A study of the nutrient exports from the Burdekin River was conducted based on 12 years worth of sampling data from the main channel of the Burdekin River, collected by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Monitoring data was also collected over a shorter period from the Lower Burdekin area.

The study found that high levels of erosion cause the Burdekin River to export abundant particulate matter, particularly in the wet seasons that follow low rainfall years. Particulate P and N were found to increase by as much as 4 to 5 fold respectively in these years.

An investigation into the nutrient levels from the Lower Burdekin area was also carried out and, when compared to historical data, it was found that there has been an increase in N since the establishment of the Burdekin River Irrigation Area (BRIA) in 1988.

Read the Report

A report of water quality condition of the Burdekin River and surrounds based on end of catchment sampling (Mitchell 06/06)