToscasPeter Toscas

Tom TarantoTom Taranto

Dan WruckDan Wruck

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline• Introduction to Moreton Bay Introduction to Moreton Bay

and its Riversand its Rivers• Historical conditionsHistorical conditions• Current pressures on the Current pressures on the

ecosystemecosystem• The Vision for the futureThe Vision for the future• Monitoring ecosystem healthMonitoring ecosystem health• Wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment

initiativesinitiatives• Health of the RiversHealth of the Rivers• Health of Moreton BayHealth of Moreton Bay

– SedimentsSediments– NutrientsNutrients– LyngbyaLyngbya

• Future Strategies, Research Future Strategies, Research & Communication& Communication

Moreton Bay is a productive coastal Moreton Bay is a productive coastal embayment embayment

• Moreton Bay shows Moreton Bay shows relatively high relatively high concentrations of concentrations of phytoplankton and phytoplankton and suspended solidssuspended solids

MoretoMoreton n BayBay

DunwichDunwich

RedcliffeRedcliffe

Bribie Bribie IslandIsland

LuggageLuggagePointPoint

Moreton Moreton IslandIsland

BrisbaneBrisbaneRiverRiver

LoganLoganRiverRiver

PinePineRiverRiver

CabooltureCabooltureRiverRiver

Moreton BayMoreton Bay

• Moreton region has 2 million Moreton region has 2 million people and is the fastest people and is the fastest growing region in the growing region in the countrycountry

• Moreton Bay receives inputMoreton Bay receives input from Brisbane, Logan, from Brisbane, Logan, Caboolture and PineCaboolture and Pine Rivers Rivers

• The Brisbane River has the The Brisbane River has the - largest catchmentlargest catchment of all of all

regionsregions- highest population highest population

densitydensity- hhighest sewage inputsighest sewage inputs

Brisbane River Brisbane River has thehas the largest catchment largest catchment

Great D

ividing Range

Great D

ividing Range

Brisbane River CatchmentBrisbane River Catchment

Logan River CatchmentLogan River CatchmentPine Rivers CatchmentPine Rivers Catchment

Caboolture River CatchmentCaboolture River Catchment

• Brisbane R. catchment Brisbane R. catchment extends to Great extends to Great Dividing RangeDividing Range

• Includes 4 major Includes 4 major subcatchmentssubcatchments• Upper Brisbane,Upper Brisbane,• StanleyStanley• LockyerLockyer• BremerBremer

• Residence times Residence times are highly variable are highly variable

• Rivers have the longest Rivers have the longest residence timeresidence time

• Short residence times Short residence times near inlets near inlets

• Bramble Bay has the Bramble Bay has the longest residence time longest residence time within the baywithin the bay

Residence time Residence time affects the dilution of affects the dilution of nutrients discharged nutrients discharged into the waterwaysinto the waterways

The river estuaries are BROWNThe river estuaries are BROWN

iological diversity lowiological diversity low

esuspendedesuspended

ver-loadedver-loaded

aste wateraste water

utrient ladenutrient laden

Moreton Bay is BLUEMoreton Bay is BLUE

iological diversityiological diversity highhigh

ow nutrientsow nutrients

nimpactednimpacted

nergeticnergetic

Historically, the rivers were cleanerHistorically, the rivers were cleaner

0 10 20 30 40

0

100

50

150

250

200 TurbidityAug 1918

July 1917

Oct 1997

Colleges CrossingColleges Crossing Moreton BayMoreton Bay

Jewfish caught in Brisbane RiverJewfish caught in Brisbane River Swimming enclosure at East BrisbaneSwimming enclosure at East Brisbane

Historically, the riverHistorically, the riverss had had::

• much much lower inputs oflower inputs of sewage sewage and catchment runoffand catchment runoff

• extensive vegetationextensive vegetation on river on river banksbanks

• water clarity was much better water clarity was much better

• llarge fish such as cod, black arge fish such as cod, black swans and aquatic swans and aquatic plantsplants existed in Brisbane Riverexisted in Brisbane River

Historically the Western Bay was Historically the Western Bay was relatively pristinerelatively pristine

Within Moreton Bay, dugongs, sea turtles and Within Moreton Bay, dugongs, sea turtles and extensive seagrass beds were once present on extensive seagrass beds were once present on the urbanised western shores, but are now the urbanised western shores, but are now largely restricted to the well flushed eastern largely restricted to the well flushed eastern regions.regions.

Population expansion in the region over the past half century is Population expansion in the region over the past half century is one of the most rapid in the world and provides one of the one of the most rapid in the world and provides one of the major pressures to ecosystem healthmajor pressures to ecosystem health

Population Growth is a major Population Growth is a major pressurepressure

18601860 19001900 19401940 19801980

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and fertilizer and fertilizer

applicationapplication

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Fer

tiliz

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Urban areas are the largest Urban areas are the largest source of source of TurbidityTurbidity

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Sewage discharges concentrated in Brisbane Sewage discharges concentrated in Brisbane River & Bramble Bay River & Bramble Bay

• Largest sewage Largest sewage discharge = Luggage Pt. discharge = Luggage Pt. at mouth of Brisbane R.at mouth of Brisbane R.

• Oxley Creek = second Oxley Creek = second largestlargest

• 3 significant discharges 3 significant discharges into Pine Rivers and into Pine Rivers and Hayes Inlet from Pine Hayes Inlet from Pine Rivers, Redcliffe and Rivers, Redcliffe and Brisbane CityBrisbane City

• Multiple minor discharges Multiple minor discharges scattered throughout scattered throughout tidal reachestidal reaches

Multiple sewage discharges in region Multiple sewage discharges in region stimulated stimulated large regional study large regional study • CConcern about oncern about

expanding expanding population and population and impacts of sewage impacts of sewage dischargesdischarges

• 6 local councils 6 local councils formed regional formed regional study group, study group, obtained obtained commonwealth & commonwealth & state matching state matching fundsfunds

• 1997-1998 large 1997-1998 large intensive study intensive study conductedconducted

• Developed Vision & Developed Vision & monitoring strategymonitoring strategy

““Moreton Bay and its waterways will, by Moreton Bay and its waterways will, by 2020, be a healthy ecosystem supporting 2020, be a healthy ecosystem supporting the livelihoods and lifestyles of residents the livelihoods and lifestyles of residents

and visitors”and visitors”

MonitoringMonitoring is an essential tool for effective is an essential tool for effective preservation & remediation of waterwayspreservation & remediation of waterways• Research and monitoring provides the information to determine

the most effective remediation options

• It determines the ecological outcomes of nutrient removal from sewage, stormwater controls and other management actions

Monitoring Ecosystem HealthMonitoring Ecosystem HealthIndicators of Ecosystem Health• loss or recovery of seagrasses,

mangroves and corals

Monitoring Ecosystem HealthMonitoring Ecosystem HealthIndicators of Ecosystem Health• loss or recovery of seagrasses,

mangroves and corals

• outbreaks of Lyngbya

Monitoring Ecosystem HealthMonitoring Ecosystem HealthIndicators of Ecosystem Health

• loss or recovery of seagrasses, mangroves and corals


• the extent of sewage plumes





• nutrient responses of phytoplankton communities






• occurrence of nuisance macroalgae e.g. sea lettuce







• status of turtles and dugongs







• status of turtles and dugongs

• water quality– phytoplankton biomass

– nitrogen and phosphorus

– turbidity

Sewage PlumeSewage Plume Mapping identifies Mapping identifies zones of human impactzones of human impact

• Macroalgae takes up sewage Macroalgae takes up sewage nutrientsnutrients

• Chambers deployed around bay and Chambers deployed around bay and riversrivers

• Allows mapping of extent of sewage Allows mapping of extent of sewage plumeplume

Plume mapping technique identifies Plume mapping technique identifies different nutrient sourcesdifferent nutrient sources

• Highest seHighest sewage concentrationwage concentration is in middle reaches of the rivers is in middle reaches of the rivers due to inputs and lack of tidal flushingdue to inputs and lack of tidal flushing

• Plume concentrated in western bayPlume concentrated in western bay• Sewage plume from rivers is seasonally variableSewage plume from rivers is seasonally variable

September 1997September 1997 March 1998 June 2000

Monitoring affects management Monitoring affects management decisionsdecisions

Monitoring has identified zonesMonitoring has identified zones

River estuaries: moderately to highly River estuaries: moderately to highly degradeddegraded

