ACWS water data audit report, 2015

Report Prepared for:

ironment Protection Authority Sout

Adelaide Coastal Water Stu

tormwater Data Audit Repor

th Australia

udy :

rt 2015

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South Australia

Water Data Services Pt¥ Ltd www .waterdata.com.au.

1 Erudf11a Ave E dwa rdstown

SA 5039

P 08 837'4 3522

F OS- 8374 3566

Date: Tuesday 20th June 2017

Delivery:

Electronic Copy (via email)

Principal Environment Protection Officer (Water Quality)

Environment Protection Authority SA

Level 9, 250 Victoria Square,

ADELAIDE, 5000

Via email:

Report:

Adelaide Coastal Waters Study : Stormwater Data Audit

Report 2015

Client Contact:

Principal Environment Protection Officer (Water Quality)


Level 9, 250 Victoria Square,

ADELAIDE, SA, 5000

Via email:

Contractor:

Prepared and submitted by:

Operations Manager

Water Data Services Pty Ltd

1 Erudina Ave

Edwardstown SA 5039

Telephone 08 8374 3522

Facsimile 08 8374 3566

E-mail


i

Executive Summary In 2005 a data audit was undertaken to investigate data availability for current and historical monitoring

programs in the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study (ACWS) area. The audit was focussed on stormwater quality

and quantity and identified data gaps in the monitoring programs. This report in 2015 is an audit of the data

collected in the period 2005 to 2014 to determine if previous monitoring gaps have been filled and identify

current and future gaps in the monitoring programs. The report also summarises changes and

improvements to data sets report in the 2005 audit.

Flows observed during this period were influenced by drought conditions. The several years of below

average rainfall resulted in prolonged periods of below average flow. Environmental flow regimes were

designed and introduced to the major rivers to maintain river health and ecosystems. These environmental

flow releases occurred in the Gawler (South Para), Torrens and Onkaparinga Rivers and were facilitated by

water released from the reservoirs. A consequence of this was that the water released had a proportion of

River Murray water which has substantially different water quality characteristics to the natural stormwater

runoff in the lower catchments.

Water quality improvement and water security infrastructure was installed across the ACWS catchments as

part of the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative which included wetlands and MAR

schemes. The primary objective of these initiatives is to improve water security but they may also have

some direct and indirect benefits to water quality.

Major transport infrastructure projects were constructed in the ACWS catchments including the Southern

Expressway duplication, Northern Expressway, Port River Expressway and bridge, South Road Superway and

the extension of the Seaford railway line.

The availability of flow and water quality data has improved substantially since the previous audit and a

strong shift towards data sharing between the many different agencies operating monitoring programs in

the ACWS has meant that added value can be extracted from capital expenditure on monitoring

infrastructure.

The majority of the monitoring projects utilise hydrometric monitoring stations with flow proportional

composite sampling instrumentation to facilitate the data collection. Natural Resources - Adelaide and

Mount Lofty Ranges (AMLR) operate the largest water quality monitoring network in the ACWS area and

have a designated website available to the public to view the data. The architecture of this website has

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been made available to local council and SA Water monitoring programs to become a data hub for the

region.

Auditing of the monitoring programs and data identified that many of the previous data gaps from 2005

have been filled. This fits with the set up of the AMLR designed Outfall Flow network. New monitoring

stations have been commissioned near the stormwater discharge points for most of the major creeks and

rivers. Remaining gaps in the ACWS stormwater catchments include the Southern coastal catchments, the

Patawalonga Coastal stormwater drainage systems (Holdfast drains) and the Buckland Park Lake (Gawler

River Discharge).

Rainfall runoff models were developed for the un-gauged catchments with the objective to provide a mean

annual discharge from the AWCS catchments into the gulf. Combining the modelled flow with the data from

the gauging stations determined that the mean annual flow from 2005 to 2014 was 92GL/yr.

Water quality monitoring was not performed at all sites for the reporting period, therefore a reduced period

of 2009-2014 was used as the data set. Combining the flow proportional composite sample water quality

results with the corresponding flow data determines the mean annual water quality pollutant loads. The

results observed were 149T/year Total Nitrogen, 14.2T/year Total Phosphorus and 4140T/year Suspended

Solids. Over 50% of each of the total pollutant loads is discharged from the Torrens, Gawler and

Onkaparinga Rivers.

The following recommendations have been provided to continue to meet and better inform the objectives

of the ACWS:

Verification monitoring for the stormwater drain system flow models

Flow monitoring of the Buckland Park Lake

Flow and WQ monitoring of the southern creek catchments

Maximise use of instrumentation technology including flow and water quality alerts

Real time monitoring for turbidity, customised web pages and reports

Investigate a catchment targeted pesticide sampling program

Incorporate wetland and MAR scheme monitoring programs into reports and database for the

ACWS catchments

Maintain the current regime of historical monitoring stations to observe changing trends in the catchments.

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... i

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1

2 Climate Summary ................................................................................................................ 3

3 Stormwater Sources ............................................................................................................ 4

3.1 Stormwater Source Classification ............................................................................................. 4

3.2 Influences on stormwater flow and quality 2005-2014 .............................................................. 9

3.3 ACWS Catchment Summaries ................................................................................................. 12

3.3.1 Gawler River ................................................................................................................................................ 12

3.3.2 Thompson Creek and Smith Creek .............................................................................................................. 15

3.3.3 Helps Road Drain and Adams Creek ............................................................................................................ 17

3.3.4 Little Para River ........................................................................................................................................... 18

3.3.5 Dry Creek .................................................................................................................................................... 20

3.3.6 Port Adelaide and Barker Inlet .................................................................................................................... 22

3.3.7 Torrens River ............................................................................................................................................... 25

3.3.8 Patawalonga Basin ...................................................................................................................................... 28

3.3.9 Field River ................................................................................................................................................... 31

3.3.10 Christie Creek.......................................................................................................................................... 33

3.3.11 Onkaparinga River .................................................................................................................................. 35

3.3.12 Pedler Creek ........................................................................................................................................... 38

3.3.13 Silver Sands Catchment (Washpool Lagoon) .......................................................................................... 40

4 Availability of Flow Data.................................................................................................... 42

4.1 Data compatibility across the ACWS area ............................................................................... 49

4.2 Flow Data Gaps ..................................................................................................................... 49

5 Flow Data Summary .......................................................................................................... 50

5.1 Estimating Flows in Un-gauged Catchments ............................................................................ 50

5.1.1 Estimating Losses in Buckland Park Lake (Lower Gawler River) .................................................................. 52

5.1.2 Flows from the Holdfast and Coastal Patawalonga Catchments ................................................................. 58

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5.1.3 Southern Catchments ................................................................................................................................. 61

5.2 Flow Totals, Distribution and Seasonality ............................................................................... 65

5.2.1 Accounting for Environmental and Amenity Flows ..................................................................................... 72

6 Availability of Water Quality Data ..................................................................................... 76

6.1 Water Quality Data compatibility across the ACWS area ......................................................... 83

6.2 Water Quality Data Gaps ....................................................................................................... 83

7 Summary of Water Quality Data ........................................................................................ 85

8 Current and Future Monitoring .......................................................................................... 95

8.1 Current Monitoring Programs ................................................................................................ 95

8.2 Future Monitoring Direction .................................................................................................. 98

8.3 Integrating New Monitoring Technologies .............................................................................. 99

9 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................. 101

9.1 Recommendations............................................................................................................... 102

9.1.1 Flow monitoring ........................................................................................................................................ 102

9.1.2 Water Quality Monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 103

9.1.3 Data and Information ................................................................................................................................ 103

10 References ................................................................................................................... 105

List of Figures

Figure 1-1 : Adelaide Coastal Waters Study Area .............................................................................................. 2

Figure 3-1 : Northern Catchments of the ACWS Study Area ............................................................................. 7

Figure 3-2 : Southern Catchments of the ACWS Study Area ............................................................................. 8

Figure 3-3 : AMLR Trash-Rack Website ............................................................................................................ 11

Figure 3-4 : Gawler River Catchment Monitoring Summary ........................................................................... 14

Figure 3-5 : Smith and Thompson Creeks Catchment Monitoring Summary .................................................. 16



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Figure 3-6 : Little Para River Monitoring Summary ......................................................................................... 19

Figure 3-7 : Dry Creek Monitoring Summary ................................................................................................... 21

Figure 3-8 : Port Adelaide Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................. 24

Figure 3-9 : Torrens River Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................. 27

Figure 3-10 : Patawalonga Basin Monitoring Summary .................................................................................. 30

Figure 3-11 : Field River Monitoring Summary ................................................................................................ 32

Figure 3-12 : Christie Creek Monitoring Summary .......................................................................................... 34

Figure 3-13 : Onkaparinga River Monitoring Summary ................................................................................... 37

Figure 3-14 : Pedler Creek Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................ 39

Figure 3-15 : Silver Sands Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................. 41

Figure 4-1 : AMLR and EPA coastal warning webpage ..................................................................................... 44

Figure 5-1 : Un-gauged catchments in the ACWS Area ................................................................................... 51

Figure 5-2 : Buckland Park Lake Hydrology ...................................................................................................... 53

Figure 5-3 : Buckland Park Modelled Flows – 1973-1994 ............................................................................... 55

Figure 5-4 : Buckland Park Modelled Flows – 1995-2014 ............................................................................... 56

Figure 5-5 : Mean Annual Flow Volumes ......................................................................................................... 67

Figure 5-6 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Northern Catchments ......................................................... 68

Figure 5-7 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Port Adelaide and Barker Catchments ............................... 69

Figure 5-8 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Torrens and Patawalonga Catchments ............................... 70

Figure 5-9 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Southern Catchments ......................................................... 71

Figure 7-1 : Measured Total Annual Nitrogen Loads ....................................................................................... 90

Figure 7-2 : Measured Total Annual Phosphorus Loads .................................................................................. 91

Figure 7-3 : Measured Total Annual Suspended Solids Loads ......................................................................... 92

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List of Tables

Table 2-1 : Adelaide Annual Rainfall Totals (Kent Town Rain Gauge) ................................................................ 3

Table 3-1 : ACWS Area Stormwater System Classification ................................................................................. 4

Table 3-2 : ACWS Catchments - Major and Selected Minor Drainage Systems (North to South) ...................... 5

Table 3-3 : Environmental Flow and WQIP Releases ......................................................................................... 9

Table 3-4 : Gawler River Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................... 12

Table 3-5 : Smith and Thompson Creek Monitoring Summary........................................................................ 15

Table 3-6 : HELPS Road Drain Monitoring Summary ....................................................................................... 17

Table 3-7 : Little Para River Monitoring Summary ........................................................................................... 18

Table 3-8 : Dry Creek Monitoring Summary .................................................................................................... 20

Table 3-9 : Dry Creek Monitoring Summary .................................................................................................... 22

Table 3-10 : Torrens River Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................. 25

Table 3-11 : Patawalonga Basin Monitoring Summary .................................................................................... 28

Table 3-12 : Field River Monitoring Summary ................................................................................................. 31

Table 3-13 : Christie Creek Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................ 33

Table 3-14 : Onkaparinga River Monitoring Summary .................................................................................... 35

Table 3-15 : Pedler Creek Monitoring Summary.............................................................................................. 38

Table 3-16 : Silver Sands Monitoring Summary ............................................................................................... 40

Table 4-1 : Stormwater Flow Monitoring Programs ........................................................................................ 45

Table 4-2 : Summary of current outfall flow monitoring into the ACWS area ................................................. 46

Table 5-1 : Buckland Park Model Result Summary .......................................................................................... 57

Table 5-2 : Holdfast and Patawalonga Coastal Catchment Characteristics ...................................................... 59

Table 5-3 : Annual Total Rainfall - 2304 – Adelaide Airport – 2005-2014 ........................................................ 59

Table 5-4 : Patawalonga Coastal Catchments - Estimated Annual Catchment Discharge ............................... 60



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Table 5-5 : Summary of gauged and un-gauged southern catchments ........................................................... 61

Table 5-6 : Southern Un-gauged Catchment Assignments .............................................................................. 62

Table 5-7 : Southern Catchments - Recorded Catchment Yields ..................................................................... 63

Table 5-8 : Southern Catchments – Estimated Annual Flows .......................................................................... 64

Table 5-9 : Summary of Average Recorded and Estimated Flow Volumes (Including Environmental Flows) . 66

Table 5-10 : Estimated Annual Environmental Flows Delivered via the Onkaparinga Estuary ........................ 73

Table 5-11 : Estimated Annual Environmental/Amenity Flows Delivered via the Torrens mouth................... 73

Table 5-12 : Estimated Annual Environmental Flows Delivered via Buckland Park Wetland .......................... 74

Table 5-13 : Effect of Environmental Flows on changes in Catchment Yield ................................................... 75

Table 6-1 : Water Quality Monitoring Programs .............................................................................................. 78

Table 6-2 : Summary of current water quality monitoring into the ACWS area .............................................. 80

Table 7-1 : Measured Total Annual Nitrogen Loads 2005-2014 ...................................................................... 87

Table 7-2 : Measured Total Annual Phosphorus Loads 2005-2014 ................................................................. 88

Table 7-3 : Measured Total Annual Suspended Solids Loads 2005-2014 ........................................................ 89

Table 7-4 : Water Quality Trend Indication Summary 2012-13 – AMLR Outfall Sites ...................................... 94

Table 8-1 : Current Catchment Outfall Monitoring and Gaps .......................................................................... 96

Appendices

Appendix A : Trend Analysis Summary

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JN141105a Page 1

1 Introduction The Adelaide Coastal Waters Study (ACWS) was initiated in 2001 to investigate the Adelaide coastal

environment in relation to the problems of sea-grass loss, seafloor instability and poor water quality. The

aim of the study is to provide knowledge and understanding of the systems so that solutions can be

implemented in the state’s management plans.

In 2005, an audit report was commissioned to investigate the available data in the ACWS area and identify

data gaps. The report summarised the monitoring programs undertaken in the ACWS and provided

recommendations for future monitoring programs.

This report is an update of the 2005 Audit report to summarise the data collected in the 10 years since the

last audit, identify the current monitoring programs and provide recommendations for future monitoring to

fill data gaps.

The ACWS area encompasses an approximately 70km section of coast from Port Gawler, north of Adelaide

to Sellicks Beach, south of Adelaide. The catchments feeding stormwater into the area are all part of the

Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Region incorporating the catchments of the Gawler River, Torrens River and

Patawalonga System, and Onkaparinga River specific to the ACWS area. The upper reaches of these systems

include reservoirs and flood control dams which control stormwater runoff from the catchments. This can

reduce or delay stormwater discharge to the coast. The ACWS area is displayed in Figure 1-1. The

characteristics of the catchments include the "hills face zone" of the Mt Lofty Ranges, market gardens and

farms in the northern plains, urbanised catchments of suburbs and city in the central area and wineries and

farms in the southern area.

Section 3.3 of the report provides an update on development and changes within catchments from the

previous report. This includes the major projects and developments in the catchments which will affect the

quality and quantity of stormwater during the reporting period and for future assessments.

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2 Climate Summary An understanding of climatic conditions during the 10 years from 2005 to 2014 is necessary in order to

summarise the stormwater flow conditions. Table 2-1 below summarises the annual rainfall for Adelaide

from 1995 to 2014.

Adelaide experienced seven out of 10years of rainfall above the median value between 1995 and 2004. This

was the opposite for the 10 years 2005-2014 where seven years of below median rainfall were observed.

Table 2-1 : Adelaide Annual Rainfall Totals (Kent Town Rain Gauge)

Year Annual

Total (mm)

Above / Below

median rainfall

Year Annual

Total (mm)

Above / Below

median rainfall

1995 494.2 below 2005 629.6 above

1996 599.4 above 2006 287.6 below

1997 498.6 below 2007 465.0 below

1998 546.0 above 2008 402.4 below

1999 628.8 above 2009 517.2 below

2000 643.8 above 2010 592.6 above

2001 716.2 above 2011 537.8 median

2002 378.4 below 2012 527.2 below

2003 609.2 above 2013 507.4 below

2004 580.2 above 2014 534.2 below

BOM Kent Town median rainfall 537.8mm, 1977-2015.

Source: www.bom.gov.au

The 2005-2014 Adelaide climate is characterised by record heat waves (15 consecutive days, 2008) and the

warmest mean temperatures on record (Kent Town) in 2007 and 2009. These above average temperatures

corresponded to a period of drought with below average rainfall from 2006-2009. The 2006 rainfall total is

the second lowest on record, with 2008 fifth lowest and 2007 sixth lowest.

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Page 4 JN141105a

3 Stormwater Sources

3.1 Stormwater Source Classification

In the 2005 report each of the stormwater drainage systems discharging into the ACWS zone was classified

into one of the following descriptions:

Class 1 Creek and River systems, or;

Class 2 Stormwater Drainage Networks.

Sub-groups of each class were determined as a means of ranking each stormwater system by size and likely

impact on the ACWS area.

This report adopts the same classification system.

The criteria for each of the stormwater system categories is displayed in Table 3-1

Table 3-1 : ACWS Area Stormwater System Classification

Classification Description Criteria

Group 1 Creek and River Systems

1.1 Major Catchments > 20,000 ha

1.2 Major Creeks >2,000 ha

1.3 Minor Coastal Area <2,000 ha

1.8 Water Supply Catchment

1.9 Systems draining to Barker Inlet.

Group 2 Stormwater Drainage Networks

2.1 Major stormwater drain Q > 200ML*

2.2 Intermediate stormwater drain 100ML < Q < 200ML

2.3 Minor Stormwater drain Q < 100ML

2.4 Small beach or dune drain

Note: Q is the two year return period flood estimated from annual rainfall and volumetric runoff coefficients (ARR 1987)

Source: EPA (2005)

The ACWS catchment area has been divided into 23 catchments and drainage networks.



