1. Southeast Queensland Peri-Urban Supersite
Influence of land use change on the catchment
water balance and nutrient cycle of subtropical
ecosystems
2013 TERN National Symposium
Martin Labadz 1 David Rowlings 1 Michelle Gane 1
Peter Grace 1
1 HealthyEcosystems and Environmental Monitoring
IFE, Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, Australia
19 February 2013

2. Outline
1 Background
2 Project Aims
3 Study Area
4 Methods
5 Results
6 Overall Outcomes
Typical Landscape in the Samford Valley, QLD

3. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Peri-Urbanisation
• Southeast Queensland fastest
growing region in Australia
• Land use change
• Alteration of catchment
water balance Cities
Precipitation
Industry
• More nutrient input into
Agriculture
ecosystems
Runoff
Consequences
⇒ Algal blooms
⇒ Increase in runoff and Groundwater
erosion
⇒ More polluted areas
1 / 26

4. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Peri-Urbanisation
• Southeast Queensland fastest
growing region in Australia
• Land use change
• Alteration of catchment
water balance Cities
Precipitation
Industry
• More nutrient input into
Agriculture
ecosystems
Runoff
Consequences
⇒ Algal blooms
⇒ Increase in runoff and Groundwater
erosion
⇒ More polluted areas
1 / 26

5. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Project Aims
1 Determine baseline conditions of the surface water:
Physico-chemical indicators and all inorganic and organic forms
of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) at an undisturbed site
⇒ Most studies in this area only focus on nitrate – limited
information on other inorganic and organic N and P forms
2 Compare baseline conditions with physico-chemical properties
and nutrient concentrations in the surface water of a more
disturbed site.
⇒ Shows the effect of urbanisation
3 Develop a hydrological model for the catchment to simulate
effects of future land use changes on catchment water balance,
sediment and nutrient transport.
2 / 26

6. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Study Area – Catchment Location
152 0'0''E 153 0'0''E 154 0'0''E
N
Bris
ba
ne
Bribie Island
Ri
27 0'0''S
ver
Moreton
Moreton Island
Bay
e
th Pin
Sou
Samford Valley
BRISBANE North Stradbroke
r
ive Island
er R
iv er
Brem
Lo n R South Stradbroke
ga Island
28 0'0''S
0 25 50 100 Kilometres
3 / 26

7. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Study Area – Catchment Location
152 0'0''E 153 0'0''E 154 0'0''E
Why Samford Valley?
N
Bris
⇒ Easily accessible: only 30 km
ba
ne
from Brisbane Bribie Island
Ri
27 0'0''S
ver
⇒ Established resources network at Moreton
Moreton Island
Bay
SERF e
th Pin
⇒ Historically rural but: Sou
Samford Valley
⇒ 50% increase in population BRISBANE North Stradbroke
r
ive Island
er R
(1996 to 2006) iv e
r
Brem
Lo n R South Stradbroke
ga Island
28 0'0''S
0 25 50 100 Kilometres
3 / 26

8. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Study Area – Catchment Location
152 0'0''E 153 0'0''E 154 0'0''E
Climate (subtropical)
N
Bris
• Mean min–max temperature
ba
ne
range: 8 – 29 ◦ C Bribie Island
Ri
27 0'0''S
ver
• Average annual rainfall: Moreton
Moreton Island
Bay
1060 mm e
th Pin
Sou
• Average monthly rainfall: Samford Valley BRISBANE
r North Stradbroke
highest (December): ive Island
er R
r
150 mm iv e
Brem
Lo n R South Stradbroke
lowest (July): ga Island
28 0'0''S
29 mm 0 25 50 100 Kilometres
3 / 26

9. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Topography
152°48'0"E 152°50'0"E 152°52'0"E 152°54'0"E
¯
GH
#
*
27°22'0"S
27°22'0"S
High: 425 m ASL
PS
Low: 45 m ASL
#
*
27°24'0"S
27°24'0"S
0 0.5 1 2 3 4
Kilometres
4 / 26

10. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Study Approach – Sample Collection
Effects of Peri-
urbanisation on
Catchment Hydrology
Surface Water
Sampling
Physico-chemical
Nutrients
Parameters
Spatial and Climatic
Catchment Information: Soil,
Hydrological Model Land Use, Rainfall
etc.
5 / 26

11. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Surface Water
Physico-chemistry
• 2 sampling sites: Pumpshed and
Glasshouse
• Sampling started in January 2011
• Instrument: YSI Sonde
• Parameters: Temperature, specific
conductivity, pH, temperature, DO
• High-resolution 10-minute data
• Automated recording to Campbell
logger
Sampling setup at the Pumpshed site
6 / 26

12. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Surface Water
Physico-chemistry
• 2 sampling sites: Pumpshed and
Glasshouse
• Sampling started in January 2011
• Instrument: YSI Sonde
• Parameters: Temperature, specific
conductivity, pH, temperature, DO
• High-resolution 10-minute data
• Automated recording to Campbell
logger
Sampling setup at the Pumpshed site
6 / 26

13. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Surface Water
Physico-chemistry
• 2 sampling sites: Pumpshed and
Glasshouse
• Sampling started in January 2011
• Instrument: YSI Sonde
• Parameters: Temperature, specific
conductivity, pH, temperature, DO
• High-resolution 10-minute data
• Automated recording to Campbell
logger
Sampling setup at the Pumpshed site
6 / 26

14. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Surface Water
Creek Discharge
• 2 sampling sites: Pumpshed and
Glasshouse
• Sampling started in January
2011
• Instrument: Sontek Argonaut
• Parameters: Water level, flow
velocity, creek discharge
(m3 s−1 )
• High-resolution 10-minute data
• Automated recording to Backup: Pressure sensor
Campbell logger
7 / 26

15. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Surface Water
Sampling
• Sampling fortnightly from
September 2011
• Stormwater sampling with ISCO
automated sampler
Major Ions
Cations: Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+
Anions: Cl− , SO2−
4
Nutrients
• inorganic N (NO− , NH+ ), organic
3 4
N, tot dissolved N, total N
Surface water sampling
• PO3− , tot dissolved P, total P
4
8 / 26

16. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Results – Physico-chemical Indicators
Ranges of physico-chemical values measured at the Pumpshed and Glasshouse
sampling sites from January 2011 to January 2013a .
Sample Site Temperature Sp. Conductivity pH Turbidity Diss. Oxygen
(◦ C) (µS) (NTU)b (%Sat)
Pumpshed 11.4–26.9 (19.8)1 111–799 (460)1 6.4–7.5 (7.2)1 0–616 (2.1)1 12–92 (77.1)2
Glasshouse 11.1–27.8 (20.5)2 111–904 (480)2 6.1–7.9 (7.1)1 0–710 (4.3)2 6–92 (76.3)1
a Median values in parantheses.
b NTU=Nephelometric Turbidity Units
Numbers in superscript show significance in differences between the two sampling sites.
9 / 26

17. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Results – Physico-chemical Indicators
Temperature Conductivity pH
800
25
7.5
600
µS cm -1
20
°C
7.0
400
15 200 6.5
Turbidity Diss. Oxygen Location
Pumpshed
600 80 Glasshouse
60
400
%Sat
NTU
40
200
20
0
10 / 26

18. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Flow at Pumpshed
60 0
50
100
40
Flow (m sec )
Rainfall (mm)
3 -1
30 200
Blah
20
300
10
0 400
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
12
03
06
09
12
03
06
09
12
03 11 / 26

19. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Flow at Glasshouse
60 0
50
100
40
Flow (m sec )
Rainfall (mm)
3 -1
30 200
Blah
20
300
10
0 400
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
/2
12
03
06
09
12
03
06
09
12
03 12 / 26

20. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Typical Median Nutrient Concentration Ranges
Australia
0.1 and 1 mg N L−1 (Richmond estuary, NSW)
0.009 to 0.16 mg N L−1 (Rous River catchment, NSW)
0.01 to 0.2 mg P L−1 (Richmon estuary, NSW)
Northern Hemisphere
3.4 to 5.4 mg N L−1 (Spain, UK)
0.02 and 0.78 mg P L−1 (Germany)
13 / 26

21. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Nutrients
Ranges of nutrient concentrations measured at the Pumpshed and Glasshouse
sampling sites from September 2011 to January 2013a .
Sample Site NO− -N
3 NH+ -N
4 tot. diss. N tot. N
(mg N L−1 ) (mg N L−1 ) (mg N L−1 ) (mg N L−1 )
Pumpshed 0.02–0.16 (0.02)1 0.004–0.09 (0.04)1 0.29–1.75 (0.7)1 0.32–1.75 (0.7)1
Glasshouse 0.02–0.3 (0.05)2 0.01–0.16 (0.05)1 0.19–1.54 (0.76)1 0.38–1.6 (0.73)2
Sample Site PO3−
4 tot. diss. P tot. P
(mg P L−1 ) (mg P L−1 ) (mg P L−1 )
Pumpshed <0.1 (DL) <0.009 (DL) <0.02
Glasshouse <0.1 (DL) <0.009 (DL) <0.02
a Median values in parantheses.
Numbers in superscript show significance in differences
between the two sampling sites.
14 / 26

22. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Flood 2013
Marcus recovers ISCO sampler.
15 / 26

23. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Total N
2.0
Pumpshed
1.8
Glasshouse 300
Rainfall
1.6
1.4
Rainfall (mm)
-1
1.2 200
mg N L
1.0
0.8
100
0.6
0.4
0.2 0
2
2
3
2
3
O c t1
De c 1
Fe b1
No v 1
Ja n1
16 / 26

24. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Total P
0.30
Pumpshed
0.25 Glasshouse 300
Rainfall
0.20
Rainfall (mm)
0.15
-1
200
mg P L
0.10
0.05 100
0.00
0
2
2
3
2
3
O c t1
De c 1
Fe b1
No v 1
Ja n1
17 / 26

25. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Catchment Hydrological Model
Spatial and Climatic
Catchment Information: Soil,
Hydrological Model Land Use, Rainfall
etc.
Find Most Sensitive
Parameters
Model Calibration
Model
Performance
Indicators
Calibrated Model Model Validation
18 / 26

26. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
What is a hydrological model?
• Water balance driving force of catchment processes
• Real data such as climatic data, soil properties and land use as input
• Continuously measured stream flow
• Model simulates stream flow, nutrient and sediment transport
• Degree of uncertainty in results unknown
⇒ Calibration and validation of simulated parameters to reduce un-
certainty
19 / 26

27. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Selection
The SWAT model
• Soil and Water Assessment Tool developed by USDA
• Applied worldwide for most climatic zones
• Frequently updated (currently SWAT 2012)
• Physically-based, semi-distributed and highly parameterised
• Accounts for spatial variations in physical catchment properties
• Simulates interaction between physical and climatic parameters
• Incorporates shallow groundwater systems
• Simulates water balance, and nutrient and sediment transport
(HRUs)
20 / 26

28. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Selection
The SWAT model
• Soil and Water Assessment Tool developed by USDA
• Applied worldwide for most climatic zones
• Frequently updated (currently SWAT 2012)
• Physically-based, semi-distributed and highly parameterised
• Accounts for spatial variations in physical catchment properties
• Simulates interaction between physical and climatic parameters
• Incorporates shallow groundwater systems
• Simulates water balance, and nutrient and sediment transport
(HRUs)
20 / 26

29. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Selection
The SWAT model
• Soil and Water Assessment Tool developed by USDA
• Applied worldwide for most climatic zones
• Frequently updated (currently SWAT 2012)
• Physically-based, semi-distributed and highly parameterised
• Accounts for spatial variations in physical catchment properties
• Simulates interaction between physical and climatic parameters
• Incorporates shallow groundwater systems
• Simulates water balance, and nutrient and sediment transport
(HRUs)
20 / 26

30. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Approach – Model Selection
Precipitation
Irrigation
Typical
Depths Evapotranspiration
Soil Profile
Su Soil Moisture
2m Root rfa
Zone ce Lateral Flow
Redistribution
Ru
no
Revaporation
ff
25 m
Return Flow Percolation from Shallow/
Transmission
Recharge to Deep Aquifer
Shallow Aquifer Losses
Deep Aquifer After Neitsch et al. (2005)
21 / 26

31. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Input – Land Use
152°50'0"E 152°52'0"E 152°54'0"E
GH
#
*
¯
27°22'0"S
27°22'0"S
Grazing
Intensive animal production
Residential
PS
Nature conservation
#
*
27°24'0"S
27°24'0"S
0 0.5 1 2 3 4
Kilometres
22 / 26

32. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Input – Subcatchments
152°50'0"E 152°52'0"E 152°54'0"E
GH
#
*
¯
27°22'0"S
27°22'0"S
PS
#
*
27°24'0"S
27°24'0"S
0 0.5 1 2 3 4
Kilometres
23 / 26

33. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Model Input – Subcatchments
152°50'0"E 152°52'0"E 152°54'0"E
GH
#
*
¯
27°22'0"S
27°22'0"S
Model setup
• 21 subcatchments
• Multiple numbers of HRUs
PS
#
*
27°24'0"S
27°24'0"S
0 0.5 1 2 3 4
Kilometres
23 / 26

34. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Example Catchment Model
95 PPU
Observed streamflow
Best simulation
3
After Calibration
R2 : 0.96
EF: 0.95
p-factor: 0.92
r-factor: 1.25
Coochin Creek Catchment
24 / 26

35. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Example Catchment Model
95 PPU
Observed streamflow
Best simulation
3
After Validation
R2 : 0.84
EF: 0.83
p-factor: 0.79
r-factor: 0.78
01/2009
04/2009
07/2009
10/2009
01/2010
04/2010
07/2010
10/2010
01/2011
Coochin Creek Catchment
25 / 26

36. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Preliminary Outcomes
• Physico-chemical indicators and nutrient concentrations show
minimal anthropogenic disturbance at both sampling sites.
• Effect of peri-urbanisation visible:
⇒ Significantly higher physico-chemical indicators at the more
disturbed site
⇒ Significantly higher total N at the more distrubed site
⇒ Organic N dominant form of N
Future Work
• Sensitivity analysis and calibration of SWAT model
• Validation of the SWAT model
• Simulation of future land use change scenarios on catchment
hydrology, and nutrient and sediment transport
26 / 26

37. Background Project Aims Study Area Methods Results Overall Outcomes
Preliminary Outcomes
• Physico-chemical indicators and nutrient concentrations show
minimal anthropogenic disturbance at both sampling sites.
• Effect of peri-urbanisation visible:
⇒ Significantly higher physico-chemical indicators at the more
disturbed site
⇒ Significantly higher total N at the more distrubed site
⇒ Organic N dominant form of N
Future Work
• Sensitivity analysis and calibration of SWAT model
• Validation of the SWAT model
• Simulation of future land use change scenarios on catchment
hydrology, and nutrient and sediment transport
26 / 26

38. Acknowledgements
Andy Steven and Geoff Carlin, CSIRO
– Logan/Albert subnode of the Southeast
Queensland Peri-Urban Supersite