Mapping outflow events

From the river to the sea: measuring coastal outflows seeks to fill knowledge gaps on the effects of freshwater outflow events from NSW estuaries into our coastal environments.

Freshwater outflows and their associated processes play a vital role in delivering nutrients, carbon and other food to the coast that support our marine ecosystems and fisheries. Within these outflows sediment, fertilisers and pollution from both urban and rural catchments may be of concern.

Coastal scientists from the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and Griffith University are reviewing the scientific literature and developing a coastal ‘outflows’ conceptual model. This will help show stakeholders, including local communities, managers, and water users how each part of the connected system effects the other when an estuary discharges to the coast.

Additionally, a collaboration with CSIRO is using cloud computing and satellite imagery to examine the size, frequency and distribution of coastal outflows over the NSW coast during the past two decades. We can then understand how water quality varies from region to region, and estuary to estuary to assess the risk of these events on offshore reefs and water column biodiversity, helping inform related management actions.

Department of Planning and Environment – Environment and Heritage Group

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – Oceans and Atmosphere
• Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Griffith University