The Stream

The $9.8 million Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program (ECYWQP) was concluded in 2025, but the legacy lives on. Some of the lasting achievements of the ECYWQP include stopping approximately 2000 tonnes per year of fine sediment from flowing to the Great Barrier Reef through fire and erosion control projects; the development of Best Management Practice guidelines to reduce erosion from road and tracks; and documenting sediment loads flowing to the GBR from Eastern Cape York rivers. Our ECYWQP 'Legacy Project' documented Future Priorities for investments in water quality improvement.

After a busy 4+ years of the ECYWQP, we dove straight into the DCCEEW Landscape Repair Program (LRP) with Cape York NRM. Cape York Water Partnership (CYWP) has led the development of the Eastern Cape York Water Quality Strategy for this challenging sediment reduction program.

CYWP have started an exciting project measuring the impacts of hooved animals on wetlands carbon and biodiversity, working in partnership with the Normanby Station, Muuntiwarra and Rinyirru Traditional Owners, and the University of Queensland.

We continue our core sediment load monitoring work focusing on the Annan, Endeavour, Starcke, Normanby and Pascoe Rivers, in joint partnerships with the Traditional Owners from these regions.

We also continue to provide advice, training and technical support to Traditional Owner led projects, including on-going Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation wetlands, river and marine baseline condition surveys, a Daarba wetlands management project, and Juunjuwarra seagrass monitoring. There is so much good work happening across the Cape!

We hope you enjoy reading this update on the outcomes from the ECYWQP and current projects of CYWP and partners. As always, please get in touch if you want to know more.

Dr Christina Howley

Director

Cape York Water Partnership

christina@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org

The Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program was funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

We acknowledge the Waymburr people on whose Country CYWP is based, as well as the many other Cape York Traditional Owners with whom and on whose land we work.

CYWP Annual General Meeting 2025

Join us for the CYWP 2025 AGM to be held 6 February 2026 at 5pm. Members, or those interested in joining the Water Partnership, are invited to join us for the AGM on an Endeavour Riverboat Cruise. Contact Barb Rosendale to RSVP by January 30: barb@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org.

Measuring the Impact of Hooved Animals on Cape York Wetlands

Cape York Water Partnership

Prior to European colonisation, Australia had no hooved animals (also known as ungulates). Since then, species like feral pigs, cattle, and horses have spread across the country, with some of the highest populations in Cape York. These large animals with voracious appetites, hard hooves and destructive behaviour have severely damaged wetland sites across Australia including the tropical wetlands of Cape York Peninsula.

Driven by the concerns of Traditional Owners and local scientists, the Cape York Water Partnership joined researchers around the country to find a lasting solution to the problem through a University of Queensland PhD research project. Led by PhD researcher Kim Stephan, the project aims to measure the impacts that hooved animals have on the biodiversity, water quality, soil carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions of tropical freshwater wetlands.

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Top right: Normanby Rangers Anselm (Pando) Harrigan and Brendan Seagren, with CYWP project officer Ori, assessing levels of hooved animal impacts at Curly Lagoon (Normanby Station). Photo: Kim Stephan. Middle right: PhD student Kim Stephan sampling macroinvertebrate (water bug) diversity at 2Mile Lagoon (Muunthiwarra). Photo: Ori Albert-Mitchell. Bottom right: Ethan Henderson gives the thumbs down to feral pig damage at Cabbage Tree Palm Lagoon (Kalpowar Station). Photo: Kim Stephan. Below: Using bug pitfall traps to measure (land bug) biodiversity around feral pig wallows at Mailman Lagoon Rinyirru-Lakefield National Park. Photo: Kim Stephan.

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To get the most accurate results with direct links to hooved animal damage, the team are using a scientific approach called BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) whereby damage at wetland sites will be compared before and after fencing out hooved animals. Ten wetland sites are being studied across the Normanby Catchment. Five of these will be fenced as the ‘impact’ sites, where hooved animals are excluded to see how the land recovers. The remaining five will be left unfenced as ‘control’ sites, where hooved animals will remain. Data will be collected for two wet seasons and two dry seasons prior to the installation of fences, to provide the baseline data for the study. The project will then continue for at least one year to collect ‘after’ fencing data. At each site, the team will measure indicators of water quality, erosion, biodiversity (aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, freshwater turtles), soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Drones will be used for high-resolution mapping to track how the wetland landscape changes over time and before and after fencing.

This project is a true partnership with the Traditional Owners from Kalpowar/Alka Bawa, Muunthiwarra, Rinyirru and Balnggarrawarra, and the University of Queensland.

A major goal of the project is to provide Traditional Owners with the skills and knowledge to enter emerging biodiversity and carbon green economy markets. Participants are gaining skills in drone surveys, scientific surveys of wetland health indicators, wetlands fencing, and feral animal and weed control. These skills will help the community tap into Carbon and Biodiversity Markets, which can provide the long-term funding to control hooved animals, and reduce the pressure on wetlands so they can function naturally again.

Together, we are working towards a future where Cape York’s wetlands can thrive. For more information, contact Kim Stephan kim@stephanconsulting.com or Ori Albert-Mitchell Ori@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org

ECYWQP reports are available

Cape York Water Partnership

CYWP released a series of information products to wrap-up the Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program. These included project fact sheets, videos, a suite of Legacy reports, technical reports and documents such as Best Management Practice Guidelines.

You will find the products from the fire, road, track and gully erosion control and water quality monitoring projects on the websites of Cape York Water Partnership, South Cape York Catchments and Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

More information and links to many of these products can also be found in the articles below.

The Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program was funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

The ECYWQP Legacy Project

Cape York Water Partnership

The Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program (ECYWQP) Legacy Project supported a process for Cape York Water Partnership (CYWP) and our ECYWQP partners to identify priorities for future water quality related actions and to evaluate funding options to support future work.

The Water Quality Improvement Priorities Report draws on the findings of the ECYWQP to highlight priority actions for future efforts to maintain and improve water quality in southeast Cape York. The Funding Opportunities Review provides an overview of the current funding landscape and evaluates options to fund water quality improvement projects into the future. Appendix A from the Funding Opportunities Review provides a detailed list of funding sources, relevant organisations' contact info and web page information. The Lessons Learned Report presents the lessons learned by the program management team and project teams over the duration of the ECYWQP, regarding program design, implementation and Traditional Owner engagement.

The reports can be downloaded here.

Watch a video showcasing the collaborative efforts of the Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program at: https://youtu.be/JG1Q1-HssP4

Annan-Endeavour Sediment Loads

CYWP Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems Monitoring Project

Cape York Water Partnership and the Yuku Baja Muliku Rangers have been jointly measuring water quality at the lower Annan River bridge since 2015. The focus has been on suspended sediment concentrations and continuous turbidity (water clarity) as a surrogate. Since 2022, monitoring has also included continuous velocity and periodic discharge measurements, improving our ability to estimate flood water discharge both now and in the past. The lower Endeavour River has also been monitored since 2017, in collaboration with Waymburr (Guugu Yimithirr) Traditional Owners.

A report collating these data from the collaborative monitoring efforts is now available at this link: Empirical Fine Sediment Loads Exported to the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon from the Annan and Endeavour River: 2015-2024.

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Annual (wet season) fine (<20 µm) sediment load estimates for the Annan River estuary from WY 2015 to 2024 varied from 20,000 t/yr to 568,000 t/yr, with an average of 129,600 t/yr, including the extreme cyclone Jasper event in 2024. Excluding the 8-day Cyclone Jasper event, the average fine suspended sediment load was 81,700 t/yr. Endeavour River fine sediment loads varied from 10,000 t/yr to > 50,000 t/yr. Excluding the 8-day Cyclone Jasper sediment load, the average fine suspended sediment load was 19,000 t/yr < 20um.

The combined average annual Endeavour Basin fine sediment load (< 20 um) is approximately 109,000 t/yr < 20um. This estimate is 35% or 28,400 t/yr more than the most recent Paddock to Reef (P2R) modelled baseline sediment load of 80,600 t/yr. Factors contributing to these model underestimates are likely to include underestimates of gully density, as well as other anthropogenic sediment sources such as road erosion and wildfires. Continued monitoring of empirical sediment loads from eastern CYP, as well as improved land degradation mapping and measurement, are needed to improve modelled pollutant load estimates and adequately target funding for water quality improvement in this region.

Contact Christina Howley christina@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org to find out more.

Primitive Road Mapping, Risk Assessment and Erosion Control Project wrap-up

Cape York Water Partnership

The team at Cape York Water Partnership extend our thanks to participants of Primitive Road Mapping, Risk Assessment and Erosion Control Project.

The Tracks Project aimed to better quantify the extent and severity of erosion along linear disturbances like unformatted roads and tracks, fence-lines, and firebreaks, and the impacts they are having in regards to fine sediment movement in south-east Cape York Peninsula.

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More than 92 landholders, land managers, and managing organisations were involved, which enabled:

surveys of 1265 km of tracks and roads within coastal catchment areas (Annan, Endeavour, McIvor, Starcke, Jeannie, Howick, Wakooka, Muck)
collection of 232,892 photo data points to assess erosion condition (property photos will not be shared without landowner permission)
development of a survey database with additional information including slope, soil type, and distance to watercourse, to highlight erosion hotspots and priority areas for erosion control
prioritisation of 61 sites of very high priority for future investment, and 564 sites of high priority
implementation of Best Management Practice (BMP) erosion control projects at 6 track segments (35 km), including frequent whoaboys for water diversion, rock sheeting, and gully rock chutes
collection of high-resolution Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) at 3 pilot sites, to accurately measure erosion rates before and after BMP treatment, and assess ongoing effectiveness
production of a full report with case studies, which outlines how investment into track erosion at priority sites can be as cost effective as gully remediation and should be prioritised for future funding
development of a Best Management Practice (BMP) Field Guide for land managers to maintain resilient unformed roads (tracks) in Eastern Cape York Peninsula.

