Estuary Dilution Capacity

This dataset was created to enable comparison across the 184 estuaries in NSW of their relative capacity to buffer the effects of nutrient loads contained in catchment runoff from rainfall events. A large rainfall event representing 10% of the annual catchment runoff was selected for comparative purposes. The ratio of estuary volume to catchment runoff was calculated as a measure of dilution. As an example, a factor of 10 would indicate that the estuary volume is 10 times greater than the runoff from a large rainfall event. Substantial dilution could be expected and therefore only a minor deterioration in water quality. A factor of 0.01 would indicate that catchment runoff is 100 times greater than, and would largely displace, the estuary volume.; ; Dilution ratios were estimated to support the development of a new response-based estuary classification system based on dilution and flushing characteristics. The classification system was used to stratify estuaries in NSW for the development of reference conditions and the design of a sampling program of chlorophyll a, turbidity and associated water quality parameters to assess estuary health.