Two decades of shared science and natural resource management history
For more than 20 years, NQ Dry Tropics and JCU’s TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research) have collaborated to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Burdekin catchment and beyond.
The partnership began in 2003, shortly after NQ Dry Tropics was formed under its original name, Burdekin Dry Tropics.
At the time, JCU TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research) Director Professor Damien Burrows provided scientific input that helped guide the creation of North Queensland’s first-ever Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan — a foundational document for the protection of land, water, and biodiversity in the region.
Since then, the two organisations have co-delivered numerous science-based projects, combining world-class research with on-ground actions to improve ecosystem health and land management practices.
Science in action: how TropWATER supports NQ Dry Tropics projects
TropWATER researchers play a critical role in delivering and evaluating NQ Dry Tropics’ NRM projects.
Their contributions include:
- water quality monitoring;
- fish population and biodiversity surveys;
- catchment modelling and sediment tracing;
- training for landholders; and
- strategic planning and technical advice.
Their science underpins many of the activities designed to reduce the impacts of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides on the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon’s coral reefs, seagrasses, and aquatic species.
Scott Fry, Wetlands Team Leader at NQ Dry Tropics, said TropWATER’s research in the early 2000s provided the first comprehensive scientific snapshot of Lower Burdekin wetlands and waterways.
“Their work helped us identify high-priority areas for rehabilitation, and that insight has continued to guide our efforts to restore fish passage, improve wetland health, and engage local communities,” he said.
Bridging the gap between science and the paddock
A major benefit of this partnership is its ability to connect scientists directly with landholders.
Professor Burrows said TropWATER’s collaboration with NQ Dry Tropics fostered meaningful conversations between researchers and graziers.
“We’re breaking down barriers and building trust,” he said.
“When scientists and landholders work together, we get practical outcomes that benefit people and the environment.
“This connection is especially evident in community-driven water monitoring projects.”
Citizen science: tracking sediment to improve water quality
As part of the Landholders Driving Change project, TropWATER scientists trained graziers in Bowen and Collinsville to collect water samples from their creeks following rainfall events.
The initiative helped:
- trace the origins of suspended sediment;
- identify erosion hotspots;
- measure the effectiveness of gully remediation; and
- inform better land management strategies.
Samples were collected by graziers and refrigerated on-farm until NQ Dry Tropics staff retrieved them for lab analysis.
Rob Hunt, NQ Dry Tropics’ Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager, said the results created an active feedback loop.
“Graziers gained new insights into how their soil types responded to rainfall, and that knowledge helped shape management decisions,” he said.
Electrofishing surveys: engaging communities through aquatic health monitoring
To monitor the health of freshwater ecosystems, NQ Dry Tropics regularly partners with TropWATER to conduct electrofishing surveys in key waterways.
Using a specially equipped boat, scientists deliver a mild electrical pulse that stuns fish momentarily, allowing them to be measured and released unharmed.
These surveys help track fish populations — including iconic species like barramundi — and assess ecosystem health.
Community Event
At a community event at Lilliesmere Lagoon in 2019, following a major fish kill caused by low oxygen levels, TropWATER scientists Dr Nathan Waltham and Dr Adam Canning spoke with locals about how water quality affected fish populations.
A live electrofishing demonstration brought science to life, creating excitement and boosting community interest in conservation.
Partnership strengthened by new ties
For more than 20 years, NQ Dry Tropics and JCU’s TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research) have collaborated to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Burdekin catchment and beyond.
This strategic partnership was further strengthened in 2023 when TropWATER’s long-serving Director, Professor Damian Burrows, joined the NQ Dry Tropics Board, bringing with him deep scientific knowledge and a lifetime of research expertise in tropical freshwater and estuarine systems.
