Wilson Et Al Tidal Flux

The Water Quality of Spring and Neap Tidal Cycles in the Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour during the
Dry Season
David Wilson, Armando Padovan and Simon Townsend Report 41/2004D 2004
Water Monitoring Branch Natural Resource Management Division Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment
Table of Contents
1 2 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 2 Objectives.......................................................................................................... 4 Methods............................................................................................................. 5 3.1 Data collection........................................................................................... 5 3.2 Data Analysis............................................................................................. 6 3.2.1 Discharge ........................................................................................... 6 3.2.2 Water Quality..................................................................................... 7 3.3 Errors......................................................................................................... 8 3.3.1 Discharge Data................................................................................... 8 3.3.2 Concentration Data............................................................................. 8 3.3.3 Flux and Load Data............................................................................ 9 Results............................................................................................................. 10 4.1 Discharge................................................................................................. 11 4.2 Suspended Solids ..................................................................................... 11 4.2.1 Blackmore River estuary .................................................................. 12 4.2.2 Middle Creek ................................................................................... 12 4.2.3 Suspended Solids Discussion............................................................ 12 4.3 Nitrogen................................................................................................... 13 4.3.1 Blackmore River estuary .................................................................. 13 4.3.2 Middle Creek ................................................................................... 14 4.3.3 Nitrogen Discussion ......................................................................... 14 4.4 Phosphorus .............................................................................................. 15 4.4.1 Blackmore River estuary .................................................................. 15 4.4.2 Middle Creek ................................................................................... 15 4.4.3 Phosphorus Discussion..................................................................... 15 4.5 Turbidity.................................................................................................. 16 4.6 Temperature............................................................................................. 18 4.7 Salinity .................................................................................................... 19 4.8 Dissolved Oxygen.................................................................................... 19 4.9 pH............................................................................................................ 19 Discussion and Conclusions............................................................................. 20 References ....................................................................................................... 23 Appendix Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts ................................... 24 Appendix Blackmore River estuary neap tide charts ..................................... 40 Appendix Middle Creek spring tide charts .................................................... 56 Appendix Middle Creek neap tide charts....................................................... 72 Appendix Load of exported material related to area of mangrove drained ..... 87
5 6 1 2 3 4 5
Table of Figures Figure 1.1 Darwin Harbour area and schematic diagram of water quality sampling sites. .......................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3.1 Cross-sectional view of Blackmore River estuary looking downstream. . 7 Figure 4.1 TSS concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times......... 17 Figure 4.2 TN concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times .......... 18 Figure 4.3 TP concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times ........... 18 Figure 5.1 - Percentage by which the exported load was bigger than the imported load. ................................................................................................................................ 21 ii
Appendix 1 Figure 1.1 Depth and discharge ............................................................................ 24 Figure 1.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge.................................................. 25 Figure 1.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge ............................................. 26 Figure 1.4 NOx-N and discharge ........................................................................... 27 Figure 1.5 NO2-N and discharge ........................................................................... 28 Figure 1.6 NO3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 29 Figure 1.7 NH3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 30 Figure 1.8 TKN and discharge .............................................................................. 31 Figure 1.9 TN and discharge................................................................................. 32 Figure 1.10 TP and discharge ............................................................................... 33 Figure 1.11 RP and discharge ............................................................................... 34 Figure 1.12 - Turbidity and discharge ...................................................................... 35 Figure 1.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) .................................................................... 36 Figure 1.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) ...................................................... 36 Figure 1.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) ............................................................................ 37 Figure 1.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab)............................................................ 37 Figure 1.17 pH (Hydrolab) ................................................................................... 38 Figure 1.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab).......................................................................... 38 Appendix 2 Figure 2.1 Depth and discharge ............................................................................ 40 Figure 2.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge.................................................. 41 Figure 2.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge ............................................. 42 Figure 2.4 NOx-N and discharge ........................................................................... 43 Figure 2.5 NO2-N and discharge ........................................................................... 44 Figure 2.6 NO3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 45 Figure 2.7 NH3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 46 Figure 2.8 TKN and discharge .............................................................................. 47 Figure 2.9 TN and discharge................................................................................. 48 Figure 2.10 TP and discharge ............................................................................... 49 Figure 2.11 RP and discharge ............................................................................... 50 Figure 2.12 Turbidity and discharge ..................................................................... 51 Figure 2.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) .................................................................... 52 Figure 2.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) ...................................................... 52 Figure 2.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) ............................................................................ 53 Figure 2.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab)............................................................ 53 Figure 2.17 pH (Hydrolab) ................................................................................... 54 Figure 2.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab).......................................................................... 54 Appendix 3 Figure 3.1 Depth and discharge ............................................................................ 56 Figure 3.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge.................................................. 57 Figure 3.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge ............................................. 58 Figure 3.4 NOx-N and discharge ........................................................................... 59 Figure 3.5 NO2-N and discharge ........................................................................... 60 Figure 3.6 NO3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 61 Figure 3.7 NH3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 62 Figure 3.8 TKN and discharge .............................................................................. 63
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Figure 3.9 TN and discharge................................................................................. 64 Figure 3.10 TP and discharge ............................................................................... 65 Figure 3.11 RP and discharge ............................................................................... 66 Figure 3.12 Turbidity and discharge ..................................................................... 67 Figure 3.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) .................................................................... 68 Figure 3.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) ...................................................... 68 Figure 3.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) ............................................................................ 69 Figure 3.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab)............................................................ 69 Figure 3.17 pH (Hydrolab) ................................................................................... 70 Figure 3.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab).......................................................................... 70 Appendix 4 Figure 4.1 Depth and discharge ............................................................................ 72 Figure 4.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge.................................................. 73 Figure 4.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge ............................................. 74 Figure 4.4 NOx-N and discharge ........................................................................... 75 Figure 4.5 NO2-N and discharge ........................................................................... 76 Figure 4.6 NO3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 77 Figure 4.7 NH3-N and discharge ........................................................................... 78 Figure 4.8 TKN and discharge .............................................................................. 79 Figure 4.9 TN and discharge................................................................................. 80 Figure 4.10 TP and discharge ............................................................................... 81 Figure 4.11 RP and discharge ............................................................................... 82 Figure 4.12 Turbidity and discharge ..................................................................... 83 Figure 4.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) .................................................................... 84 Figure 4.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) ...................................................... 84 Figure 4.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) ............................................................................ 85 Figure 4.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab)............................................................ 85 Figure 4.17 pH (Hydrolab) ................................................................................... 86 Figure 4.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab).......................................................................... 86 Appendix 5 Figure 5.1 Digital elevation map of the catchment area for the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek sample points.................................................................. 87 Figure 5.2 Relationship between area of inundation and water level...................... 88 Figure 5.3 Exported loads of TSS and VSS per area of mangroves drained. .......... 89 Figure 5.4 Exported loads of TN and TP per area of mangroves drained. .............. 89
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The water quality of the upper reaches of Darwin Harbour are particularly prone to tidal influences during the dry season when there is negligible river inflow to the estuary. The extent of this influence and the amount of material that is transported by the tide into and out of these upper reaches is not known. In September 2002, the flux of sediment, nutrients and other water quality parameters was monitored, at two sites in the Blackmore River estuary, over spring and neap tides. The main findings of the monitoring were that: Concentrations of suspended sediment, turbidity and total phosphorus varied markedly over the tidal cycle, and were higher during the spring tide. Concentrations of total nitrogen, however, did not vary much over the tidal cycle. The temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen of the estuarine waters varied over the tidal cycle, most notably for dissolved oxygen. The amount of sediment and nutrients exported over the spring tide was up to 10 times greater than the neap tide, due to their greater inundation of mangrove area and higher channel velocities. The export of sediment and nutrients tended to be greater than the import of material. This, however, is attributed mainly to greater volume of exported water over the monitored tidal cycles, though other factors will also contribute. Overall, the amount of material being exported from the upper reach of the Blackmore River estuary, over spring and neap tides, was similar. The study provides the first empirical evidence that the large tides of Darwin Harbour serve to transport material into and out of the Harbour, rather than remove or flush the Harbour of material as some members of the public may perceive.
Introduction
Darwin Harbour is a shallow estuary located in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia (1227'S, 13050'E). The harbour is defined as the water area south of a line from Charles Point to Gunn Point (Darwin Harbour Plan of Management); an area of 3,227km2 that is fringed predominately with mangroves. The harbour is an estuarine system in which water from the Timor Sea mixes with runoff from the northern Australian land surface. A macro-tidal regime exists in the harbour, with a tidal range up to 7.8 metres. The mean range of a spring tide is 5.5 metres and that of a neap tide is 1.9 metres (Padovan 1997). The landward boundary of the harbour comprises three main arms: East, Middle and West Arms as well as Shoal Bay. East and Middle Arms are large, extending 20km inland (Figure 1.1). Each arm is composed of a deep channel region with a bed of coarse sand and gravel, which is successively lined by sand, fine sand and extensive mud flats in the shallower inter-tidal region (Mitchie 1988). Darwin experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. The majority of rainfall (80%) occurs during the months of December to March with an annual average of 1600mm. The wet season is associated with heavy cloud cover, periods of heavy rainfall, monsoon depressions and cyclonic activity. The dry season is characterised by little or no rainfall, dry winds and very little cloud cover (Love et al. 1988). Freshwater inputs to the harbour are mainly sourced from Elizabeth River (flowing into East Arm), Blackmore River and Berry Creek (each flowing into Middle Arm). Discharge from these rivers is very small during the dry season. Concentrations of nutrients and suspended solids have been measured in the main body of Darwin Harbour (Padovan 1997, excluding Shoal Bay), though not the upper reaches with a few exceptions (e.g. Dixon and Padovan 2003). Water quality has been shown to vary with location within the harbour, with season and with tide. In addition to water quality concentrations, the amount (mass) of material moved around the harbour needs to be known. In the dry season, when there is negligible catchment inflow, the movement of sediment and nutrients (flux) in the Harbour is dominated by the tides. There is a public perception that the large tides of Darwin Harbour have the capability to flush pollutants out of the harbour and thus instantly restore water in the estuaries to healthy condition, though this is unlikely to be the case.
Figure 1.1 Darwin Harbour area and schematic diagram of water quality sampling sites.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to characterise the flux of sediment and nutrients within the tidal and estuarine reach of the Blackmore River estuary. The effect of tidal stage on water quality was investigated by measuring over the cycle of both a spring tide and a neap tide. These investigations aim to improve our understanding of the dominant mechanisms of sediment and nutrient movement within Darwin Harbour. Specific objectives of the study were to: 1. characterise changes in water quality during a neap and spring tide in the lower reaches of Blackmore River estuary in Darwin Harbour and a small tributary, Middle Creek; 2. estimate the flux of suspended solids and nutrients into/out of the Darwin Harbour at these sites and tides; and, 3. examine the variation in fluxes across the width of the river channel. 4. provide empirical data to test the predictions of the Darwin Harbour sediment transport model. 5. provide information to the public to address perceptions about the flushing effect of Darwin Harbours macro tides.
3 3.1
Methods Data collection
Discharge and water quality were measured across two channels for the duration of a full tidal cycle of both a spring tide and a neap tide. Two sampling sites were established in the upper reaches of Middle Arm Estuary: (i) Blackmore River estuary and (ii) Middle Creek, a tributary of Blackmore River estuary (Figure 1.1). At each site a transect was marked across the channel using buoys. Buoys were anchored at points across each channel to enable repeated sampling at the same points over the period of a tidal cycle. In the case of Blackmore River estuary, four buoys were placed equidistant apart across the channel. For Middle Creek, one buoy was placed at the centre of the waterway. Eastings and Northings of the buoys are given in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1 Location of sampling sites Location Buoy Blackmore River estuary 1 2 3 4 Hydrolab Middle Creek 1 Hydrolab * DIPE water resource and water quality data base.
Easting 713903 713842 713782 713745 713993 714335
Northing 8600514 8600465 8600393 8600332 8600417 8599645
HYDSYS* G8155464 G8155454
Water quality measurements were taken adjacent to each buoy at 30 minute intervals. These were made from a boat using an integrated depth sampler (a cylinder fitted with a one way valve that was inserted vertically into the channel to a depth 0.5m above the channel bed). A column of water representing that over the entire depth was thereby extracted, then mixed thoroughly and bottled. Discharge measurements were made concurrently using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), mounted on another small boat. Many passes of each channel crosssection were made in this boat; one pass was made approximately every 10 minutes for 12 hours. These passes captured the changing discharge characteristics over a tidal cycle. Two tidal cycles were captured for each channel; (i) a spring tide and (ii) a neap tide. Table 3.2 outlines the timing of each measurement campaign.
Table 3.2 Timing of measurement campaigns. Spring Tide Blackmore River estuary - 21 August 2001 Middle Creek - 22 August 2001 08:30 High tide, sampling begins 10:00 Peak outflow rate 15:30 Low tide 18:00 Peak inflow rate 21:00 High tide, sampling ends
Neap Tide Blackmore River estuary - 12 September 2001 Middle Creek - 13 September 2001 06:30 Low tide, sampling begins 08:30 Peak inflow rate 11:30 High tide 13:30 Peak outflow rate 19:00 Low tide, sampling ends
For the water sampled at each buoy (four across the Blackmore River estuary, one in the middle of Middle Creek), the following water quality parameters were analysed: total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), nitrite (NO2-N), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonia (NH3), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), reactive phosphorus (RP) and turbidity. With the exception of turbidity, these parameters were analysed as concentrations. Total nitrogen (TN) was calculated as the sum of the total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and nitrate/nitrite levels. One pass of the Blackmore River estuary cross-section comprising four samples, took approximately 30 minutes to complete. Approximately 20 passes were made in a 12 hour period. TSS is used throughout this report to describe the water quality parameter relating to suspended material. In other reports this may be referred to as total suspended sediment or suspended particulate matter. Similarly for VSS, which refers to the volatile component of suspended solids. On the sampling days, two Hydrolab multi-parameter probes recorded other water quality parameters. One instrument was placed close to the river bed, and the close to the water surface. The following parameters were recorded at 6 minute intervals: temperature, specific conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity. 3.2 Data Analysis
Data analysis comprised two steps: (i) disaggregation and consolidation of discharge measurements; and (ii) coupling of discharge and water quality measurements. 3.2.1 Discharge Discharge was measured by the ADCP device. Discharge was available for each cross-sectional pass of the boat from one river bank to the other, integrated over the whole channel. The ADCP collects a series of velocity profiles across a river cross-section. A velocity profile describes how water current velocity varies through a vertical range of the water column. The profile is composed of a series of 3-dimensional vectors uniformly spaced through the depths reached by acoustic signals emitted by the ADCP. The ADCP records the magnitude and direction of the current vectors in a velocity profile across a cross-section and from these, stream discharge is calculated.
Further, because the ADCP device measures many vertical velocity profiles across the width of the river, the discharge of isolated parts of the channel may be investigated, by specifying particular velocity profiles. In this work, the river channel was divided into four longitudinal sections or bins. These river bins correspond spatially with the location of the buoys at which water quality measurements were made. Separate discharges were calculated for each longitudinal section (or bin). Disaggregation of the total river discharge into separate discharges for Bins 1, 2, 3 and 4 was carried out using ADCP software WinRiver. This software allows the user to specify the section of river width for which discharge information is required. Bin 1 was defined as being the section closest to the boat-ramp, or the right bank (looking downstream). A schematic diagram of the Blackmore River estuary cross-section appears as Figure 3.1.
Bin 4
Bin 3
Bin 2
Bin 1
Figure 3.1 Cross-sectional view of Blackmore River estuary looking downstream. Bin 1 is closest to the right bank and the boat ramp.
Figure 3.1 is a schematic representation only. Conceptually, a buoy lies at the centre of each bin, indicating the point at which water was sampled for quality analysis. In the schematic, the bins appear to vary in width when in reality marker buoys were placed equidistant apart across the Blackmore River estuary. This occurs for two reasons: (i) the x-axis in Figure 3.1 is a measure of ensemble number rather than distance; and (ii) the tracking of the boat across the channel was rarely straight. Often the direction of travel would need to be adjusted along the path. Variable flow characteristics made it difficult to steer straight with consistency. Therefore, as the boat direction was altered to compensate for steering difficulties, the number of velocity profiles (ensembles) measured per bin varied. 3.2.2 Water Quality Water samples collected from the channel were analysed according to the methods described above. For each variable, combining the measured concentration (mass/ volume) with the measured discharge (volume/ time) allowed the calculation of fluxes (mass/ time). Time series of concentrations and discharges allowed time series of fluxes to be calculated.
t = ct Qt where = flux (g/s)
c = concentration (g/m3) Q = discharge (m3/s) t = number of seconds in tide (s)
From the temporal record of fluxes (mass/ time), the cumulative mass of each variable through time was calculated. Integrated over the period of sampling, this represents the load of each variable passing along each channel.
L = t
t =1
where L = load (g) = flux (g/s) t = time (s) n = time at end of tide (s) Loads were calculated for both the incoming and the outgoing tides.
3.3
Errors
Two main data sets were used in this report: (i) discharge data; and, (ii) concentration data. Following is a discussion of errors in each. 3.3.1 Discharge Data Discharge data is sourced from measurements made by the ADCP device. Discharge calculations are based on hundreds of isolated measurements of stream velocity, which are made via acoustic signals. Acoustic signals, or pings, are sent from the device every 0.2 seconds. The collection of pings builds an image of the velocity distribution and hence discharge. The velocity measured by each ping has a standard deviation of 19.3 cm/s according to the manufacturers. Combining data from numerous pings reduces the error and improves the confidence with which discharge is measured. Calibration of the ADCP in still water by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment indicated that errors in discharge measurements are less than 5% (D. Williams, pers. comm.). Discharge data is therefore estimated to have errors of up to 5% using ADCP methods. 3.3.2 Concentration Data Concentration data is sourced from samples taken in the boat and then analysed in the laboratory. Analytical accuracy is very good. The greatest
potential source of error is in collecting representative water quality samples. No information is available to quantify the errors associated with field sampling, however. Errors in field techniques are best addressed through replicate sampling. We assume a 10% error associated with the natural water quality variability and the need for possibly more samples. 3.3.3 Flux and Load Data Flux and load data are built on the product of concentration and discharge, thus their errors will accumulate.
errorF,L = errorQ + errorC

