reef water quality protection plan · monitoring and evaluation strategy reef water quality...

Reef Water Quality Protection PlanMonitoring and Evaluation Strategy 2013 – 2018

Contents

Context 3

Purpose 4

Scope 4

Principles 5

Management questions 6

Goal and targets 7

Monitoring and evaluation components 8

Reporting framework 10

Key deliverables 12

Indicative funding 12

Partners 13

Appendix 1—Key actions and deliverables for Reef Plan monitoring and evaluation 14

Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy | Reef Water Quality Protection Plan | www.reefplan.qld.gov.au 2

© The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 2014. Published by the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Secretariat, December 2014, 100 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. However, copyright protects this document. The State of Queensland has no objection to this material being reproduced, made available online or electronically but only if it is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered. Copyright enquiries about this publication should be directed to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, by email to [email protected] or in writing to PO Box 15185, City East Qld 4002. Copies of this publication can be obtained by contacting (07) 3003 9381 or at www.reefplan.qld.gov.au.Image credits: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.


Context

This Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy sets the monitoring and evaluation framework for the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) 2013. It builds upon the previous Reef Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy 2009 and links to the Reef Plan Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2013–2018 and Reef Plan Investment Strategy 2013–2018.

Reef Plan is a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland Governments. Its long term goal is to ensure that by 2020 the quality of water entering the Reef from adjacent catchments has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. This strategy describes the monitoring and evaluation arrangements for Reef Plan.

Reef Plan sets ambitious but achievable targets for improved water quality and land management practices, and identifies actions to improve the quality of water entering the Reef. Measuring progress towards this goal and targets is vital in determining the success of Reef Plan.


Purpose

The Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy 2013–2018 sets the scope and considerations required to develop a coordinated monitoring and evaluation program for Reef Plan. It will enable partners to evaluate, prioritise and continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Reef Plan implementation (‘adaptive management’) and report on progress towards Reef Plan’s goal and targets.

Scope

This strategy includes two inter‑related components:

• measuring Reef Plan outcomes (through the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program) and

• measuring Reef Plan implementation (i.e. reporting on progress against Reef Plan actions).


Principles

Reef Plan monitoring and evaluation arrangements will:

• Build on existing knowledge generated since the commencement of Reef Plan in 2003 and use new research, development and innovation monitoring and reporting programs to ensure efficiencies are maximised.

• Inform adaptive management through effective evaluation of on-ground delivery to enable partners to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their actions.

• Ensure accountability and transparency through the development of clearly defined implementation plans and regular evaluation and reporting of progress towards Reef Plan actions and deliverables.

• Coordinate and integrate monitoring, evaluation and reporting at a range of scales from the paddock to the Reef using management uptake, land condition, water quality and Reef ecosystem health information.

• Integrate with other relevant monitoring and reporting programs in the Great Barrier Reef region including regional report cards.

• Provide a ‘smart’ design which focuses monitoring in key areas and on key pollutants, and uses assessment and modelling tools to measure water quality and ecosystem health improvement across the Great Barrier Reef.

• Coordinate the security, maintenance, use and sharing of data and information from a range of partners and have consistent quality control and interpretation processes.

• Measure and report on progress towards Reef Plan’s goal and targets.


Management questions

The following key management questions support the monitoring and evaluation of Reef Plan.

Measuring Reef Plan outcomes:

• What is the area of land under improved management systems and practices (compared to the baseline)?

• What water quality improvement (for key pollutants) is being achieved due to better land management practices?

• Are catchment condition and function indicators stabilising or showing consistent improvement?

• Has any change in marine water quality or ecosystem health been detected which correlates to a reduction in pollutants entering the Reef?

• What impact is a change in water quality having on the health of the Reef ecosystem and related coastal and aquatic ecosystems?

• Have we improved our understanding of the key risks and management solutions?

• How and where could actions be better targeted to accelerate the water quality improvement and reduce the impact on the Reef ecosystem?

