What river impacts this reef? A simple reef exposure model

Abstract

Since land-based pollution is a major cause of decline of reefs, a simple reef exposure model was developed to model and visualise current contaminant exposure to reefs and future management options. Total suspended sediments, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus and herbicides were modelled for the whole Great Barrier Reef coast, using data inputs such as monitored contaminant load, river volume and variability, distance from river to reef, and bearing. Realistic contaminant reductions were used to calculate and visualise management options for the Tully/Murray, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday, Fitzroy and Burnett regions, and the results will assist the creation of Water Quality Improvement Plans for those regions.