Mackay-Whitsunday Ambient estuarine water quality monitoring data

Since 2014, monthly sampling at fixed sites has generated chemical, physical and biological water column profile measurements using laboratory analyses and in situ measurement instruments.

The data support the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac Report Card, enable assessment of long-term trends, and inform environmental management and reporting. Monitoring is mainly undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Science and Tourism (DETSI) and predecessor organisations. The data is also collected in partnership with Traditional Owners and Healthy Rivers Partnership. __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