Water quality
As part of our water quality monitoring program we assess the water quality and ecosystem health of an estuary using a range of relevant indicators. We sample a subset of the estuaries located between the Queensland border and Taree every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Moonee Creek was completed over the 2021–22 summer when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.
![Moonee Creek water quality report card for algae and water clarity showing colour-coded ratings (red, orange, yellow, light green and dark green, which represent very poor, poor, fair, good and excellent, respectively). Algae is rated 'good' and water clarity is rated 'good' giving an overall rating of 'good' or 'B'.](/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Topics/Water/Estuaries/Water-quality-report-cards/moonee-creek-water-quality-report-card-2021-nl.png?la=en&hash=A94ADBBFB832244F73FF6F72407457F4)
This report card represents 2 water quality indicators that we routinely measure: the amount of algae present and water clarity. Low levels of these 2 indicators equate with good water quality.
The report card shows the condition of the estuary was good with:
- algae abundance graded good (B)
- water clarity graded good (B)
- overall estuary health graded good (B).
Coffs Harbour City Council in collaboration with the University of New England’s EcoHealth program have carried out detailed ecosystem health monitoring in Moonee Creek. The results of the monitoring program, including a detailed water quality report card, are available on the Coffs Harbour City Council website.
Find out more about our estuary report cards and what each grade means. Read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols and find out how we calculate these grades.
We have monitored water quality in Moonee Creek since 2009. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
![Moonee Creek historic water quality grades from 2009-10 for algae and water clarity. Colour-coded ratings (red, orange, yellow, light green and dark green represent very poor (E), poor (D), fair (C), good (B) and excellent (A), respectively).](/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Topics/Water/Estuaries/Water-quality-report-cards/Historic-report-card-grades/moonee-creek-historic-water-quality-grades-table-nl.png?la=en&hash=C875E4B19962B83C61811AD738E50849)
Grades for algae, water clarity and overall are represented as:
- A – excellent
- B – good
- C – fair
- D – poor
- E – very poor.