JN141105a Page 5

These catchments are listed in Table 3-2 including their catchment area and classification. The Minor

Stormwater Drains are detailed in the previous report (EPA 2005). This table does not include any other

minor local outlets which may discharge into the ACWS area.

Maps of the catchments in the Northern and Southern ACWS area are shown in Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2

respectively and the major catchments are discussed in Section 3.3.

Table 3-2 : ACWS Catchments - Major and Selected Minor Drainage Systems (North to South)

Number Name Area (ha)

Group Classification (% area impounded)

1 a. Gawler River 88330 1.1 Major catchment

b. South Para and Barossa reservoirs 23600 1.8 Water supply network (21.1%)

2 Thompson Ck, Smith Ck 20560 1.1 Major catchment

3 Helps Rd, Adams Creek 12400 1.9 Barker Inlet drainage

4 a. Little Para River 1161 1.9 Barker Inlet drainage

b. Little Para reservoir 8300 1.8 Water supply network (87.7%)

5 Dry & Cobbler Creeks 14224 1.9 Barker Inlet drainage

6 Port Adelaide 12992 1.9 Barker Inlet drainage

7 a. Torrens drainage 21848 1.1 Major catchment

b. Torrens watershed 28287 1.8 Water supply network (56.4%)

8 Patawalonga Basin 21239 1.1 Major catchment

9 Coastal catchment (9.1 to 9.10) 2521

Urban stormwater

9.1 Pier St, Glenelg 148 2.2 Intermediate storm drain

9.2 The Broadway, Glenelg South 96 2.2 Intermediate storm drain

9.3 Marine St, Somerton Park 83 2.2 Intermediate storm drain

9.4 Harrow Rd, Somerton Park 341 2.1 Major storm drain

9.5 Downing St, Hove 23 2.3 Minor storm drain

9.6 Wattle Ave, N Brighton 213 2.1 Intermediate storm drain

9.7 Jetty Rd, Brighton 22 2.3 Minor storm drain

9.8 Edwards St, Brighton 472 2.1 Major storm drain

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Page 6 JN141105a

Number Name Area (ha)

Group Classification (% area impounded)

9.9 Young St, Seacliff 600 2.1 Major storm drain

9.10 Wheatland St, Seacliff 11 2.3 Minor storm drain

10 Waterfall Creek 958 1.3 Minor coastal area

11 a. Field River 3616 1.2 Major Creek

b. Happy Valley Res. catchment 1913 1.8 Water supply network (34.6%)

12 Christie Creek 3779 1.2 Major Creek

13 a. Lower Onkaparinga River 17188 1.1 Major catchment

b. Upper Onkaparinga system 38329 1.8 Water supply network (69.0%)

14 Coastal Catchment (Sth of Onkaparinga) 475 1.3 Minor coastal area

15 Coastal Catchment (Nth of Pedler Ck) 508 1.3 Minor coastal area

16 Pedler Creek 10738 1.2 Major Creek

17 Coastal Catchment (Sth of Pedler Ck) 677 1.3 Minor coastal area

18 Maslin Creek 3392 1.2 Major Creek

19 Coastal Catchment (Willunga Ck) 468 1.3 Minor coastal area

20 Willunga 3027 1.2 Major Creek

21 Aldinga Creek 4919 1.2 Major Creek

22 Sellicks - minor 654 1.3 Minor coastal area

23 South Sellicks catchment 1753 1.3 Minor coastal area

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JN141105a Page 9

3.2 Influences on stormwater flow and quality 2005-2014

The quality and quantity of stormwater discharging to the ACWS area is not only determined by climatic

factors, but can also be determined by human driven processes. These processes may have a positive or

negative effect on the stormwater and may be specifically monitored, or occur as part of a changing

catchment in an urbanised environment. For the period 2005-2014, the following catchment affecting

activities should be considered when interpreting the data and identifying future monitoring programs.

Drought conditions during 2006-2009 resulted in an Environmental Flows trial being developed. The trial

was implemented from 2012-2014 for the South Para, Torrens and Onkaparinga Rivers. Flow releases from

the reservoirs were delivered at specific times, for a targeted flow rate and duration. The objective was to

maintain the volume and quality of refuge pools for aquatic animals and plants, and the general river

health. The consequence of the Environmental Flows trial to the ACWS area is that the water for the

releases comes from the reservoir storages which have a significant proportion of River Murray water in

addition to the captured catchment runoff. This water will have different characteristics to the stormwater

derived from the lower catchment areas. In addition to the Environmental Flows trial, the Torrens Water

Quality Improvement Program (Torrens WQIP) was implemented. This also involved reservoir releases into

the Torrens River as part of water quality management for the Torrens Lake. Reservoir flow releases as part

of these projects are summarised in Table 3-3.

Table 3-3 : Environmental Flow and WQIP Releases

Torrens River @ Gorge Hope Valley Scour South Para River

@ Barossa Diversion

Onkaparinga 300m DS

Year eFlow (ML) Torrens WQIP (ML) Torrens WQIP

(ML) eFlow (ML) eFlow (ML)

2011 240.1 - 55.9 0.0 119.8

2012 1338.5 - 515.6 1838.5 9283.0

2013 1352.9 831.8 1333.5 0.0 7584.8

2014 1056.8 1374.4 - 1274.4 10179.8

The drought conditions also instigated the construction of the Adelaide Desalination Plant at Port Stanvac in

2009-2011. The water from the plant discharges directly into the ACWS area via an offshore diffuser. The

coastal environment is monitored continuously near the diffuser as part of in situ monitoring programs.



Page 10 JN141105a

Several major transport infrastructure projects were undertaken during 2005-2014. These include the

Southern Expressway duplication (2012-2014), the Seaford Rail Extension (2011-2012), construction of the

Northern Expressway (2008-2010), construction of the Port River Expressway (2002-2008) including the

Diver Derrick Bridge, and construction of the South Road Superway (2010-2013). These major projects had

specific stormwater monitoring requirements as part of the license conditions to minimise the impact of the

construction works on the environment however changes in the flow and water quality characteristics may

have occurred during and post construction.

Major stormwater harvesting projects and water quality improvement infrastructure were also installed in

many of the catchments as part of the Australian Government's Water for the Future program. These

include wetlands in City of Onkaparinga as part of the Waterproofing the South Project, City of Charles Sturt

and City of Port Adelaide Enfield incorporating the Waterproofing the West Project, City of Marion

(Oaklands Park wetland),the Adelaide Airport Stormwater Reuse scheme and City of Playford as part of the

Water Proofing Playford project. In addition to wetlands, many councils are installing rain gardens to

improve the water quality of stormwater.

A major flood mitigation structure, the Bruce Eastick Dam was constructed on the North Para River, 4.8km

North East of Gawler, during 2006 and 2007. This structure will have an impact on the water quality and

quantity flowing into the Gawler River during flood events. The dam is not a permanent water storage. Low

flows pass through the dam via the low level outlet pipe and additional outlet pipes for flood events occur

at higher levels in the dam.

The water quality and quantity of stormwater discharging into the ACWS area can vary as a result of many

factors including the duration between rain events, the intensity of the rain event, and land use activities

(building density, vegetation cover, street pollution/cleanliness). Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty

Ranges (AMLR) implement several pollution reducing strategies which benefit the ACWS area. These

strategies include gross pollutant traps (trash racks, nets and floating booms), sedimentation basins, and

stormwater harvesting schemes. The design characteristics and operation program of these strategies

needs to be understood when determining the impact on the stormwater discharging to the ACWS area. For

example once a gross pollutant trap is full, the water quality downstream of the trap may worsen in quality.

The AMLR trash-rack website displayed in Figure 3-3 details the monthly and annual totals of trash removed

from the gross pollutant traps from 2006 to 2010.



JN141105a Page 11

Figure 3-3 : AMLR Trash-Rack Website

Source: http://trashracks.waterdata.com.au/

f South Australia Government o ~ · uni Lofty Range, ard { "IJ,) ' \ Adelaide & M~ces Managemenl Bo V-:V_ ... '} Natural Resou ~

Avg Annual Tonnes: 16.36

Srownhill Creek - Watson Avenue


Fourth Creek - Dennis Morrissey Reserve

Avg Annual Tonnes: D

Fourth Creek - Outlet, Felix.stow Reserve

Avg Annual Tonnes: 0

Glen Osmond Creek - Simpson Parade

Avg Annual Tonnes: D

Park Lands Creek - Park 20

Avg Annual Tonnes: 0

Patawalonga lake Avg Annual Tonnes: O

Patawalonga River - Barcoo Outlet Av<; Annual Tonnes: 0.92

River Torrens - Outlet


River Torrens - St Peters

Avg Annual Tonnes : 8.67

Second Creek - Outlet, Goss Court

Avg Annual Tonnes: O

Short Flood Control Dam


Sturt R.iver - Drain 1


Sturt River - Drain 2

Avg Annual Tonnes: 23 .38







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Page 12 JN141105a

3.3 ACWS Catchment Summaries

The 2005 audit report provides detailed descriptions of the physical characteristics of each individual

catchment. The following section summarises the major monitoring locations in each catchment and

describes the relevant catchment changes since the previous report which may impact and distinguish parts

of the data set from historical trends.

3.3.1 Gawler River

The Gawler River catchment is a 1105km2 catchment comprising urban, industrial, rural and remnant native

vegetation subcatchments. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is estimated to be 883km2

(EPA 2005).

A detailed description of the catchment is presented in the previous audit report (EPA 2005).

The Gawler River catchment map is presented in Figure 3-4.

3.3.1.1 Monitoring Summary

Table 3-4 : Gawler River Monitoring Summary

Site Organisation Flow Data

WQ Data

Record Summary

A5050510 - Gawler River @ Virginia Park

AMLR Flow: 1974-1989; 2000-2004; 2009-present

WQ: 2009-present

A5050505 - Gawler River @ Gawler Junction

DEWNR Flow: 1969 - 2004

A5050503 - South Para River @ South East Gawler (Woodlands Weir)

DEWNR Flow: 1968-present

A5050501 - South Para River @ Barossa Diversion Weir

SAW Flow: 1982-1990; 1992-1993; 2012-present

A5050516 - South Para Reservoir

SAW Flow: 1977-present

A5051004 - North Para River @ Turretfield

AMLR Flow: 1972-present (historical data A5050504)

WQ: 2010-present

A5050502 - North Para DEWNR Flow: 1943-present



JN141105a Page 13


WQ Data

Record Summary

River @ Yaldara

A5050536 - North Para River @ Tanunda

AMLR Flow: 1991-2004; 2014-present

A5050517 - North Para River @ Penrice


A5050533 - North Para River @ Mt McKenzie


Note: Monitoring stations are also operated on the minor creeks flowing into the North Para River including

Tanunda Creek, Duckponds Creek and Jacobs Creek.

3.3.1.2 Major catchment changes:

The South Para Reservoir underwent safety upgrades to the dam wall and spillway in 2011-2012. The

construction did not alter the capacity of the dam but raised and strengthened parts of the spillway to

constrict the flow of flood events.

North east of Gawler the North Para River Flood Mitigation Dam was constructed during 2006-2007. This

dam will have a significant influence on the ACWS area in flood events. The design specification of the dam

is for the 40 year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) event. The dam will reduce the flow rate and extend the

duration from 310m3/s for 18 hours to 110m3/s for 4 days. The effect on the ACWS area will be that the

high flow events will now have a longer flow duration but lower water velocities. This change to the high

flow event characteristics may require targeted monitoring to determine the effect on the coastal

environment.

The Gawler Township has had multiple new housing developments in the last 10 years which will have a

localised increase in runoff from the township.

~~ter data services

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JN141105a Page 15

3.3.2 Thompson Creek and Smith Creek

The Thompson and Smith Creek catchment is a 325km2 catchment comprising primarily urban, industrial

and farming land uses. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is estimated to be 205km2 (EPA

2005).


The Thompson and Smith Creek catchment map is presented in Figure 3-5.


Table 3-5 : Smith and Thompson Creek Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5051005 - Smith Creek @ Womma Road

City of Playford

Flow: 2009-present

WQ: 2009-2012

A5050540 – Smith Creek d/s Davoren Rd, Andrews Farm

City of Playford

Flow:1993-2000; 2001-present

WQ: 2007-2008

W5050001 – Smith Creek @ Featherstone Road

City of Playford

Flow:2007-present

WQ: 1 event sample 17/12/2008


The Smith Creek catchment has undergone significant change during this reporting period with new housing

developments constructed in Andrews Farm. The Northern Expressway runs through the Smith Creek

catchment and part of the design included the construction of wetlands as part of the City of Playford MAR

schemes. The existing lake, detention basin wetlands at Andrews Farm was expanded to supply an

additional 240ML/yr for the ASR scheme. Two new off stream wetlands were also constructed to divert

water from Smith Creek as part of the Waterproofing Northern Adelaide Project.

Thompson Creek is un-gauged and as per the previous report only a small proportion of the runoff flows out

to sea. In flood events, over bank spills from the Gawler River may flow into Thompson Creek however this

is unconfirmed.

~~ter data services

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A5051013 :Helps Drain d/sSummer Road

A5050540 :Smith Creekd/s Davoren Rd

A5051005 :Smith Creek@ Womma Rd

W5050001: Smith Creek @Featherstone Rd

Smith Ck,Thompson

Ck, HELPS Drain

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JN141105a Page 17

3.3.3 Helps Road Drain and Adams Creek

Whilst this system is isolated, the South Australian catchment boundary spatial data coverage includes the

Helps Road Drain Section 3.3.2


The Helps Road Drain catchment map is included in the catchment map presented for Smith Creek and

Thompson Creek shown in Section 3.3.2, Figure 3-5.

Table 3-6 : HELPS Road Drain Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5051013 – Helps Road Drain d/s Sumner Rd Bolivar

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2005-2006;2007-present

WQ: 2007-present event based


Construction of the Edinburgh Parks Industrial Estate commenced in 2004 and is planned to continue to

develop until 2025. The infrastructure includes new culverts in the drain as part of Edinburgh Road and

new/upgraded stormwater runoff channels into Helps Drain from the Industrial Area. All four existing ASR

wetlands in the catchment were upgraded as part of the Waterproofing Northern Adelaide project.

~~ter data services


Page 18 JN141105a

3.3.4 Little Para River

The Little Para River catchment is a 92km2 catchment comprising primarily remnant native vegetation,

cleared grazing, urban and industrial land uses. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS for the

combined catchments Little Para River, Dry Creek and Port Adelaide subcatchments is 407.5km2 (EPA 2005).


The Little Para River catchment map is presented in Figure 3-6.


Table 3-7 : Little Para River Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041006 – Little Para River d/s Port Wakefield Rd

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2004-2006; 2007-2009; 2010-present

WQ: 2004-present event based.

A5040503 – Little Para River u/s fault


WQ: 2007-2012 (A5040503AA).


As part of the Water Proofing Northern Adelaide project from 2007-2010, wetland and ASR infrastructure

were installed in the upper Little Para River catchment at Golden Grove. The monitoring site downstream of

Port Wakefield Road underwent repairs on several occasions to repair the large weir which was being

undermined by the flow. Continued observations at the site identified that the weir continued to leak

resulting in the monitoring instruments being relocated 100m downstream.


!.!.

!.!.

A5041037: WhitesRd Wetland

A5041006 : LittlePara River d/sPt wakefield Rd

A5040528 :Little ParaReservoir

A5040503 :Little Para

River u/s Fault

OnkaparingaRiver

LittlePara River

0 3,600 7,2001,800

Meters

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Page 20 JN141105a

3.3.5 Dry Creek

The Dry Creek catchment is a 142km2 catchment comprising multiple land uses including remnant native

vegetation, cleared grazing, urban and industrial. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS for the

combined catchments Little Para River, Dry Creek and Port Adelaide subcatchments is 407.5km2 (EPA 2005).


The Dry Creek catchment map is presented in Figure 3-7.


Table 3-8 : Dry Creek Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041053 – Dry Creek D/S Pt Wakefield Rd

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2013-present

WQ: 2014-present, event based.

A5041005 – Dry Creek U/S Salisbury Highway

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2004-2006; 2008; 2010-2012

WQ: 2004-2009; 2011

A5041051 – Dry Creek @ Conway Crescent Valley View

AMLR Flow:2001-present

A5041052 – Dry Creek @ Bridge Rd



Existing ASR wetlands were expanded and four new wetlands were constructed as part of the

Waterproofing Northern Adelaide Project in the upper Dry Creek catchment. In the lower catchment a

series of in-stream detention basins were installed upstream of Bridge Road. These basins will function to

maximise stormwater harvesting at the Pooraka ASR infrastructure, to improve flood management and to

reduce erosion. New wetlands were also constructed and existing wetlands expanded in the lower

catchment.


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A5041005 :Dry Ck u/sSalisbury Hwy

A5041049 :ParafieldDrain @ Weir

A5041053 : DryCreek D/S Pt

Wakefield Road

A5041051 : DryCreek @ ConwayCrescent Valley View

A5041052 :Dry Creek @Bridge Road

Dry &CobblerCreeks

0 3,600 7,2001,800

Meters

±


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Page 22 JN141105a

3.3.6 Port Adelaide and Barker Inlet

The Port Adelaide catchment is a 130km2 catchment comprising primarily urban and industrial land uses.

A detailed description of the catchment is presented in the previous audit report (EPA 2005). The effective

catchment area relevant to the ACWS for the combined catchments Little Para River, Dry Creek and Port

Adelaide subcatchments is 407.5km2 (EPA 2005).

The Port Adelaide catchment map is presented in Figure 3-8.


Table 3-9 : Dry Creek Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041016 – Kirkcaldy Wetland @ Nash St, East Grange

AMLR Flow: 2004-present

WQ: 2004-present

A5041041 – Port Road Drain U/S Old Port Road


WQ: 2011-present

A5041025 – Magazine Wetland Outlet


WQ: 2009-present

A5041024 – Range Wetland Outlet


WQ: 2009-present

A5041009 – Barker Inlet Wetland @ Outlet #1


WQ: 2004-present

A5041017 – Barker Inlet Wetlands @ Outlet #2


WQ: 2004-present

A5041008 – West Lakes Outlet

EPA Flow: 2004-2006

WQ: 2004-2006

A5041011 – Barker Inlet Wetlands @ HEP Drain

EPA Flow: 2004-2007

WQ: 2004-2007

A5041012 – Barker Inlet Wetlands @ NAE Drain

EPA Flow: 2004-2007

WQ:2004-2007



JN141105a Page 23


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041013 – Barker Inlet Wetlands @ South of Salisbury Highway

EPA Flow: 2004-2007

WQ: 2004-2007


Stage 1 of the Waterproofing the West project was completed in 2013 and included the construction of

wetlands at Old Port Road, Riverside Golf Course and Cheltenham. Major transport infrastructure projects

also occurred in this catchment with the South Road Superway and the Northern Expressway (including the

Diver Derrick Bridge) being constructed.

~~ter data services

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Adelaide

A5041009 : BarkerInlet Wetlands- Outlet #1

A5041016 : KirkcaldyWetland @ NashSt East Grange

A5041017 : BarkerInlet Wetlands

- Outlet #2A5041024 :Range WetlandOutlet

A5041025 :Magazine

Wetland Outlet

A5041041 : PortRd Drain u/sOld Pt Road

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Meters

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JN141105a Page 25

3.3.7 Torrens River

The Torrens River catchment is a 500km2 catchment comprising primarily urban and industrial land uses

towards the lower reaches and remnant vegetation, recreational parks and farming land uses towards the

upper reaches. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is estimated to be 208.5km2 (EPA 2005).


It should be noted that a key assertion of the previous data audit (EPA 2005) was that the Kangaroo Creek

reservoir is a hydrological and water quality barrier, completely isolating the upper catchment. This is not

correct. Water from Kangaroo Creek is routinely transferred to the Gorge Weir via the Torrens River channel

for operational reasons and is also regularly allowed to spill from Gorge Weir for Environmental Flows or

Torrens Water Quality Improvement Program flows.

In addition to this, Kangaroo Creek reservoir has spilled 17 times since 1979, contributing substantially to

flow in the lower reaches.

The Torrens River catchment map is presented in Figure 3-9.


Table 3-10 : Torrens River Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041014 – Torrens River @ Seaview Rd


WQ:2011-present

A5040529 – Torrens River u/s Holbrooks Rd


WQ:1996-present

A5040578 – First Creek @ Botanic Gardens


WQ:1996-present

A5041023 – Torrens River d/s Second Creek


WQ:2009-present

A5040579 – Third Creek @ Forsyth Grove

AMLR Flow: 1996-2009

WQ:1996-2009

~~ter data services


Page 26 JN141105a


WQ Data

Record Summary

W5040051 – Torrens River U/S Silkes Rd


Environmental Flows Project Site

A5040547 – Hope Valley Reservoir

SA WATER Flow: 1993-2006; 2011-present

A5040501 – Torrens River @ Gorge Weir

SA WATER Flow: 1937-present

A5040523 – Sixth Creek @ Castambul


WQ:1996-present

A5040531 – Kangaroo Creek Reservoir

SA WATER Flow: 1979-present


Two off-stream ASR wetlands were constructed in Highbury and one in Dernancourt as part of the

Waterproofing Northern Adelaide project. As part of the Waterproofing the West project, an off-take pump

and water storage infrastructure were installed in the lower Torrens catchment.


!.!.

!.

!.

!.

!.!.

!. !.

!.

!.

A5040547 : HopeValley Reservoir

A5040531 :Kangaroo Creek Reservoir

A5040523 :Sixth Creek@ Castambul

A5040501 :River Torrens@ Gorge Weir

W5040052 : TorrensRiver U/S O.G.Road Felixstow

W5040051: Torrens River

U/S Silkes Road

W5040050 :Torrens RiverD/S Gorge Weir

A5040529 :River Torrens@ Holbrooks Rd

A5040578 :First Creek @Botanic GardensA5041014 :

Torrens River @Seaview Rd Bridge

A5041023 :Torrens Riverd/s Second Creek

OnkaparingaRiver

TorrensRiver

0 9,000 18,0004,500

Meters

±


S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5F i g u r e 3 - 9 : T o r r e n s R i v e r M o n i t o r i n gF i g u r e 3 - 9 : T o r r e n s R i v e r M o n i t o r i n gCLIENT:

AUTHOR:


EPA SA



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Page 28 JN141105a

3.3.8 Patawalonga Basin

The Patawalonga Basin is a 211km2 catchment comprising multiple land uses including remnant native

vegetation, cleared grazing, urban and industrial The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is

estimated to be 212.4km2 (EPA 2005).


The Patawalonga catchment map is presented in Figure 3-10.


Table 3-11 : Patawalonga Basin Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5041022 – Patawalonga Creek U/S Barcoo Outlet


A5040549 – Sturt River D/S Anzac Highway


WQ:1994-present

A5040583 – Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport


WQ:1997-present

A5040580 – Brownhill Creek U/S Keswick Ck


WQ:1996-2009

A5040901 – Brownhill Creek @ Scotch College


WQ:1997-present

A5040576 – Sturt River D/S Sturt Road


WQ:1994-2009

A5040518 – Sturt River U/S Minno Creek


WQ:1994-2009



JN141105a Page 29


The Oaklands Wetland and Adelaide Airport Stormwater Reuse scheme were constructed as part of the

Water for the Future initiative. Stormwater harvesting infrastructure and gross pollutant traps have been

established in the Sturt River, Brownhill and Keswick Creek catchments. The Southern Expressway

duplication major transport project affected the Sturt River in this catchment.

~~ter data services

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A5030501: Mt BoldReservoir

A5041059 : PatawalongaCreek @ BarcooCollection Pond

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A5040583 :Brownhill Creek @Adelaide Airport

A5040901 :Brownhill Ck @Scotch College

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JN141105a Page 31

3.3.9 Field River

The Field River catchment is a 55km2 catchment comprising multiple land uses including remnant native

vegetation, cleared grazing, urban and industrial. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is

estimated to be 36.2km2 (EPA 2005).


The Field River catchment map is presented in Figure 3-11.


Table 3-12 : Field River Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5031010 – Field River u/s mouth


WQ:2010-present

A5030546 – Field River d/s Main South Road


WQ:2001-2009


The Southern Expressway duplication project involved construction of bridges and stormwater runoff drains

in the Field River catchment. New housing developments were constructed in the catchment at Hallett Cove

Heights.

~~ter data services

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!.

A5030532 : HappyValley Pluviometer@ Reservoir

PatawalongaBasin

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±


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JN141105a Page 33

3.3.10 Christie Creek

The Christie Creek catchment is a 38km2 catchment comprising primarily urban and industrial land uses.

A detailed description of the catchment is presented in the previous audit report (EPA 2005). The effective

catchment area relevant to the ACWS is estimated to be 38km2 (EPA 2005).

The Christie Creek catchment map is presented in Figure 3-12.


Table 3-13 : Christie Creek Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5030547 – Christie Creek d/s Galloway Road


WQ:2001-present


As part of the Water Proofing the South project, the Christie Creek stormwater system and the Christies

Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant were upgraded. The Southern Expressway duplication project also

resulted in major construction in the Christie River catchment

~~ter data services

!.

A5030547 :Christie Ck d/sGalloway Rd

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0 2,100 4,2001,050

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JN141105a Page 35

3.3.11 Onkaparinga River

The Onkaparinga River catchment is a 554km2 catchment comprising primarily urban and industrial land

uses towards the lower reaches and remnant vegetation, recreational parks and farming land uses towards

the upper reaches. The effective catchment area relevant to the ACWS is approximately 170km2 (derived

from the WaterConnect delineated subcatchments dataset) and includes all subcatchments downstream of

Mt Bold Reservoir.

The Onkaparinga Estuary is s significant hydrological feature of the catchment.


The Onkaparinga River catchment map is presented in Figure 3-13.


Table 3-14 : Onkaparinga River Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5031005 – Onkaparinga River U/S Old Noarlunga


WQ:2010-present

A5031004 – Onkaparinga River d/s Clarendon Weir


A5030503 – Bakers Gully near Kangarilla


A5030500 – Onkaparinga River @ Clarendon Weir

SA WATER Flow:1937-present

A5030502 – Scott Creek @ Scott Bottom


WQ:2013-present

A5030501 – Mt Bold Reservoir


~~ter data services


Page 36 JN141105a


A large rail bridge was constructed over the lower Onkaparinga River and flood plain as part of the Seaford

Rail Extension.

The lower Onkaparinga catchment had other construction projects including the start of the Southern

Expressway duplication and new housing developments.


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W5030022 : OnkaparingaRiver @ Old Noarlunga,

d/s pipeline track

W5030021 :Onkaparinga River @Brooks Road

W5030020 :Onkaparinga River@ Clarendon Oval

A5030500 :ClarendonWeir

A5030501: Mt BoldReservoir

A5030503 : BakerGully @ 4.5kmWNW Kangarilla

A5031004 :Onkaparinga Riverd/s Clarendon Weir

A5031005 :Onkaparinga River

@ Old Noarlunga

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Page 38 JN141105a

3.3.12 Pedler Creek

The Pedler Creek catchment is a 106km2 catchment comprising multiple land uses including remnant

vegetation, recreational parks, vineyards, urban and industrial.


The Pedler Creek catchment map is presented in Figure 3-14.


Table 3-15 : Pedler Creek Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5031009 – Pedler Creek U/S mouth


WQ: 2010-present

A5030543 – Pedler Creek @ Stump Hill Rd


WQ: 2005-2009

A5030538 – A5030544: Pedler Ck CSIRO network

CSIRO Flow: 1999-present


A stormwater harvesting and reuse wetland system was constructed in the lower Pedler Creek as part of the

Water Proofing the South project. New housing developments have been constructed in the lower Pedler

Creek catchment.


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A5030543 :Pedler Ck @Stump Hill Rd

A5031009 :Pedler Cku/s Mouth

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Page 40 JN141105a

3.3.13 Silver Sands Catchment (Washpool Lagoon)

The Silver Sands catchment is a 49km2 catchment comprising primarily cleared grazing land and a

combination of urban and rural residential land use.

Washpool Lagoon is a significant controlling feature in the Silver Sands catchment.

The Pedler Creek catchment map is presented in Figure 3-15.


Table 3-16 : Silver Sands Monitoring Summary


WQ Data

Record Summary

A5031013 – Washpool Lagoon Outlet

City of Onkaparinga

Flow: 2012 - present


As part of the Water Proofing the South project, a water reuse scheme was constructed at the Hart Rd

Wetland.


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Page 42 JN141105a

4 Availability of Flow Data Since the previous report in 2005 the number of monitoring sites operating in the ACWS region has

increased substantially. A major driver for this is the AMLR NRM Board monitoring objective to monitor the

creek and river outfalls in the region. This objective to monitor the water quality and quantity at the outfall

serves a dual purpose of meeting the reporting requirements for AMLR NRM Board and also providing

valuable data for the ACWS.

The flow monitoring programs which have been undertaken in the ACWS catchments are displayed in Table

4-1.

When assessing and comparing the historical and current stormwater monitoring programs, it is important

to consider the objectives for each of the monitoring programs to understand why each particular method

was used for data collection.

The collection of flow data enables the long term trends in climate and catchment conditions to be

observed. For this reason it is important to maintain monitoring programs with already established periods

of record to provide a good baseline and view long term trends. Flow data is collected by deployed

monitoring instrumentation at hydrometric stations or in-situ point measurements through stream flow

gauging. The flow can be derived by a couple of methods. At a hydrometric monitoring station, the flow

controlling structure (a weir, natural rock bar, concrete channel, pipe/culvert) is "flow rated". This

determines a specific relationship between the water level in the pool created by the structure and the flow

through the structure. Therefore by measuring water level at the monitoring site the data can be converted

to flow. This "flow rating" is verified by in-situ point measurements of flow for different water levels.

A stream-flow gauging is an in-situ measurement of the flow using a current or flow meter. A cross section

of the river is divided up into small segments. In each segment the water velocity and depth (converted to

cross section area) are measured. Flow from each segment is added together to determine the total flow in

that section of stream. The result is a flow point relative to the water level and catchment conditions at that

time. These stream flow gauging provide reference data for verifying flow ratings, calibrating flow models

and confirming release flow rates.

Technological advances in monitoring instrumentation have provided alternative methods for flow

measurement and this has created opportunity for monitoring to be undertaken in locations which were

previously not suitable for installing a hydrometric monitoring station. These advances in instrumentation



JN141105a Page 43

include ultrasonic velocity sensors. Flow is determined by positioning the sensor in a known (surveyed)

cross section of the stream. The sensor measures both the level and velocity of the water and using the

cross section can calculate the flow. A benefit of the velocity sensors is that there is minimal infrastructure

investment required (no weir to be installed). This is important when considering the environmental

impacts of flow control structures such as barriers to fish passage.

Flow data availability in the ACWS area is different now compared to the 2005 report. This is not only a

reflection of the increase in quantity of monitoring stations. Technology improvements, not only to the

instrumentation in monitoring networks but also to environmental databases and monitoring operational

services has made the data available in real time for some of the monitoring networks. Historic hydrometric

stations were visited every three months to retrieve the data. The modern monitoring networks include

telemetry systems as part of the instrumentation. This enables data to be available in “real time”.

Highlighted in Table 4-2, many of the monitoring programs have a dedicated website on which both the

data archive and real-time telemetry data can be obtained. This “real time” availability of data provides the

facility for real time automated data interpretation and reporting to occur. For example the EPA coastal

warning alert displayed in Figure 4-1 utilises telemetry data from AMLR monitoring stations at river outfalls

on the Adelaide metropolitan beaches. When the telemetry data meets specified flow and water quality

criteria the coastal warning alert is automatically triggered warning people of potential swimming hazards

at these locations.

~~ter data services


Page 44 JN141105a

Figure 4-1 : AMLR and EPA coastal warning webpage

The AMLR webpage utilises the telemetry data for automated generation of daily flow reports. These

reports include the Outfall Flow Daily total and the Environmental Flow daily total. A summary of the

stormwater outfalls and corresponding flow monitoring sites is displayed in Table 4-2.

Flow data in the ACWS area has become more available:

Spatially through increased number of monitoring stations

In quantity through technological improvements to monitoring instruments and data logging

Temporally through “real time” data acquisition leading to automated website and database

reports and interpretation.

~;~ter data services

~ Government of South Australia i •~• ' 'I ------VY,:i Adelaide & Mount Lofty Range~ ~ Natur.al Re<iource!> Management Board

Home

Coasllll Rivers and Creeks - Monitoring Water Quality

In South Australia we are lucky to have great beaches and recreational lakes In which to swim and participate in water sports. Along the metropolitan coastline. our beautirul long. white beaches are generally dean and sare fo r everyone to enjoy Water quality monitoring completed by the EPA indicated that ·beaches were safe ror recrea1ional users in terms of microbiology: however. there are instances where u,e turbidity at some beaches ma)' reduce visibility In the water· (EPA, 2004)

Across the metropolitan area we have a network of stormwater drains that collect run-olT from our streets and gutters when it rains. Nearly all of me~opolitan stormwater nows to the sea through the stormwater system, as well as the creeks and rivers situated along the Adelaide Plains These include the River Torrens, Barcoo Outlet Onkaparinga River and Chrtsttes Creek.

The Natural Resources Management Board. together with local councils, has taken action to improve the quality of stormwater. However during large rainfall events water quality does decline for a sl1ort period of time.

The water flowing out or these stormwater systems aRer rain can be discoloured and has contaminants associated with the pollution washed arr of our streets. Summer storm events that occur after long dry periods have the largest impact because material accumulated over several weeks is washed into the sea

Stormwater can be unpleasant to look at, reduces visibility and can smell. There is also a risk thal ingestion of tile stormwater could cause mild illness such as a stomach upset It makes sense to avoid swimming in this waterwhlch is usually contained to areas near discharge locations. Even a~er heavy storms. the discoloured water will normal!) disappear within 2-3 days.

Signs have been erected on some metropolitan beaches ta mark sections of beach that have a significant stormwater outlet nearby. They warn beachgoers that polluted stormwater could be discharged into the sea alter rain and to avoid swimming if water is discoloured.

Stonnwater Warning

The Nawral Resources Management Board has a network of monitoring stations to assess the flow and quality of stormwaterwithm creeks and rivers that discharge to the coast

Stormwater flow is collected on a continuous basis and can indicate when stonnwater events are occurring which could discharge lo the sea.

Current data from these coastal sites is presented graphically with a CAUTION I icon present when stormwater events are occurring.

Additional lnfoITTJation regarding these monitoring stations is available at !he AMLRNRM monitorinn network webSite or click on a warning sign on the map to access site Information directly.

It should be noted that these datasets are unvenfied and only p,uvide an rnd,cation of storm water run-off.

q) CAU-flON

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McLaren vale

Maslin Beach

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JN141105a Page 45

Table 4-1 : Stormwater Flow Monitoring Programs

Organisation: Natural Resources Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges

SA Water Department of Environment Water, Natural Resources

EPA Local Councils

Bureau of Meteorology

CSIRO

Status: Current Current Current Current and Historical projects

Current Current Current

Project Descriptions:

Surface water monitoring network - Outfall Flow and Catchment monitoring

Flow and Composite Sampler Monitoring Network

State Monitoring Network - Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Region

Aquatic Ecosystem monitoring, current Surface Water Flow Monitoring - Historical

Stormwater Monitoring Programs

Weather Station Network

Pedler Creek Network

Reason for monitoring:

To meet NRM reporting objectives, stormwater investigations and environmental monitoring projects

Water supply operation - quantity and quality monitoring

State monitoring network, long term climate monitoring

Stormwater investigation projects – Barker Wetlands / Port River

Monitoring projects to meet environmental targets

Flood warning and climate monitoring

Pedler Creek – monitoring of surface water and ground water

Monitoring Methodology:

Hydrometric monitoring stations



In-situ site measurements Hydrometric monitoring stations


Rain gauge network Surface and Groundwater monitoring stations

Number Sites, Length of record: (Sites u/s of water storage not included)

52 flow monitoring sites, 40 current, median record length 8 years



4 historical flow monitoring sites, median record length 3 years, Note other sites transferred to AMLR network

Onkaparinga 1 current site, 3yr record Marion 1 current site, 1 yr + historical data Salisbury 5 current sites, median record length 5 years Playford 8 current sites, median record length 3 years

Majority of flow sites connected to existing monitoring stations for Flood Warning. More than 100 rain gauges across the ACWS area.

6 flow monitoring sites all currently active, median record length 13 years

Data Location: AMLR website - public data

amlr.waterdata.com.au

Catchment monitoring data publicly available as link on AMLR website Data archive and Reservoir Storage data owned by SA Water

Water Connect website. EPA database

Historical data on AMLR website


AMLR website - public data


Bureau of Meteorology website - Climate Data Online

Historical data available




Page 46 JN141105a

Table 4-2 : Summary of current outfall flow monitoring into the ACWS area

Number Name Current Flow Monitoring

Site Organisation Record Summary

1 Gawler River Yes A5050510 - Gawler River @ Virginia Park AMLR Flow: 1974-1989; 2000-2004; 2009-present

2 Thompson Ck, Smith Ck Yes A5051005 - Smith Creek @ Womma Rd City of Playford Flow: 2009-present

3 Helps Rd Drain, Adams Creek Yes A5051013 - Helps Road Drain downstream Sumner Rd, Bolivar

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2005-2006;2007-present

4 Little Para River Yes A5041006 - Little Para River downstream Port Wakefield Road

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2004-2006; 2007-2009; 2010-present

5 Dry & Cobbler Creeks Yes A5041053 - Dry Creek downstream Port Wakefield Road

City of Salisbury

Flow: 2013-present

6 Port Adelaide / Barker Inlet Yes

A5041009 - Barker Inlet Wetland @ Outlet #1 A5041017 - Barker Inlet Wetland @ Outlet #2 A5041025 - Range Wetland A5041025 - Magazine Wetland A5041016 - Kirkcaldy Wetland @ Nash St East Grange A5041041 - Port Road Drain upstream Old Port Road

AMLR

Flow: 2004-2006; 2007-present

Flow: 2004-present

Flow: 2009-present

Flow: 2009-present

Flow: 2004-present

Flow: 2011-present

7 Torrens River Yes A5041014 - Torrens River @ Seaview Road AMLR Flow: 2010-present



JN141105a Page 47



8 Patawalonga Basin Yes

A5041022 - Patawalonga Creek upstream Barcoo Outlet A5040583 - Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport A5040549 - Sturt River downstream Anzac Highway

AMLR

Flow: 2010-present

Flow: 1994-present

Flow: 1993-present

9 Coastal catchment (9.1 to 9.10)

No

10 Waterfall Creek No

11 Field River Yes A5031010 - Field River upstream Mouth AMLR Flow: 2010-present

12 Christie Creek Yes A5030546 - Christie Creek downstream Galloway Road


13 Onkaparinga River Yes A5031005 - Onkaparinga River upstream Old Noarlunga


14 Coastal Catchment (Sth of Onkaparinga)

No

15 Coastal Catchment (Nth of Pedler Ck)

No

16 Pedler Creek Yes A5031009 - Pedler Creek upstream mouth AMLR Flow: 2010-present

17 Coastal Catchment (Sth of Pedler Ck)

No

18 Maslin Creek No

19 Coastal Catchment (Willunga Ck)

No



Page 48 JN141105a



20 Willunga Creek No

21 Aldinga Creek Yes A5031013 - Washpool Lagoon City of Onkaparinga

Flow: 2012-present

22 Sellicks Creek No

23 South Sellicks coastal catchment

No

* for major catchments where multiple monitoring sites occur on the same river, only the outfall monitoring site has been listed. Refer to Table 3-4

through to Table 3-16 for monitoring site lists in each catchment



JN141105a Page 49

The monitoring of stormwater discharge into the ACWS area has additional importance due to the ability to

integrate the flow data with water quality data. Both flow and water quality data are required to determine

the pollutant loads delivered to the coast. Flow data can be used comparatively with the water quality data

to observe variations in the water quality concentration of the parameters for different flow events. When

real time water quality data is available, or water quality sample results obtained using flow proportional

composite sampling methods, the water quality and flow data can be combined to calculate the pollutant

load. This is important for assessing the impact of nutrients and other pollutants from stormwater in the

coastal environment. Water quality pollutant loads are discussed further in Sections 3 and 7 of the report.

Not all of the stormwater sources have flow monitoring programs operating. Where there is no monitoring

data available such as the coastal areas and stormwater drains, a rainfall runoff modelled flow has been

calculated to provide an indication of total stormwater discharge from these unmonitored sources into the

ACWS area.

4.1 Data compatibility across the ACWS area

The stormwater monitoring data is collected via several monitoring programs and by different stakeholders.

There is good justification for comparing and integrating the various data sets because of the common

methodology for flow monitoring. In each of the programs hydrometric monitoring stations are used to

provide a continuous record of flow. This methodology provides a flow data set including base-flow and

event peaks which enables the data to be compared with other parameters and neighbouring catchments.

4.2 Flow Data Gaps

Comparing the classification of the stormwater drainage systems with the locations of the hydrometric

monitoring stations reveals that all major catchments (classification 1.1) are monitored. The major creeks

(classification 1.2) are also all monitored except for Maslin and Willunga Creeks. There is no current flow

monitoring for stormwater drains or minor coastal catchments. There may be opportunity to include

monitoring of the stormwater drains in future programs.

Consideration should be given to how well the monitoring station data represents the stormwater input to

the ACWS area. This is primarily due to the position of the monitoring station in relation to the outfall

discharge point. The Gawler River @ Virginia Park is a particular monitoring point which could be further

investigated due to the Buckland Park Lake which must be filled before stormwater discharges to the gulf.

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Page 50 JN141105a

5 Flow Data Summary Hydrometric monitoring stations operating in the major catchments provide a verified flow data set for

stormwater discharging into the ACWS area. This enables the variation of flow in the major catchments to

be observed and facilitated the quantification of flows from gauged catchments.

It is also necessary to get an estimation of flows from un-gauged catchments is also required in order to get

the complete picture of stormwater impacts on the ACWS area.

5.1 Estimating Flows in Un-gauged Catchments

Despite marked improvements in data availability and targeted monitoring for known data-gaps within the

ACWS area several stormwater systems remain un-gauged.

An overview of un-gauged catchments in the ACWS region is presented in Figure 5-1.

This section addresses methodologies for filling data gaps using available flow and climate data.


HoldfastBay

HallettCove

CurlewPoint

WittonBluff

RobinsonPoint

OchrePoint

IngleburneCreek

BlanchePoint

WillungaCreek

SellicksCreek

0 5,600 11,2002,800

Meters

±


S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5F i g u r e 5 - 1 : U n g a u g e d C a t c h m e n t sF i g u r e 5 - 1 : U n g a u g e d C a t c h m e n t sCLIENT:

AUTHOR:


EPA SA



z

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Page 52 JN141105a

5.1.1 Estimating Losses in Buckland Park Lake (Lower Gawler River)

Currently, monitoring of flow in the Gawler River is undertaken at A5050510 – Gawler River @ Virginia

which is located immediately upstream of Port Wakefield Road.

This location is sufficient for verifying water quality monitoring objectives, however prior to discharge to the

gulf, the Gawler River flows into the Buckland Park Lake system in Port Gawler.

The lake is of sufficient capacity that its hydrological impact on Gawler River’s coastal discharge should be

assessed.

An assessment of high resolution aerial photography determined that the lake has an at-capacity surface

area of 142.2ha (previous audit identified a surface area of 100ha). With an average depth of 0.75m (EPA

2005) the lake has an estimated capacity of 1.068GL (42% larger than capacity estimated in EPA 2005). The

aerial photography assessment also identified that the contributing unmonitored catchment downstream of

Port Wakefield Road is approximately 2749ha and consists primarily of cleared grazing land.

This is presented in Figure 5-2 below:

A daily flow, rainfall and evaporation water balance model was developed for the Buckland Park Lake system

based on the following data/assumptions:

Flow Inputs:

Flow input data at A5050510 – Gawler River @ Virginia from 1st January 1973 until 31st December

2014

o Note: Gawler River @ Virginia was inoperable or closed at various times throughout this

period. These data gaps were back-filled using correlation regression relationships to adjust

flows recorded at Gawler River Junction or North and South Para Rivers. The correlation

coefficients (R2) of these relationships were 0.97 and 0.89 respectively.

Rainfall Inputs:

Daily Recorded Rainfall at BOM Station 23083 – Edinburgh RAAF base from 1st January 1973 until

31st December 2014

Evaporation Inputs:

Average daily evaporation recorded at 23083 – Edinburgh RAAF with a pan factor of 0.85.


!.

A5050510 :Gawler River

@ Virginia

0 1,400 2,800700

Meters

±


S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5S t o r m w a t e r A u d i t 2 0 1 5F i g u r e 5 - 2 : B u c k l a n d P a r k M o d e lF i g u r e 5 - 2 : B u c k l a n d P a r k M o d e lCLIENT:

AUTHOR:


EPA SA

Buckland Park LakeArea : 142.488haDepth (est.) : 0.75mVolume : 1068.66ML

Contributing CatchmentArea : 2749.921haRunoff Coefficient : 0.01



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Page 54 JN141105a

Model Assumptions:

Peak capacity of the Gawler River channel downstream of Port Wakefield Road is 10m3/s. All flows

in excess of 10m3/s are considered overbank spill which is ultimately discharged to the gulf.

Rainfall direct to the lake surface has a runoff coefficient of 1 (100% capture).

Rainfall to the contributing catchment (between Port Wakefield Road and Buckland Park Lake) is

0.01 (1% runoff).

Water held in Buckland Park Lake infiltrates into groundwater at a rate of 4mm/day.

Buckland Park Lake spills directly to the gulf when capacity of 1.068GL is exceeded.

Total flow to the gulf is the sum of spill from Buckland Park Lake and any overbank spill due to flow

rates in excess of 10m3/s.

The monthly modelled hydrographs are presented in Figure 5-3and Figure 5-4 below.

The annual results are presented in Table 5-1 below:

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JN141105a Page 55

Figure 5-3 : Buckland Park Modelled Flows – 1973-1994

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

Mo

nth

ly F

low

(M

L)

Buckland Park Lake Model - 1973-1994

Flow at Virginia Buckland Park Lake Spill Overbank Spill

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j ,J ..J l1 L 1 l 1 I L ~ l , '

■ ■ ■


Page 56 JN141105a

Figure 5-4 : Buckland Park Modelled Flows – 1995-2014

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Mo

nth

ly F

low

(M

L)

Buckland Park Lake Model - 1995-2014

Flow at Virginia Buckland Park Lake Spill Overbank Spill

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■ ■ ■


JN141105a Page 57

Table 5-1 : Buckland Park Model Result Summary

Flow at Gawler

Junction

Flow at Virginia Overbank Spill Net Gawler River

Input Average Annual Average Annual Average Annual Average Annual

Period (GL) (GL) (GL) (GL)

1973 - 1977 28.80 24.92 5.43 19.49

1978 - 1982 35.00 33.22 10.85 22.37

1983 - 1987 18.82 18.19 2.54 15.65

1988 - 1992 48.22 58.73 29.85 28.88

1993 - 1997 14.14 18.87 7.68 11.19

1998 - 2002 7.90 8.12 0.95 7.17

2003 - 2007 9.32 18.13 7.99 10.14

2008 - 2012 Site Closed 17.64 4.13 13.51

2013 - 2014 Site Closed 19.21 1.30 17.90

Local Rainfall Input Flows into

Buckland Park

(capped at 10m3)

Buckland Park Lake

Discharge

Total Gulf

Discharge

(Including

Overbank Spill)

Average Annual Average Annual Average Annual Average Annual

Period (GL) (GL) (GL) (GL)

1973 - 1977 6.20 25.69 18.28 23.71

1978 - 1982 11.60 33.96 21.34 32.19

1983 - 1987 3.32 18.98 14.33 16.87

1988 - 1992 30.60 59.49 27.52 57.37

1993 - 1997 8.35 19.54 10.15 17.83

1998 - 2002 1.66 8.84 6.16 7.10

2003 - 2007 8.67 18.81 8.87 16.86

2008 - 2012 4.88 18.39 12.24 16.37

2013 - 2014 2.03 19.93 16.53 17.83

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Page 58 JN141105a

5.1.2 Flows from the Holdfast and Coastal Patawalonga Catchments

Past studies have researched the flow characteristics of the stormwater drains within the Patawalonga

coastal catchments and produced methods for deriving catchment discharge based on rainfall data.

These studies quantified the proportions of pervious and impervious surfaces within key subcatchments

within the Patawalonga coastal subcatchments and provided methods for deriving flow from rainfall using

the defined catchment characteristics. The original studies are presented in Kinhill (1997), Brown and Root

(2001), Tonkin (1992).

The previous iteration of the ACWS (EPA 2005) collated and implemented these rainfall-runoff relationships

and included information more general information from Australian Rainfall and Runoff (1987) to fill data

gaps. This facilitated the estimation of average coastal discharge from these catchments based on average

annual rainfall.

The catchment parameters are summarised in Table 5-2 below.

It should be noted that where DCP/SP information is not available, the average VRC was adopted.

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JN141105a Page 59

Table 5-2 : Holdfast and Patawalonga Coastal Catchment Characteristics

Drain Number Street Name Catchment

Area (km2)

% Directly

Connected

Paved Area

%

Supplementary

Paved Area

Volumetric

Runoff

Coefficient

(% DCP) (% SP) VRC

15B Pier St 1.48 22.0 24.0 0.198

Broadway 0.96 - - 0.212*

Marine St 0.84 - - 0.212*

14C Harrow Rd 3.41 28.0 17.0 0.252

12 Wattle Ave 2.13 29.0 19.0 0.261

11 Edwards St 4.72 20.0 25.0 0.180

10 Young St 6 21.7 12.9 0.195

Marino 1.49 20.9 14.6 0.188

Other Drains+ 4.19 - - 0.212*

Total Average Average Average

25.22 23.60 18.75 0.212 * Average VRC applied in absence of other data

+ Other Drains are catchments with an area less than 0.5km

2 and include Downing St Hove, Jetty Rd Brighton and

Wheatland St Seacliff

Source: EPA (2005), Kinhill (1997), Brown and Root (2001)

This enabled for annual estimates of flow from each subcatchment to be calculated using rainfall data

recorded at the BOM weather station 2304 – Adelaide Airport. This data is presented in Table 5-3 and Table

5-4 below.

Table 5-3 : Annual Total Rainfall - 2304 – Adelaide Airport – 2005-2014

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 10 Year

Mean

10 Year

Median

Rainfall

(mm) 473.4 234.6 386.6 292 380.4 491.6 444.2 414.8 432.2 412 396 413


■■■■■■■■■■■■■


Page 60 JN141105a

Table 5-4 : Patawalonga Coastal Catchments - Estimated Annual Catchment Discharge

Total Estimated Flow (ML)

Drain Number

Street Name 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

15B Pier St 138.7 68.7 113.3 85.6 111.5 144.1

Broadway 96.5 47.8 78.8 59.5 77.6 100.2

Marine St 84.5 41.9 69.0 52.1 67.9 87.7

14C Harrow Rd 406.8 201.6 332.2 250.9 326.9 422.4

12 Wattle Ave 263.2 130.4 214.9 162.3 211.5 273.3

11 Edwards St 402.2 199.3 328.5 248.1 323.2 417.7

10 Young St 554.7 274.9 453.0 342.2 445.8 576.1

Marino 132.7 65.8 108.4 81.8 106.6 137.8

Other Drains 421.3 208.8 344.1 259.9 338.5 437.5

Total Estimated Flow (ML)

Drain Number

Street Name 2011 2012 2013 2014

10 Year Average

10 Year Median

15B Pier St 130.2 121.6 126.7 120.7 116.1 121.1

Broadway 90.6 84.6 88.1 84.0 80.8 84.3

Marine St 79.3 74.0 77.1 73.5 70.7 73.8

14C Harrow Rd 381.7 356.4 371.4 354.0 340.4 355.2

12 Wattle Ave 246.9 230.6 240.3 229.0 220.2 229.8

11 Edwards St 377.4 352.4 367.2 350.0 336.6 351.2

10 Young St 520.5 486.1 506.5 482.8 464.2 484.4

Marino 124.5 116.3 121.1 115.5 111.0 115.9

Other Drains 395.3 369.2 384.6 366.7 352.6 367.9

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JN141105a Page 61

5.1.3 Southern Catchments

Limited flow records exist for the catchments of the ACWS area south of Hallett Cove.

