Baseline water quality of the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia)

This study establishes baseline water quality characteristics for the Gold Coast Broadwater, southern Moreton Bay (Australia) utilising routinely monitored parameters between 2016 and 2021, across 18 sites. Combined site mean concentrations of NO_x-N, NH₃-N and total nitrogen were 11.4 ± 33.4 μg/L, 12.7 ± 27.2 μg/L, and 169 ± 109 μg/L, respectively, whilst PO₄-P and total phosphorous were 7.30 ± 5.10 μg/L and 21.7 ± 14.1 μg/L. Additionally, total suspended solids and turbidity combined site means were 6.6 ± 6.0 mg/L and 3.4 ± 2.9 NTU, respectively. During high rainfall periods nutrient concentrations increased by up to >200-, >150-, 15-, 12- and >12-fold for NO_x-N, NH₃-N, TN, PO₄-P and TP, respectively, compared to quiescent conditions. Furthermore, TSS and NTU values increased by up to 15- and 40-fold during periods of measured rainfall compared to quiescent conditions.