title: A Paddock to reef monitoring and modelling framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Paddock and catchment component.
abstract: Targets for improvements in water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have been set through the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). To measure and report on progress towards the targets set a program has been established that combines monitoring and modelling at paddock through to catchment and reef scales; the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef Program). This program aims to provide evidence of links between land management activities, water quality and reef health. Five lines of evidence are used: the effectiveness of management practices to improve water quality; the prevalence of management practice adoption and change in catchment indicators; long-term monitoring of catchment water quality; paddock & catchment modelling to provide a relative assessment of progress towards meeting targets; and finally marine monitoring of GBR water quality and reef ecosystem health. This paper outlines the first four lines of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Department of Environment and Natural Resources Management, PO Box 1762, Rockhampton, QLD 4700, Australia. chris.carroll@derm.qld.gove.au
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vardy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Silburn
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attard
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thorburn
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Halpin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058735:Environmental Policy; D006078:Government Programs; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical