The Reef Catchments Science Partnership (RCSP) is a collaboration between The University of Queensland and the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Established in July 2021, the RCSP conducts research to generate information to assist in the design and delivery of water quality improvement programs and projects, including the Queensland Government’s environmental monitoring and evaluation capabilities associated with the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
Our vision
To encourage collaboration across scientists, policymakers, catchment management groups and industry leaders, leading to discoveries, practical solutions and innovative products.
We prioritise the development of future leaders by providing targeted mentoring to honours and postgraduate students, with the goal of creating a lasting legacy of evidence-based efforts to enhance catchment and ecosystem resilience and water quality.
We are dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art research and knowledge on water quality trends, risks and best practices, ensuring that interventions are focused on the most impactful areas.
We aim to bridge the divide between academia and government, working with landholders and other important stakeholders to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
Our mission
Building resilience in catchments to improve and safeguard water quality for the future by using our knowledge and data, creating the scientific foundation and capacity to empower impactful, targeted and science-based decisions that will benefit all of Queensland.
- Catchment Water Quality Alliance
- Water quality innovations (data analysis and synthesis)
- Point and diffuse sources compliance for nutrients and sediments
- Proactive monitoring and compliance
- Support for the Behavioural Insights Team in the Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage
Catchment Water Quality Alliance
The Catchment Water Quality Alliance (CWQA) is a dynamic collaboration that brings together the expertise of government and academia to tackle water quality challenges in Queensland.
By combining the applied knowledge of the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation with the cutting-edge research and development capabilities of The University of Queensland and James Cook University, the Alliance delivers innovative solutions to protect and improve the health of Queensland’s waterways.
The Alliance is dedicated to empowering catchment stewardship through its innovative approaches to water quality monitoring and knowledge transfer to support environmental management and decision-making in Queensland.
Water quality innovations (data analysis and synthesis)
Our team contributes to groundbreaking advancements in water quality and landscape processes through innovative data analysis and synthesis.
A key program is the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP), delivered in partnership with the Water Quality & Investigations group of the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
The GBRCLMP is a long-running, innovative water quality monitoring program that plays a vital role in tracking long-term water quality trends as rivers and streams flow into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from catchments along Queensland’s east coast. The data collected through this program is essential for improving water quality models and measuring progress towards the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan targets, which aim to protect and preserve the Reef for future generations.
Our work is driven by collaboration and innovation. We are committed to building strong partnerships with stakeholders and investing in cutting-edge technologies to enhance our impact. We also follow FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable), ensuring that the data we collect can be easily shared and utilised by researchers, policymakers, and the broader community to drive meaningful action. Together, we are working to safeguard one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders and ensure a sustainable future for Queensland’s catchments and waterways.
Point and diffuse sources compliance for nutrients and sediments
We explore the potential for economic and market mechanisms to meet both current and future demands for point source offsets and enhance the adoption of water quality offsets.
Projects include:
- estimate demand for water quality offsets from sewage treatment plants in South East Queensland by 2050
- estimate the feasibility of various water quality offset supply options in areas with potential demand from aquaculture in Great Barrier Reef catchments
- compile up to date cost information on river restoration from across Queensland
- provide technical water quality economics advice to stakeholders.
Proactive monitoring and compliance
We develop customised monitoring tools and data products that fuse remote sensing, modelling, machine learning, and in‑situ monitoring to deliver timely, actionable intelligence.
These tools support proactive, constructive engagement with land managers and help compliance teams prioritise effort by targeting current and emerging high‑risk areas for water quality impacts from land management practices (e.g. over‑grazing, new or expanding cropping).
Support for the Behavioural Insights Team in the Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage
The RCSP supports the Behavioural Insights Team in the Office of the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage (OGBRWH) by reviewing and analysing human dimensions data from water quality projects and programs funded under Australian and Queensland government Great Barrier Reef investment programs.
In addition to providing actionable recommendations through brief reports that inform adaptive management and ongoing project implementation, the RCSP also offers support in integrating behavioural insights into program design, delivery and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E). This support aims to enhance the effectiveness of water quality initiatives by applying behavioural science principles throughout the program and project lifecycle.
