An on-going and reliable source of environmental data is fundamental for effective natural resource management.
The Derwent Estuary Monitoring Agreement provides the basis for obtaining such data. It was signed in August 2000 by the state government, six local councils and three commercial partners (Norske Skog Boyer, Nyrstar Hobart Smelter and Hobart Water). In 2004 Tasmanian Ports Corporation also joined the program.
To provide better information on the estuary as a whole, the signatories agreed to coordinate their independent monitoring programs. In addition, they agreed to report annually on environmental conditions and trends in the Derwent.
The Derwent Estuary Program and its partners have carried out the following monitoring and science:
The Derwent Estuary Monitoring Agreement provides the basis for obtaining such data. It was signed in August 2000 by the state government, six local councils and three commercial partners (Norske Skog Boyer, Nyrstar Hobart Smelter and Hobart Water). In 2004 Tasmanian Ports Corporation also joined the program.
To provide better information on the estuary as a whole, the signatories agreed to coordinate their independent monitoring programs. In addition, they agreed to report annually on environmental conditions and trends in the Derwent.
The Derwent Estuary Program and its partners have carried out the following monitoring and science:
- Recreational water quality testing during summer months (weekly)
- Whole-of-estuary water quality monitoring (monthly)
- Stormwater outfalls and rivulet monitoring (monthly)
- Seagrass beds surveys
- Mercury levels in flathead and heavy metals levels in shellfish (annually)
- Survey of the values of the Murphys Flat wetland
- Surveys and mapping of foreshore vegetation
- Survey of little penguin habitat and monitoring of breeding success
- Survey of rice grass (annually)
