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7878580 
Journal Article 
Monitoring to enhance modelling - A loads monitoring program for validation of catchment models 
Turner, RDR; Smith, RA; Huggins, RL; Wallace, RM; Warne, MStJ; Waters, DK 
2013 
3253-3259 
WOS:000357105903041 
Diffuse pollutant loads discharged from rivers on the east coast of Queensland have caused a decline in water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013 (Reef Plan) aims to halt and reverse the decline in water quality and enhance the resilience of the Reef. It also provides specific water quality and land management targets to be achieved in order to meet the Reef Plan goal. Monitoring progress towards meeting Reef Plan targets is measured through the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modeling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef Program). The Paddock to Reef Program includes catchment scale water quality monitoring of pollutant loads (total suspended solids, nutrients and pesticides) entering the GBR lagoon. The catchment monitoring is conducted by the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP). Monitoring data generated by GBRCLMP provides the point of truth to validate loads predicted by Source Catchment models. Loads generated by the model are used to report on progress towards water quality targets that are published in the annual Reef Plan Report Card. The GBRCLMP calculates both annual and daily pollutant loads, based on monitoring data for 11 catchments that cover the majority of the Queensland east coast. Over 8500 total suspended solid and nutrient samples have been collected and analysed since 1 July 2006 and more than 3000 pesticide samples have been collected and analysed since 1 July 2009. This has resulted in more than 250,000 discrete data points. This substantial data set allows for robust load calculations. The load calculations suggest that since 1 July 2006 approximately 80 per cent of the sediment loads delivered to the GBR lagoon originates from the two largest grazing catchments (the Burdekin and Fitzroy catchments). In addition, the Fitzroy catchment delivers over half the total monitored pesticide load to the GBR lagoon during the 5 year sampling period. Whereas the two regions with the highest proportion of sugarcane (the Mackay Whitsundays and Wet Tropics regions) deliver approximately one third with the Burdekin and Burnett Mary regions together delivering approximately a sixth. The other catchments deliver a very small proportion of the total pesticide load. The loads monitoring program is a key component of the paddock to reef program. Whilst load based monitoring is expensive and challenging it is the fundamental point of truth for model validation. This paper will summarise the GBRCLMP monitoring data collected since 1 July 2006; demonstrate the role of the GBRCLMP in model validation; outline some key improvements that have been made been; and describe the future direction and focus of the GBRCLMP which will continue to be based on the symbiotic relationship between modelling and monitoring. 
Great Barrier Reef; Loads; Monitoring; Validation; Water quality