Lyngbya Monitoring Program

Coverage

The map below highlights drainage basins where sampling has occurred for this program.

Click on map if further drainage basin information is needed.

 

Brisbane

Maroochy

Mary

Moreton Bay Islands

Noosa

Pine

Program start date

2000

Program end date

Ongoing

Objectives of the program

Monitor the presence of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya in South East Queensland (primarily Moreton Bay) to:

• provide a warning mechanism for authorities and the community for the presence of potentially toxic Lyngbya
• provide information to assist understanding of overall ecosystem health and assist research into causes and impacts of Lyngbya.

Who is involved?

Lead organisation

Department of Environment and Resource Management

Contact details of lead organisation: water.data♲derm.qld.gov.au

Partner organisations

Local Governments in South East Queensland (Moreton Bay Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Redland City Council) and South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership

List of indicators monitored

Lyngbya presence and coverage (by category 0-10 %, 10-40 %, 40-70 % and 70-100 %)

Scale of program

Regional scale

Brief description of sampling locations

• Central Moreton Bay (Amity, Maroon and Moreton Banks)
• South-west Moreton Island
• Horseshoe Bay at Peel Island
• Deception Bay
• Pumicestone Passage
• Eastern and Southern Moreton Bay (for example South-west Moreton Island, Peel Island Reef, Pelican Banks, Prices Anchorage, Wangawallen Banks, Deanbilla Bay, Fisherman’s Island and Myora Springs)
• Targetted foreshores in Moreton Bay Regional Council and Redland City Council areas

Frequency of monitoring

Monitoring of Central Moreton Bay (Amity, Maroon and Moreton Banks), south-west Moreton Island, Horseshoe Bay at Peel Island and Deception Bay is conducted monthly, but may be increased to fortnightly if large blooms occur. 

Monitoring of Pumicestone Passage occurs every 2 months. 

Opportunistic inspections in eastern and southern Moreton Bay (for example South-west Moreton Island, Peel Island Reef, Pelican Banks, Prices Anchorage, Wangawallen Banks, Deanbilla Bay, Fisherman’s Island and Myora Springs) may occur if Lyngbya is reported. Local governments also opportunistically inspect relevant foreshores for Lyngbya presence.

Information is collated monthly.

Where is the program reported?

Lyngbya updates