A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers

Lukacs, G.P. and Finlayson, C.M. (eds) 2008. A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern Tropical Rivers. Sub project 1 of Australia's Tropical Rivers - an integrated data assessment and analysis (DET18). A report to Land & Water Australia. Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, National Centre for Tropical Wetland Reseacrh, Townsville, Queensland.
9 reports cover the following topics: geomorphology, estuaries, hydrology, riparian vegetation, water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, freshwater fish, aquatic reptiles and waterbirds
http://www.environment.gov.au/ssd/tropical-rivers/triap-sp1.html

Printed copy available at NRETAS and DPI Library

Seasonal tidal and freshwater chemistry of the south Alligator and Daly rivers

Chappell, John and Ward, Peter. 1985 in Coasts and Tidal Wetlands of the Australian Monsoon Region, eds K.N. Bardsley, J.D.S Davie and C.D. Woodroffe, Australian National University North Australia Research Unit Mangrove Monograph no.1, Darwin.
Describes major changes in inorganic chemical properties of two large tidal rivers, the Daly and the South Alligator, through the wet-dry season cycle. Wet season water quality is determined largely by flood runofffrom the catchment. Dry season chemistry is affected by turbulent diffusion of seawater upstream.

Copy in NRETAS and DPI Library

The role of substrate type on benthic diatom assemblages in the Daly and Roper Rivers of the Australian wet-dry tropics

S. Townsend and P. Gell
Hydrobiologia, 548, 1, 101-115, 2005
In the wet/dry tropics of Australia, where the use of benthic diatoms for river health assessment is in its infancy, the comparability of diatom assemblages on river substrata has been assessed. Benthic diatoms were sampled from seven river sites, with a range of ionic chemistries but low nutrient concentrations.

Assessing the potential for algal blooms in clear water phase tropical rivers

G. Ganf and N. Rea
Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation

An assessment of the potential for algal blooms in the Darwin Harbour, Daly River, Bynoe and Roper River catchments NT examined whether the target rivers supported viable inoculum of major algal groups, the potential growth responses of algal populations to nutrient enrichment, the potential for algal populations to persist under a range of discharges and river length, and whether the parameters defining a pseudo P/l curve responded to the alleviation of nutrient stress. Algal blooms can be a serious event and can be caused by agricultural activities within the catchment area. If the Daly River has a high potential for algal blooms then this should be taken into consideration.

The Transport of Pesticide in Surface Runoff from Agricultural Catchments to the Douglas River

N. Peerzada and M. Dilshad
Wheat Research Council,

Daly River Catchment, Part 2: Accompany Sub-catchment information

J. J. Faulks
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

This report contains Daly River sub-catchment information including sub-section maps, river cross-section diagrams and riverine vegetation profiles or lists.

This is the part 2 of the Daly River Catchment report, providing more information on the sub-catchment.

Daly River Catchment, Part 1: An Assessment of the Physical and Ecological Condition of the Daly River and its Major Tributaries

J. J. Faulks
Top End Waterways Project,

The overall aim of the project was to assess, describe and report on the land and water resources of the major waterways in the Katherine Region of the Northern Territory and to prepare for publication a comprehensive report on each of those waterways. Throughout 1995 -1997 the major tributaries within the Daly River and Victoria River catchments were assessed. This report provides an assessment of the Daly River catchment and major tributaries, in terms of the physical and environmental condition of these streams at the time of survey. The use and management of the waterways within the Daly River catchment have been identified,
major river management issues have been highlighted and broad river management recommendations have been proposed.

A report that provides overall summaries on the condition of the Daly River, as well as summaries of the condition of the sub-catchments. Also included are broad management issues and recommendations.

An analysis of primary production in the Daly River, a relatively unimpacted tropical river in northern Australia

I. Webster, N. Rea, A. Padovan, P. Dostine, S. Townsend and S. Cook
Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 3, 303-316, 2005

The dynamics of primary production in the Daly River in tropical Australia are investigated. The study investigated how primary production and respiration evolve during the period of low flow in the river (April–November). The relationship between primary production and the availability of light and nutrients enabled the role of these factors to be assessed in a clear, oligotrophic tropical river.

The Darwin-Daly regional AUSRIVAS models - Northern Territory

G. Lamche
Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Aquatic Health Unit,

This manual details the procedures necessary to carry out a stream health assessment using the Darwin-Daly regional models based on genus or family-level identification. It also includes sections of the NT AUSRIVAS sampling and processing manual originally developed by Lloyd & Cook (1998).

http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/water/aquatic/publications/2007.html

Comparison of genus and family level AUSRIVAS models for the Darwin-Daly region and relation to land use

G. Lamche and Y. Fukuda
NRETA, Aquatic Health Unit,

Genus and family levels of the AUSRIVAS model were compared based on the observed to expected ratio scores obtained. The genus level model was assessed as being more sensitive and allowed for some level of land use explanation. If resources allow the genus level model is recommended, however the family level model is acceptable for stream health assessment.

