The Laura-Normanby River in southeast Cape York is the fourth largest river system flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. The Laura-Normanby Catchment Area covers an extensive and relatively undeveloped area consisting of numerous riverine and wetland systems, one of Queensland‟s largest conservation areas (Lakefield National Park), sacred aboriginal sites, cattle grazing country and rich agricultural land. The East and West Normanby, Kennedy, Jack and Laura River systems all join to form the Laura-Normanby catchment area. These tributaries flow north from dry savannah and sandstone escarpment country in the southwest and wet tropical rainforest in the southeast, discharging into Princess Charlotte Bay- an area known for its rich and healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.
CYMAG Environmental (CYMAG) and South Cape York Catchments (SCYC) commenced monitoring of ambient water quality in the Laura-Normanby River in October 2006 with funding from the Commonwealth Government‟s Natural Heritage Trust (NHT2) and Caring For Our Country (CFOC). Logistical support has been provided by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (now DERM). Monthly water quality monitoring was conducted by CYMAG and SCYC scientists at 10 sites across the Laura and Normanby Rivers, from the upper reaches of the catchment to the estuary. The aim of the program was to document water quality in the Laura-Normanby River system under ambient flow conditions and to assess potential anthropogenic impacts upon water quality.
This report provides an overview of the results of this monitoring programme, including water quality in the Laura-Normanby River over the 2006 – 2010 sampling period and impacts from various land-uses within the catchment. The report also highlights data gaps and makes recommendations for future water quality sampling.