What's next?

CYWP will continue to advocate for funding investment into track and road erosion control
Other projects and reports are bringing further attention to tracks and their impact on sediment loads and landscape management in Cape York
Anyone is able to draw on these reports to seek funding and further support to improve roads and tracks to reduce erosion.
This project surveyed approximately 47% of the accessible tracks of interest in the project area. There is scope for further surveys in the future, if funding is secured.
CYNRM is currently running the Landscape Repair Program (2025-2030) focusing on gully erosion control and grazing area management. Remediation of larger ‘road influenced’ gullies may be able to be funded through this program. We are advocating for the LRP or similar projects in the future to include road and track erosion control as valid sediment reduction investment activities.

Reports, the BMP Field Guide and Project Fact Sheet are available on the Cape York Water Partnership website - Cape York Water Partnership - Track erosion and mapping

If you have any further questions or feedback about the Track project, please reach out to Jeff Shellberg jeff@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org

Above: Rural Fire Service Queensland brigades attended an unplanned fire at the end of August. This fire threatened properties and the Annan project area included in the ECYWQP .
Below: Aerial incendiary via helicopter provide access to the most remote areas.

Fire Management Project wrap-up

South Cape York Catchments

Every now and again we get a dry year up here in eastern Cape York. Lower-than-average rainfall in early 2025 caused grasses to cure earlier than expected, prompting land managers to bring forward their 2025 early dry season (EDS) burn programs. Some of these burns presented late-season fire behaviour, burning for multiple days and spreading further than planned.

It’s encouraging to see past project partners continuing to apply EDS strategies across the region. The Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation has partnered with QPWS to deliver cross-boundary burns, with Ranger teams targeting historic arson hotspots in the Starcke River catchment. Closer to Cooktown, local rural fire brigades worked with landholders and stakeholders to reduce risk through EDS burns around rural residential areas in the Annan and Endeavour catchments.

At the same time, unplanned fires increased across the early dry season, often near rural residential properties from accidental ignitions. These incidents have required significant responses from local brigades. The positive outcome is clear, years of training have built capacity and confidence, with firefighters now better equipped to contain fires quickly and effectively.

The late dry season period in 2025 presented challenges. Uncontrolled fires impacted large tracks of land to our south and even threatened some of our project partner landholdings closer to Cooktown. A brief reprieve came from some rain in September but by November, vegetation was already very dry again, which resulted in large, dangerous fires that could also impact water quality across local catchments.

By working together, we can reduce risks, protect our communities, and safeguard the health of our river catchments.

Find out more about the ECYWQP fire project here.

Photos above: Oakey Creek (Annan Catchment) Gully before and after erosion control works.
Below: SE Cape York Gully Hotspot map

Gully Control Projects

South Cape York Catchments

The SCYC gully project controlled erosion at six gullies in the Annan and Endeavour Catchments (2021-2024). This work saved 1,000 tonne of fine sediment per year from flowing to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - representing a 2.2% improvement in fine sediment loads at the Annan River mouth. Ongoing monitoring has show that works have remained stable after multiple years and extreme events like Cyclone Jasper.

Additional gullies in the Annan Catchment have been targeted for works under the DCEEW and CYNRM Landscape Repair Program (2025-2030). This work will continue the legacy of the gully control efforts and add to the sediment savings achieved in the Annan catchment and beyond.

As part of the Landscape Repair Program, SCYC has written a report on Cape York Peninsula Gully Management Prioritization: 2025-2030 Landscape Repair Program Investment. This report maps and prioritizes gully erosion hotspots in Eastern Cape York Peninsula, and takes into account the practical realities of gully control in remote areas with limited resources (rock, topsoil, organics, access) and varying river sediment delivery ratios (RSDR).

Image below: Gully prioritisation status map for southeast Cape York

Unsealed Council Road Erosion

South Cape York Catchments

The practical, scientific, and economic methods to reduce fine sediment erosion from Council unsealed roads to the GBR are the key outcomes of the four-year Council Road research program. Several key documents will guide future road management and training, and potentially DRFA/QRA government investment in erosion control for resilient roads.

Two peer-review scientific papers have been published in the Environmental Management journal. The first focuses on quantifying sediment erosion and reduction benefits from applying Best Management Practices, and the second focuses on the economic cost-benefits analysis of different erosion control scenarios and their inclusion into management decisions.

