review of water quality in the macquarie river upstream of ... june 2010... · review of water...

Review of water quality in the Macquarie River upstream of Lake River

May 2009

A Report to DPIW Water Assessment BranchDr L KoehnkenDr. L. KoehnkenTechnical Advice on Water

Presented by Chris BobbiDepartment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Aims of preparing a WQ report for the catchmentp p g Q p

1. To characterise water quality across the catchment q yusing data collected by the Water Resources Division of DPIW

2 P id t t t hi h i f d i i2. Provide a status report which can inform decision-making during the development of a water management plan for the catchment

The water quality report summarises available water quality lt i th i d 2004 2008results covering the period 2004 – 2008

L ti h t fl d t

Water Management Regions (WMRs) being

Locations where streamflow and water quality are monitored by DPIPWE

Water Management Regions (WMRs) being considered under the Water Management Plan

Catchment hydrology - 2004-2008 60

mm

) 600

800

mm

)

Macquarie d/s Eliz. RMacquarie u/s Eliz R.Cum. annual rain

Rainfall

y gy

20

40

ily R

ainf

all (

m400

m. R

ainf

all (

m

0

Da

0

200 Cum

1000

10000

100000

ay)

Flow (ML/day)Tooms R d/s Tooms LMac at TrefusisMac u/s Eliz. RMac d/s Eliz. RMac u/s Lake R

Flow

10

100

1000

Flow

(ML/

da Eliz R d/s L Leake

Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09

0.1

1

F

Jan 04 Jul 04 Jan 05 Jul 05 Jan 06 Jul 06 Jan 07 Jul 07 Jan 08 Jul 08 Jan 09

Catchment hydrology – 2005 (wet year)

10000

100000Flow (ML/day)

Tooms R d/s Tooms LMac at TrefusisMac u/s Eliz R

y gy ( y )

100

1000

ML/

day)

Mac u/s Eliz. RMac d/s Eliz. R

1

10

100

Flow

(M

Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Nov-05 Jan-06

0.1

1

Hourly flow in the Macquarie River catchment during 2005. Note log scale, data provided by DPIW.

Catchment hydrology – 2008 (dry year)1000

Flow (ML/day)Tooms R d/s Tooms LMac at TrefusisMac u/s Eliz R

y gy ( y y )

10

100M

L/da

y)Mac u/s Eliz. RMac d/s Eliz. RMac u/s Lake REliz. R d/s L Leake

1

10

Flow

(M

Jan-08 Mar-08 May-08 Jul-08 Sep-08 Nov-08 Jan-09

0.1

Hourly flow in the Macquarie River catchment during 2008. Record includes flow from Elizabeth River. Note log scale. Data provided by DPIW.p y

General conclusions about hydrology

1. During dry years, releases from Tooms Lake provides the majority of flow in the upper Macquarie River

y gy

majority of flow in the upper Macquarie River. • Flow does not consistently increase with distance

downstream due to water extractions and losses.

• The passage of water between the Upper and Lower Macquarie WMRs is minimised.

2. Flow in the Elizabeth River, and the Macquarie River downstream, is supported by releases from Lake Leake.

3 D i t i d di h f T L k d3. During wet periods, discharges from Tooms Lake and Lake Leake are low as these storages capture water, and the pattern of flow across the catchment is more natural, with increasing flow in a downstream direction.

Implications for water quality

From these flow characteristics it can be concluded that;

p q y

a) during dry periods, water quality will be heavily influenced by releases of water from the i d t dimpoundments; and

b) during wet periods, catchment runoff downstream of the lakes will predominatethe lakes will predominate

c) there is likely to be little continuity between the Upper and Lower Macquarie with respect to water qualityand Lower Macquarie with respect to water quality during low flow periods, due to water extractions and losses

Water Quality: Upper Macquarie WMR

1000

10000ay

)Flow (ML/day)

Tooms R d/s Tooms LMac at TrefusisMac u/s Eliz. R

60

80

U

Tooms R d/s Tooms LMacquarie R at TrefusisMacquarie u/s Elizabeth R

1

10

100

Flow

(ML/

da

20

40

Turb

idity

NTU Blackman Dam

rupture


0.1

500

600Tooms R d/s Tooms LMacquarie R at TrefusisMacquarie u/s Elizabeth R


0

2.50

3.00Tooms R d/s Tooms LMacquarie R at TrefusisMacquarie u/s Elizabeth R

100

200

300

400

EC

µS

/cm

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

Tota

l N m

g/L


0

9.00

10.00Tooms R d/s Tooms LMacquarie R at TrefusisMacquarie u/s Elizabeth R


0.00

0.30

g/L

Tooms R d/s Tooms LMacquarie R at TrefusisMacquarie u/s Elizabeth R

7.00

8.00pH

0.10

0.20To

tal P

hosp

horu

s m

g


6.00


0.00

Water Quality: Lower Macquarie WMR

1000

10000

100000ay

)Flow (ML/day)