RCSP leader
Associate Professor Ryan Turner, RCSP Director / Senior Research Fellow
Ryan Turner's research profile
Researchers and research fellows
Ms Angela Marsh, Senior Principal Researcher (Data Team Leader)
Angela Marsh's research profile
Miss Eloise Wilson, Data Scientist
Eloise Wilson's research profile
Ms Hannah Mitchell, Senior Research Assistant
Dr Joseph McMahon, Research Fellow
Joseph McMahon's research profile
Mr Mika Rowston, Senior Research Assistant
Mika Rowston's research profile
Mr Richard Gardiner, Principal Research Data Analyst
Richard Gardiner's research profile
Ms Payton Te Ngaio, Senior Research Assistant
Ms Steph Atkinson, Research Assistant
Operational staff
Ms Shannon Jennings, Operations Officer
Ms Ellie Smith, Operations Assistant
Research students
Ms Catherine Neelamraju, PhD candidate
Catherine Neelamraju's research profile
Ms Florina Richard, PhD candidate
Florina Richard's rsearch profile
Ms Sarah Stephenson, PhD candidate
Honorary and adjunct
Dr Reinier Mann, Honorary Associate Professor
Affiliated researchers
Associate Professor Angela Dean, Lecturer
Angela Dean's research profile
Dr Tracy Schultz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Tracy Schultz's research profile
Tribute to Michael St John Warne
The Reef Catchment Science Partnership team at The University of Queensland and the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation acknowledges the significant contribution of the late Associate Professor Michael Warne to the establishment and direction of the partnership.
Michael's leadership and dedication to environmental science and eco-toxicology were influential and have made the world a better place. We continue his legacy through educating and extending science to everyone to improve water quality through catchment resilience.
Communities of practice
PULSE – Australia’s Pesticide Science Community of Practice
PULSE (Pesticide Use and Land Stewardship Engagement) is a voluntary, non-commercial, national community of practice that connects researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers to share knowledge and drive practical solutions for managing pesticide loss pathways across Australia’s diverse landscapes and waterways.
While our roots are in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, our vision is broader: to support sustainable pesticide management that protects aquatic ecosystems and communities nationwide.
By fostering collaboration across sectors, we aim to reduce pesticide risks in aquatic environments through evidence-based approaches that are locally relevant and globally informed.
PULSE is committed to connecting people, ideas, and innovations to support sustainable agriculture and resilient ecosystems, because meaningful change starts on the ground.
For more details email pestcop@uq.edu.au or visit PULSE on LinkedIn.
National Water Quality Monitoring Community of Practice (WQM-CoP)
Over the years, considerable money has been invested in water quality monitoring initiatives and programs, resulting in the collection of vast amounts of data. However, concerns regarding the standardisation and reliability of this data have been a topic of discussion among practitioners for some time. As a result, the Australian Hydrographers Association has decided to support a community of practice focused on water quality monitoring.
Through sharing information, the latest developments, and experiences, the WQM-CoP aims to build confidence in the capacity and resilience of real-time (in field) water quality monitoring nationally.
Email rcsp.info@uq.edu.au to join the WQM-CoP.
Data portals
Catchment Water Quality Alliance Hub
The Catchment Water Quality Alliance Hub is a one-stop digital shop that provides detailed information about:
- the work and programs offered by the Alliance
- the member organisations and collaboration partners
- links to all the individual digital products offered by the Alliance.
Visit the Catchment Water Quality Alliance Hub
Tahbil - Water Quality Data Portal
On this portal, you can find:
- concentration data for various water quality parameters, predominantly sediment, nutrients and pesticides
- calculated annual and daily Total Suspended Solids and nutrients loads, annual Total Suspended Solids and nutrients yields
- calculated Pesticide Risk Metric.
Data are available for monitoring locations across the:
- Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program
- South East Queensland Catchment Loads Monitoring Program.
Visit Tahbil - Water Quality Data Portal
Catchment Loads Dashboard
The Catchment Water Quality Alliance is committed to finding new ways to make Queensland water quality science more accessible to its stakeholders and the public. It was developed as a tool for staff to communicate annual sediment and nutrient loads data to stakeholders, as well as to provide an externally facing portal for stakeholders and the wider public to visualise our data.
The dashboard shows the programs commitment to the FAIR data principles, by presenting the data in a more useable way, that allows end users to filter data spatially or temporally for their own use cases.
