Suspended particulate matter in aquatic environments: turbidity/total suspended solids.
Human induced turbidity can result from a range of land management practices that increase sediment loads within streams. These include clearing of vegetation (particularly of riparian zones), excessive irrigation, and drainage which can lead to river bed and bank erosion, and increased soil erosion associated with rainfall run-off. While some Australian waters have naturally high turbidity, it remains important to monitor for changes in turbidity in these systems.
The supply of good quality water throughout a catchment is the life blood of a community. Water quality impacts on animal production in the following ways:
