River Murray Water Quality Monitoring Data from 1978

Phytoplankton monitoring has been conducted at 12 sites along the River Murray and its tributaries since 1978. The physico-chemical component began with 32 sites, later adjusted to 28 sites in 2012. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority manages this long-term program, with data last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term phytoplankton population trends based on biological parameters like chlorophyll-a.
• Model relationships between physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, and nutrient levels.
• Assess spatial water quality variations across the River Murray and its major tributaries.
• Detect changes in water quality linked to management interventions or environmental events.

Strengths

• Long-term monitoring program established in 1978, providing over four decades of data.
• Phytoplankton monitoring covers 12 fixed sites, including 10 on the main river and 2 at major tributary confluences.
• Physico-chemical parameters include a wide range of measurements such as nutrients, metals, and basic water properties.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The number of physico-chemical monitoring sites and parameters has changed over time, complicating longitudinal analysis.

Provenance

Source

Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Collection Method

Field monitoring program established under the River Murray Water Quality Monitoring Program (RMWQMP).

Time Range

1978 to present

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-15 01:53:08.078977; freshness should be verified.

Geography

River Murray basin, spanning sites in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, from the upper Murray to the Lower Lakes, including the Darling and Murrumbidgee river confluences.