Catchment to Reef Research Group

The ACTFR Catchment to Reef Research Group (CRRG) is the leading research group in Australia studying the whole continuum of environmental issues from the headwaters of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments to the outer reef. The CRRG leads studies focused on the aims of the GBR Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) and the Reef Rescue Plan. The group contributes extensively to the development of the regional Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIP), in the Douglas Shire, Tully, Black Ross, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday and the Burnett Baffle regions. The group undertakes research into the sources of pollutants (sediments, nutrients and pesticides) from different land uses within catchments; the transport of pollutants through the rivers into the marine environment; the transport and dispersal of land-based pollutants in coastal and marine environments; the exposure of GBR ecosystems to terrestrial land-based pollutants; and the effects of these pollutants on marine ecosystems.

The group undertakes research and management advice in land-based runoff in a number of international projects focused on marine pollution in ASEAN states; oil palm development in Papua New Guinea; catchment management in east-Africa; and lake management in Florida, US.

Our group has strong links to CSIRO Land & Water, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, AIMS, NRMW, the Centre for Water Studies, Monash University, GBRMPA, DEH, JCU (the Botany, Zoology, Earth Sciences and Engineering Departments) and often uses post-graduate students and staff as expert field assistants and sub-consultants. The group has a significant involvement in the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF).