These datasets comprise water quality measurements collected under the Central Queensland Ambient Monitoring Program from nine estuaries and two coastal waters between Tin Can Inlet and the Fitzroy Estuary. Established in 1994, the program collects monthly chemical, physical and biological water column profile data at fixed sites using laboratory analyses and in situ measurement instruments to assess long-term trends and support environmental management and reporting. Monitoring is undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Science and Tourism (DETSI) and predecessor organisations.
Monitoring frequency: Monthly
Monitoring platform: Drifting boat or bankside
Monitored water body: Tidal waters (estuaries and sheltered coastal), with limited freshwater monitoring.
Monitored location: Mid stream or mid channel at routine sites and regular depths
Monitoring site latitude: Latitude as decimal degrees in GDA94 datum
Monitoring site longitude: Longitude as decimal degrees in GDA94 datum
Secchi depth (m): Water clarity measured by Secchi disc visibility depth
Chlorophyll-a (ug/L): Algal biomass samples collected at 0.2 m depth below the surface
Physicochemical parameters: In situ water column profiles are measured from 0.2 m below the surface at 2 m intervals, with a final measurement taken ≥0.5 m above the bottom.
- Dissolved Oxygen concentration (mg/L)
- Dissolved Oxygen % saturation (%)
- pH
- Salinity (PSU)
- Specific Conductance at 25 deg C (mS/cm)
- Temperature (°C)
- Turbidity (NTU)
Surface nutrient parameters: Samples collected at 0.2 m depth below the surface; dissolved nutrients filtered in-field
- Ammonia (dissolved) as N (mg/L)
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx: nitrate + nitrite, dissolved) as N (mg/L)
- Total Nitrogen as N (mg/L)
- Filterable Reactive Phosphorus (dissolved) as P (mg/L)
- Total Phosphorus as P (mg/L)