A summary of gauged and un-gauged catchments is presented in Table 5-5 below.

Table 5-5 : Summary of gauged and un-gauged southern catchments

Un-gauged Catchments Gauged Catchments

Catchment Name Catchment Area (km2)


Hallett Cove 9.561 Field River 55.167

Curlew Point 4.164 Christie Creek 37.681

Witton Bluff 4.723 Onkaparinga River 553.978

Robinson Point 5.051 Pedler Creek 105.955

Ochre Point 7.532 Silver Sands 48.744

Ingleburne Creek 34.28

Blanche Point 4.646

Willunga Creek 30.247

Sellicks Creek 6.53

The 2005 ACWS Stormwater Audit (EPA 2005) used flows recorded at Pedler Creek and scaled it based on

catchment areas of all southern catchments.

This approach is a sound method for estimating flows in un-gauged catchments in the absence of other

available data, however rather than only using Pedler Creek data, this audit assigns individual catchments to

gauged catchments based on spatial proximity and/or hydrological similarity.

The assessment was undertaken using aerial photography and is presented in Table 5-6 below.



Page 62 JN141105a

Table 5-6 : Southern Un-gauged Catchment Assignments


Assigned Gauged Catchment

Hallett Cove 9.561 Field River

Curlew Point 4.164 Field River

Witton Bluff 4.723 Christie Creek

Robinson Point 5.051 Christie Creek

Ochre Point 7.532 Pedler Creek

Ingleburne Creek 34.28 Pedler Creek

Blanche Point 4.646 Pedler Creek

Willunga Creek 30.247 Pedler Creek

Sellicks Creek 6.53 Pedler Creek

It should be noted that the Silver Sands catchment is likely to be similar in runoff characteristics to the

Sellicks and Willunga Creek catchments however its hydrological characteristics are substantially different to

its surrounding catchments in that outfall is controlled by Washpool Lagoon.

Similarly, the size and hydrology of the Onkaparinga catchment and its estuaries makes it unsuitable for

estimating flows in nearby catchments.

The Annual catchment yield (ML/km2) for each of the relevant gauged catchments is presented in Table 5-7

below.

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JN141105a Page 63

Table 5-7 : Southern Catchments - Recorded Catchment Yields

Field River Christie Creek Pedler Creek

Year Discharge Catchment

Yield Discharge Catchment

Yield Discharge Catchment

Yield

ML ML/km2 ML ML/km2 ML ML/km2

2005 3391.70 61.48 3609.77 95.80 2174.04 20.52

2006 947.47 17.17 939.39 24.93 26.57 0.25

2007 2305.15 41.78 1493.82 39.64 392.27 3.70

2008 1652.41 29.95 1066.61 28.31 165.87 1.57

2009 No Data No Data 1315.88 34.92 1511.96 14.27

2010 6113.20 110.81 3169.64 84.12 4012.59 37.87

2011 4698.98 85.18 2496.30 66.25 366.16 3.46

2012 7203.29 130.57 2825.25 74.98 2461.49 23.23

2013 5683.28 103.02 2733.35 72.54 2020.83 19.07

2014 3061.34 55.49 1512.19 40.13 232.56 2.19

Mean 3895.20 70.61 2116.22 56.16 1336.43 12.61

Median 3391.70 61.48 2004.24 53.19 952.12 8.99

Using the above methodology, estimated catchment flows for un-gauged catchments could be derived and

are presented below



Page 64 JN141105a

Table 5-8 : Southern Catchments – Estimated Annual Flows

Catchment Name

Hallett Cove

Curlew Point

Witton Bluff

Robinson Point

Ochre Point

Ingleburne Creek

Blanche Point

Willunga Creek

Sellicks Creek Total

Area (km2) 9.561 4.164 4.723 5.051 7.532 34.280 4.646 30.247 6.530 106.734

Year Estimated Flow Volume (ML)

2005 587.8 256.0 452.5 483.9 154.5 703.4 95.3 620.6 134.0 3488.0

2006 164.2 71.5 117.7 125.9 1.9 8.6 1.2 7.6 1.6 500.3

2007 399.5 174.0 187.2 200.2 27.9 126.9 17.2 112.0 24.2 1269.1

2008 286.4 124.7 133.7 143.0 11.8 53.7 7.3 47.4 10.2 818.1

2009 No Data No Data 164.9 176.4 107.5 489.2 66.3 431.6 93.2 1529.1

2010 1059.5 461.4 397.3 424.9 285.2 1298.2 175.9 1145.5 247.3 5495.2

2011 814.4 354.7 312.9 334.6 26.0 118.5 16.1 104.5 22.6 2104.2

2012 1248.4 543.7 354.1 378.7 175.0 796.4 107.9 702.7 151.7 4458.6

2013 985.0 429.0 342.6 366.4 143.7 653.8 88.6 576.9 124.5 3710.4

2014 530.6 231.1 189.5 202.7 16.5 75.2 10.2 66.4 14.3 1336.6

Mean 675.1 294.0 265.3 283.7 95.0 432.4 58.6 381.5 82.4 2567.9

Median 587.8 256.0 251.2 268.7 67.7 308.0 41.7 271.8 58.7 2111.7

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JN141105a Page 65

5.2 Flow Totals, Distribution and Seasonality

The recorded flow data outlined in Section 4 coupled with the estimated flow discussed in Section 5.1

completes the picture for assessment of flows into the ACWS Area.

This information is presented in Table 5-9 below and summarises all recorded and estimated flow data

within the ACWS Area.

It should be noted that if methodology for flow estimation has been updated (as discussed in Sections 4 and

5.1), the updated data for 1995-2004 is presented, however if methodology is unchanged, the original

values are presented.

The table also outlines catchment yields based on the effective catchment areas (as outlined in Section 3.3).

The information is also summarised in Figure 5-5. .

The information shows an overall increase catchment yield across the combined ACWS region of

approximately 17% when comparing the 10 year average from 1995-2004 and 2005-2014 (which includes

environmental flows).

Given that the average rainfall in the period between 1995 and 2004 was 569mm and was 500mm in for the

period between 2005 and 2014 (a 12% reduction), increases in catchment must be attributed to

hydrological changes in the catchments. This is likely to be due in part to increased development in the

catchments (particularly in the Smith Creek and Barker Inlet catchments) but can also be partly accounted

for by the targeted flow releases associated with the Environmental Flow and Torrens Water Quality

Improvement Programs. Section 5.2.1 provides more detail on catchments affected by targeted releases

and quantifies the impacts of these releases on the catchment yield data.

The data shows substantial localised decreases in 10 year average catchment yields in the Patawalonga

Catchment, the Patawalonga Coastal Catchment, Christies Creek, and Pedler Creek.

It is likely that this reduction is partly attributable to reduced rainfall within the catchments however

stormwater retention/treatment development has clearly had a positive impact, particularly in the

Patawalonga catchment.

The recorded annual flow and rainfall data that was used for this assessment is presented graphically in

Figure 5-6 through to Figure 5-9.



Page 66 JN141105a

Table 5-9 : Summary of Average Recorded and Estimated Flow Volumes (Including Environmental Flows)

Effective Catchment Area (km2)

Mean Annual

Flow 20yr (GL)

Catchment Yield (mm)

Mean Annual Flow

1995-2004 (GL)


Mean Annual Flow

2005-2014 (GL)


Increase/Decrease in Catchment

Yield

Gawler River (to Sea) 1, 3 883 10.90 12.34 10.16 11.50 11.64 13.18 15%

Smith Creek 2 205.6 0.63 3.05 0.38 1.83 0.88 4.27 133

Barker Inlet (9 sites) 407.8 13.28 32.56 7.88 19.33 18.67 45.78 137%

Torrens River 2, 3 218.5 24.47 111.98 22.51 103.00 26.43 120.96 17%

Patawalonga Catchment 212.4 14.64 68.93 18.61 87.64 10.67 50.23 -43%

Coastal Catchment 1 25.2 2.25 89.09 2.40 95.13 2.09 83.04 -13%

Field River 2 36.2 3.62 100.00 3.00 82.88 3.90 107.60 30%

Christies Creek 37.8 2.20 58.15 2.36 62.47 2.12 55.98 -10%

Onkaparinga River (lower) 3

138.7 12.39 89.36 11.90 85.80 12.89 92.91 8%

Pedler Creek 2 106 1.40 13.20 1.53 14.39 1.34 12.61 -12%

Southern Creeks 1 106.7 2.39 22.36 2.30 21.56 2.47 23.16 7%

Silver Sands (Washpool Lagoon)

48.7 0.50 10.31 - - 0.50 10.31 N/A

TOTAL 2426.6 86.06 35.47 79.28 32.67 92.85 38.26 17% 1 Data estimated using methodologies outlined in Section 5.1

2 Data from upstream station used for periods prior to outfall station operation

3 Data includes environmental/amenity flow releases. See Section 5.2.1 for more information.

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JN141105a Page 67

Figure 5-5 : Mean Annual Flow Volumes

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

FLO

W (

GL)

Catchment / Monitoring Site

ACWS Area - Mean Annual Flows

Mean Flow 20yr

Mean Flow 1995-2004

Mean Flow 2005-2014

ACWS Mean Annual Flow 1995 - 2014 : 86.06ML/a ACWS Mean Annual Flow 1995 - 2004 : 79.28ML/a ACWS Mean Annual Flow 2005 - 2014 : 92.85ML/a

* Includes Environmental/Amenity Flow releases. See Section 5.2.1 for more information.

■

■

■

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Page 68 JN141105a

Figure 5-6 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Northern Catchments

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Rai

nfa

ll To

tal (

mm

)

Tota

l Flo

w (

GL)

Year

Annual Flow Total - Northern Catchment Gauging Stations

Gawler River @ Virginia* Smith Creek @ Womma Rd Helps Drain d/s Sumner Rd

Little Para River d/s Pt Wakefield Rd Dry Creek @ Bridge Road Total Flow Northern Catchments*

Rainfall Total

* Data includes Environmental Flow releases. See Section 5.2.1 for more information.

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.......


JN141105a Page 69

Figure 5-7 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Port Adelaide and Barker Catchments

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

18.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Rai

nfa

ll To

tal (

mm

)

Tota

l Flo

w (

GL)

Year

Annual Flow Total - Port Adelaide and Barker Inlet Gauging Stations

Kirkcaldy Wetland Port Rd Drain u/s Old Port Rd

Magazine Wetland Range Wetland

Barker Inlet Wetland Outlet #1 Barker Inlet Wetland Outlet #2

Total Flow Port Adelaide Catchments and Barker Inlet Rainfall Total

-c:::::::J

c::::J

.......

-c:::::::J --

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Page 70 JN141105a

Figure 5-8 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Torrens and Patawalonga Catchments

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Rai

nfa

ll To

tal (

mm

)

Tota

l Flo

w (

GL)

Year

Annual Flow Total - Torrens River and Patawalonga System Gauging Stations

Torrens River @ Seaview Rd* Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport

Sturt River d/s Anzac Highway Patawalonga Creek U/S Barcoo Outlet

Total Flow Torrens and Patawalonga Catchments* Rainfall Total

* Data includes Environmental/Amenity Flow releases. See Section 5.2.1 for more information.

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JN141105a Page 71

Figure 5-9 : Recorded Flow and Rainfall – ACWS Southern Catchments

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

45.00

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Rai

nfa

ll To

tal (

mm

)

Tota

l Flo

w (

GL)

Year

Annual Flow Total - Southern Catchment Gauging Stations

Field River u/s Mouth Christies Creek d/s Galloway Rd Onkaparinga River u/s Old Noarlunga*

Pedler Creek u/s mouth Washpool Lagoon Total Flow Southern Catchments*

Rainfall Total

* Data includes Environmental Flow releases. See Section 5.2.1 for more information.

c:::::::J

.......

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Page 72 JN141105a

5.2.1 Accounting for Environmental and Amenity Flows

On 20 October 2005, the Minister for Environment and Conservation prescribed the surface water,

watercourses and underground water of the western Mount Lofty Ranges and under the Natural Resources

Management Act 2004, once a resource has been prescribed a water allocation plan must be prepared.

The Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan (WMLR WAP) specifies the requirement to provide

environmental flows downstream of SA Water metropolitan supply reservoirs in reaches that have been

identified on the basis of riparian and aquatic value and potential for improvement with increased flows.

The reaches identified were:

1. Barossa Diversion Weir to Gawler (South Para River)

2. Gumeracha Weir to Kangaroo Creek Reservoir (River Torrens)

3. Gorge Weir to Torrens Lake (River Torrens), and

4. Clarendon Weir to Estuary (Onkaparinga River)

Of the four target reaches, reaches 1, 3 and 4 directly impact the ACWS area.

A short Environmental Flow trial commenced in June 2006, however it was abandoned in October 2006 due

to the onset of drought conditions. No environmental flow delivery data is available for this brief trial

period.

The trial recommenced in November 2011 and continued through to the end of the 2014 ACWS reporting

period.

In addition to the Environmental Flows program, flows have also been delivered to the Torrens Lake as part

of the Torrens Water Quality Improvement Program (TWQIP).

Table 3-3 in Section 3.2 summarises all recorded targeted releases delivered to the reaches over the

reporting period. It excludes the environmental flow trials in 2006 as accounting data is not available for

these trials.

The data presented in Table 3-3 represents the total volume of water delivered from the SA Water storage

at the top of the target reach, however it does not represent the actual volume of water discharged to the

ACWS area as a result of these flows.

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JN141105a Page 73

Analysis of the timeseries data available for these releases enabled the determination of average reach

attenuation percentages (system losses) and travel times for targeted releases where no other catchment

inputs occurred.

This attenuation and travel time information was then used in conjunction with the accounted release data

from SA Water storages to estimate the total flow discharged to the ACWS region as a result of targeted

environmental and/or amenity flow releases.

The estimated environmental/amenity flows delivered to the ACWS area between 2011 and 2014 are

summarised in Table 5-10, Table 5-11 and Table 5-12 below.

Table 5-10 : Estimated Annual Environmental Flows Delivered via the Onkaparinga Estuary

Onkaparinga River

Year Total Released Environmental

Flow (ML)

Estimated Environmental

Flow to Gulf (ML)

Natural Flow to Gulf (ML)

Total Flow to Gulf (ML)

2011 119.8 32.5 4655.5 4687.9

2012 9283.0 7607.9 10820.8 18428.7

2013 7584.8 6109.6 10219.4 16329.0

2014 10179.8 7672.5 17120.6 24793.1

Table 5-11 : Estimated Annual Environmental/Amenity Flows Delivered via the Torrens mouth

River Torrens


Flow (ML)


Flow to Gulf (ML)


Total Flow to Gulf (ML)

2011 119.8 32.5 4655.5 4687.9

2012 9283.0 7607.9 10820.8 18428.7

2013 7584.8 6109.6 10219.4 16329.0

2014 10179.8 7672.5 17120.6 24793.1



Page 74 JN141105a

Table 5-12 : Estimated Annual Environmental Flows Delivered via Buckland Park Wetland

Gawler River


Flow (ML)


Flow to Gulf (ML)


Total Flow to Gulf1 (ML)

2011 119.8 32.5 4655.5 4687.9

2012 9283.0 7607.9 10820.8 18428.7

2013 7584.8 6109.6 10219.4 16329.0

2014 10179.8 7672.5 17120.6 24793.1 1 Data estimated using methodologies outlined in Section 5.1

The estimated flow data sets with environmental and amenity flows removed were used to re-calculate the

changes in catchment yields between the 1995-2004 period and the 2005-2014 period for catchments

affected by engineered flow releases.

This information is presented in Table 5-13 below and demonstrates that whilst the Environmental Flows

program and the Torrens Water Quality Improvement Program in the River Torrens and Gawler River were

partially responsible for the increase in catchment yield for these catchments, the majority of the measured

increases are directly attributable to increased catchment runoff despite the 12% reduction in mean annual

rainfall between the 1995-2004 period and the 2005-2014 period.

In contrast to this however, the Environmental Flows delivered to the ACWS area via the Onkaparinga River

substantially increased the measurable catchment yield. When the engineered flows were removed from

the dataset, a reduction in mean annual catchment yield of 10% was observed between the 1995-2004

period and the 2005-2014 period, which is consistent with the 12% reduction in mean annual rainfall over

the same period.

The total average annual flow from the catchments presented in Table 5-9 during the 2005-2014 period that

is not attributable to engineered flow programs was 90.12GL in comparison to 79.28GL for the 1995-2004

period. This represents an increase in average annual catchment yield of 13.7% between the two periods

which can be attributed primarily to increases in catchment runoff.

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Table 5-13 : Effect of Environmental Flows on changes in Catchment Yield

Mean Annual Flow

1995-2004 (GL)

Mean Annual Flow

2005-2014 (inc.

Environmental Flows) (GL)

Mean Annual Flow

2005-2014 (ex.

Environmental Flows) 2 (GL)

Change in Catchment Yield

including Environmental

Flows

Change in Catchment

Yield excluding Environmental

Flows 2

Gawler River (via Buckland Park) 1 10.16 11.64 11.58 15% 14%

Torrens River (via Mouth)

22.51 26.43 25.90 17% 15%

Onkaparinga River (via Estuary)

11.90 12.89 10.74 8% -10%

1 Data estimated using methodologies outlined in Section 5.1

2 Environmental flows discharged to ACWS area estimated based on methodology outlined in Section 5.2.1



Page 76 JN141105a

6 Availability of Water Quality Data Stormwater quality discharging into the ACWS area is currently measured using four techniques.