where errorF,L = error in flux and load errorQ = error in discharge errorC = error in concentration Flux and load data thus have an approximate error of 15%.
Results
This section is set out such that concentration, flux and load results are reported for each variable, for each river, for each tidal cycle (all Figures referred to in this section appear in the Appendices (unless otherwise stated)). The order of Appendices is: (i) Blackmore River estuary spring tide; (ii) Blackmore River estuary neap tide; (iii) Middle Creek spring tide; and, (iv) Middle Creek neap tide. Discharge out of the river channel is deemed positive flow and an export of material. Water moving upstream on the incoming tide is deemed negative flow and an import of material. Within each category described above, time series of the following variables have been plotted: water depth, TSS, VSS, NOx-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, NH3-N, TKN, TN, TP, RP and Turbidity. The following data collected by the Hydrolab are also presented: temperature, specific conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity. Summary tables are presented for export and import of material from Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek. Tables presented are: (i) median concentration (Table 4.1), (ii) peak flux (Table 4.2), (iii) total loads (Table 4.3) and (iv) volume weighted concentrations (Table 4.34).
Table 4.1 Median concentration of water quality parameters. TSS VSS (sediment) (organic) (mg/L) (mg/L) Export 56 8.0 Blackmore Spring Import 54 9.0 River Export 6.0 1.0 estuary Neap Import 6.0 1.0 Export 52 7.6 Spring Import 48 7.6 Middle Creek Export 9.0 2.0 Neap Import 6.0 1.0
TN (mg/L) 0.30 0.34 0.28 0.28 0.30 0.27 0.29 0.23
TP (mg/L) 0.07 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.06 0.02 0.02
Table 4.2 Peak flux of water quality parameters. Water (m3/s) Blackmore River estuary Middle Creek Spring Neap Spring Neap Export Import Export Import Export Import Export Import 3,500 1,700 460 410 350 110 19 17 TSS (sediment) (g/s) 220,000 140,000 4,600 2,300 17,000 8,100 170 110 VSS (organic) (g/s) 32,000 17,000 930 520 1,500 1,100 34 27 TN (g/s) 840 660 130 78 71 27 5.6 3.6 TP (g/s) 270 150 7.2 9.8 23 8.9 0.5 0.3
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Table 4.3 Total load of water quality parameters. Water (ML) Blackmore River estuary Middle Creek Spring Neap Spring Neap Export Import Export Import Export Import Export Import 28,000 22,000 6,500 3,600 1,900 1,400 240 160 TSS (sediment) (tonnes) 1,600 1,300 41 23 83 76 2.0 0.9 VSS (organic) (tonnes) 260 190 8.9 5.0 10 11 0.4 0.2 TN (kg) 7,100 7,800 1,900 860 380 290 60 35 TP (kg) 2,000 1,600 110 80 120 85 5.0 3.0
Table 4.4 Volume weighted average concentrations of water quality parameters (Load/tidal volume). TSS VSS TN TP (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) Export 57 9.3 0.25 0.071 Blackmore Spring Import 59 8.6 0.36 0.073 River Export 6.3 1.4 0.29 0.017 estuary Neap Import 6.4 1.4 0.24 0.022 Export 44 5.3 0.20 0.063 Spring Import 54 7.9 0.21 0.061 Middle Creek Export 8.3 1.7 0.25 0.021 Neap Import 5.6 1.3 0.22 0.019
4.1
Discharge
Hydrographs are presented in Appendices and total volumes in Table 4.3. During the spring tide the export flow of Blackmore River estuary peaked at 3,500 m3/s (Figure 1.1). The import flow peaked at 1,700 m3/s. A total of 28,300 ML of water flowed out on the spring tide and 21,800 ML flowed back in. For neap tide conditions, the peak discharge of Blackmore River estuary was 455 m3/s (Figure 2.1). The total volume of water exported was 6,490 ML in spring tide conditions, with 3,565 ML imported. For spring tide conditions the discharge of Middle Creek peaked at 350 m3/s (Figure 3.1). On the spring tide 1,949 ML was exported and 1,392 ML was imported. During neap conditions the maximum discharge was 19 m3/s (Figure 4.1). A total of 240 ML was exported and 156 ML was imported. 4.2 Suspended Solids
Concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) do not vary greatly over the measured tidal period, though concentrations for spring tide are approximately one order of magnitude greater than for the neap tide. For example, for both the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek, the mean concentration of TSS is 60mg/L for the spring tide and 7mg/L for the neap tide (Figures 1.2a, 2.2a, 3.2a, 4.2a). This could be due to large spring flows stirring up the
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river bed and banks to a greater extent than small neap flows, and the inundation of a significantly greater area of mangroves. 4.2.1 Blackmore River estuary - Spring tide peak concentration of TSS was 90 mg/L (Figure 1.2a); - Concentration varied through the tidal cycle; - Concentrations were highest when the discharge was greatest; - Spring tide peak export flux of TSS was 213 kg/s (Figure 1.2b); - Total spring tide movement of TSS was 1.6 tonnes exported and 1.3 tonnes imported (Figure 1.2c); - Neap tide concentrations of TSS was very constant and low at 6 mg/L (Figure 2.2a); - Neap tide peak export flux of TSS was two orders of magnitude smaller at 4.6 kg/s (Figure 2.2b); - Total neap tide movement of TSS was also less by two orders of magnitude; 41,000 kg exported and 19,000 kg imported (Figure 2.2c). 4.2.2 Middle Creek - Spring tide concentration of TSS is 70 mg/L (Figure 3.2a), similar to the Blackmore River estuary; - Small flows translate to a peak export flux of TSS of just 17.2 kg/s (Figure 3.2b); - Spring tide TSS load was 82,500 kg exported and 74,800 kg imported (Figure 3.2c); - Average neap tide concentration of TSS is 7 mg/L (Figure 4.2a), similar to Blackmore River estuary; - Peak export flux of suspended solids was two orders of magnitude smaller under the neap tide at 170 g/s (Figure 4.2b); - Total movement of TSS was also less by two orders of magnitude; 1,970 kg exported and 910 kg imported (Figure 4.2c). 4.2.3 Suspended Solids Discussion As a proportion of TSS, VSS comprises 20 to 50%, agreeing with previous studies of Darwin Harbour waters (Padovan 1997) (e.g. Figures 1.2, 1.3). No differentiation in the relative magnitudes of TSS and VSS can be seen; for each tidal cycle the concentrations are relatively constant (Figures 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3). The temporal pattern of suspended solid flux is therefore dominated by that of discharge. Suspended material moves both upstream and downstream according to the direction and strength of flow. Investigation of suspended solid load shows that TSS and VSS are not carried in the same way, despite their relatively constant concentrations. In the Blackmore River estuary, longitudinal section 2, or Bin 2, carried the greatest load of TSS in both spring (130,592 kg) and neap (11,670 kg) tide conditions (Figures 1.2, 2.2). Bin 2 also carried the greatest load of VSS in neap (2,733 kg) tide conditions. Bin 3, however, carried the greatest load of VSS in the spring (37,666 kg) tide. In Middle Creek there was a net export of suspended 12
solids for all occasions except for VSS in spring tide conditions. Despite there being a net export of TSS (7,738 kg), there was a net import of VSS (424 kg) for the same period (Figures 3.2, 3.3). For each sampling of suspended solids in the Blackmore River estuary (TSS spring, TSS neap, VSS spring, VSS neap) there exists one measurement outlier that is significantly greater than all others. These outliers were maintained in the dataset as the values could not be faulted in checks of either field or laboratory notes. In practice, a plume of water concentrated with suspended solids could move along the river in isolation following bank collapse, for example. No outliers were recorded for Middle Creek. 4.3 Nitrogen
The temporal distributions of NOx-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, NH3-N, TKN and TN are presented and described in the Appendices. Concentration of total nitrogen in both Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek had a lower bound of approximately 0.2 mg/L, ranging up to 0.6mg/L in Blackmore River estuary (spring tide, Figure 1.9) and 0.35mg/L in Middle Creek (spring tide, Figure 1.9). These levels are similar to those reported elsewhere (e.g. Padovan 1997). Discussion here focuses on TN. 4.3.1 Blackmore River estuary - Spring tide peak concentration of TN was 0.45 mg/L (Figure 1.9a); - Concentration varied through the tidal cycle (higher at low tide); - The peak export flux of TN was 845 g/s (Figure 1.9b); - Total movement of TN was 7,080 kg exported and 7,680 kg imported (Figure 1.9c); - Neap tide concentration of TN was constant and low at 0.3 mg/L (Figure 2.9a); - Neap tide peak export flux of TN was smaller by a factor of 7 under the neap tide at 135 g/s (Figure 2.9b); - The total movement of TN material was also less; 1,940 kg exported and 740 kg imported (Figure 2.9c). The temporal pattern of NOx was the same as that of TN for both spring and neap tides; Spring tide peak concentration of NOx was 0.01 mg/L (Figure 1.4a); The peak export flux of NOx was 10 g/s (Figure 1.4b); Movement of NOx was 105 kg exported and 92 kg imported (Figure 1.4c); Neap tide concentration of NOx was typically 0.004 mg/L (Figure 2.4a); Neap tide peak export flux of NOx was 1.6 g/s (Figure 2.4b); The total movement of NOx was 21 kg exported and 14 kg imported (Figure 2.4c).
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4.3.2 Middle Creek - Spring tide concentration of TN peaks at 0.3 mg/L (Figure 3.9a), similar to the Blackmore River estuary; - Small flows translate to a peak export flux of TN of just 71 g/s (Figure 3.9b); - Spring tide load of TN was 380 kg exported and 280 kg imported (Figure 3.9c); - Neap tide average concentration of TN in Middle Creek was 0.3 mg/L (Figure 4.9a), similar to Blackmore River estuary; - Neap tide peak export flux of TN was 5.6 g/s (Figure 4.9b); - Neap tide total movement of TN was also less; 61 kg exported and 36 kg imported (Figure 4.9c). The temporal pattern of NOx was the same as that of TN for both spring and neap tides; Spring tide concentration of NOx peaks at 0.009 mg/L (Figure 3.4a), similar to the Blackmore River estuary; The peak export flux of NOx was 1.7 g/s (Figure 3.4b); Spring tide load of NOx was 8.2 kg exported and 5.5 kg imported (Figure 3.4c); Neap tide average concentration of NOx was 0.003 mg/L (Figure 4.4a), similar to Blackmore River estuary; Neap tide peak export flux of NOx was 0.07 g/s (Figure 4.4b); Neap tide movement of NOx was 0.7 kg exported and 0.4 kg imported (Figure 4.4c).