Visit Catchment Loads Dashboard
Pesticide Reporting Portal
This portal displays pesticide concentrations for water samples collected by Water Quality & Investigations. It includes data for 24 different pesticides, all of which can be viewed on interactive graphs:
- 10 photosystem II herbicides (e.g., diuron, atrazine)
- 10 other herbicides (e.g. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), metolachlor)
- 4 insecticides (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, fipronil, imidacloprid).
Visit Pesticide Reporting Portal
Pesticide Risk Metric Dashboard
Of the 24 pesticides presented in the Pesticide Reporting Portal, 22 pesticides are currently considered the greatest risk to coastal freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area.
The combined toxicity risk of these 22 pesticides is estimated by the Pesticide Risk Metric. The risk is expressed as the percentage of species potentially affected (or conversely, protected) by the combined toxicity of the 22 pesticides over a standardised wet season (182 days from the first flush event).
Visit Pesticide Risk Metric Dashboard
Pesticide Risk Metric Calculator
The Pesticide Risk Metric (PRM) Calculator can be used to calculate daily PRM scores and wet season PRM scores. The risk is expressed as the percentage of species potentially affected (or conversely, protected) by the combined toxicity of the 22 pesticides. In the case of the wet season PRM, the metric is intended to be calculated for a standardised wet season (182 days from the first flush event).
Visit Pesticide Risk Metric Calculator
Condition reports
Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program Condition Reports:
RCSP research projects target critical gaps in knowledge for the delivery of science for catchment management.
Join us as an Honours student or Research Higher Degree candidate for the opportunity to collaborate with researchers, policy makers and groups on projects to drive change, improve agricultural practices, protect catchment and ecosystem resilience, and improve water quality for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
Browse the list of available research projects below, and check your eligibility for the Michael St John Warne Memorial Scholarship.
Email rcsp.info@uq.edu.au to find out more, or to propose a project to address an important knowledge gap.
- Predicting water quality
- Analysing monitoring data to inform management
- Human dimensions of water quality improvement
- Economics of water quality improvement
- Miscellaneous
Predicting water quality
Can you predict the concentrations of one nutrient species using the known concentrations of other nutrient species?
The Queensland Government has been collecting nutrient concentrations in South-East Queensland (SEQ) and Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments for almost 2 decades, and in that time has amassed approximately 400,000 datapoints. With such large datasets, we are now in a position to develop statistical relationships between the concentrations of all the water quality parameters. Such relationships can be used to set up Quality Assurance/Quality Control rules for current and future sampling programs.
Furthermore, the logistics of sampling and analysing those samples is a major expense for the Queensland Government, and the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) and SEQ Catchment Loads Monitoring Program are always looking for avenues to reduce cost or provide justification for the reduction or simplification of sampling programs.
This project will suit a student with an interest in building statistical models of environmental datasets.
A machine learning approach to estimating dissolved inorganic nitrogen discharge from ungauged catchments
Catchment water quality models simulate large scale environmental processes with sufficient complexity to provide fit for purpose explanatory power. There are 2 categories of model development that limit model precision and reliability, one is limitations in knowledge that result in a misspecified model and the other is the quality and quantity of the observation data available to calibrate and test the model. This project aims to address both of these issues to some extent.
Given the costs and practical challenges associated with collecting observational data suitable for informing model calibration and validation, there are gaps in the water quality data available for model calibration. In the Great Barrier Reef catchment water quality modelling program, more than 30% of the total catchment area draining to the Great Barrier Reef lies outside of an area referenced by a water quality monitoring site.
This project will use available water quality monitoring data and catchment water quality models to investigate the potential for machine learning modelling methods to adequately estimate dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) loads being generated and transported from the catchment landscape into the stream network.
Calculating loads discharged from an estuary
The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) provides essential data which is used to track trends and to calibrate catchment scale models linking land management practices and water quality. Catchment load is calculated as the product of discharge and concentration. At sites where there is tidal influence, volume can be computed from the discharge, or a freshwater discharge can be derived from de-tiding the discharge.
However, no adjustments are currently made to concentrations of sediment during a flood tide, which anecdotally, may accumulate above the sampling point to later be remobilised in larger events. When resuspension isn’t accounted for, and concentrations are applied to either a de-tided discharge or a volume, it would assume a seaward flux of analytes, which would bias the resultant load.