Real time water quality concentration data is provided through installation of onsite water quality sensors

such as Turbidity and EC. In situ field measurements and water quality profiles may be undertaken with

hand held portable water quality meters. Grab samples are collected in-situ and analysed at a laboratory.

The majority of hydrometric monitoring stations in the ACWS catchments serve an additional function of

monitoring water quality through the Flow Proportional Composite Sampling methodology.

A flow weighted mean concentration for the water quality parameters analysed is produced by this

methodology. Successful implementation of this method requires the monitoring instrumentation to

continually measure the flow rate and totalise the flow with time. Once the desired sample increment is

reached (e.g. 2ML of flow), the automated water sampler instrument is initiated to collect a 500mL sample.

The flow total is reset and begins accumulating the flow until the increment is reached again and the next

sample is collected, thus continuing the process. All samples are combined in a single tub to produce a flow

weighted composite sample. This sample is analysed at a laboratory for the monitoring parameters of the

project and represents the mean flow weighted concentration.

As the water quality result is proportional to the corresponding flow results, the data can be combined to

calculate water quality pollutant loads. This is the total mass of a pollutant flowing through the stormwater

in the monitoring timeframe.

In the ACWS catchments, the monitoring stations were originally set up by a variety of organisations. This

resulted in variation in monitoring parameters observed across the region. AMLR operate the majority of

flow proportional composite sampling equipment and have standardised the water quality monitoring into

two tiers: End of Catchment Monitoring (Outfall Sites) and Water Quality Monitoring sites (sites within the

catchment). Sampling frequency is consistent across both tiers of sites with the water quality analysis

parameters being the only difference.

Water Quality Sites are analysed for Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Turbidity, Suspended Solids, Total

Phosphorus, TKN and NOx.

End of Catchment (Outfall) Sites are analysed for Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Turbidity, Suspended

Solids, Total Phosphorus, TKN, NOx, Copper, Lead and Zinc

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JN141105a Page 77

Each of the organisations listed in Table 6-1 are conducting their monitoring programs to collect data for

measurement against their water quality objectives. A benefit of the flow proportional composite sampling

method being utilised across the catchment outfalls in the ACWS area is that the data collected can be

compared and measured against multiple objectives including those of the ACWS.

When applying the water quality monitoring results from the different programs to investigate the impact

to the ACWS area, it is important to recognise that not all catchments are monitored and therefore the total

pollutant load entering the ACWS area is greater than the measured pollutant load from the monitoring

networks.

Many of the hydrometric monitoring stations have water quality data sets with a period of record spanning

more than 10 years. These long term stations are important references for catchment characteristics and

catchment changes. The long term data sets can be utilised for trend analysis to observe the long term

variation in the water quality and identify the successful implementation of catchment management

strategies and changes in the water quality characteristics of the catchment. Table 6-2 displays the period of

record for the Outfall monitoring stations in each ACWS catchment and the responsible monitoring

organisation.



Page 78 JN141105a

Table 6-1 : Water Quality Monitoring Programs

ORGANISATION Natural Resources

Adelaide & Mt Lofty

Ranges

SA Water EPA Local Councils

City of Salisbury

City of Playford

STATUS Current Current Current and Historical

projects

Current event based

sampling / Historical

composite sampling

Project

Descriptions

Surface water

monitoring network -

Outfall Flow and

Catchment

monitoring

Flow and Composite

Sampler Monitoring

Network

Aquatic Ecosystem

monitoring including

riparian survey and

condition reporting-

current

Surface Water Flow

and Composite

Sample Monitoring -

Historical

Stormwater

Monitoring Programs

Reason for

monitoring:

To meet NRM

reporting objectives,

stormwater

investigations and

environmental

monitoring projects

Water supply

operation - quantity

and quality

monitoring

Stormwater

investigation projects

– Historical Barker

Wetlands / Port River

composite sampling

Monitoring projects

to meet

environmental

targets

Monitoring

Methodology

Flow proportional

composite sampling

Flow proportional

composite sampling

In-situ Site

measurements.

Historical flow

proportional

composite sampling

Flow proportional

composite sampling

and event based

sampling.

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ORGANISATION Natural Resources

Adelaide & Mt Lofty

Ranges

SA Water EPA Local Councils

City of Salisbury

City of Playford

Number Sites,

Parameters,

Length of record

32 WQ monitoring

sites, 21 current,

median record length

9 years

1 current WQ

monitoring site,

record length 26

years

4 historical flow

monitoring sites,

median record length

3 years, Note other

sites transferred to

AMLR

Salisbury 3 current

sites, median record

length 4 years

Playford 9 historical

sites, median record

length 1 years

Data Location AMLR website -

public data

www.amlr.waterdata.

com.au

Catchment

monitoring data

publicly available as

link on AMLR website

Data archive of

Reservoir at SAW

EPA database.

Historical composite

sampling on AMLR

website

www.amlr.waterdata.

com.au

AMLR website -

public data

www.amlr.waterdata.

com.au



Page 80 JN141105a

Table 6-2 : Summary of current water quality monitoring into the ACWS area

Number Name Current WQ Monitoring


1 Gawler River Yes A5050510 - Gawler River @ Virginia Park AMLR WQ: 2009-present

2 Thompson Ck, Smith Ck Yes A5051005 - Smith Creek @ Womma Rd City of

Playford WQ: 2009-2012

3 Helps Rd, Adams Creek Yes A5051013 - Helps Drain downstream Sumner Rd, Bolivar

City of Salisbury

WQ: 2007-present, event based

4 Little Para River Yes A5041006 - Little Para River downstream Port Wakefield Road

City of Salisbury

WQ: 2004-present event based.

5 Dry & Cobbler Creeks Yes A5041053 - Dry Creek downstream Port Wakefield Road

City of Salisbury

WQ: 2014-present, event based.

6 Port Adelaide / Barker Inlet Yes

A5041009 - Barker Inlet Wetland @ Outlet #1 A5041017 - Barker Inlet Wetland @ Outlet #2 A5041025 - Range Wetland A5041025 - Magazine Wetland A5041016 - Kirkcaldy Wetland @ Nash St East Grange A5041041 - Port Road Drain upstream Old Port Road

AMLR

WQ:2004-present WQ:2004-present WQ:2009-present WQ:2009-present WQ:2004-present WQ:2011-present

7 Torrens River Yes A5041014 - Torrens River @ Seaview Road AMLR WQ:2011-present

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8 Patawalonga Basin Yes

A5041022 - Patawalonga Creek upstream Barcoo Outlet A5040583 - Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport A5040549 - Sturt River downstream Anzac Highway

AMLR

No WQ WQ:1994-present WQ:1997-present


No

10 Waterfall Creek No

11 Field River Yes A5031010 - Field River upstream Mouth AMLR WQ:2010-present

12 Christie Creek Yes A5030546 - Christie Creek downstream Galloway Road

AMLR WQ:2001-present

13 Onkaparinga River Yes A5031005 - Onkaparinga River upstream Old Noarlunga

AMLR WQ:2010-present


No


No

16 Pedler Creek Yes A5031009 - Pedler Creek upstream mouth AMLR WQ:2010-present


No

18 Maslin Creek No

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Page 82 JN141105a




No

20 Willunga Creek No

21 Aldinga Creek Yes A5031013 - Washpool Lagoon City of

Onkaparinga WQ: EC monitoring only.

22 Sellicks Creek No


No

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JN141105a Page 83

6.1 Water Quality Data compatibility across the ACWS area

The dominant method for water quality monitoring in the ACWS catchments is the Flow Proportional

Composite sample method. Laboratory sample analysis is undertaken at Australian Water Quality Centre in

Adelaide and there is consistency in the sample analysis parameters across the catchment outfalls and

different monitoring agencies. Specifically all monitoring programs include at minimum the ACWS target

parameters turbidity and nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus). This consistency between monitoring

programs has enabled the ACWS stormwater quality data set to be compiled and analysed.

Water Quality data in the ACWS area has become more available:

Spatially through increased number of monitoring stations

In quantity through installation of in-situ water quality probes for turbidity and EC

The modern water quality advances have enabled real time water quality monitoring probes to be installed

at the hydrometric stations. Data produce from these sensors displays the variation of the water quality

with flow and peaks in the water quality can be detected and the corresponding time and flow rate. Current

water quality parameters monitored in real time in the ACWS catchments include turbidity, EC and

temperature.

6.2 Water Quality Data Gaps

All of the major catchments have current flow proportional composite sampling instrumentation installed

and operating as part of the AMLR monitoring network. Since 2012 the monitoring programs operated by

City of Salisbury and City of Playford in the major creeks in the north have been reduced for water quality

sampling but have had in situ turbidity probes installed for continuous monitoring. There is no turbidity or

nutrient monitoring in the catchments south of Pedler Creek nor in any of the Coastal Catchment

stormwater drains.

The 2005 EPA report discussed a small data set of pesticide sample analysis results from 1978 to 1997. The

samples were collected on the major rivers with many of the results observing non detections for

pesticides. These results are not matched with corresponding flow and rainfall data to identify what the

catchment conditions may have been for the instances where a positive pesticide result did occur. Pesticide

monitoring is a current gap in the monitoring programs of most organisations primarily due to the analysis



Page 84 JN141105a

costs. Catchment wide pesticide sampling on a regular basis would be cost prohibitive. Pesticides were

identified in the report as a small contributor to sea grass loss therefore a more informed understanding of

the distribution of pesticides in stormwater would be required to determine where sea grass communities

are most at risk from pesticides and where water quality improvement strategies are best targeted.

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JN141105a Page 85

7 Summary of Water Quality Data This report investigates the Suspended Solids, Nitrogen and Phosphorus concentration monitoring results as

they a primary indication of potentially detrimental conditions for sea grass health.

The installation of the outfall flow proportional composite sample stations in the major catchments

identified in the previous audit report occurred in 2008-2009. Prior to this the majority of automated

sampling was undertaken in the upper catchments producing a good historical water quality monitoring

record. The EPA installed the network of Barker Inlet monitoring stations in 2004. Specifically the current

end of catchment monitoring sites for the three largest rivers, the Torrens River, Gawler River and

Onkaparinga River were not operating during 2005-2008 therefore the following reporting will be based on

the data 2009-2014.

Combining the flow proportional composite sample analysis results with the corresponding flow data at the

monitoring stations enables the mass pollutant load to be determined. Observed in the tables below are

the annual pollutant loads for Total Nitrogen (Table 7-1), Total Phosphorus (Table 7-2) and Total Suspended

Solids (Table 7-3) for each of the end of catchment monitoring stations.

As discussed in Section 6, the water quality composition of the stormwater discharging into the ACWS area

is reported only for catchments with monitoring stations. It has not be estimated or modelled for other

catchments without water quality monitoring data. The total pollutant loads entering the entire ACWS area

are therefore higher than the total pollutant loads determined from the monitoring stations.

In the six years 2009 to 2014 the mass of Total Nitrogen discharging into the ACWS area was 895.3T at an

average of 149 T/year. The Torrens River contributed 30% of the Total Nitrogen pollutant load followed by

the Gawler River (26%), Onkaparinga River (10%) and Barker Inlet Wetland Outlet #1 (9%). The Gawler River

had very low flow in 2012 compared to the other five years of monitoring which reduced its pollutant load

compared to the Torrens and Onkaparinga which observed Environmental Flow releases during this time.

The mass of Total Phosphorus discharged into the ACWS area between 2009 and 2014 was 85.5T at an

average of 14.2T/year. The catchment with the highest percentage contribution was the Gawler River (27%).

Torrens River Catchment contributed 20%, Barker Inlet Wetland Outlet #1 15% and the Onkaparinga River

catchment (7%).

Stormwater discharge between 2009-2014 produced a Total Suspended Solids pollutant load of 24800T

with an average of 4140T/year. The significant catchment contributions to this quantity were the Torrens



Page 86 JN141105a

River (36%), Gawler River (13%) Onkaparinga River (7%) and Barker Inlet Wetland Outlet #1 (15%).

The Outfalls of the major rivers are evenly distributed in the North (Gawler River), central (Torrens River)

and South (Onkaparinga River) parts of the ACWS area. This geography results in a pollutant distribution

across the whole ACWS area rather than a localised input from a major source. Figure 7-1, Figure 7-2 and

Figure 7-3 display the respective pollutant loads discharged each year for Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus

and Total Suspended Solids including the contributions of each monitored catchment. The total pollutant

load discharging into the ACWS area is greater than the displayed results due to the inputs from

unmonitored catchments.

As part of improvements to water quality monitoring methods, turbidity sensors have been installed at

some of the monitoring stations. As the data sets expand, the variation in turbidity through different flow

conditions will be able to be observed. This will provided valuable information to investigate at what flow

rates or prevailing catchment conditions the peak turbidity concentrations occur and the time it takes for

the turbidity to return to baseline concentrations.

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JN141105a Page 87

Table 7-1 : Measured Total Annual Nitrogen Loads 2005-2014

TOTAL NITROGEN ANNUAL LOAD (Tonnes)

Gaw

ler

Riv

er

@

Vir

gin

ia

Smit

h C

k @

Wo

mm

a R

d

He

lps

Dra

in d

/s

Sum

ne

r R

d

Litt

le P

ara

Riv

er

d/s

Pt

Wak

efi

eld

Rd

Dry

Ck

U/S

Salis

bu

ry H

wy

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

1

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

2

Ran

ge W

etl

and

Mag

azin

e W

etl

and

Po

rt R

d D

rain

u/s

Old

Po

rt R

d

Kir

kcal

dy

We

tlan

d

Torr

en

s R

ive

r @

Seav

iew

Rd

Bro

wn

hill

Ck

@

Ad

ela

ide

Air

po

rt

Stu

rt R

ive

r d

/s

An

zac

Hw

y

Fie

ld R

ive

r u

/s

Mo

uth

Ch

rist

ie C

k d

/s

Gal

low

ay

Rd

On

kap

arin

ga R

ive

r

u/s

Old

No

arlu

nga

Pe

dle

r C

k u

/s

Mo

uth

TOTA

L*

2005 3.782 0.765 30.021 7.989 1.838 1.86 102.281 0.648 2.928 5.442 3.027 160.6

2006 0.335 0.32 4.002 3.39 1.09 0.726 16.896 4.144 0.645 1.34 0.019 32.9

2007 5.816 1.512 0.672 30.584 4.57 1.743 1.899 0.411 47.2

2008 0.59 0.123 22.345 5.434 0.53 0.297 17.655 3.646 1.896 1.094 1.652 0.11 55.4

2009 30.678 0.351 0.821 10.863 2.151 0.079 0.046 1.043 36.58 5.737 3.865 2.163 94.4

2010 80.939 6.024 2.117 1.371 11.575 3.165 0.271 1.31 1.855 60.475 9.611 12.056 9.935 4.768 29.698 1.983 237.2

2011 26.112 6.571 1.082 1.304 8.884 10.237 1.535 0.326 4.401 0.37 1.495 37.717 0.941 5.517 7.563 2.572 3.919 0.352 120.9

2012 5.512 0.281 23.83 2.961 0.916 3.219 0.908 1.259 34.552 3.503 7.008 10.659 4.331 16.519 2.605 118.1

2013 58.464 8.916 16.277 1.93 0.463 2.144 1.037 1.745 49.586 1.091 6.189 10.24 3.162 18.222 2.292 181.8

2014 32.099 4.103 6.842 1.834 1.524 7.139 1.227 1.008 50.165 1.124 5.67 5.052 1.669 23.331 0.254 143

= Data from Upstream Station prior to commissioning of outfall Station

2009-2014 Total 895.3

*The Total Nitrogen Annual Load entering the ACWS area is higher than the observed totals due to unmonitored catchments.

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Page 88 JN141105a

Table 7-2 : Measured Total Annual Phosphorus Loads 2005-2014

TOTAL PHOSPHORUS ANNUAL LOAD (Tonnes)

Gaw

ler

Riv

er

@

Vir

gin

ia

Smit

h C

k @

Wo

mm

a R

d

He

lps

Dra

in d

/s

Sum

ne

r R

d

Litt

le P

ara

Riv

er

d/s

Pt

Wak

efi

eld

Rd

Dry

Ck

U/S

Salis

bu

ry H

wy

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

1

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

2

Ran

ge W

etl

and

Mag

azin

e W

etl

and

Po

rt R

d D

rain

u/s

Old

Po

rt R

d

Kir

kcal

dy

We

tlan

d

Torr

en

s R

ive

r @

Seav

iew

Rd

Bro

wn

hill

Ck

@

Ad

ela

ide

Air

po

rt

Stu

rt R

ive

r d

/s

An

zac

Hw

y

Fie

ld R

ive

r u

/s

Mo

uth

Ch

rist

ie C

k d

/s

Gal

low

ay

Rd

On

kap

arin

ga R

ive

r

u/s

Old

No

arlu

nga

Pe

dle

r C

k u

/s

Mo

uth

TOTA

L*

2005 0.307 0.138 1.112 1.117 0.219 0.324 5.577 0.648 0.244 0.395 0.568 10.6

2006 0.047 0.053 0.288 0.394 0.096 0.049 0.720 0.438 0.000 0.053 0.046 0.005 2.2

2007 0.328 0.144 0.074 0.604 0.458 0.001 0.123 0.100 0.033 1.9

2008 0.099 0.010 1.423 0.204 0.041 0.029 0.608 0.327 0.127 0.068 0.109 0.014 3.1

2009 3.224 0.033 0.152 1.395 0.275 0.127 0.008 0.125 2.099 1.017 0.288 0.000 0.138 8.9

2010 10.685 0.540 0.410 0.157 1.457 0.390 0.080 0.509 0.253 3.468 1.149 0.846 0.434 0.388 2.927 0.471 24.2

2011 2.719 0.275 0.178 0.114 0.573 1.859 0.177 0.068 1.057 0.052 0.175 2.706 0.941 0.412 0.391 0.184 0.191 0.039 12.1

2012 0.300 0.018 4.516 0.485 0.120 0.931 0.125 0.138 1.962 0.533 0.672 0.760 0.423 0.895 0.419 12.3

2013 3.120 2.937 0.174 0.088 0.339 0.127 0.159 3.175 1.091 0.374 0.373 0.259 0.964 0.231 13.4

2014 2.949 0.570 0.000 1.070 0.171 0.177 1.905 0.160 0.143 4.084 1.124 0.340 0.349 0.158 1.367 0.025 14.6


2009-2014 Total 103.2

*The Total Phosphorus Annual Load entering the ACWS area is higher than the observed totals due to unmonitored catchments.