4.3.3 Nitrogen Discussion For spring tide conditions, the concentration of nitrogen shows a weak temporal pattern; concentration increases on the outgoing tide, peaks at low tide (when water level is lowest), and falls on the incoming tide. This behaviour is consistent with dilution. It suggests that nitrogen concentration is dominated by water volume. This is different to the behaviour of solids, which had a constant concentration through the tidal cycle. Similar trends are shown for the neap tide, though not as strongly. Concentrations are greatest when the water level is lowest; at the end of the outgoing tide. Water movement dominates the flux of total nitrogen along each waterway. With peak discharge varying by an order of magnitude between spring and neap tide conditions, the flux of nitrogen also varied by an order of magnitude on both the Blackmore River estuary (300g/s spring, 40g/s neap) and Middle Creek (70g/s spring, 6g/s neap) (Figures 1.9, 2.9, 3.9, 4.9). Despite the variation in peak discharges, however, the net flux of nitrogen over a tidal cycle was similar for the spring and neap tides on each waterway (Blackmore River estuary spring 600kg import, neap 1000kg export; Middle Creek spring 100kg export, neap 25kg export) (Figures 1.9, 2.9, 3.9, 4.9). The majority of nitrogen in each waterway existed as an organic form, usually comprising over 95% of the total nitrogen pool. Ammonium concentration 14
was very low, usually less than the detection limit of 0.02 mg/L. In contrast, concentration of nitrate/ nitrite exhibited tidal variation on all occasions. 4.4 Phosphorus
The temporal distributions of TP and RP are presented and described. Concentration of TP in both waterways had a lower bound of approximately 0.035mg/L, ranging up to 0.11mg/L in Blackmore River estuary (Spring tide) and 0.09mg/L in Middle Creek (Spring tide) (Figures 1.10, 3.10). These levels are significantly higher than those reported for the main body of the harbour (e.g. a range of 0.01 to 0.02mg/L in Padovan 1997). 4.4.1 Blackmore River estuary - Spring tide peak concentration of TP was 0.11 mg/L (Figure 1.10a) - Higher concentrations were observed at low tide; - Spring tide peak export flux of TP was 275 g/s (Figure 1.10b); - Spring tide total movement of TP material was 2,010 kg exported and 1,570 kg imported (Figure 1.10c); - Neap tide peak concentration of TP was constant and low at 0.017 mg/L (Figure 2.10a); - Neap tide peak export flux of TP was smaller by a factor of 40 at 7 g/s (Figure 2.10b); - Neap tide total movement of TP material was also less; 107 kg exported and 66 kg imported (Figure 2.10c). 4.4.2 Middle Creek - Spring tide concentration of TP peaks at 0.09 mg/L (Figure 3.10a), similar to the Blackmore River estuary; - Small flows translate to a peak export flux of TP of just 23 g/s (Figure 3.10b); - Spring tide load was 115 kg exported and 85 kg imported (Figure 3.10c); - Average neap tide concentration of TP is 0.03 mg/L (Figure 4.10a); - Neap tide peak export flux of TP was smaller at 0.52 g/s (Figure 4.10b); - Neap tide total movement of TP was also less; 5.1 kg exported and 2.8 kg imported (Figure 4.10c). 4.4.3 Phosphorus Discussion The temporal pattern of P concentration over the tidal cycle differs to that of N. Under spring tide conditions, concentration is at a minimum at times of no flow (when the tide is changing direction). During periods of maximum flow, the concentrations of TP are greatest. Different trends are seen for the neap tide, where the lowest concentration occurs at the end of the outgoing tide (when water level is lowest). This is
15
expected where water volume dominates the temporal pattern of concentration. Towards the end of the outgoing tide the concentration is highest. Again this is expected due to dilution. Water movement dominates the flux of phosphorus along each waterway. This is the same situation as with nitrogen. Peak discharge varies by an order of magnitude between spring and neap tide conditions; the flux of phosphorus also varied by an order of magnitude on both the Blackmore River estuary (44.2g/s spring, 2.6g/s neap) (Figures 1.10, 2.10) and Middle Creek (7.03g/s spring, 0.52g/s neap) (Figures 3.10, 4.10). As with the magnitude of peak discharges, the net flux of phosphorus over a tidal cycle differed by an order of magnitude for both the spring and neap tides on each waterway (Blackmore River estuary spring 180.7kg import, neap 20.4kg export; Middle Creek spring 31.5kg export, neap 2.3kg export) (Figures 1.10, 2.10, 3.10, 4.10). We now examine the size of the reactive phosphorus (RP) component compared with the total phosphorus (TP) component. Under spring tide conditions on the Blackmore River estuary, the load of RP exported was 16% that of TP, while the load imported was 13% that of TP. Under neap tide conditions on the Blackmore River estuary, the load of RP exported was 41% that of TP, while the load imported was 35% that of TP. Similarly on Middle Creek, where under spring tide conditions exported load of RP was 20% that of TP and imported load of RP was 19% that of TP. Under neap tide conditions on Middle Creek, exported load of RP was 30% that of TP and imported load of RP was 36% that of TP. This temporal distribution is the same as was seen for suspended solids. This agrees with expectations, as phosphorus movement is often correlated with suspended solids. 4.5 Turbidity
Turbidity characteristics of the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek displayed a clear temporal pattern across the two tidal cycles. Turbidity was measured both manually and by the automatically-logging Hydrolab devices. Manual measurements were depth-averaged; automatic measurements were made for two depths. For all measurements, the temporal patterns observed in Blackmore River estuary were also observed in Middle Creek; both for the spring and neap tides.
Spring tide turbidity was lowest under still water conditions at the change of tide. When the discharge (either inflow or outflow) was greatest, turbidity was also at a maximum. For spring tide, depth-averaged turbidity ranged from approximately 14 to 65 NTU (Figures 1.12, 3.12).
16
For neap tide, the temporal pattern of turbidity was smaller in amplitude; turbidity levels were relatively constant. For neap tide, depth-averaged turbidity ranged from 3 to 7 NTU (Figures 2.12, 4.12). This suggests a dependency of turbidity on discharge. Turbidity near the water surface fluctuates widely. Water is most turbid as discharge reaches a maximum. Turbidity near the river bed is almost constant at approximately 8 NTU (Figures 1.18, 2.18, 3.18, 4.18). There are two turbidity peaks for each tidal cycle; one at maximum outgoing discharge and one at maximum incoming discharge. The greater of the two peaks occurs for outgoing flow; outflowing water is more turbid than incoming water. There is a strong relationship between turbidity and TSS concentration over all sites and tides (R2 = 0.88, main report Figure 4.1). Turbidity, easily measured in the field, could be used as a surrogate measure for TSS concentration. There is no reliable relationship between turbidity and TN concentration (R2 = 0.11, main report Figure 4.2). The degree of scatter precludes the use of turbidity as a surrogate measure for TN concentration. There is a strong relationship between turbidity and TP concentration over all sites and tides (R2 = 0.95, main report Figure 4.3). Turbidity could be used as a surrogate measure for TP concentration.
140 120 100 TSS (mg/L) 80 60 40 20 0 0
BRE - spring BRE - neap MC - spring MC - neap
y = 1.2186x + 1.3401 2 R = 0.8821
10
20
30
40 50 Turbidity (NTU)
60
70
80
Figure 4.1 TSS concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times
17
0.8 0.7 0.6 TN (mg/L) 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 Turbidity (NTU) 60 70 80 BRE - spring BRE - neap MC - spring MC - neap y = 0.0011x + 0.2599 2 R = 0.1078
Figure 4.2 TN concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times
0.12 0.1 0.08 TP (mg/L) 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 0 10 20 30 40 Turbidity (NTU) 50 60 70 80 BRE - spring BRE - neap MC - spring MC - neap
y = 0.0013x + 0.0135 2 R = 0.9492
Figure 4.3 TP concentration versus turbidity for all sample sites and times
4.6
Temperature
Variation in temperature was seen to a greater extent at the water surface than near the river bed (Figures 1.13, 2.13, 3.13, 4.13). After considering diurnal effects, changes in temperature show a strong tidal influence (given the thermal properties of water, with its high specific heat capacity, we would expect water to heat via sunlight for the period of the day). Water temperature decreases on the outgoing tide and increases on the incoming tide. The range in water surface temperature is approximately 1.5C for both spring tide and neap tide conditions (Figures 1.13, 2.13, 3.13, 4.13).
18
4.7
Salinity
As expected, the temporal behaviour of salinity shows very strong tidal influences. Salinity increases during the incoming tide and declines on the outgoing tide (Figures 1.15, 2.15, 3.15, 4.15). Spring tide salinity shows tidal influence over the whole depth of the water profile (Figures 1.15, 3.15). Neap tide salinity shows significantly more tidal influence at the surface than at the river bed (Figures 2.15, 4.15). For example, in Blackmore River estuary neap conditions the surface salinity ranges over 1.79ppt while water at the river bed ranges over only 0.91ppt. 4.8 Dissolved Oxygen
