The Onkaparinga Estuary Water Quality Monitoring program is part of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board’s Onkaparinga Estuary Rehabilitation Action Plan.
The water monitoring aims to monitor nutrients, turbidity/suspended solids, heavy metals and faecal microorganisms. Monitoring is conducted fortnightly.
In the long term this data will assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the constructed wetlands in reducing estuary pollution, the significance of untreated stormwater and seasonal water quality characteristics, particularly in the spring summer recreational period.
Annual surveys of the samphire saltmarsh will be conducted to monitor its condition. This is an important habitat for many plant and animal species.
Based on a preliminary survey conducted in March 2008, the saltmarsh at the estuary mouth appears in excellent condition (based on vegetation cover and the number and diversity of plant species).
The results of the March 2008 samphire saltmarsh transect survey is available below.
Recently, the Board held an information session on the monitoring and revegetation projects in the estuary to provide the local community with an overview of this important monitoring project. View the presentation in PowerPoint.
View the following documents
