1. Ecosystem health index and the annual report card Ben Longstaff 4-August-2005 Presentation to TMAW

3. All major waterways from Noosa River to the NSW BorderAll major waterways from Noosa River to the NSW Border 250 water quality sites (monthly)250 water quality sites (monthly) 250 sewage plume mapping sites (annual)250 sewage plume mapping sites (annual) 20 seagrass monitoring sites20 seagrass monitoring sites 6 coral monitoring sites6 coral monitoring sites

4. Maps of entire region (Bay and estuaries) Most water quality parameters Annual medians Monthly Uncertainty in prediction Spatial presentation

5. Regional overviews Comparison between waterways Prioritization of action

6. Local waterway synthesis Each year all data for one waterway analyzed, synthesized and presented

7. Ecosystem Health Report Card Moreton Bay (Australia): –Annual release since 1999 –The most important tool for evaluating and communicating health of the regions waterways –Significantly raised awareness of waterways health –Often directed / focused management action –Impetus for some costly (but environmentally important) intervention High profile media release: Media Interest Public Awareness Political Interest Action Report Card needs to be robust and defendable

8. Proportion of the waterways area that complies with the established objectives (EHI) Report Card Rating Waterway / region of bay A C F D B How the report card grades are generated 80% of grade determination based on Ecosystem Health Index (EHI) 20% of grade determination based on interpretation of data not compatible with EHI approach / expert opionio

9. Annual SEQRWQMS water quality objectives

10. 1 year of monthly monitoring data Spatial interpolation of annual median Area of compliance calculated Ecosystem health indicator (e.g. Secchi depth) Process repeated for each indicator and averaged Ecosystem Health Index (80%) Ecosystem Health Index (80%) Proportion of the waterways area that complies with the established objectives

11. Estuaries Moreton Bay Different indicators for estuaries and Moreton Bay…. 1 = 100% of area complies with objective 0 = 0% of the area complies with the objective

12. Ecosystem Heath Index Spatial compliance of key indicators

13. Proportion of the waterways area that complies with the established objectives (EHI) Report Card Rating Waterway / region of bay A C F D B How the report card grades are generated 80% of grade determination based on Ecosystem Health Index (EHI) 20% of grade determination based on interpretation of data not compatible with EHI approach

14. Communication Report card –Grades –Management response –Regional summaries Annual report –Linked to report card –Regional overview –Local waterway summaries