Coastal wetland systems repair across GBR catchments – values based causal framework validation (NESP TWQ 5.13, JCU and Griffith University)

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This data set contains high frequency logging data to measure water depth, water temperature and electrical conductivity in project wetland sites. Coastal wetlands adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have incredible environmental, cultural and economic value. Despite this, many floodplains in the GBR catchments have been modified, impacted or lost entirely because of continuing land use change (such as agricultural, aquaculture, peri-urban/urban, and industrial expansion). Of the floodplains and their wetlands remaining many now provide severely reduced aquatic and avian habitat, due to alien weed infestation and poor water quality. A large number of coastal wetlands have also lost their connectivity with estuaries that flow into the GBR lagoon (e.g. due to earth bunding), which can impact marine and freshwater aquatic (diadromous) species that have a critical estuary lifecycle phase, and rely on this connectivity between the reef and shallow tidal and freshwater wetlands. The overall project objective is to evaluate existing and future coastal wetland system repair investments, covering a combination of project sites across Great Barrier Reef catchment area, to explicitly evaluate how these projects achieve biodiversity improvements, water quality benefits and connectivity with downstream marine coastal habitats. Methods: High frequency water depth logging Water depth, temperature and electrical conductivity were monitored by loggers (CTD-Diver, Eijkelkamp Soil & Water, Netherlands) located in the wetland. The loggers captured data from the bottom of the water column (~ 10 cm above the soil surface) every 20 minutes, and were downloaded as part of routine maintenance visits. Each logger was installed inside a PVC pipe (3m height, 90mm diameter) that was attached to a steel star picket. Loggers were attached to a stainless steel wire cord that was attached to the top of the PVC pipe for easy retrieval (downloading the data and maintenance). The loggers were downloaded every few months. For more details see: Canning, A., Adame F., Waltham, N. J., (2020) Evaluating the services provided by ponded pasture wetlands in Great Barrier Reef catchments – Tedlands case study. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns (23pp.). Waltham, N. J. & Canning, A. (2020) Exploring the potential of watercourse repair on an agricultural floodplain. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns (75pp.). Format: All data are in Excel format. References: Canning, A., Adame F., Waltham, N. J., (2020) Evaluating the services provided by ponded pasture wetlands in Great Barrier Reef catchments – Tedlands case study. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns (23pp.). Waltham, N. J. & Canning, A. (2020) Exploring the potential of watercourse repair on an agricultural floodplain. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns (75pp.). Data Location: This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\custodian\2019-2022-NESP-TWQ-5\5.13_Coastal-wetland-systems-repair