Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Changes In Water Quality Following Tidal Inundation Of Coastal Lowland Acid Sulfate Soil Landscapes, Scott Johnston, Richard Bush, Leigh Sullivan, Edward Burton, C Smith, Michelle Martens, Angus Mcelnea, Colin Ahern, Bernard Powell, Luisa Stephens, Steven Wilbraham, Simon Van Heel

Associate Professor Edward D Burton

This study examines the remediation of surface water quality in a severely degraded coastal acid sulfate soil landscape. The remediation strategy consisted of partial restoration of marine tidal exchange within estuarine creeks and incremental tidal inundation of acidified soils, plus strategic liming of drainage waters. Time-series water quality and climatic data collected over 5 years were analysed to assess changes in water quality due to this remediation strategy. A time-weighted rainfall function (TWR) was generated from daily rainfall data to integrate the effects of antecedent rainfall on shallow groundwater levels in a way that was relevant to acid export dynamics. …