– Which practices are most important?

• Are we making progress toward the Reef Plan goal and targets?

Measuring Reef Plan implementation:

• What progress has been made in delivering the Reef Plan actions and deliverables?

• Have implementation plans been developed and agreed?

• Have the deliverables been met within agreed timeframes?

• Were the actions the most appropriate and did they achieve the intended outcomes?

• What could be done differently to improve overall efficiency of Reef Plan management and implementation?

• Were the priorities for investment appropriate and targeted in the most efficient way?


Goal and targets

The Reef Plan goal and targets are a key element of the Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy. Progress towards the Reef Plan goal and targets is measured through the Paddock to Reef program and reported through Reef Plan report cards.

Reef Plan’s long term goal is to ensure that by 2020 the quality of water entering the Reef from broadscale land use has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

Targets for land management and water quality improvement have been set to help identify a pathway towards that goal. Both the goal and targets are considered ambitious and give all partners something to aspire to.

Some will be more challenging to meet than others, but overall, they seek to move land management to best practice in as wide an area as possible which will have positive water quality benefits for the Reef.


Monitoring and evaluation components

Measuring Reef Plan outcomesThe Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef program) was established in 2009, funded jointly by the Australian and Queensland Governments. It is an innovative approach to integrating monitoring and modelling information, linking land management practices in catchments to the health of the Reef (see Figure 1, page 9).

The program applies a modelling framework supported by monitoring data to report progress in the short term. The program design involves monitoring and modelling various attributes at a range of scales including management practices, catchment indicators and water quality at the paddock and catchment levels as well as water quality and ecological responses in the adjacent Reef.

This approach provides the ability to link the monitoring and modelling outputs at each scale and across scales. The program is founded on the key principles of adaptive management and continuous improvement. It integrates the best available information, recognising that data confidence varies across the indicators and regions.

The core objective of the Paddock to Reef program is to measure and report progress towards the Reef Plan goal and targets through an annual Reef Plan Report Card. In addition, the program provides information that enables partners to evaluate, prioritise and continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Reef Plan implementation at Great Barrier Reef‑wide and regional scales.

There are 10 inter‑related components of the program which are integrated through a common assessment and reporting framework:

• Management practice adoption

• Paddock monitoring

• Paddock modelling

• Groundcover

• Riparian vegetation

• Wetland extent

• Wetland functions and values assessment

• Catchment loads monitoring

• Catchment modelling

• Marine monitoring.

The Paddock to Reef program was reviewed in 2012–2013. The findings of this review informed the funding arrangements and the program redesign for 2013–2018. The Program Design 2013–2018 sets out the objectives, design elements and implementation processes for the program from 2013 to 2018. The Program Design will be reviewed annually to ensure it is effectively meeting the objectives.

water quality and economic modelling

water quality modelling water quality modelling

The Integrated Paddock to Reef Monitoring,Modelling and Reporting Program

Paddock Catchment Marine

Plot scale rainfallsimulation trials

Adoption of improved management practices

Water quality monitoring of key pollutants under improved management practices

Water quality monitoring of key pollutants at sub-catchment and end-of-catchment sites

Wetland mapping

Water quality (flow) monitoring

Remote sensing of groundcover and riparian areas

Remote sensing of pollutant flood plumes

Seagrass abundance and health monitoring

Grab sampling of water quality during flood events

Water quality loggers and passive samplers

Coral reef health monitoring


Measuring Reef Plan implementation Reef Plan outlines a suite of clearly defined actions and deliverables. Lead accountable entities are responsible for developing implementation plans and regularly reporting on progress.

In most cases, supporting organisations will also be required to deliver elements of the implementation plan. Identification of resources for the delivery of implementation plans are the responsibility of accountable entities and supporting organisations and are beyond the scope of this strategy.

