Monitoring waterways benefits in South East Queensland
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Project Aims and Outcomes
The Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) is a comprehensive and scientifically robust waterway monitoring program managed by Healthy Land and Water that has monitored and assessed the health and waterway benefits of South East Queensland’s creeks, rivers, estuaries and Moreton Bay. The Waterway Benefits Rating (introduced in 2015) helps to better understand how social and economic values will be affected by changing environmental conditions.
The results are reported annually in the Healthy Land & Water Report Card. The purpose of including the social indicators in the Report Card is to help encourage individuals, industry, communities of practice and governments to act in ways that improve or sustain the condition of catchments and the services they provide.
The results are reported annually in the Healthy Land & Water Report Card. The purpose of including the social indicators in the Report Card is to help encourage individuals, industry, communities of practice and governments to act in ways that improve or sustain the condition of catchments and the services they provide.
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MethodA community survey of South East Queensland residents is carried out annually. This provides a representative subsample of the population within each reporting zone. The survey is administered through a 20-minute online survey with respondents recruited using panel data (more than 3000 people per year) who are adults (18+) living in South East Queensland. Indicator scores are calculated as the percentage of survey respondents within a catchment who positively report satisfaction/usability/importance of local waterways.
Four indicators of social benefit are measured to help managers identify the elements of communities in each catchment that facilitate action: 1. Satisfaction with experience of local waterways. 2. Usability and accessibility. 3. Personal benefits. 4. Connection with nature and waterways |
Project Team
The project is led by Dr Angela Dean, University of Queensland. The social monitoring is funded by Healthy Land and Water as part of the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP).
Project Partners
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