http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/water/aquatic/publications/index.html

Factors contributing to a fish kill in the Australian wet/dry tropics

S. A. Townsend, K. T. Boland and T. J. Wrigley
Water research
26, 8, p1039-1044, 1992-08

The hydrological and limnological factors associated with the death of 5000 fish, comprising 18 species, in Donkey Camp Pool on the Katherine River NT after the 1987-88 wet season are discussed. On the evidence presented, the fish kill is primarily related to natural causes associated with low oxygen concentrations in the pool resulting from the displacement of pool water with cooler runoff from the Maude Creek catchments which carried a substantial organic load and had a high oxygen demand. Humic compound toxicity may have also contributed. The event highlights the potential impact of storm runoff on receiving waters in the wet/dry tropics.

Environmental Water Requirements of Vallisneria nana in the Daly River, Northern Territory

N. Rea, P. Dostine, P. Cook, I. Webster and D. Williams
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Repo2t 35/2002

This project focuses on the major riverine plant, Vallisneria nana R.Br., beds of which are a keystone habitat. Macrophytes play a role in providing food, breeding sites and refuge for animals, and in the cycling of nutrients, metals and carbon. They slow currents, trap organic matter, sediments and nutrients, reduce turbidity, stabilise banks, increase shade and reduce water temperatures. Vallisneria species were once considerably abundant in the regulated inland rivers of south-eastern Australia. Their loss is attributed to adverse changes in water quality and flow. The loss of V. nana would cause a cascade of adverse changes across the food web. The overall project objective was to make recommendations about the environmental conditions needed to sustain V. nana and its functional role in the Daly River.

The Effects of Artificial Sources of Water on Rangeland Biodiversity: Final report to the Biodiversity Convention and Strategy Section of the Biodiver

J. Landsberg, C. D. James, S. R. Morton, J. Hobbs, J. Stol, A. Drew and H. Tongway
CSIRO, Division of Wildlife and Ecology and Environment Australia

The study aimed to determine the effects of the provision of artificial waters and of the grazing it allows, on the native plants and animals inhabiting two of the major biomes of inland Australia. The study was based on field surveys which sampled biodiversity along gradients in grazing intensity extending out from artificial water sources. Given how widespread artificial waters have become throughout the rangelands, the results suggest that some 15-38% of species are at risk of declining substantially throughout these lands. Although similar proportions of species are favoured by the provision of water and grazing, and from 36-75% seem unaffected by it, the challenge is to develop strategies that will provide for the persistence of the vulnerable decreased species.

Although this study is directly related to the Daly Region, with the plans for future development and maybe an increase in artificial water sources, it is important to be aware of their effects.

A compilation of surface water data for the Douglas Daly area, Draft

Drainage Irrigation and Hydrochemistry sectionWater Division,

http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/hpa-services/techreport?report_id=WRD82003

The impacts of the Northern Australian grazing industry on the wetlands and riparian habitats

M. Douglas and A. M. Poliot
Meat and Livestock Australia,

A predictive model for assessment of stream health in the Darwin-Daly region of the Northern Territory using mostly genus level data

P. L. Dostine Dept of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Natural Resource Management

Patterns in macroinvertebrate community composition and recommendations for monitoring in the Daly River system

P. Dostine
Department of Lands Planning and Environment

This project contributed to the development of a broad-scale monitoring programme for aquatic ecosystems in the Daly River basin, a priority catchment in the Northern Territory. Objectives of the study are to describe patterns in macroinvertebrate community composition at two levels of taxonomic resolution and to make broad recommendations on the design of monitoring programmes for stream and river environments in the Daly River system. Further work will lead to the construction of catchment-specific predictive models using data from fine-scale taxonomic description of community structure.

Macroinvertebrates are a useful assessment tool, to monitor the health of stream environments. Some species/families will only been found in certain healthy conditions.

A wet season water quality survey in the Daly River basin

Northern Territory Water Resources Division
Timor Sea drainage division, 1985-09

This report contains the data collected on a wet season water quality survey in the Daly River Basin NT in 1984. The data is presented in tables and in graphs showing water constituent levels against location in the river system. There is an area map for the river (A).

Baseflow water quality surveys in rivers in the Northern Territory, Volume 2: Finniss and Daly Rivers

Water Resources Division
Department of Mines and Energy

This report contains the data collected on baseflow water quality surveys of the Finniss and Daly Rivers in the Northern Territory. The surveys were performed by Water Quality staff of the Water Resources Division, Department of Mines and Energy. The work was done in the Dry season of 1980, 1981, 1982. The data is presented in tables and in graphs showing water constituents levels against location in the river system. There is a catchment map for each river.

A number of plates are contain within the report, which indicates the condition of the sites studied, capturing the condition of the Daly River in the 1980's.

Baseflow water quality survey Oct 1982 : photographs showing the points sampled for water quality in the Daly river and its tributaries

Water Resources Division Water Quality section,

http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/hpa-services/techreport?report_id=WRD83090