Nutrient data from rivers discharging into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon
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.
Data and resources
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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…HTML Open
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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.…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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)…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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.,…HTML Open
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Export of nutrients and suspended sediment from the Herbert River catchment during a flood event associated with Cyclone Sadie: Mitchell AW and Bramley RGV…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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Summary of River Sampling: 1987 - 2000HTML Open
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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…HTML Open
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Additional information
| Date (revision) | 2026-10-25 |
|---|---|
| Status | completed |
| Update frequency | notPlanned |
| Metadata language | en |
| License | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 |
| Source metadata | ISO 19115 XML |
| Last updated | 2026-11-05 |
| Created | 2026-11-05 |
| API | package_show |