Pine RiverPine River

Brisbane RiverBrisbane RiverLogan RiverLogan River Bremer RiverBremer River

Caboolture RiverCaboolture River

ModerateModeratedegradationdegradation

HighHighdegradationdegradation

• Nutrients & sediments from Nutrients & sediments from forestry, agricultural and forestry, agricultural and urban areasurban areas

• Algal booms, high nutrientsAlgal booms, high nutrients• Nutrient uptake means no Nutrient uptake means no

sewage nitrogen impact on sewage nitrogen impact on Deception BayDeception Bay

• Urbanised & Urbanised & industrial industrial catchmentcatchment

• High turbidity High turbidity & nutrients& nutrients

• Urbanised & Urbanised & agricultural agricultural catchmentcatchment

• Aquaculture Aquaculture prominentprominent

• High sediment High sediment & nutrient & nutrient loadsloads

• Extensive Extensive vegetation vegetation clearedcleared

• Low plankton Low plankton species species diversitydiversity

• Extremely Extremely degradeddegraded

• Very high nutrient Very high nutrient loadingsloadings

• High bacterial High bacterial productivityproductivity

• Long residence Long residence timetime

Rivers receive inputs from a variety of Rivers receive inputs from a variety of point and non point sourcespoint and non point sources

Sewage OutfallSewage Outfall Sewage Treatment PlantSewage Treatment Plant Abatoir OutfallAbatoir Outfall

Golf course fertiliser Golf course fertiliser runoff and gravel runoff and gravel extraction plantextraction plant

Grazing - manureGrazing - manure

AquacultureAquaculture

• Primary inputs are nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) Primary inputs are nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) and suspended solidsand suspended solids

Rivers are nutrient over-enrichedRivers are nutrient over-enriched• High concentrations of nutrients often results in High concentrations of nutrients often results in

blooms of single species – reducing diversityblooms of single species – reducing diversity

Benthic microalgal bloom on Benthic microalgal bloom on Brisbane River sedimentBrisbane River sediment

Jellyfish bloom in response to high Jellyfish bloom in response to high plankton biomass in Pine Riverplankton biomass in Pine River

Aquatic weed bloom in upper Aquatic weed bloom in upper Brisbane RiverBrisbane River

Phytoplankton bloom in Phytoplankton bloom in Caboolture RiverCaboolture River

Rivers used for commercial and Rivers used for commercial and recreational purposesrecreational purposes

Trawling in Brisbane RTrawling in Brisbane R

Skiing in riversSkiing in rivers

Fishing at Luggage Pt OutfallFishing at Luggage Pt Outfall

Swimming in riversSwimming in riversPort of BrisbanePort of Brisbane

River EstuariesRiver EstuariesReport Card Report Card 20002000

DunwichDunwich

RedcliffeRedcliffe

Bribie Bribie IslandIsland

LuggageLuggagePointPoint

Moreton Moreton IslandIsland

BrisbaneBrisbaneRiverRiver

LoganLoganRiverRiver

PinePineRiverRiver

CabooltureCabooltureRiverRiver

Caboolture Caboolture RiverRiver

CC

WorsenedWorsened

UnchangedUnchanged

ImprovedImproved

AA excellent excellent BB good good CC fair fair DD poor poor FF fail fail

Pine RiversPine Rivers DD

Brisbane Brisbane RiverRiver

DD

Bremer Bremer RiverRiver

FFLogan RiverLogan RiverDD

RiverRiver estuariesestuaries

Moreton BayMoreton Bay

Pristine and Pristine and diverse diverse marine marine environmentsenvironments

Highly Highly impactedimpactedriver estuariesriver estuaries

What are the impacts on Moreton Bay?What are the impacts on Moreton Bay?• SedimentsSediments

– 50,000 truck loads of mud into 50,000 truck loads of mud into Brisbane River every yearBrisbane River every year

• NutrientsNutrients– 500 olympic swimming pools of 500 olympic swimming pools of

treated sewage effluent every daytreated sewage effluent every day– 1/3 Brisbane River flow is sewage 1/3 Brisbane River flow is sewage

effluenteffluent

• LyngbyaLyngbya– 3000 football fields of seagrass 3000 football fields of seagrass

covered by covered by LyngbyaLyngbya in Moreton Bay in Moreton Bay

SedimentSediments impact West Moreton Bays impact West Moreton Bay

model outputmodel output simulating May 96 flood simulating May 96 flood

With sediments come nutrientsWith sediments come nutrients

% Mud Total N (mg L-1)

