Ecosystem Health Index Report
Fitzroy Basin Ecosystem Health Index Report Card
Indicators
Phys-Chem
Nutrients
Toxicants
Ecology
Trends
Decline
Maintain
Improve
Confidence
Summary of Results for 2020-21
The overall Ecosystem Health Index for the Fitzroy Basin waterways remained a C (Fair) Grade, with a score of 61. Over 11 years of reporting the Basin condition has remained largely consistent. This indicates that despite significant on-going industry activity, a growing population and climate impacts, the regulations, policy and management practices of industry, agriculture and government are working to maintain a resilient system in the Fitzroy Basin.
Associate Professor Eva Abal
Independent Science Panel Chair
Indicators generally met desired levels. This category was graded "Good" across all 11 freshwater catchments
Indicators had mostly "Good" grades and some "Fair" grades throughout the Fitzroy Basin. Nogoa scored a grade of "Excellent" but only had a few results from a single site.
Indicators scored poorly in five freshwater catchments due to low macroinvertebrate taxa richness. Five catchments had no data to assess.
Overall toxicants in the Fitzroy Basin were mainly fair to poor. This was similar to the previous year and is possibly a reflection of lower-than-average rainfall across the Basin overall.
"Providing a more complete picture of river health for the Fitzroy Basin."