This project would collate evidence for movement of constituents back and forth due to tidal influence at GBRCLMP monitoring sites and investigate options for accounting for this influence when calculating loads. The work would contribute to improving confidence in the loads calculations that are foundational to tracking progress for the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
Can the annual dissipation of pesticides at the GBRCLMP sites be described mathematically?
The Queensland Government has been collecting pesticide concentrations in South-East Queensland (SEQ) and Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments since 2009. Pesticide runoff at the beginning of the wet season generally results in dramatic increases in pesticide concentrations in receiving waters. These concentrations subsequently reduce, presumably because the amount of pesticide available for run off reduces as the wet season progresses. This results in a pattern of pesticide dissipation that is repeated each year. The pattern is most evident in the high-risk catchments (see figure below).
Each site potentially has its own dissipation pattern and raises the question: can you describe the site-specific dissipation of pesticides using a mathematical function, and is this pattern common to different pesticides?
This project will suit a student with an interest in building mathematical models of environmental datasets.
Fingerprinting water: Using real-time spectra to predict the concentrations of pesticides
This project will explore options to value add to real time data currently being collected by TriOS OPUS probes deployed for the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program. The probes provide nitrate and total suspended solid (TSS) equivalent data. But there is potential to derive greater value from the probes. The potential to use the real time TSS data calculate sediment loads, rather than the traditional approach of using grab samples, would be investigated.
There is also potential to use the spectra generated by TriOS OPUS probes to predict concentrations of pesticides (e.g., atrazine, diuron, with nitrate, phosphate and imidacloprid previously analysed by another honours project in 2023, the thesis is available and this research can be built on or new approaches can be used) in rivers that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef. Establishing such relationships could enable real-time water quality monitoring of waterways for a greater number of water quality parameters and would enable quicker and cheaper methods of monitoring waterways within the Great Barrier Reef catchments.
Predicting the required sample coverage for a flood event
The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) monitors water quality during ambient conditions as well as during events. Events, or periods of increased flow, account for a significant portion of annual transport of contaminants.
The GBRCLMP directs significant resources to ensuring that events are well sampled. Calculation of an event load requires samples to be captured across the rising, peak and falling stages of the hydrograph. To ensure that a load can be calculated, more samples are collected than analysed. Once the event has passed, analysis of the hydrograph determines which samples will be analysed. The effort to oversample, review and then discard extra samples is considerable. Contaminant loads for an event are a function of catchment characteristics (size of the catchment, topography, geology and soil types and catchment landuse) as well as event specific characteristics (rainfall intensity and distribution, groundcover and land management practices).
This project aims to analyse monitoring data from the GBRCLMP to determine whether catchment characteristics are the primary driver of event characteristics and therefore could be predicted based on knowledge of site behaviour. The work can potentially reduce the costs associated with oversampling while ensuring the GBRCLMP continues to provide robust sampling for loads calculation.
Analysing monitoring data to inform management
Unpacking dissolved inorganic nitrogen to ensure targeted management of Great Barrier Reef catchment water quality
The water quality in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment waterways is impacted by elevated nitrate and ammonium loads, known and reported as dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), primarily due to agricultural activities. Studies have shown that DIN concentrations are particularly high in areas with intensive agriculture, such as sugarcane and banana plantations, where fertiliser application often exceeds plant requirements. This excess DIN is transported into waterways, especially during wet season conditions, increasing loads in the GBR catchment that can affect the reef's health.
However, the nitrate-to-ammonium concentration ratios in these waterways are influenced by various factors, some of which are independent of each other, including land use practices, hydrological changes, and the instream nutrient process. Effective nutrient management strategies are crucial to mitigate these impacts. Understanding the nitrate-to-ammonium concentration ratios will give greater insight into improving the GBR lagoon's water quality.
Statistical analysis of temporal trends in nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads
The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) has been collecting pesticide concentration data between 2009 and 2021 and nutrient concentration data since 2006. To date, temporal trends have been estimated using very complex source catchment models. But with so much monitoring data it is possible to use this data to determine whether concentrations have changed over time.
To date, analysis for changes in concentration over time (temporal trend analysis) has only been conducted for pesticides. Despite significant investments targeted at reducing sediment and nitrogen in runoff from agriculture, no trend analyses have been conducted using the monitoring data. This project will determine whether the efforts/investments of the Australian and Queensland governments to improve land management practices and hence water quality have been successful.
Understanding groundwater in the Burdekin
Groundwater rising in the lower Burdekin is a significant environmental issue with potential to negatively impact agriculture in this highly productive area. Further, excessive use of groundwater for irrigation in the Burdekin delta leaves the area vulnerable to salt water intrusion (SWI). SWI has the potential to render this resource unusable for agricultural purposes and also to shift the biogeochemical processes that drive release and bioavailability of nutrients from soils.
Understanding of the water quality in Burdekin groundwater, compared to local surface waters, is key to designing management strategies to address the risks. This study would review available monitoring data from groundwater bores in the region to identify spatial and temporal trends and compare to the surface waters. The analysis would include assessment of indicators of the presence and extent of SWI. Drawing on existing data, this work aims to further understanding of the complexities driving groundwater quality and provide insights that could direct future decision making.
Can we discern trends in the annual Pesticide Risk Metric data published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Monitoring Program?
Taucare et al. (2022) published a trend analysis of the photosystem II (PSII) herbicide concentration data published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Monitoring Program (MMP). That study described statistically significant increases in some PSII herbicides at some MMP sites.
More recently, the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement (Negri et al. 2024) has called for an analysis of the trends in MMP data using the Pesticide Risk Metric. The Pesticide Risk Metric includes risk from 22 pesticides, including two insecticides, nine PSII herbicides and ten other herbicides, including metolachlor and MCPA – the herbicides that dominated pesticide risk at several MMP sites (see figure below).
This project could specifically include a trend analysis for metolachlor. This project would require the calculation of pesticide risk metrics for MMP datasets available back to 2005 and the application of statistical tests. This project will suit a student interested in building statistical models of environmental datasets.
What factors dictate the magnitude of the Pesticide Risk in GBR catchments?
Different catchments in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area are characterised by different pesticide risks. For example, within the Mackay Whitsunday NRM region, several catchments generally experience very high risk from pesticides whereas other catchments experience very low risk (see Pesticide Risk Metric dashboard).
A recent analysis in the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement (Negri et al. 2024) suggested that the proportion of land use dedicated to sugarcane and horticulture, and river discharge (see figure below) explained the differences, but this has yet to be examined in detail.
This project will suit a student interested in building statistical models of environmental datasets.
Human dimensions of water quality improvement
Agricultural producers’ perceptions of practice change in Reef catchments
The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation collects behavioural and social data from agricultural producers in Reef catchments to inform project and program design to enhance practice adoption and water quality outcomes.
This project will conduct the statistical analysis of temporal and spatial trends in the perceptions of practices to improve water quality and explore linkages to observed trends in water quality.
Does real time data influence farm management decision making?
Real time water quality data has the potential to provide valuable feedback to growers on the environmental implications of different management practice decisions. TriOS OPUS probes, currently provide real-time measurements on nitrate-nitrogen and total suspended solids at sites across the Great Barrier Reef Catchment.
This project would work with landholders to investigate the potential for feedback from real time monitoring to influence the decisions that they make for fertiliser and irrigation management actions on their farm.
Economics of water quality improvement
How much will it cost to restore Queensland’s rivers?
River restoration is a primary means of reaching important water quality goals for the Great Barrier Reef and Southeast Queensland, offsetting increased water quality pollution due to population growth, and contributing to a wide range of emerging global nature repairs targets.
However, there is an urgent need for estimates of river restoration cost to be updated to reflect more recent market conditions and variation in cost due to different river characteristics across Queensland. More robust cost data could enable scaling up of investment in river restoration to progress toward a range of social goals.
This project will compile recent river restoration cost data from a range of locations across Queensland to determine average river restoration costs, as well as river characteristics that influence deviations from this average.
Miscellaneous
Analysis and write up of the 2+ years of orbitrap data collected by the GBRCLMP, including a statistical analysis of land use relationships
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has conducted non-targeted organic chemical analysis of rivers that discharge to the GBR for two years. This project will collate that data to determine what chemicals are present, how frequently each is detected, summary concentration statistics and determine if there are relationships between their occurrence and land use.
This project will help determine what chemicals are included in future chemical analysis of GBR waterways.
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