Sediment re-suspensionSediment re-suspension Bramble BayBramble Bay

Ne

arb

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wav

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ter

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2020

3030

4040

1010

5.55.5

6.56.5

7.57.5

8.58.5

TideTide

WindWind

February 3February 3January 27January 27January 20January 20

wind waves and tidal wind waves and tidal currentscurrents

Suspended solidsSuspended solids Seagrass distributionSeagrass distribution

Sediments affect seagrass Sediments affect seagrass distributiondistribution

Sediments affect seagrass Sediments affect seagrass distributiondistribution

• Reduced water clarity Reduced water clarity in Waterloo Bay due to in Waterloo Bay due to river inputs and river inputs and resuspensionresuspension

• Last remaining healthy Last remaining healthy seagrass beds in seagrass beds in Western Moreton BayWestern Moreton Bay

• Sensitive region with Sensitive region with variable water qualityvariable water quality

Seagrass Seagrass lossloss has has occurredoccurred due todue to Logan River Logan River plume plume

19891989 19961996

Logan R

• First seagrass loss in 1992First seagrass loss in 1992• RecoveryRecovery 1994-1998 1994-1998• Disappeared since 1998Disappeared since 1998

Russell IsRussell Is

Macleay IsMacleay Is

SSeagrasseagrass loss is ongoing loss is ongoing• Deception Bay (97)Deception Bay (97)• Long Island (92, recover Long Island (92, recover

98)98)• Behm’s Creek (96) Behm’s Creek (96) • Northern Broadwater Northern Broadwater

(00)(00)• Lyngbya majusculaLyngbya majuscula

bloombloom

Loss reduces habitatLoss reduces habitat

Are sediments affecting cAre sediments affecting coralorals too?s too?

• Scoping surveys shown dramatic shift from dead to Scoping surveys shown dramatic shift from dead to live coral cover with distance from mainland in live coral cover with distance from mainland in Waterloo BayWaterloo Bay

• Intensive survey will be conducted each winter Intensive survey will be conducted each winter

Favia speciosaFavia speciosa..Waterloo BayWaterloo Bay

Excessive nutrients cause algal Excessive nutrients cause algal bloomsblooms

Ulva bloom

Algal bloom 1000 ML per day

Bramble Bay is nutrient ladenBramble Bay is nutrient laden

• Phytoplankton blooms

• Mangroves full with nutrients

• Sediments release nutrients

Mangroves

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton levels

Lyngbya majusculaLyngbya majuscula

• Toxic marine cyanobacterium • Naturally occurring but proliferated in N. Deception Bay• Bulldozers needed to remove rotting, stinking mass• Human health problems• Ecosystem health problems – seagrass loss, repels fish

LyngbyaLyngbya has rapid growth has rapid growth

Canal developmentMelaleuca

Intact pine forest

Cleared pine forest

Soils samples collected from various sites in the Pumicestone Passage and Deception

Bay region

Sandstone Point

Shirley Creek

Mangrove

Coffeerock

LyngbyaLyngbya at Amity & Moreton Banksat Amity & Moreton Banks

• Occurs naturally on reefs and seagrass bedsOccurs naturally on reefs and seagrass beds• Large amounts at Large amounts at Moreton / Amity Banks last summerMoreton / Amity Banks last summer• Potential threat to main dugong & turtle grazing areasPotential threat to main dugong & turtle grazing areas• Less toxic than in Deception Bay, oyster impact unknownLess toxic than in Deception Bay, oyster impact unknown

Biotic interactionsBiotic interactions

Siganus

Bursatella

Stylocheilus

Lyngbya

Stylocheilus

• Repels fishes, turtles and dugongsRepels fishes, turtles and dugongs

Clean, clear water

No algal blooms

Best in the BayBest in the BayEastern Eastern & Northern & Northern Moreton BayMoreton Bay

Eastern Eastern & Northern & Northern Moreton BayMoreton Bay B- B-//AA

• Most pristine area of Moreton Bay

• extensive seagrass beds, mangroves, & coral reefs supporting huge diversity of marine life

• dugongs, turtles, whales, dolphins, fish

• Excellent water quality

• Tidal flushing – 1 day

Turtles and dugongsTurtles and dugongs

Dugongs and turtles now concentrated on Eastern side

Dugongs• Population ~ 900• 7 deaths since Jun 99

Turtles• Population > 10,000• Green Turtle Fibropapilloma Disease• 70% affected in S. Bay• 40% affected in Peel Is. & reefs• 20% affected at Moreton Banks

