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Water quality
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Darwin Harbour water quality
Between 2002 and 2004, a collaborative project between AIMS
and the Northern Territory Government studied the water quality
of the greater Darwin Harbour to establish high-quality baseline
information that would allow future changes caused by human
activities to be detected.
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Nine sites throughout Darwin Harbour were monitored on a
quarterly basis for information on standing stocks of nutrients
and plankton. In addition, more detailed ecosystem processes were
studied on two field trips of the RV Cape Ferguson, one
in the dry season and one in the wet season.
Darwin Harbour is a macrotidal estuary and,
despite high turbidity, has good water quality.
The extensive mangrove
communities fringing the harbour are largely undisturbed, and at
present levels of development the Darwin Harbour ecosystem
remains healthy. |
Water quality monitoring
Darwin Harbour with the RV Cape Ferguson.
Image: AIMS.
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However, the region faces management issues including:
- point source discharges of contaminants, nutrients and
sediments
- treated sewage
- land use and management
- diffuse contamination of waters through changes to storm
water quality, quantity and movement
- native vegetation clearing and reclamation of coastal,
catchment and riparian vegetation for development
- dredging of harbour and dumping of dredged soil, and oil
and chemical spill contingency planning and response.
AIMS scientists now understand the main ecosystem process
controlling nutrient cycling in Darwin Harbour. This knowledge is
critical to managing this ecosystem in the face of Darwin’s
continuing economic development.
View Darwin
Harbour water quality data
October 31, 2007
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