7: Management Response

• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Recommended Benchmark Values for Key Water Quality Indicators

7.1 Introduction

The Authority is responsible for the management of the National Capital's Lake Burley Griffin to ensure its sustainable use and to protect and enhance its water quality.

This section covers:

• Recommended benchmark values for key water quality indicators.
• Overview of the water quality monitoring programs.
• Actions arising from the management of pollutants.
• Communications.
• Use of legislation.
• Roles and responsibilities.

7.2 Recommended Benchmark Values for Key Water Quality Indicators

The recommended benchmarks for water quality in Lake Burley Griffin are as follows:

Benchmark values are provided only as a guide. The values for East Basin can be used generally for the Eastern sections of the Lake (i.e Central Basin) whereas the values for the West Basin can be used generally for the western sections of the Lake (i.e West Lake to Scrivener Dam).

Although the development of a benchmark value in this Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) generally follows the Australia-wide National Water Quality Management Strategy procedures, it nevertheless includes some local adaptations.

Instead of defining water quality objectives based on 80th percentile values, this WQMP proposes water quality benchmark values. These benchmark values are close to, but not necessarily exactly, at the 80th percentile values for each data set. The benchmark values as used in this WQMP are based on a combination of statistical analysis and scientific judgement.

The benchmark values will be reviewed from time to time, as new information and research on water quality becomes availabe.