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JN141105a Page 89

Table 7-3 : Measured Total Annual Suspended Solids Loads 2005-2014

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS ANNUAL LOAD (Tonnes)

Gaw

ler

Riv

er

@

Vir

gin

ia

Smit

h C

k @

Wo

mm

a R

d

He

lps

Dra

in d

/s

Sum

ne

r R

d

Litt

le P

ara

Riv

er

d/s

Pt

Wak

efi

eld

Rd

Dry

Ck

U/S

Salis

bu

ry H

wy

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

1

Bar

ker

Inle

t

We

tlan

d #

2

Ran

ge W

etl

and

Mag

azin

e W

etl

and

Po

rt R

d D

rain

u/s

Old

Po

rt R

d

Kir

kcal

dy

We

tlan

d

Torr

en

s R

ive

r @

Seav

iew

Rd

Bro

wn

hill

Ck

@

Ad

ela

ide

Air

po

rt

Stu

rt R

ive

r d

/s

An

zac

Hw

y

Fie

ld R

ive

r u

/s

Mo

uth

Ch

rist

ie C

k d

/s

Gal

low

ay

Rd

On

kap

arin

ga R

ive

r

u/s

Old

No

arlu

nga

Pe

dle

r C

k u

/s

Mo

uth

TOTA

L*

2005 57.6 4651.3 0.6 83.1 240.5 146.4 5179.6

2006 8.2 126.9 135.1 0.0 13.2 28.6 1.7 313.7

2007 40.7 11.5 21.6 585.3 77.7 0.0 24.1 78.8 5.5 845.1

2008 8.0 3.3 2.6 53.7 11.4 3.8 242.5 29.5 23.7 15.4 72.5 1.7 468.1

2009 503.4 5.1 7.3 317.2 99.4 2.2 0.1 16.4 557.6 21.7 58.2 71.8 1660.4

2010 1509.9 111.1 112.8 60.6 115.4 93.4 3.1 12.3 116.9 1546.1 200.4 316.9 390.9 383.9 867.7 240.9 6082.5

2011 512.6 45.3 13.6 21.0 341.1 412.6 56.4 3.8 21.6 4.4 55.5 1020.6 0.9 115.6 286.2 105.3 39.5 17.3 3073.3

2012 115.8 23.2 1580.0 108.2 11.7 8.1 17.3 38.8 1288.9 24.9 345.5 904.8 416.9 369.9 274.4 5528.3

2013 255.3 1055.6 51.8 11.2 6.8 16.5 61.7 2222.2 1.1 116.3 331.1 244.5 235.3 40.8 4650.2

2014 379.4 28.8 149.8 42.0 39.5 29.4 19.6 41.1 2315.6 1.1 184.0 351.7 114.7 119.5 15.4 3831.5


2009-2014 Total 31632.6

*The Total Suspended Solids Annual Load entering the ACWS area is higher than the observed totals due to unmonitored catchments.

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Figure 7-1 : Measured Total Annual Nitrogen Loads

0.000

50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Tota

l Nit

roge

n P

ollu

tan

t Lo

ad (

T)

Year

Measured Annual Pollutant Load - Total Nitrogen

Pedler Ck u/s Mouth

Onkaparinga River u/s Old Noarlunga

Christie Ck d/s Galloway Rd

Field River u/s Mouth

Sturt River d/s Anzac Hwy

Brownhill Ck @ Adelaide Airport

Torrens River @ Seaview Rd

Kirkcaldy Wetland

Port Rd Drain u/s Old Port Rd

Magazine Wetland

Range Wetland

Barker Inlet Wetland #2


Dry Ck U/S Salisbury Hwy

Little Para River d/s Pt Wakefield Rd

Helps Drain d/s Sumner Rd

Smith Ck @ Womma Rd

Gawler River @ Virginia

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Figure 7-2 : Measured Total Annual Phosphorus Loads

0.000

5.000

10.000

15.000

20.000

25.000

30.000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Tota

l Ph

osp

ho

rus

Po

lluta

nt

Load

(T)

Year

Measured Annual Pollutant Load - Total Phosphorus

Pedler Ck u/s Mouth







Kirkcaldy Wetland


Magazine Wetland

Range Wetland






Smith Ck @ Womma Rd


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Figure 7-3 : Measured Total Annual Suspended Solids Loads

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Tota

l Su

spe

nd

ed

So

lids

Po

lluta

nt

Load

(T)

Year

Measured Annual Pollutant Load - Total Suspended Solids

Pedler Ck u/s Mouth







Kirkcaldy Wetland


Magazine Wetland

Range Wetland






Smith Ck @ Womma Rd


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As part of the AMLR surface water monitoring network operations a report on water quality trends is

regularly produced to observe how the water quality is changing and provide direction for catchment

management strategies. Table 7-4 displays the observed trends in water quality published in the 2013 AMLR

Trend Report. The table shows water quality improving trends for most variables in the Patawalonga

catchment (Sturt River and Brownhill Creek). Worsening water quality trends in Suspended Solids and NOx

concentrations were detected for the Barker Inlet discharging stations.

Nine out of the fifteen monitoring stations investigated in the trend analysis observed statistically significant

water quality worsening trends for Suspended Solids. Total Phosphorus, TKN and NOx water quality analysis

observed an equal proportion of water quality improving and worsening trends over the complete range of

catchments.



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Table 7-4 : Water Quality Trend Indication Summary 2012-13 – AMLR Outfall Sites

Symbol Legend:

Statistically significant increasing trend was detected. (Water Quality getting worse)

Increasing trend was detected but is not statistically significant

No trend was detected

Statistically significant decreasing trend was detected. (Water Quality getting better)

Decreasing trend was detected but is not statistically significant

Site ID Location SS (mg/L)

TURB (NTU)

Ptot (mg/L)

TKN (mg/L)

NOx (mg/L)

A5030547 Christie Creek D/S of Galloway Road

A5031010 Field River u/s Mouth

A5040529* Torrens River @Holbrooks Road

A5040549 Sturt River D/S Anzac Highway

A5040583 Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport

A5041009 Barker Inlet Wetlands @ Nthn Outlet #1

A5041016 Kirkcaldy Wetland @ Nash Street

A5041017 Barker Inlet Wetlands @ Nthn Outlet #2

A5041024 Range Wetland - outlet

A5041025 Magazine Wetland - outlet

A5050510 Gawler River @ Virginia

Indicative trends due to small data sets:

A5031005 Onkaparinga River U/S Old Noarlunga

A5031009 Pedler Creek u/s Mouth

A5041014 Torrens River @ Seaview Rd Bridge

A5041041 Port Road Drain U/S Old Port Road

*A5040529 included as previous end of catchment monitoring station prior to installation of A5041014

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8 Current and Future Monitoring This section outlines the current and future monitoring that is projected to impact on the ACWS Area in

future years.

8.1 Current Monitoring Programs

Since the previous report in 2005 there has been consistency in monitoring methods for the various

organisations monitoring stormwater in the ACWS catchments. Monitoring is primarily undertaken using

hydrometric stations to enable continuous data measurement and flow proportional composite sampling.

The primary monitoring organisation of the stormwater outfalls is Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount

Lofty Ranges (AMLR) which has 15 outfall flow and 14 outfall water quality monitoring stations. Since 2009,

AMLR have standardised monitoring parameters to ensure a comparable and continuous data set for outfall

monitoring.

Monitoring programs are operated in the other major catchments by City of Salisbury, City of Playford and

City of Onkaparinga. There are historical composite sampling results in the northern catchments but the

current programs are collecting flow event based water quality samples.

Data gaps identified from 2005 Audit report showed that only seven of the catchments had monitoring

stations in operation. In this reporting period 2005-2014many of these monitoring data gaps have been

addressed with the set up of the Outfall monitoring stations.

These include construction of new stations:

Smith Creek @ Womma Rd (City of Playford, 2009)

Helps Rd Drain D/S Sumner Rd (EPA / City of Salisbury, 2005)

Little Para River D/S Port Wakefield Rd (EPA / City of Salisbury, 2004)

Dry Ck D/S Pt Wakefield Rd (City of Salisbury, 2013)

Kirkcaldy Wetland (EPA / AMLR, 2004)

Port Rd Drain u/s Old Port Rd (AMLR, 2011)

Magazine Wetland (AMLR, 2009)

Range Wetland (AMLR, 2009)

Barker Inlet Wetlands Outlet #1 (EPA / AMLR, 2004)

Barker Inlet Wetland #2 (EPA / AMLR, 2004)

West Lakes Outlet (EPA, 2004-2006, historical site)

Torrens River @ Seaview Road (AMLR, 2010)



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Patawalonga Creek U/S Barcoo Outlet (AMLR, 2010)

Onkaparinga River U/S Old Noarlunga (AMLR, 2006)

Pedler Creek U/S Mouth (AMLR, 2010)

Washpool Lagoon (City of Onkaparinga, 2012)

Relocation of existing stations closer to the Outfall:

Field River d/s South Rd relocated to Field River U/S Mouth (AMLR, 2010)

Reopening of historical stations:

Gawler River @ Virginia (AMLR, reopened 2009)

The advances in instrument technology in recent years have provided for greater return on investment in

monitoring. Historic sites required construction of flow controls (weirs) which where expensive and also had

environmental consequences. Modern flow instrumentation has enabled monitoring sites to be installed

without additional costly infrastructure. Real time water quality sensors have also been developed and

installed at many of the monitoring stations to provide a continuous data set for EC, temperature and

turbidity. The benefit of the real time water quality sensors is that peaks and variation in concentration can

be observed over a complete flow event. This information can help in selecting or designing environmental

management strategies which will have the desired impact on the catchment. Table 8-1 displays the

catchment outfalls that currently have ongoing operating monitoring stations, the parameters being

monitored at each outfall station and the gaps where there is no current continuous monitoring programs.

Table 8-1 : Current Catchment Outfall Monitoring and Gaps

Name

Current Flow

Monitoring

Current WQ

Sampling

Current

WQ Sensors

EC/Temp Turbidity Organisation

1 Gawler River YES YES

YES AMLR

2 Thompson Ck, Smith Ck YES

YES City of Playford

3 Helps Rd, Adams Creek YES Event Based

YES City of Salisbury

4 Little Para River YES Event Based

YES City of Salisbury

5 Dry & Cobbler Creeks YES Event Based

YES YES City of Salisbury

6 Port Adelaide / Barker Inlet YES YES YES AMLR

7 Torrens River YES YES

YES AMLR

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Name

Current Flow

Monitoring

Current WQ

Sampling

Current

WQ Sensors

EC/Temp Turbidity Organisation

8 Patawalonga Basin YES YES

AMLR


10 Waterfall Creek

11 Field River YES YES

YES AMLR

12 Christie Creek YES YES

YES AMLR

13 Onkaparinga River YES YES

YES AMLR



16 Pedler Creek YES YES

YES AMLR


18 Maslin Creek


20 Willunga Creek

21 Aldinga Creek YES

YES City of

Onkaparinga

22 Sellicks Creek


One of the benefits of the network of monitoring stations in the ACWS catchments is that the many

different organisations running a monitoring program are all utilising similar methodologies to achieve their

project goals. This has resulted in comparable data sets across the different catchments and monitoring

programs that can provide data which can be assessed against different objectives. This value of achieving

multiple project objectives through single monitoring infrastructure should be considered when looking at

future monitoring programs and filling data gaps.

A theme of public data availability is consistent with all of the monitoring organisations with SA Water, City



Page 98 JN141105a

of Onkaparinga, City of Salisbury, City of Playford and City of Marion all providing monitoring data on the

public AMLR surface water monitoring webpage. EPA and DEWNR also provide publicly available data for

the water quality monitoring programs (including Adelaide Desalination Plant coastal monitoring) and State

surface water monitoring network respectively. The benefits of having multiple projects providing data to

one location is that data can be obtained easily and provided in a common format for comparison across

multiple projects. New monitoring projects should consider the benefits of making data available in the

existing data presentation and storage frameworks.

8.2 Future Monitoring Direction

Future monitoring programs implemented to fill data gaps will provide greater understanding of stormwater

influences in the ACWS area. It is also important to consider the importance of continued operation of the

current monitoring programs for maintaining a long term data record. A continuous record enables the data

to analysed for trends and can be used to identify the success and effect of environmental management

strategies and major changes to the catchment.

The current outfall stormwater quality monitoring includes physical parameters (turbidity, EC, pH and

Suspended Solids), Nutrients (TKN, NOx and Total Phosphorus) and Heavy Metals (Copper, Lead and Zinc).

This suite of water quality parameters is designed to meet the AMLR catchment reporting requirements but

also includes some primary pollutants responsible for triggering sea grass loss in the ACWS. High turbidity

reduces light penetration in the water column therefore reducing the sea grass’ ability for photosynthesis. A

high nutrient concentration of stormwater discharge can trigger increases in algal growth in the coastal

environment. High algal concentrations also have a negative impact on sea grasses and have contributed to

the decline in sea grass in the ACWS. It is recommended to maintain these parameters as part of future

outfall water quality monitoring programs.

In addition to the identified monitoring gaps on a catchment location level, it is important to address

potential gaps in water quality analysis. The stormwater discharge into the ACWS area comes from

catchments with varying characteristics. These include catchments with farming and vineyards in the north

and south and highly urbanised catchments and stormwater systems in the Adelaide plains. This variation in

catchment characteristic provides scope for many other types of pollutants to be entering the ACWS area.

Examples include pesticides, hydrocarbons, bacteria and litter.

The 2005 Stormwater Audit report identified that herbicides and pesticides may be a small contributor to

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JN141105a Page 99

the stormwater impact on sea grass. In the reporting period 2005-2014, there has been no pesticide

sampling as part of the outfall water quality analysis. Small water quality grab sample programs occurred as

part of MAR wetland preliminary investigations at various locations but there was no ongoing sampling to

determine under what catchment conditions concentrations of pesticides may be detected or be above

guideline thresholds. Incorporating pesticide sampling into future monitoring programs requires a cost

benefit analysis. Pesticides may be a small contributor to sea grass loss compared to high turbidity and high

nutrient concentrations however a rapid spike in pesticide concentrations may occur and go undetected

until consequences are observed in the ACWS area.

The high cost of sample analysis for pesticides makes it prohibitive for an all encompassing program with

regular sampling across all catchments. In the previous report the pesticide concentration data was a small

set of grab samples with many non-detections recorded. Consideration should be given to targeting one or

two catchment outfalls for pesticides monitoring to observe the variation over one year. This information

may then be used to design a monitoring program to achieve maximum value and outcomes for future

pesticide sampling and provide useable data to inform the ACWS.

8.3 Integrating New Monitoring Technologies

During the reporting period, the established monitoring networks of AMLR, SA Water and DEWNR have

upgraded the hydrometric station analogue data loggers with modern PLC style digital data loggers. This has

created opportunity for improvements in monitoring methods, data acquisition and presentation. The data

loggers are also able to be customised on a site by site basis to trigger specific monitoring actions under

certain conditions (e.g. only trigger sampling for rain events over 10mm, or do not sample when king tides

backfill the drain (EC data >15000μS/cm)).

Telemetry systems are utilised at most hydrometric monitoring stations to provide real time data availability

to stakeholders and remote access to the instruments for operation. This enables the data from monitoring

networks to be quickly converted to usable information through graphs and reports, and displayed on

websites. The telemetry systems generally operate using a SIM on the NextG/4G mobile network.

Combining the telemetry system with the modern data logger enables alerts to be triggered based on the

monitoring data. These alerts can be a text message advising of rainfall, flow or any other parameter. The

telemetry system can also receive text messages to perform operational commands.

Future monitoring projects should continue to utilise new technologies as a means of improving the data



Page 100 JN141105a

and reducing the long term costs. AMLR are currently trialling telemetered digital video cameras at

monitoring stations to observe high flow events and assess GPT function. Improvements in water quality

sensors have seen real time turbidity monitoring in operation at many sites. Nutrient sensors have been

developed but are currently cost prohibitive to install across a network of sites. As technology improves,

these costs may reduce and become a viable option instead of sample collection.

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9 Conclusions and Recommendations This report has audited the data available from stormwater monitoring programs in the ACWS catchments

to provide an update of findings from the previous audit report in 2005.

The data period investigated includes 2005 to 2014 but also includes changes to the data sets referenced in

the 2005 stormwater data audit.