Regular evaluation and reporting in the form of progress reports and an independent audit in 2016 will help to ensure accountability for the delivery of actions. These progress reports will also be used to ensure Reef Plan actions and implementation arrangements are responsive and continuously improved, based upon the latest information and knowledge as part of an adaptive management approach.

The actions and deliverables relevant to monitoring and evaluating Reef Plan’s performance are listed in Appendix 1.

Figure 1: Key components of the Paddock to Reef program

* It is anticipated the eReefs project will deliver a receiving water model that will close the gap in modelling from the end of catchments to the marine environment.


Reporting framework

The Paddock to Reef program collects a wealth of data and information to inform management and investment at Great Barrier Reef‑wide and regional scales. Reporting is driven by evaluating progress towards the Reef Plan goal and targets (including the Australian Government Reef Programme and the Reef 2050 Long‑Term Sustainability Plan, which is being developed).

This section outlines the reporting approach and requirements for Reef Plan report cards, the primary output of the Paddock to Reef program. Reporting will be at the Great Barrier Reef‑wide and regional scales (and catchment scales where possible and appropriate).

Reporting principlesThe following principles have been developed to guide reporting:

• Annual report cards will be delivered by September the year after data collection unless extenuating circumstances occur.

• Objectivity and a level of independence is recognised as critical to the rigour and acceptance of report card findings.

• Inclusiveness of key stakeholders will ensure best available information is used and

there is trust and ownership of findings and management responses.

• Information generated by the Paddock to Reef program on the effectiveness of management interventions will be disseminated to stakeholders in a timely fashion to help with prioritising investment and actions.

• Variability in pollutant loads from year‑to‑year, due to events such as floods, will be accounted for by modelling the annual changes due to management interventions over a standard long‑term climate record.

• The marine and catchment environments are also strongly influenced by factors such as variable and extreme weather and this should be incorporated in the reporting.

• Reporting should focus on documenting progress towards targets and the health and condition of the Reef and its associated high value wetlands.

Scheduling and frequency As outlined in Reef Plan 2013, a report card based upon the financial year, is to be published annually (see Table 1).

Table 1: Report card schedule and frequency (past and future)

Report Card Reporting period Release Date

First Report Card 2008–2009 Baseline August 2011

2010 (Second) Report Card Progress from the baseline up to June 2010 April 2013

2011 Report Card Progress from the baseline up to June 2011 July 2013

2012–2013 Report Card Progress from the baseline up to June 2013 June 2014

2014 and future report cards Progress from 2014 onwards September 2015 and September each following year


Report card productsA simple and consistent presentation format will be used across report card products, including “traffic light metrics” to indicate progress towards targets. The categories for report card scores will need to be updated to accommodate the changed targets for management practices, pollutant loads and groundcover. The reporting products (see Figure 2) to support the Reef Plan report cards recognise there are a range of products tailored to different audiences; all of which are publicly available:

• Tier 1—Summary Report Card (hard copy and website delivery).

– Provides summary report card results for the Great Barrier Reef catchment and six regions.

• Tier 2—Supporting technical information (website delivery only).

– Provides all report card results and summary methods.

• Tier 3—Detailed supporting technical reports (a range of technical reports and papers delivered by website or hard copy depending on the publication).

– Provides detailed results and methods for each component (and sub component) of the Paddock to Reef program.

Review processesThe Reef Secretariat, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, coordinates the production of the Reef Plan report cards. The formal technical review process for report cards is:

1. Peer review of the draft report card results, methods and supporting technical reports for each component.

2. Submission of the draft report card results, methods and supporting data to the Reef Secretariat.

3. Reef Secretariat develops the summary report.

4. Coordination and Advisory Group review.

5. Independent Science Panel review.

In addition to the above report card review steps, components (or sub components) of the program are also reviewed externally as necessary.

ApprovalsThe Intergovernmental Operational Committee reviews and approves the report card package. As part of this review, the Intergovernmental Operational Committee will seek comments from the Partnership Committee on draft results. The release of the report card package is subject to Australian and Queensland Government Ministerial approvals.

