Description of Project

The relative importance of nitrogen and phosphorus loads on modifying ecological processes in Moreton Bay and its estuaries has been posed as a scientific question for over a decade. Depending on the scale at which the impacts are quantified both nitrogen and phosphorus have been suggested to influence ecological processes.

International WaterCentre completed a review for the Moreton Bay Healthy Waterways Partnership which assessed the impacts of phosphorus loads on Moreton Bay and its estuaries, with examination of other studies in coastal systems throughout the world.

The review had three main aims:

• To assess existing data for Moreton Bay and examine the existing information for other coastal bays;
• To formulate a conceptual synthesis of these data; and
• To identify knowledge gaps and scope phase 2.

In doing so it was a requirement that three key questions be addressed:

• 1. Is phosphorus a problem now in Moreton Bay?  Is it likely to be a problem in the future? Is there an interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus?
• 2. Is it likely that an immediate reduction in phosphorus from sewage treatment plants will have any effect(s) on the environment of Moreton Bay?
• 3. What should be the design of a study to scope the issue further (i.e. in the next 12 months)?

In undertaking this review a noteworthy finding was that the management of Moreton Bay, including the recognition of the need to address phosphorus loading issues at this time, may be considered to be on a par with the best in the world.