The tidal behaviour of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels differs between spring and neap tide conditions. Spring tide concentration of DO is highest on the outgoing tide. DO concentration is around 5 mg/L at the water surface and 3.5 4 mg/L at the river bed, for both Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek (Figures 1.16, 3.16). This concentration gradient between water surface and channel bed is maintained through the spring tidal cycle. Neap tide concentration of DO varies with depth along the neap tidal cycle. On the incoming tide, DO concentration is greatest at the channel bed; at high tide the concentration gradient reverses On the outgoing tide, DO concentration is highest at the water surface. This is the case for both Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek (Figures 2.16, 4.16). 4.9 pH
pH increases on the incoming tide and decreases on the outgoing tide. The magnitude of pH falls within a narrow range (0.75 0.85). At the water surface pH is close to the neutral value of 7 At the channel bed pH is more basic. This is the case for all measurement scenarios (Figures 1.17, 2.17, 3.17, 4.17).
19
Discussion and Conclusions
Results from this study extend our knowledge of the Darwin Harbour water quality, which has focussed on the main water (e.g. Padovan 1997) rather than the upper reaches. Water quality of Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek is affected greatly by tidal factors. Water quality parameters vary with respect to the 12-hourly tidal cycle, but also with respect to the 2-weekly spring-neap cycle. The concentration of TSS under spring tide conditions is one order of magnitude greater than in neap tide conditions. This can be attributed to a more active erosive flow under the spring tide, and greater area of mangrove inundation. This higher concentration coupled with a large spring tide discharge combine to produce an exceptionally large flux of TSS under spring tide conditions. For both Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek, TSS flux and load vary over two orders of magnitude between spring and neap tide conditions. Concentrations of TN, however, are similar for spring and neap tide conditions. They are also similar between the two waterways. Differences in the flux and load of nutrients are therefore due entirely to the differences in discharge (e.g. spring tide peak discharge is greater than the neap tide peak by one order of magnitude). The load of N is therefore also greater by one order of magnitude on the spring tide. Similarly to TSS, the concentration of TP under spring tide conditions is one order of magnitude greater than in neap tide conditions. It follows similarly that an exceptionally large flux of TP was observed under spring tide conditions and that TP flux and load vary over two orders of magnitude between spring and neap tide conditions. Temporal behaviour of TP concentration was very similar to that of TSS. Turbidity of both Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek is one order of magnitude greater on the spring tide than on the neap tide. This is expected given the behaviour of TSS. The range over which surface salinity varies on the spring tide is twice as large (3ppt, Figure 1.13) as that on the neap tide (1.5ppt, Figure 3.13). This is a function of the large import of salt on the incoming spring tide. Overall, the peak outflow discharge on the spring tide is approximately one order of magnitude larger than that on the neap tide for both the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek. Where concentrations are temporally equivalent, the flux and load of nutrients and salt therefore also varies by one order of magnitude. In the case of suspended solids, their concentration is higher by one order of magnitude under spring tide conditions, resulting in their flux and load being larger by two orders of magnitude under spring tide conditions. Comparing results from Blackmore River estuary with results from Middle Creek indicates that water quality of the two is very similar. Observations suggest that measurements of Middle Creek could be used as a surrogate for Blackmore River estuary. This is an important result in the design of sampling strategies. The variation in concentration, flux and load of each parameter across the width of the Blackmore River estuary channel highlights the importance of non-uniform flow in
20
representative sampling. For example, under spring tide conditions, there was a net export of total nitrogen from Bins 1 and 2, but a net import from Bins 3 and 4. Across the wide river channel variations in flow may be significant and must be considered in the design of a sampling strategy. If water quality had only been measured at one point across the channel, rather than four, the flux and loads of each parameter may have been mis-represented. More samples clearly lead to greater accuracy and reliability, however these results suggest that across a wide channel, variations in discharge and water quality concentrations may be significant.
60 50 Difference [export / import] (%) 40 30 20 10 0 -10 -20
Water TSS VSS TN TP
BRE-Spring
BRE-Neap
MC-Spring
MC-Neap
Figure 5.1 - Percentage by which the exported load was bigger than the imported load. BRE = Blackmore River estuary, MC = Middle Creek.
The movement of material from the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek is summarised in Figure 5.1 (above). The chart shows the percentage by which the exported load of material was greater than the imported load of material. Export of water volume was always greater than that imported by at least 23% (Blackmore River estuary, spring tide) and up to 45% (Blackmore River estuary, neap tide) for the periods studied. Exported load of TSS was always greater than that imported by at least 8% (Middle Creek, spring tide) and up to 54% (Middle Creek, neap tide). Exported load of VSS was greater than that imported by up to 46% (Middle Creek, neap tide) except in Middle Creek under spring tide conditions, where imported load was greater by 6%. Exported load of TN was greater than that imported by up to 56% (Blackmore River estuary, neap tide) except in the Blackmore River estuary under spring tide conditions, where imported load was greater by 10%. Exported load of TP was always greater than that imported by at least 20% (Blackmore River estuary, spring tide) and up to 45% (Middle Creek, spring neap tide).
21
While an overall export of material into the harbour is observed, the flux of material along the waterways is very large (Table 4.3). The perception that macro tides have the capacity to flush pollutants into the harbour should be viewed in the context of this cyclical import and export. On these tides an enormous volume of material was exported and a slightly lesser volume of material (~20%) was imported (Table 4.3, main report Figure 5.1). Rather than instantly flushing pollutants into the harbour and thus instantly restoring water in the estuaries to healthy condition, 80% (on average) of material is re-introduced on the next incoming tide. In some cases, more material may be imported than was exported (e.g. TN Blackmore River estuary spring tide, VSS Middle Creek spring tide, main report Figure 5.1). This study focused on only one tidal cycle for each of a spring and neap tide. Further studies are required before generalised conclusions can be made, however this study does not support the notion that macro tides flush the system. Further to the findings of this study, some recent analysis indicates that the area of mangroves drained during a given tidal cycle significantly affects the export of TSS, VSS, TN and TP. In Appendix 5, the results pertaining to exported loads of material are normalised according to the area of mangrove drained. Exported loads appear to be similar across sample sites and times. Normalised results indicate that the area of mangrove drainage is a key control on the concentration, flux and load of suspended material in this tidal system. This is a recommended area of future research.
22
References
Dixon, I.H. and A.V. Padovan (2003). The water quality of the Blackmore Estuary, Darwin Harbour: May and June 2001. Report 19/2003D, Natural Resource Management Division, Conservation and Natural Resources Group, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Northern Territory Government. Love, G., K. M. Murphy and I. J. Butterworth (1987). The present and a possible future climatology of the Darwin Harbour. Workshop on Research and Management in Darwin Harbour, Darwin, NT, ANU North Australian Research Unit. Mitchie, M. G. (1988). Sediment, sedimentary environments and paleoenvironments in Port Darwin. Darwin Harbour. K. K. Larson, M. G. Mitchie and J. R. Hanley, ANU NARU Mangrove Monograph No. 4. Padovan, A. (1997). The water quality of Darwin Harbour, October 1990 - November 1991. Darwin, Water Quality Branch, Water Resources Division, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment: 41. Townsend, S. A. (1992). Nutrient, suspended solids and metal inputs from point and non-point sources into Darwin Harbour, November 1990 - October 1991. Darwin, Report 38/92, Water Resources Division, Northern Territory Power and Water Authority.
23
Appendix Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts
12 10 8 Depth (m) 6 4 2 0 7:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 3 Discharge Buoy 2 Buoy 4
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 1.1 Depth and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
24
Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts
250 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
Total Suspended Solid (mg/L)
200
150
100
-1000 -2000 -3000
50
0 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
-4000 22:00
(a)
80000 60000 Total Suspended Solid (g/s) 40000 20000 0 -20000 -40000 -60000 -80000 7:00
500,000 400,000 300,000
4000 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 Peak export flux = 213 kg/s Peak import flux = 138 kg/s -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1
Total Export = 1,632,000 kg Total Import = 1,337,000 kg
Total Suspended Solid (kg)
200,000 100,000 0 -100,000 -200,000 -300,000 -400,000 -500,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
25
120 Volatile Suspended Solid (mg/L) 100 80 60 40 20 0 7:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
16000 11000 6000 1000 -4000 -9000 -14000 7:00

80,000 60,000
4000 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 Peak export flux = 37.1 kg/s Peak import flux = 17.0 kg/s -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
Volatile Suspended Solid (g/s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
Total Export = 264,400 kg Total Import = 190,600 kg
Volatile Suspended Solid (kg)
40,000 20,000 0 -20,000 -40,000 -60,000 -80,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
26
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
NOx - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
4 3 2 NOx - N (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00

25 20 15 10
4000 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 Peak export flux = 10 g/s Peak import flux = 7 g/s -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
Total Export = 105 kg Total Import = 95 kg
NOx - N (kg)
5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.4 NOx-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
27
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NO2 - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
3 3
(a)
12 8 4 0 -4 -8 -12 7:00
100 80 60 40
4000 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 Peak export flux = 34 g/s Peak import flux = 18 g/s 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NO2 - N (g/s)
(b)
NO2 - N (kg)
20 0 -20 -40 -60 -80 -100 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.5 NO2-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
28
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
NO3 - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
4 3 2 NO3 - N (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00

25 20 15 10
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
NO3 - N (kg)
5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.6 NO3-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
29
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NH3 - N (mg/L)
3 3
(a)
6 4 2 0 -2 -4 -6 7:00
45 35 25 15
NH3 - N (g/s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
NH3 - N (kg)
5 -5 -15 -25 -35 -45 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.7 NH3-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
30
0.8 0.7 0.6 TKN (mg/L) 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 7:00
Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
300 200 100 TKN (g/s) 0 -100 -200 -300 7:00

2,000 1,500 1,000 500
4000 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 Peak export flux = 835 g/s Peak import flux = 650 g/s 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
(b)
TKN (kg)
0 -500 -1,000 -1,500 -2,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.8 TKN and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
31
0.8 0.7 0.6 TN (mg/L) 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 7:00
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
300 200 100 TN (g/s) 0 -100 -200 -300 7:00

2,000 1,500 1,000 500
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
TN (kg)
0 -500 -1,000 -1,500 -2,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.9 TN and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
32
0.8 0.7 0.6 TP (mg/L) 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 7:00
1000 0
-1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Discharge (m /s)
4000 3000 2000

3
(a)
100 80 60 40 TP (g/s) 20 0 -20 -40 -60 -80 -100 7:00

600
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
400
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
200
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
TP (kg)
-200
-400
-600 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.10 TP and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
33
0.02 0.018 0.016 0.014 RP (mg/L) 0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 10:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
15 10 5 RP (g/s) 0 -5 -10 -15 7:00

120
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
80
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
40
Buoy 2
RP (kg)
0
Buoy 1
-40
-80
-120 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 1.11 RP and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
34
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Discharge (m /s)

3
200 Turbidity (NTU)
150
100
-1000 -2000 -3000
50
0 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
-4000 22:00
Figure 1.12 - Turbidity and discharge Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
35
26.1 26 25.9 Temperature ( C) 25.8 25.7 25.6 25.5 25.4 25.3 25.2 7:00 Temp (surface) Temp (bottom) Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
o
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s)
3 3
-4000 22:00
Figure 1.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
53000 52000 Sp. Conductivity (S/cm) 51000 50000 49000 48000 47000 7:00 Sp.Cond (surface) Sp.Cond. (bottom) Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000
-4000 22:00
Figure 1.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
36
34.5 34 33.5 Salinity (ppt) 33 32.5 32 31.5 31 7:00 Salinity (surface) Salinity (bottom) Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s)
3 3
Figure 1.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
6.5 6 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 7:00 DO (surface) DO (bottom) Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 1.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
37
8.45 8.4 8.35 8.3 pH 8.25 8.2 8.15 8.1 7:00 pH (surface) pH (bottom) Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s)
3 3
-4000 22:00
Figure 1.17 pH (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
400 350 300 Turbidity (NTU) 250 200 150 100 50 0 7:00 Turbidity (surface) Discharge
4000 3000 2000 1000 0 -1000 -2000 -3000 -4000 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 1.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary spring tide, 21 August 2001.
38
39
Appendix 2 Blackmore River estuary neap tide charts
Appendix Blackmore River estuary neap tide charts
9 8 7 6 Depth (m) 5 4 3 2 1 0 6:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 3 Discharge 9:00 12:00 15:00 Buoy 2 Buoy 4
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
18:00
Figure 2.1 Depth and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
40
500 400 300

Discharge (m /s)
Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)
20
200 100 0
15
10
-100 -200
-300 -400
0 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
-500 21:00
3 3
(a)
3500 2500
Total Suspended Solid (g/s)
500 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 400 300

Discharge (m /s)
1500 500 -500 -1500 -2500 -3500 6:00

7,000 5,000
200 100 0 -100 -200 Peak export flux = 4.6 kg/s Peak import flux = 2.3 kg/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(b)
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
3,000 1,000 -1,000 -3,000 -5,000 -7,000 6:00
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
41
6 Volatile Suspended Solids (mg/L) 5 4 3 2 1 0 6:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 9:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 -500 21:00
(a)
700 500 Volatile Suspended Solid (g/s) 300 100 -100 -300 -500 -700 6:00
1,500
500 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 Peak export flux = 930 g/s Peak import flux = 520 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(b)
Buoy 4
1,000
Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1
500
-500
-1,000
-1,500 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
42
0.008 0.007 0.006 NOx - N (mg/L) 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002
500 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
0.001 0 6:00
-400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(a)
0.8 0.6 0.4 NOx - N (g/s) 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 6:00
4 3
500
100 0
-100 -200
Peak export flux = 1.6 g/s Peak import flux = 2.0 g/s
-300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
Discharge (m /s)
400 300 200
(b)
Buoy 4
2
NOx - N (kg)
1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.4 NOx-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
43
0.012
500 400
0.01
300 200 100 Discharge (m3/s)
NO2 - N (mg/L)
0.008
0.006
0.004
0.002
-100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
0 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(a)
1.6
500
0.8 NO2 - N (g/s)
100 0 0
-100 -200 -0.8
-1.6 6:00
-300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
Discharge (m3/s)
400 300 200
(b)
10 8 6 4
NO2 - N (kg)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.5 NO2-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
44
0.008 0.007 0.006 NO3 - N (mg/L) 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 6:00
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
-500 21:00
(a)
0.8 0.6 0.4 NO3 - N (g/s) 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 6:00
4 3 2
500 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 Peak export flux = 1.5 g/s Peak import flux = 2.0 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(b)
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
NO3 - N (kg)
1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 6:00
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.6 NO3-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
45
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 6:00 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 NH3 - N (g/s) 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1 6:00
7 5
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 9:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00 500 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 Peak export flux = 2.2 g/s Peak import flux = 2.6 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
NH3 - N (mg/L)
3 3
(a)
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(b)
Buoy 4
3
NH3 - N (kg)
1 -1 -3 -5 -7 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.7 NH3-N and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
46
0.4 0.35 0.3 TKN (mg/L) 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 6:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
3 3
(a)
60 40 20 TKN (g/s) 0 -20 -40 -60 6:00

300
100 0
-100 -200 Peak export flux = 130 g/s Peak import flux = 75 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
Discharge (m /s)
500 400 300 200
(b)
200
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
100
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
TKN (kg)
-100
-200
Total Export = 1,920 kg Total Import = 840 kg
-300 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.8 TKN and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
47
0.45 0.4 0.35 0.3 TN (mg/L) 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 6:00 60 40 20 TN (g/s) 0 -20 -40 -60 6:00
300
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00 500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 Peak export flux = 135 g/s Peak import flux = 80 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
3 3
(a)
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
(b)
200
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
100
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
TN (kg)
-100
-200
-300 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.9 TN and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
48
0.035 0.03 0.025 TP (mg/L) 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 6:00

4 3 2 1 TP (g/s) 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 6:00 20 15 10 5
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
-500 21:00
500
(a)
100 0
-100 -200
9:00 12:00 15:00 18:00
-300 -400 -500 21:00
Discharge (m /s)
400 300 200

3
(b)
Buoy 4 Buoy 3
TP (kg)
0 -5 -10 -15 -20 6:00
Buoy 2 Buoy 1
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.10 TP and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
49
0.012 0.01 0.008 RP (mg/L) 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 6:00
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
-500 21:00
3 3
(a)
1.5 1 0.5 RP (g/s) 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 6:00

8 6 4 2
100 0
-100 -200 Peak export flux = 3.0 g/s Peak import flux = 3.6 g/s -300 -400 -500 21:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
Discharge (m /s)
500 400 300 200
(b)
RP (kg)
0 -2 -4 -6 -8 6:00
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
(c)
Figure 2.11 RP and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
50
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 6:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
Turbidity (NTU)
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
Figure 2.12 Turbidity and discharge Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
51
30.2 30 29.8 Temperature ( C) 29.6 29.4 29.2 29 28.8 28.6 28.4 6:00
o
500 Temp (surface) Temp (bottom) Discharge 400 300 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 9:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 -500 21:00
Figure 2.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
52500 52000 Sp. Conductivity (S/cm) 51500 51000 50500 50000 49500 6:00 Sp.Cond. (surface) Sp.Cond. (bottom) Discharge 9:00 12:00 15:00 18:00
500 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
Figure 2.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
52
35 34.8 34.6 34.4 Salinity (ppt) 34.2 34 33.8 33.6 33.4 33.2 33 32.8 6:00 9:00 Salinity (surface) Salinity (bottom) Discharge
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 18:00 -500 21:00
12:00
15:00
Figure 2.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
4.6 4.5 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4 3.9 3.8 3.7 6:00
DO (surface) DO (bottom) Discharge
500 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400
9:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
-500 21:00
Figure 2.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
53
8.1 8.08 8.06 8.04 8.02 pH 8 7.98 7.96 7.94 7.92 7.9 6:00 9:00 12:00 pH (surface) pH (bottom) Discharge
500 400 300 Discharge (m /s) Discharge (m /s) 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
15:00
18:00
Figure 2.17 pH (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
10 9 8 7 Turbidity (NTU) 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 6:00 9:00 12:00 15:00 Turbidity (surface) Turbidity (bottom) Discharge 18:00
500 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 21:00
Figure 2.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab) Blackmore River estuary neap tide, 12 September 2001.
54
55
Appendix 3 Middle Creek spring tide charts
Appendix Middle Creek spring tide charts

9 8 7 6 Depth Discharge 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
Depth (m)
5 4 3 2 1 0 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.1 Depth and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
56
90 80 Total Suspended Solid (mg/L) 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 7:00 TSS Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
(a)
20000 15000 Total Suspended Solid (g/s) 10000 5000 0 -5000 -10000 -15000 -20000 7:00 Peak export flux = 17.2 kg/s Peak import flux = 8.1 kg/s TSS Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
40,000 30,000
20,000 10,000 0 -10,000 -20,000 -30,000 -40,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
57
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 7:00 2000 1500 Volatile Suspended Solid (g/s) 1000 500 0 -500 -1000 -1500 -2000 7:00 Peak export flux = 1500 g/s Peak import flux = 1050 g/s VSS Discharge VSS Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
Volatile Suspended Solid (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Discharge (m /s)
(a)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
4,000 3,000
2,000 1,000 0 -1,000 -2,000 -3,000 -4,000 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
58
0.01 0.009 0.008 0.007 NOx - N (mg/L) 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 7:00 NOx-N Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
2 1.5 1 NOx - N (g/s) 0.5 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 7:00

4 3 2
400 NOx-N Discharge 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
Total Export = 8.2 kg Total Import = 5.6 kg
NOx - N (kg)
1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.4 NOx-N and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
59
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 NO2-NO2 Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NO2 - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
4 3 2 NO2 - N (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00

8 6 4
400 NO2 Discharge 300 200 100 0 -100 Peak export flux = 3.5 g/s Peak import flux = 1.1 g/s -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
NO2 - N (kg)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.5 NO2-N and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
60
0.045 0.04 0.035 NO3 - N (mg/L) 0.03 0.025 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 7:00 NO3-N Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
8 6 4 NO3 - N (g/s) 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 7:00 Peak export flux = 7.7 g/s Peak import flux = 2.8 g/s NO3-N Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
16

8
NO3 - N (kg)
-8
-16 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.6 NO3-N and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
61
0.045 0.04 0.035 NH3 - N (mg/L) 0.03 0.025 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 NH3 Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
(a)
2 1.5 1 NH3 - N (g/s) 0.5 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 7:00

4 3 2
400 NH3 Discharge 300 200 100 0 -100 Peak export flux = 1.7 g/s Peak import flux = 0.7 g/s -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
NH3 - N (kg)
1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.7 NH3-N and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
62
0.4 0.35 0.3 TKN (mg/L) 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 7:00 TKN Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
80 60 40 TKN (g/s) 20 0 -20 -40 -60 -80 7:00 Peak export flux = 69 g/s Peak import flux = 26 g/s TKN Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
150
100
50
TKN (kg)
-50
-100
-150 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.8 TKN and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
63
0.4 0.35 0.3 TN (mg/L) 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 7:00 TN Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
80 60 40 20 TN (g/s) 0 -20 -40 -60 -80 7:00

150
400 TN Discharge 300 200 100 0 -100 Peak export flux = 71 g/s Peak import flux = 27 g/s -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
100
50
TN (kg)
-50
-100
-150 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 3.9 TN and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
64
0.1 0.09 0.08 0.07 TP (mg/L) 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0 7:00 TP Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
25 20 15 10 TP (g/s) 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 7:00 Peak export flux = 23 g/s Peak import flux = 9 g/s TP Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
50 40 30 20
TP (kg)
10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 22:00
(c)
Figure 3.10 TP and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
65
0.025
400 300
0.02
200 100 0 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
RP (mg/L)
0.015
0.01
-100 RP Discharge -200 -300 -400 22:00
0.005
0 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
5 4 3 2 RP (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 7:00 Peak export flux = 4.5 g/s Peak import flux = 1.6 g/s RP Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
10 8 6 4
RP (kg)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 22:00
(c)
Figure 3.11 RP and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
66
70 60 50 Turbidity (NTU) 40 30 20 10 0 7:00 Turbidity Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.12 Turbidity and discharge Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
67
25.8 25.6 25.4 25.2 25 24.8 24.6 24.4 7:00 Temp (surface) Temp (bottom) Discharge
3 3
Temperature ( C)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
52500 52000 Sp. Conductivity (S/cm) 51500 51000 50500 50000 49500 49000 48500 48000 47500 7:00 10:00
Sp.Cond (surface) Sp.Cond. (bottom) Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
68
34.5 34 33.5 Salinity (ppt) 33 32.5 32 31.5 31 7:00
Salinity (surface) Salinity (bottom) Discharge
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
6.5 6 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 7:00 DO (surface) DO (bottom) Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
69
8.5 8.4 8.3 8.2 pH 8.1 8 7.9 7.8 7:00 pH (surface) pH (bottom) Discharge
3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.17 pH (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
80 70 60 Turbidity (NTU) 50 40 30 20 10 0 7:00
Turbidity (surface) Turbidity (bottom) Discharge
400 300 200 100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 3.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Spring Tide, 22 August 2001.
70
71
Appendix 4 Middle Creek neap tide charts
Appendix Middle Creek neap tide charts

5 4.5 4 3.5 20 15 10 5 0 -5 Depth Discharge -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
3
Depth (m)
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
Figure 4.1 Depth and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
72
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 7:00 TSS Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
Total Suspended Solid (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
200 150 Total Suspended Solid (g/s) 100 50 0 -50 -100 -150 -200 7:00 TSS Discharge Peak export flux = 170 g/s Peak import flux = 100 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
300
200
100
-100 -200
-300 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.2 Total Suspended Solids and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
73
2.5 Volatile Suspended Solid (mg/L)
20 15
10 5 0 Discharge (m /s)
3 3
1.5
-5 VSS Discharge -10 -15 -20 22:00
0.5
0 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
40 30 Volatile Suspended Solid (g/s) 20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 7:00 VSS Discharge Peak export flux = 34 g/s Peak import flux = 27 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
60
40
20
-20
-40
-60 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.3 Volatile Suspended Solids and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
74
0.008 0.007 0.006 NOx - N (mg/L) 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 7:00 NOx-N Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
0.08 0.06 0.04 NOx - N (g/s) 0.02 0 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 -0.08 7:00
0.15
20 Peak export flux = 0.07 g/s Peak import flux = 0.04 g/s 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 NOx-N Discharge -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
0.1
0.05
NOx - N (kg)
-0.05
-0.1
-0.15 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.4 NOx-N and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
75
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 NO2 Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NO2 - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
3 3
(a)
0.2 0.15 0.1 NO2 - N (g/s) 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 7:00
0.3
20 Peak export flux = 0.18 g/s Peak import flux = 0.13 g/s 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 NO2-N Discharge -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
0.2
0.1
NO2 - N (kg)
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.5 NO2-N and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
76
0.008 0.007 0.006

NO3 - N (mg/L)
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 NO3-N Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 -15 -20 22:00
Discharge (m /s)
3
0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 7:00
(a)
0.08 0.06 0.04 NO3 - N (g/s) 0.02 0 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 -0.08 7:00 NO3-N Discharge Peak export flux = 0.07 g/s Peak import flux = 0.04 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
0.14
0.07
NO3 - N (kg)
-0.07