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 1

Report card websiteSummary ▶

Supporting results and summary methods ▶Detailed ▶ supporting technical reports

Figure 2: Reef Plan reporting products

Indicative funding

The Paddock to Reef program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments. Table 2 shows the current funding arrangements for phase two of the program from 2013–2018. Total funding for the program is approximately $8 million per annum. The majority of this funding is dedicated to the capture and interpretation of data and information through monitoring and modelling. Program management and the production of the annual report card costs approximately $150,000 per annum (less than two per cent of the overall budget).

Australian Government funding focuses predominantly at the paddock and marine scales. This is complemented by Queensland Government funding directed to catchment scale monitoring, modelling and mapping activities. Australian Government funding is provided through the Australian Government Reef Programme. Queensland Government funding is predominantly provided through the Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Investment Program 2013–2018 with additional departmental contributions.

Table 2: Paddock to Reef Program funding arrangements

Component AG funding QG funding

Management Practice adoption

Paddock monitoring

Paddock modelling

Wetlands, riparian and groundcover

Catchment monitoring

Catchment modelling

Marine monitoring


Key deliverables

The actions and deliverables relevant to Reef Plan monitoring and evaluation arrangements are outlined in Reef Plan 2013 and in Appendix 1. How the actions and deliverables will be met is described in detail in the implementation plans for actions 7, 8 and 9. Further detail can also be found in the Paddock to Reef Program Design 2013–2018.


Partners

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (through the Reef Plan Secretariat) is accountable for the delivery of the Reef Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy including oversight of the Paddock to Reef program and report cards.

Implementation of the monitoring and evaluation arrangements will involve significant contributions by the following partners:

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)

• Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP)

• Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)

• Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA)

• Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (QDAFF)

• Australian Government Department of the Environment

• Australian Government Department of Agriculture

• Regional Natural Resource Management bodies (Regional NRM bodies)

• Industry groups

• Research organisations

• Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBR Foundation).


Appendix 1—Key actions and deliverables for Reef Plan monitoring and evaluation

Action 7—Develop and implement an updated Reef Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of Reef Plan.

• Update the Reef Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (DPC).

• Prepare Reef Plan report cards to report on the progress towards Reef Plan goals and targets (DPC).

• Report on effectiveness of Reef Plan implementation (DPC).

• Undertake independent audit and evaluation of Reef Plan (DPC/Department of the Environment).

• Report on integration of the Paddock to Reef program with other relevant monitoring and reporting programs in the Great Barrier Reef region as part of an Integrated Monitoring Framework (GBRMPA/DPC).

Action 8—Implement an updated Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting (Paddock to Reef) Program.

• Update the Paddock to Reef program design (IOC).

• Review Paddock to Reef program design (IOC).

• Implement the updated Paddock to Reef program including monitoring and annual reporting (DPC).

• Industry uptake of management practices and systems, under an agreed framework, that can input directly into Paddock to Reef modelling and reporting against targets (QDAFF/Agricultural industry).

• Annual fertiliser and pesticide use data collection arrangements are agreed (Regional NRM bodies).

• Fertiliser and pesticide use data collected and reported (Regional NRM bodies).

• Paddock scale water quality monitoring and modelling to measure effectiveness of management practices, including a focus on critical practices that reduce pollutant losses significantly (Department of the Environment/DNRM with support from DSITIA).

• Catchment pollutant loads monitored (DSITIA with support from DNRM).

• Catchment pollutant loads modelled (DNRM with support from DSITIA).

• Groundcover and wetlands and riparian vegetation monitored (DSITIA).

• Inshore marine water quality and ecosystem health monitored (GBRMPA).

Action 9—Improve data and information management to support Reef Plan data sharing, assessment and reporting.

• Test automation of the Reef Plan report card (DPC/GBR Foundation).

• Store and maintain paddock and catchment data within the Spatial and Scientific Information Management for Reef (SSIMR) environment (DNRM).

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