Climatic conditions during this period are characterised by the majority of years with below average rainfall.

These drought conditions strained water supplies and stressed the health of the environment.

As a means of improving ecosystem health, environmental flow and water quality Improvement trials were

implemented in the Gawler, Torrens and Onkaparinga Rivers. The water released as part of these trials

comes from the reservoirs in each of the catchments. The water quality in each reservoir has different

characteristics to the lower catchment stormwater runoff due to the high proportion of River Murray water

pumped into the reservoir drinking supplies for Adelaide.

Nationally and state funded catchment management and water proofing strategies were implemented at

many locations throughout the ACWS catchments. These works included the construction of wetlands, MAR

schemes, rain gardens and GPTs. Construction of many of these projects was completed in the final years of

the reporting period. Future monitoring will quantify the effects these schemes are having on the quantity

and quality of stormwater discharge.

Monitoring of stormwater in the ACWS catchments is undertaken by several government agencies. Many of

the gaps in the monitoring programs identified by the previous audit have been filled through the addition

of new monitoring stations. The AMLR NRM Board focus on improving the quality and availability of Outfall

Flow monitoring data has been particularly beneficial for data sharing to meet multiple project goals. The

Outfall Flow network of sites is providing data collected by hydrometric monitoring stations and flow

proportional composite samplers. Local council stormwater monitoring programs are also utilising

monitoring stations and flow proportional composite samplers. This has provided data sets across the ACWS

catchments which are compatible and comparable. The methodologies adopted enable pollutant loads to

be determined by combining the flow data with the flow weighted mean concentration of the pollutant.

To determine the total stormwater discharge into the ACWS area, recorded flow data was supplemented by

rainfall runoff models that were used for estimating the flow from the unmonitored catchments. These

catchments are primarily the Patawalonga catchment stormwater drains discharging directly into the gulf



Page 102 JN141105a

and the southern zone coastal catchments.

The Gawler River has a gauging station at Virginia Park which is used for general reporting as an end of

catchment station. Prior to discharging into the gulf, the Gawler River flows into the Buckland Park Lake.

This storage captures and stores a substantial portion of low flows from the river, therefore reducing the

volume discharging to sea. To provide a more accurate stormwater discharge into the ACWS area, a flow

model was created for the Gawler River and Buckland Park Lake.

The results of the data analysis observed a mean annual stormwater discharge into the ACWS area of

92GL/year between 2005 and 2014. Flow proportional composite sampling was not in operation at all sites

for the reporting period therefore a reduced period of 2009-2014 was used to determine mean annual

water quality pollutant loads. The results observed were 149T/year Total Nitrogen, 14.2T/year Total

Phosphorus and 4140T/year Suspended Solids. Over 50% of each of the total pollutant loads is discharged

from the Torrens, Gawler and Onkaparinga Rivers. These mean annual pollutant loads are derived from the

monitored catchments. The pollutant load discharging into the ACWS area is greater than the observed

totals due to the inputs from the unmonitored catchments.

9.1 Recommendations

9.1.1 Flow monitoring

The Gawler River provides approximately 20% of the annual stormwater discharge to the gulf and 25% of

the measured annual pollutant load. For this and the previous reports the Buckland Park Lake outfall was

modelled using a basic water balance. As Gawler River is one of the major rivers in the ACWS Catchment,

there is benefit in investigating monitoring options for the Buckland Park Lake and its outfall for the purpose

of calibrating the model or commencing a long term data record.

The Stormwater Drainage Network includes several drain outfalls to the gulf. Installing monitoring

equipment on all drains would provide a validated data set but would be a significant outlay of

infrastructure. An alternative method is to set up a model validation program. This would significantly

improve the data output from the model and also provide some real time measurements for direct analysis

of impacts in the ACWS area. An example of the validation program could be having one set of monitoring

instrumentation which is installed a one drain for 5-10 rain events. Once sufficient data has been collected

to verify the model, the instruments are moved to the next drain and the process is repeated. In this

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JN141105a Page 103

example the instrumentation and operation cost is for only one station and over time all of the stormwater

drain models can be verified.

9.1.2 Water Quality Monitoring

Continuously operating water quality sampling programs can be costly due to frequent laboratory analyses.

Turbidity sensors are being utilised across the network to provide real time water quality data in place of

regular water quality sampling. It is recommended to look at opportunities for maximising the value from

the real time turbidity data by investigating whether turbidity thresholds are more important than total

load. For example, is a short period of stormwater discharge with a high turbidity more damaging to the

ACWS area than lower turbidity discharge for a longer time, producing a higher Suspended Solids load

This may depend on the coastal conditions but the opportunity exists to inform the study using real time

data and telemetry systems to trigger alerts or reports. A time series based report for turbidity data could

include the length of time that the turbidity concentration exceeds a trigger value and could relate this to

the potential or observed impact on the ACWS area. This report could be in the style of a risk matrix and be

automatically generated.

In addition to the real time monitoring and flow proportional composite sampling, the data audit identified

that there have been no pesticide sample results at the outfall monitoring locations in the reporting period.

Previous sample analysis observed on several occasions that no pesticides were present. It is recommended

that rather than expend resources on a catchment wide sample run, a target testing regime may provide

more value for investment. Select one catchment and conduct sample runs for different conditions to

determine if pesticides are present and under what conditions. This information can be used to derive a

targeted pesticide program for other catchments with similar characteristics.

During the reporting period water quality improving infrastructure was installed throughout many of the

catchments. The monitoring programs associated with operation of the infrastructure could be incorporated

into greater catchment monitoring and reporting to provide additional data of catchment health and

indicate the success and impact that the schemes are having on the stormwater.

9.1.3 Data and Information

A benefit of the monitoring programs investigated as part of the audit was that the monitoring stations all

have purposes primarily to meet the goals of the organisation operating them but that the data and



Page 104 JN141105a

information collected by the program can be used to meet the objectives of other programs such as the

ACWS. It is recommended to facilitate and maintain discussion about current and future monitoring

programs so that existing and future infrastructure, data and reporting can be leveraged to serve multiple

project goals.

The continual improvement approach taken to monitoring and the implementation of new technologies

since the previous audit have enabled decision making to be more informed, with real time telemetry data

and customised automated reporting. Whilst the primary function of the monitoring station is to collect

data, we now have greater capacity to covert this data into usable and easily accessible information much

faster. The use of telemetry system alerts from the monitoring stations can be used to instigate additional

sampling or flow measurement, and issue a warning, such as the EPA website Coastal Warning for

stormwater discharge. This may be of value for using the stormwater discharge monitoring stations to

trigger a coastal sampling program.

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JN141105a Page 105

10 References

Australian Rainfall and Runoff (AR&R 1987) ‘Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood

Estimation. Vol. 1’, Editor in chief Pilgrim D H, Revised Edition, Barton, ACT. Institute of

Engineers, Australia.

Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges (AMLR 2015a) ‘Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Trash Rack’ website

(http://trashracks.waterdata.com.au)

Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges (AMLR 2015b) ‘Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Surface Water Data’

website (http://amlr.waterdata.com.au )

Brown and Root (Brown and Root 2001) ‘South Western Suburbs Drainage Scheme Review:

Drain 10 and Marino’. Prepared for City of Marion.

City of Onkaparinga (CO 2012), ‘Water Proofing the South Stage 1 Report’, March 2012

(http://www.environment.gov.au/node/24368)

City of Onkaparinga (CO 2013), ‘Water Proofing the South Stage 2 Fact Sheet’, 2013

(http://www.environment.gov.au/node/25201)

DEH (DEH 2015a), ‘Integrated Map of the Patawalonga Catchment’

http://www.asdd.sa.gov.au/asdd/ANZSA0001027006.html

DEH (DEH 2015b), ‘Upgrade Begins for Patawalonga Gates’

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/740a0efe-b390-4e3f-9037-a2ec00d7102b/140312-

patawalonga-gates-upgrade-nws.pdf

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR 2015) ‘Stormwater’

(http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/water-use/water-

resources/stormwater)

Environment Protection Authority SA (EPA 2005) ‘Audit of contemporary and historical quality

and quantity data of stormwater discharging into the marine environment, and field work

programme’, July 2005

Environment Protection Authority SA (EPA 2015), ‘Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring, Evaluation

and Reporting’


http://trashracks.waterdata.com.au/

http://amlr.waterdata.com.au/

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/24368

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/25201

http://www.asdd.sa.gov.au/asdd/ANZSA0001027006.html

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/740a0efe-b390-4e3f-9037-a2ec00d7102b/140312-patawalonga-gates-upgrade-nws.pdf

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/740a0efe-b390-4e3f-9037-a2ec00d7102b/140312-patawalonga-gates-upgrade-nws.pdf

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/water-use/water-resources/stormwater

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/water-use/water-resources/stormwater


Page 106 JN141105a

http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/data_and_publications/water_quality_monitoring/aquatic_ecosyste

m_monitoring_evaluation_and_reporting

Kinhill Pty Ltd , (Kinhill 1997), ‘South Western Suburbs Drainage Scheme Review’ Prepared for

City of Marion and City of Mitcham.

Waterproofing Northern Adelaide Regional Subsidiary, (WNARS 2010),‘Waterproofing Northern

Adelaide Final Report’ September 2010

(http://www.playford.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/WNA_Final_Report_(FINAL).pdf )

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http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/data_and_publications/water_quality_monitoring/aquatic_ecosystem_monitoring_evaluation_and_reporting

http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/data_and_publications/water_quality_monitoring/aquatic_ecosystem_monitoring_evaluation_and_reporting

http://www.playford.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/WNA_Final_Report_(FINAL).pdf


JN141105a Page A1

Appendix A : Trend Analysis Summary



Page A2 JN141105a

Table A1.1 Trend Analysis Results - Outfall SitesSOURCE: AMLR Trend Report 2013, Table 5

Location VARIABLE

Period of Record Start

Period of Record End

Number of Data Points MEDIAN VALUE

Seasonal - Kendall Slope

Trend Significance

(% of median)

Statistically Significant

Trend Detected

A5030547 - Christie Creek D/S of Galloway Road

SS (mg/L) Sep-04 Jul-13 107 49.74 4.224 8.5% Y

TURB (NTU) Mar-01 May-13 95 58.917 2.966 5.0% Y

Ptot (mg/L) Mar-01 Jul-13 149 0.095 -0.0007 -0.7% N

TKN (mg/L) Mar-01 Jul-13 146 0.89465 -0.003532 -0.4% N

NOx (mg/L) Mar-01 Jul-13 146 0.50955 -0.033779 -6.6% Y

A5031010 - Field River u/s Mouth

SS (mg/L) May-10 Jul-13 39 44.163 -7.103 -16.1% N

TURB (NTU) May-10 Jul-13 39 66.131 -7.724 -11.7% N

Ptot (mg/L) May-10 Jul-13 39 0.063 -0.010358 -16.4% N

TKN (mg/L) May-10 Jul-13 39 0.7063 -0.050843 -7.2% N

NOx (mg/L) May-10 Jul-13 39 1.026 0.045755 4.5% N

A5040529 - Torrens River @Holbrooks Road

SS (mg/L) May-96 Jun-13 201 24.34 -0.02 -0.1% N

TURB (NTU) May-96 May-13 66 25.63 0.56 2.2% N

Ptot (mg/L) May-96 Jun-13 196 0.0766 0.000383 0.5% N

TKN (mg/L) May-96 Jun-13 202 0.8419 -0.003584 -0.4% N

NOx (mg/L) May-96 Jun-13 202 0.5733 -0.00032 -0.1% N

A5040549 - Sturt River D/S Anzac Highway

SS (mg/L) May-94 Jul-13 213 26.55 -0.65 -2.4% Y

TURB (NTU) May-94 Jul-13 80 13.98 0.85 6.1% Y

Ptot (mg/L) May-94 Jul-13 213 0.1415 -0.007668 -5.4% Y

TKN (mg/L) May-94 Jul-13 213 1.0164 0.003313 0.3% N

NOx (mg/L) Jun-94 Jul-13 212 0.15605 0.001384 0.9% N

A5040583 - Brownhill Creek @ Adelaide Airport

SS (mg/L) Apr-97 Jul-13 192 19.96 -1.45 -7.3% Y

TURB (NTU) Apr-97 Jul-13 54 14.75 -1.05 -7.1% Y

Ptot (mg/L) Apr-97 Jul-13 192 0.1614 -0.001522 -0.9% N

TKN (mg/L) Apr-97 Jul-13 192 0.90125 -0.009599 -1.1% Y

NOx (mg/L) Apr-97 Jul-13 192 0.1759 0.003553 2.0% N

A5041009 - Barker Inlet Wetlands @ Nthn Outlet #1

SS (mg/L) Jul-07 Apr-13 61 26.98 10.18 37.7% Y

TURB (NTU) May-09 Jul-13 47 47.41 18.59 39.2% Y

Ptot (mg/L) Jun-04 Apr-13 81 0.1989 0.009156 4.6% N

TKN (mg/L) Jun-04 Apr-13 93 1.2817 0 0.0% N

NOx (mg/L) Jun-04 Apr-13 93 0.1389 0.030559 22.0% Y

A5041016 - Kirkcaldy Wetland @ Nash Street

SS (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 98 26.547 2.565 9.7% Y

TURB (NTU) May-09 Jul-13 50 25.224 1.239 4.9% N

Ptot (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 98 0.15215 0.004726 3.1% Y



JN141105a Page A3

Location VARIABLE





Trend Significance

(% of median)


Trend Detected

TKN (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 98 1.0299 0.027761 2.7% N

NOx (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 98 0.2356 0.007638 3.2% N

A5041017 - Barker Inlet Wetlands @ Nthn Outlet #2

SS (mg/L) Jul-07 Jun-13 61 29.406 7.026 23.9% Y

TURB (NTU) May-09 Jul-13 46 31.636 10.391 32.8% Y

Ptot (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 93 0.1398 0.003489 2.5% N

TKN (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 93 1.1005 -0.040863 -3.7% Y

NOx (mg/L) Nov-04 Jun-13 93 0.1828 0.029884 16.3% Y

A5041024 - Range Wetland - outlet

SS (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 45 18.458 5.448 29.5% Y

TURB (NTU) Aug-09 Jul-13 41 36.096 5.78 16.0% N

Ptot (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 45 0.279 -0.023041 -8.3% N

TKN (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 45 1.2637 0.081316 6.4% N

NOx (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 45 0.314 0.116501 37.1% Y

A5041025 - Magazine Wetland - outlet

SS (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 35 18.065 -3.709 -20.5% N

TURB (NTU) Sep-09 Jul-13 34 24.774 3.422 13.8% N

Ptot (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 35 1.4178 0.083557 5.9% N

TKN (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 35 3.5086 0.257414 7.3% N

NOx (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 35 1.68 0.168514 10.0% N

A5050510 - Gawler River @ Virginia

SS (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 36 34.072 -0.474 -1.4% N

TURB (NTU) Aug-09 Jul-13 35 28.738 -1.764 -6.1% N

Ptot (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 36 0.1815 -0.042364 -23.3% Y

TKN (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 36 1.4026 -0.246341 -17.6% Y

NOx (mg/L) Aug-09 Jul-13 36 0.4805 0.092263 19.2% N

Table A1.2 Trend Analysis Results - Preliminary Trend IndicationSOURCE: AMLR Trend

Report 2013, Table 6

Location VARIABLE





Trend Significance

(% of median)


Trend Detected

A5031005 - Onkaparinga River U/S Old Noarlunga

SS (mg/L) Aug-10 Jul-13 36 5.705 3.502 61.4% Y

TURB (NTU) Aug-10 Jul-13 35 5.364 2.693 50.2% N

Ptot (mg/L) Aug-10 Jul-13 36 0.031 0.003732 12.0% N



Page A4 JN141105a

Location VARIABLE





Trend Significance

(% of median)


Trend Detected

TKN (mg/L) Aug-10 Jul-13 36 0.6861 0.164678 24.0% Y

NOx (mg/L) Aug-10 Jul-13 36 0.03295 -0.020013 -60.7% Y

A5031009 - Pedler Creek u/s Mouth

SS (mg/L) Sep-10 Jul-13 29 60.621 15.177 25.0% N

TURB (NTU) Jul-10 Jul-13 31 63.17 7.843 12.4% N

Ptot (mg/L) Sep-10 Jul-13 29 0.1384 0.036135 26.1% Y

TKN (mg/L) Sep-10 Jul-13 29 0.9671 0.133179 13.8% N

NOx (mg/L) Sep-10 Jul-13 29 0.1029 0.01376 13.4% N

A5041014 - Torrens River @ Seaview Rd Bridge

SS (mg/L) Jun-11 Jul-13 26 24.65 30.44 123.5% Y

TURB (NTU) Jul-11 Jul-13 24 21.83 5.41 24.8% N

Ptot (mg/L) Jun-11 Jul-13 26 0.07135 0.009601 13.5% N

TKN (mg/L) Jun-11 Jul-13 26 0.8131 0.036893 4.5% N

NOx (mg/L) Jun-11 Jul-13 26 0.38605 0.041814 10.8% N

A5041041 - Port Road Drain U/S Old Port Road

SS (mg/L) Aug-11 Jun-13 23 12.781 6.63 51.9% Y

TURB (NTU) Aug-11 Jul-13 23 13.138 6.623 50.4% N

Ptot (mg/L) Aug-11 Jun-13 23 0.1522 0.057039 37.5% N

TKN (mg/L) Aug-11 Jun-13 23 0.6764 0.381078 56.3% Y

NOx (mg/L) Aug-11 Jun-13 23 0.2961 -0.019914 -6.7% N


ACWS water data audit report, 2015

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