-0.14 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.6 NO3-N and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
77
0.012 0.01 0.008 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 7:00 NH3 Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
NH3 - N (mg/L)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
3 3
(a)
0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 NH3 -N (g/s) 0.02 0 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 -0.08 -0.1 7:00
0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1
20 Peak export flux = 0.09 g/s Peak import flux = 0.07 g/s 15 10 5 0 -5 NH3 Discharge -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
NH3 - N (kg)
0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 -0.25 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.7 NH3-N and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
78
0.35 0.3 0.25 TKN (mg/L) 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 7:00 TKN Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
8 6 4 TKN (g/s) 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 7:00 TKN Discharge Peak export flux = 5.6 g/s Peak import flux = 3.6 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
10 8 6 4
TKN (kg)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.8 TKN and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
79
0.35 0.3 0.25 TN (mg/L) 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 7:00 TN Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
8 6 4 2 TN (g/s) 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 7:00
10 8 6 4
20 Peak export flux = 5.6 g/s Peak import flux = 3.6 g/s 15 10 5 0 -5 TN Discharge -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
TN (kg)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.9 TN and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
80
0.035 0.03 0.025 TP (mg/L) 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 7:00 TP Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
0.6 0.4 0.2 TP (g/s) 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 7:00 TP Discharge Peak export flux = 0.52 g/s Peak import flux = 0.26 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
1 0.8 0.6 0.4
TP (kg)
0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1 7:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
22:00
(c)
Figure 4.10 TP and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
81
0.009 0.008 0.007 0.006 RP (mg/L) 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0 7:00 RP Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(a)
0.15 0.1 0.05 RP (g/s) 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 7:00 RP Discharge Peak export flux = 0.14 g/s Peak import flux = 0.09 g/s
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
(b)
0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1
RP (kg)
0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15 -0.2 -0.25 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 22:00
(c)
Figure 4.11 RP and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001; (a) Concentration, (b) Flux, (c) Load.
82
14 12 10 Turbidity (NTU) 8 6 4 2 0 7:00 Turbidity Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 4.12 Turbidity and discharge Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
83
30.6 30.4 30.2 30 Temperature (oC) 29.8 29.6 29.4 29.2 29 28.8 28.6 28.4 7:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00
20
Temp (surface) Temp (bottom) Discharge
15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m3/s)
Figure 4.13 Temperature (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
52500 52000 Sp. Conductivity (S/cm) 51500 51000 50500 50000 49500 7:00
Sp.Cond. (surface) Sp.Cond. (bottom) Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00 Discharge (m /s)

3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 4.14 Specific Conductivity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
84
34.4 34.2 34 Salinity (ppt) 33.8 33.6 33.4 33.2 33 7:00 Salinity (surface) Salinity (bottom) Discharge 10:00 13:00 16:00 19:00

3 3
Figure 4.15 Salinity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
4.4 4.2 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 4 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.2 3 7:00
20 15 10 5 0 -5 DO (surface) DO (bottom) Discharge -10 -15 -20 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 4.16 Dissolved Oxygen (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
85
8.1 8.05 8 pH 7.95 7.9 7.85 7.8 7:00 pH (surface) pH (bottom) Discharge

3 3
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 4.17 pH (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
14 12 10 Turbidity (NTU) 8 6 4 2 0 7:00 Turbidity (surface) Turbidity (bottom) Discharge
20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 22:00
10:00
13:00
16:00
19:00
Figure 4.18 Turbidity (Hydrolab) Middle Creek Neap Tide, 13 September 2001.
86
Appendix 5 Load of exported material and area of inundation
Appendix Load of exported material related to area of mangrove drained
Tables of concentration, flux and load of water, TSS, VSS, TN and TP were presented for both the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek, for both a spring tide and a neap tide (main text, Tables 4.1 4.3). Results suggest that large amounts of material were shifted along the estuary and creek channels. The channels are fringed by mangroves growing on a low-lying muddy substrate. The area of mangroves (assumed to be equivalent to the area of the inter-tidal zone) drained during a given tidal cycle could significantly affect the export of TSS, VSS, TN and TP. In this Appendix, exported material figures are placed in the context of this changing area of drainage. A digital elevation map of the study region was used to construct a relationship between water level and area of inundation for the areas upstream of the sample sites (Figure 5.1). The DEM was sourced from Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment hydrology branch. No fixed datum was defined for the DEM, so the 0m elevation was assumed to match that of the lowest astronomical tide. The area of inundation was found to increase linearly with water level to the level of 8 metres for both the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek mangrove catchments (Figure 5.2).
Figure 5.1 Digital elevation map of the catchment area for the Blackmore River estuary and Middle Creek sample points.
87
2,500 Area of inundated mangroves (ha) Blackmore River Middle Creek
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Water level above datum (m)
Figure 5.2 Relationship between area of inundation and water level.
Predicted tide heights for the sampling days were sourced from Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment marine safety branch. Areas of inundation were calculated from the relationship described above.
Table 5.1 Tide heights and areas of inundation for sample days Channel Tide Date High tide (m) (ha) Blackmore Spring 21 August 2001 7.71 2229.0 River estuary Neap 12 September 2001 4.98 1301.3 Spring 22 August 2001 7.67 320.7 Middle Creek Neap 13 September 2001 4.55 182.9
Low tide (m) (ha) 1.26 137.0 2.48 618.5 1.03 23.7 2.42 147.0
Given that mangroves exist in the tidal range of these channels, the area of inundated mangroves drained in each tidal scenario can be calculated (area inundated at high tide minus the area inundated at low tide). Exported loads of TSS, VSS, TN and TP for each tidal scenario can now be presented in the context of load per unit area of drained mangrove.
Table 5.2 Exported loads normalised for the area of mangrove drained over the tidal cycle. Channel Tide TSS VSS TN TP (t/ha) (t/ha) (kg/ha) (kg/ha) Spring 0.78 0.13 3.38 0.96 Blackmore River Estuary Neap 0.06 0.01 2.84 0.15 Spring 0.28 0.03 1.28 0.39 Middle Creek Neap 0.06 0.01 1.67 0.14
Results are presented as Figures 5.3 5.4.
88
0.9 0.8 0.7 (tonnes / hectare) 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Spring Neap Spring Middle Creek Neap Blackmore River estuary TSS VSS
Figure 5.3 Exported loads of TSS and VSS per area of mangroves drained.
4 3.5 (kilograms / hectare) 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Spring Neap Spring Middle Creek Neap Blackmore River estuary TN TP
Figure 5.4 Exported loads of TN and TP per area of mangroves drained.
When the exported load is normalised by the area of mangroves drained in the tidal cycle: - Exported loads appear to be similar across sample sites and times. - Large differences still exist, for example eight times more suspended material per drained area is exported from Blackmore River estuary on the spring tide than on the neap tide. - Blackmore River estuary results are very similar to those for Middle Creek. Normalised results indicate that the area of mangrove drainage is a key control on the concentration, flux and load of suspended material in this tidal system.
89

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The Water Quality of Spring and Neap Tidal Cycles in the Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour during the

Methods Data collection

Easting 713903 713842 713782 713745 713993 714335

Northing 8600514 8600465 8600393 8600332 8600417 8599645

HYDSYS* G8155464 G8155454

t = ct Qt where = flux (g/s)

c = concentration (g/m3) Q = discharge (m3/s) t = number of seconds in tide (s)

errorF,L = errorQ + errorC

TN (mg/L) 0.30 0.34 0.28 0.28 0.30 0.27 0.29 0.23

TP (mg/L) 0.07 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.06 0.02 0.02

140 120 100 TSS (mg/L) 80 60 40 20 0 0

BRE - spring BRE - neap MC - spring MC - neap

y = 1.2186x + 1.3401 2 R = 0.8821

y = 0.0013x + 0.0135 2 R = 0.9492

Discussion and Conclusions

60 50 Difference [export / import] (%) 40 30 20 10 0 -10 -20

Water TSS VSS TN TP

Appendix Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

12 10 8 Depth (m) 6 4 2 0 7:00 Buoy 1 Buoy 3 Discharge Buoy 2 Buoy 4

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

250 Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge

4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Discharge (m /s)

Total Suspended Solid (mg/L)

-1000 -2000 -3000

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 1,632,000 kg Total Import = 1,337,000 kg

Total Suspended Solid (kg)

200,000 100,000 0 -100,000 -200,000 -300,000 -400,000 -500,000 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

16000 11000 6000 1000 -4000 -9000 -14000 7:00

Volatile Suspended Solid (g/s)

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 264,400 kg Total Import = 190,600 kg

Volatile Suspended Solid (kg)

40,000 20,000 0 -20,000 -40,000 -60,000 -80,000 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

4 3 2 NOx - N (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 105 kg Total Import = 95 kg

5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 265 kg Total Import = 222 kg

20 0 -20 -40 -60 -80 -100 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

4 3 2 NO3 - N (g/s) 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 7:00

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 105 kg Total Import = 92 kg

5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 133 kg Total Import = 140 kg

5 -5 -15 -25 -35 -45 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge

300 200 100 TKN (g/s) 0 -100 -200 -300 7:00

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1

Total Export = 7,000 kg Total Import = 7,720 kg

0 -500 -1,000 -1,500 -2,000 7:00

Appendix 1 Blackmore River estuary spring tide charts

Buoy 1 Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Discharge

300 200 100 TN (g/s) 0 -100 -200 -300 7:00

Buoy 4 Buoy 3 Buoy 2 Buoy 1