Mac u/s Eliz. RMac d/s Eliz. R

60

80

U

Macquarie d/s Elizabeth R

1

10

100

1000

Flow

(ML/

da

20

40

Turb

idity

NTU

No rainNo runoff


0.1

500

600Macquarie d/s Elizabeth R


0

2.50

3.00Macquarie d/s Elizabeth R

100

200

300

400

EC

µS

/cm

0 50

1.00

1.50

2.00

Tota

l N m

g/L


0

100

12

14

L



0.00

0.50

0.30

L


8

10

12

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n m

g/

0.10

0.20

Tota

l Pho

spho

rus

mg/

L


6


0.00

Water Quality: Elizabeth River WMRate Qua ty abet e

Site Date Temp(C)

ECS/

TurbidityNTU

DO/L

DO%S t

pH(C) µS/cm NTU mg/L %Sat

Elizabeth River at Tea Tree Hill (MACQ 10)

16/04/2008 9.7 34 2.73 7.27

8/10/2008 6.0 81.7 41.1 9.4 77.4 7.15Elizabeth River at Campbell Town (MACQ 09)

26/03/2004 12.7 72.7 3.83 9.34 92.3 6.358/10/2004 12.6 132.3 22.5 9.72 92.5 7.3

21/03/2005 15.4 70.6 4.37 12.11 112.9 7.6210/11/2005 19 119.3 1.33 9.39 101.8 6.911/05/2006 11 7 90 2 79 13 03 120 6 581/05/2006 11.7 90 2.79 13.03 120 6.586/10/2006 10.2 201 29.6 9.75 91.4 6.69

30/03/2007 13.6 113.7 2.69 10.1 100 7.5314/09/2007 10.5 159 11.3 10.3 94 5.7815/04/2008 14 1 115 2 89 9 3 95 2 6 7815/04/2008 14.1 115 2.89 9.3 95.2 6.787/10/2008 12.3 243 5.63 12.2 115 8.56

Elizabeth River at Merton Vale (MACQ 08)

15/04/2008 15.3 134 1.17 9.36 94.6 7.54

8/10/2008 9 8 276 7 8 85 78 4 7 418/10/2008 9.8 276 7 8.85 78.4 7.41

Water Quality: Blackman & Isis WMRsQ y

Blackman River at Old Tier Rd Isis River at Isis

40

60

80

ty N

TU

Blackman River at Old Tier Rd Date Temp(C)

ECµS/cm

TurbidityNTU

DOmg/L

pH

21/03/2004 18 291 9.13 11.3 8.412 6 259 3 8 8 94 7 65

0

20

40

Turb

idit 15/04/2008 12.6 259 3.8 8.94 7.65

7/10/2008 15 192.6 4.19 12.73 8.99


400

500

600Blackman R at Old Tier Rd

100

200

300

400

EC

µS

/cm


0

Pesticide Reporting Limit PesticidesNot detected

g(µg/L)

2,4-D salts & esters 0.2

ALPHACYPERMETHRIN 0.1

ATRAZINE 0 05

Pesticide sampling undertaken at four sites every 3 months.

ATRAZINE 0.05

CHLOROTHALONIL 0.1

CHLORPYRIFOS 0.1

CLOPYRALID 0.2 DetectionsFENITROTHION 0.1

GLYPHOSATE 10

HALOXYFOP-METHYL 0.1

HEXAZINONE 0 05

Site Date Conc. (µg/L)

Flow

SimazineHEXAZINONE 0.05

METALAXYL 0.1

METSULFURON 0.1

PENDIMETHALIN 0.1

SimazineMacquarie at Trefusis 11/07/07

18/10/071.270.23

24025

Macquarie u/s Elizabeth 11/07/07 0.16 346PERMETHRIN 0.1

SPINOSAD 0.1

SULFOMETURON 0.1

TERBACIL 0.1

18/10/07 0.67 3.2

Macquarie d/s Elizabeth 18/10/07 0.14 29.3

MCPASIMAZINE 0.05

MCPA 0.1Macquarie u/s Elizabeth 17/07/08 0.1 159

Synthesis and Summary Flow regulation and regional climate are significant drivers of water quality.

y y

drivers of water quality.

During the wetter 2004 – 2005, water quality results were similar to historic values.

Drought conditions since 2006 have affected water quality, particularly in the Upper Macquarie WMR where q y, p y pp qthere has been an extended algal bloom.

Conductivity throughout the catchment is generally low. However, at particular locations there is some potential for salinisation (e.g. Blanchards Ck, Kitty Rvt and Blackman Rv).Blackman Rv).

Synthesis and Summary (cont). The Elizabeth River influences water quality in the lower Macquarie WMR as it contributes the majority of flow

y y ( )

Macquarie WMR as it contributes the majority of flow during dry periods.

Pesticides have been detected on 2 occasions, one ,associated with a high flow, high turbidity event and the other during a low flow period in spring.

There is insufficient water quality monitoring in the Blackman, Isis or Elizabeth River Water Management Regions, or in the lower reaches of the Lower MacquarieRegions, or in the lower reaches of the Lower Macquarie River WMR.

Further information

DPIW (2009) Review of water quality in the Macquarie River upstream of Lake River Technical Advice on Water May 2009 Hobart TasmaniaRiver. Technical Advice on Water. May 2009, Hobart, Tasmania

Website: www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/water

Thank-you for listening.y g

review of water quality in the macquarie river upstream of ... june 2010... · review of water...

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