Eastern BanksEastern Banks• Well-flushedWell-flushed

• Extensive seagrass beds Extensive seagrass beds supporting dugongs & turtlessupporting dugongs & turtles

• LyngbyaLyngbya

BB--

Bramble BayBramble Bay• Sewage inputsSewage inputs• High nutrients and turbidityHigh nutrients and turbidity• UlvaUlva blooms blooms• Historical seagrass lossHistorical seagrass loss• High sediment nutrient High sediment nutrient

fluxesfluxes

FF

Waterloo BayWaterloo Bay• Some coralSome coral• Stable seagrass bedsStable seagrass beds• Stormwater controlStormwater control

CC++

Northern DeceptionNorthern DeceptionBayBay• No improvement No improvement

• Declining seagrassDeclining seagrass

• LyngbyaLyngbya outbreak outbreak

DD--

Southern DeceptionSouthern DeceptionBayBay• No seagrass recoveryNo seagrass recovery• High turbidityHigh turbidity

DD

Southern BaySouthern Bay• Extensive mangrove forestsExtensive mangrove forests• Sewage inputsSewage inputs• SeagrassSeagrass losseslosses• Lack of mangrove recovery Lack of mangrove recovery

from hail damagefrom hail damage

CC--

BBCentral BayCentral Bay• High sediment nutrientsHigh sediment nutrients

• Muddy sedimentsMuddy sediments

• Relatively good water qualityRelatively good water quality

Northern BayNorthern Bay• Well-flushed by Well-flushed by

oceanic watersoceanic waters

• Intact denitrificationIntact denitrification

AAMoreton Bay Moreton Bay

Report Card 2000Report Card 2000

WorsenedWorsened UnchangedUnchanged ImprovedImproved

AA excellent excellent BB good good CC fair fair DD poor poor FF fail fail

STRATEGY

RESEARCH

MONITORING

Riparian RehabilitationRiparian Rehabilitation

Sewage Treatment Sewage Treatment UpgradesUpgrades

Stormwater Quality Stormwater Quality Improvement DeviceImprovement Device

To protect and restore waterways -To protect and restore waterways -


1. 1. StrategyStrategyReduce nutrient loads (particularly nitrogen) by sewage treatment upgrades.

Reduce sediment and nutrient loads with stormwater controls, riparian revegetation, and improved catchment management

2. 2. ResearchResearch and 3. Monitoring and 3. Monitoring::Investigate causes and nature of environmental degradation, as well as investigating restoration techniques

– Ecological processes in Bremer River– Sediment sourcing of Moreton Bay– Riparian rehabilitation task– Waterloo bay intensive study



CommunicationCommunication• Quarterly newslettersQuarterly newsletters• Annual report cardAnnual report card• Healthy Waterways website Healthy Waterways website • Coastal CRC websiteCoastal CRC website• Scientific papersScientific papers• Scientific reportsScientific reports• Monitoring Technique Video Monitoring Technique Video

www.botany.uq.edu.au/marbot/ (research)www.healthywaterways.qld.gov.au (management)www.coastal.crc.org.au/ehmp (monitoring)

http://www.botany.uq.edu.au/marbot/





http://www.healthywaterways.qld.gov.au/







http://www.coastal.crc.org.au/ehmp




Program ContributorsProgram Contributors• All major contributors of All major contributors of

nitrogennitrogen• 8 councils8 councils• IIndustry groupsndustry groups• EHMP teamEHMP team

• Brisbane City CouncilBrisbane City Council• Ipswich City CouncilIpswich City Council• Redcliffe City CouncilRedcliffe City Council• Logan City CouncilLogan City Council• Redland Shire CouncilRedland Shire Council• Caboolture Shire CouncilCaboolture Shire Council• Pine Rivers Shire CouncilPine Rivers Shire Council• Gold Coast City CouncilGold Coast City Council

• Australian Meat HoldingsAustralian Meat Holdings• Incitec FertilisersIncitec Fertilisers• Amcor CartonboardAmcor Cartonboard• Q MeatQ Meat• CRC for AquacultureCRC for Aquaculture

How Healthy is Moreton Bay?

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