Full description
Nutrient data was obtained from the lower reaches and estuaries of 23 rivers discharging into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Wet season time series were measured in five rivers (South Johnstone River, Tully River, Herbert River, Burdekin River and Fitzroy River). Seven rivers have catchments in the wet tropical region (Barron River, Mulgrave River, Russell River, North Johnstone River, South Johnstone River, Tully River and Murray River). The Normanby River and Herbert River have mixed wet/dry catchments. Two major dry catchment rivers, the Burdekin River and the Fitzroy River were sampled.Sporadic samples, usually from the estuary, were collected in the course of other projects. These include Jacky Jacky Creek, Escape River, Pascoe River, Claudie River, Lockhardt River, McIvor River, Daintree River, Ross River, Alligator Creek, Haughton River, Barratta Creek and Pioneer River.In most cases, near-surface water samples were collected from mid-channel, above the level of saltwater intrusion, using a clean plastic bucket or jar lowered by rope. Prior to December 1991, only single water samples were collected at any one time; thereafter, collection of duplicate water samples was progressively introduced into all sampling programs.Sampling was undertaken to:1. quantify terrestrial input fluxes of nutrient elements (N, P, Si) which influence plankton productivity, reef productivity and water quality in the central GBR region2. resolve regional, seasonal and event-associated exports of nutrients from north Queensland rivers with both wet and dry catchments3. resolve the dynamics of river nutrient fluxes during flood events, especially large events associated with cyclones and monsoonal rain depression4. collect data suitable for parameterizing numerical flow discharge models for major north Queensland river systems
Sampling was conducted through cooperative arrangements between AIMS and other government agencies. These include the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI), Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES), Queensland Water Resources Commission (QWRC), Cairns City Council (CCC), CSIRO and Central Queensland University (CQU). A number of volunteers also contributed to the sampling effort.
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Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedNotes
CreditFurnas, Miles J, Dr (Principal Investigator)
Modified: 19 09 2025
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River discharge of nutrients from dry tropical rivers of the Great Barrier Reef catchment: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW, Skuza MS and Wright M (2004) River discharge of nutrients from dry tropical rivers of the Great Barrier Reef catchment. p. 28. In: Haynes D and Schaffelke B (eds) Catchment to reef : water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef Region. 9-11 March 2004, Townsville. Conference abstracts. CRC Reef Research Centre.
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Catchments and Corals: Terrestrial Runoff to the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ (2003) Catchments and Corals: Terrestrial Runoff to the Great Barrier Reef. Australian Institute of Marine Science & CRC Reef Research Centre. 334 p.
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Export of nutrients and suspended sediment during a cyclone-mediated flood event in the Herbert River catchment, Australia: Mitchell AW, Bramley RGV and Johnson AKL (1997) Export of nutrients and suspended sediment during a cyclone-mediated flood event in the Herbert River catchment, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 48: 79-88.
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Water quality and nutrient fluxes from river systems draining to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: Mitchell AW, Reghenzani J, Hunter HM and Bramley RGV (1996) Water quality and nutrient fluxes from river systems draining to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. pp. 23-33. In: Hunter HM, Eyles AG and Rayment GE (eds) Downstream Effects of Land Use. Queensland Department of Natural Resources, null. 444 p.
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Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for the Central Great Barrier Reef Shelf: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW and Skuza MS (1995) Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for the Central Great Barrier Reef Shelf. Research Publication (GBRMPA) no. 36. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 194 p.
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Towards an understanding of the pattern of nutrient delivery from tropical rivers to the coastal zone: Mitchell AW (1994) Towards an understanding of the pattern of nutrient delivery from tropical rivers to the coastal zone. 44: 39-41. In: Munro JL and Munro PE (eds) The management of coral reef resource systems. ICLARM Conference Proceedings, No.44. ICLARM.
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Nutrient concentrations and fluxes in north Queensland coastal rivers and streams: Mitchell AW, Rasmussen CE, Blake SG, Congdon BC, Reghenzani J, Saffigna P and Sturmey H (1991) Nutrient concentrations and fluxes in north Queensland coastal rivers and streams. pp. 108-161. In: Yellowlees D (ed) Land use patterns and nutrient loading of the Great Barrier Reef region. Proceedings of the workshop held at James Cook Univeristy of North Queensland, 17-18 November, 1990. James Cook University.
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River inputs of nutrients: Mitchell AW (1988) River inputs of nutrients. pp. 16-22. In: Baldwin CL (ed) Workshop on nutrients in the Great Barrier Reef region :GBRMPA Workshop series No.10. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, null. 191 p.
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Map
uri :
https://data.aims.gov.au/mestmapkml/610f9ac0-4ade-11dc-8f56-00008a07204e.kml![]()
James, C., Bainbridge, Z., Lewis, S., Clech-Goods, C., Mann, R., Huggins, R., Orr, D., Welk, K., Liu, S., Agnew, G., Bartley, R., Bramley, R., Buckle, A., Cogle, L., Cross, M., Davis, A., Devlin, M., Eyre, B. D., Faithful, J., … Moss, A. (2025). Compilation of riverine water quality data from the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, northeastern Australia. Scientific Data, 12(1), 291. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04534-7
doi :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04534-7![]()
Export of nutrients and suspended sediment from the Herbert River catchment during a flood event associated with Cyclone Sadie: Mitchell AW and Bramley RGV (1997) Export of nutrients and suspended sediment from the Herbert River catchment during a flood event associated with Cyclone Sadie. pp. 9-16. In: Cyclone Sadie Flood Plumes in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: Composition and Consequences. Proceedings of a workshop held in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 10 November 1994, at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. GBRMPA Workshop. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
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River inputs of nutrients and sediment to the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW and Skuza MS (1997) River inputs of nutrients and sediment to the Great Barrier Reef. pp. 46-68. In: Wachenfeld D, Oliver JK and Davis K (eds) State of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Workshop. Proceedings of a technical workshop held in Townsville, Queensland, Australia 27-29 November 1995. GBRMPA Workshop Series. 23. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
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River inputs of N, P to the central Great Barrier Reef (16o - 19oS): Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1994) River inputs of N, P to the central Great Barrier Reef (16° - 19°S). In: Proceedings of the 1994 Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists held at Townsville, Queensland, 26-29 April 1994. Watson Ferguson.
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Typological modelling of terrestrial sediment and nutrient inputs to the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW, Skuza MS and Wright M (2006) Typological modelling of terrestrial sediment and nutrient inputs to the Great Barrier Reef. pp. 1594-1602. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, 2004.
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Summary of River Sampling: 1987 - 2000
uri :
https://data.aims.gov.au/data-download/riversampling/River-Sampling-Sites.xlsx![]()
Water quality in rivers entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. pp. 15-34. In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005: Furnas MJ (2005) Water quality in rivers entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. pp. 15-34. In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005. 162 p.
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