Quantifying Fine Sediment Erosion From Unsealed Roads Draining to the Great Barrier Reef Before and After Applying Best Management Practices available here.

Incorporating fine sediment pollution impacts into unsealed road management: a case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchment area available here.

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Two guidelines on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Erosion Control on Unsealed Roads have been developed for practical use by machine operators, managers and funders, both within Cook Shire and Queensland GBR catchments.

· Unsealed Road Erosion Control Best Management Practices: Operators Manual South Cape York Catchments - Road Erosion

· Erosion Control for Unsealed Roads: A Practical Guideline to Minimise Sediment Discharge. Local Government Association of Queensland Ltd and South Cape York Catchments Inc.: LGAQ-ErosionControlforUnsealedRoadsFINAL.pdf

The project team also contributed to and reviewed the Resilient Road Infrastructure Guideline (IPWEA), which promotes investment in roads that will hold up during extreme weather events and climate change.

· Resilient Road Infrastructure Guideline. Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Queensland https://www.ipwea-qnt.com/Web/Web/Resources/Resilient-Road-Infrastructure-Guide-RRIG.aspx

Future opportunities may include guiding the Local Government Association (LGAQ) and the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia to improve and expand training in unsealed road erosion control for local Councils.

https://www.ipwea-qnt.com/Web/Web/Training/Professional-Development.aspx?hkey=ae29c6be-952d-4986-b217-ccd2223f6bd3

Ongoing advocacy will be focused on QRA and DRFA funding regimes, as local governments will not achieve environmental sustainability and cost-effective road outcomes for resilience and erosion reduction without a comprehensive Federal and State funding solution and an urgent paradigm shift.

Eastern Cape York Water Quality Strategy

Cape York Water Partnership was contracted by Cape York NRM under the Federal Government’s Landscape Repair Program to produce a Strategy to guide future investments in activities to improve or protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The Eastern Cape York Water Quality Strategy (2025-2035) was developed based on a detailed review of relevant scientific data and literature around water quality condition and threats to aquatic ecosystems in Eastern Cape York, as well as extensive consultations with over 27 Traditional Owner groups, community and industry groups, local Councils, land management and conservation organisations.

The Eastern Cape York Water Quality Strategy, Water Quality Science Synthesis Report, and Community Engagement Report are available to be reviewed on the CYWP website:

Cape York Water Partnership - ECY Water Quality Strategy.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program

CYWP continues monitoring marine water quality this year for the GBR Marine Monitoring Program, along coastal transects in the Annan-Endeavour region, Princess Charlotte Bay, Stewart River and Pascoe River regions. As always, we thank our joint monitoring partners- Yuku Baja Muliku rangers, Waymburr & Gamaay Traditional Owners, and Kuku Ya'u rangers for their support.

We have recently welcomed a new staff member who joined the CYWP team in November after moving up from Townsville. Adrian Macey (above) is the field team lead for the Marine Monitoring Program, taking over from Eric (who is busy working on the CYWP Sediment Loads Monitoring Program). Adrian brings a range of relevant skills and experience to the Partnership. He grew up on a farm in south coast NSW, where he became an avid fisher and lover of the outdoors. He has previously worked in the commercial fishing industry, and after studying Earth Sciences at JCU, he has worked for OzFish, Cairns Council and Townsville Council monitoring water quality, seagrass and fish populations, among other things.

Welcome to the Team, Adrian!

Top and middle: Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused multiple landslides through the region.
Bottom: Tropical Cyclone Jasper impacts video - Annan and Bloomfield catchments

Cape York Water Partnership was contracted to lead environmental investigations into the impacts of TC Jasper in the areas from Bloomfield to Hopevale, on behalf of the Queensland Government, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI). The report is available here.

Cyclone Jasper flood recovery DRFA funding update

Government funding for Cyclone Jasper recovery is managed by DETSI ($42.98 million). Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation has provided the following updates on the status of recovery funding.

A – Environmental Investigations Program (EIP) – finalised.

B – Healthy Waters Clean Up and Recovery

Local conservation and clean up grants ($1.5 Million) – closed and awarded, works underway.
Coastal recovery contracts – closed and awarded, works underway.
Riverine Recovery ($14 Million) – applications due 2 February 2026 (only Councils, NRMs and Aboriginal Ranger groups can apply)

C – Biodiversity and Invasive Species Management

DPI is managing Invasive Species program ($2.5 Million). DPI released the weed and pest management grants, applications are now under assessment.
Biodiversity program ($1 Million) - Collaborative agreements are in development, with some established. Currently released to market for quotation.

D – National Park Recovery

Works are on-track and continuing for National Park recovery, through Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS&P).

E – Environmental and Cultural Stewardship

Private protected areas grants ($290,000) – closed and awarded, works underway.
Cultural Stewardship grant program ($1 Million) – closed 14 November
Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) are managing World Heritage program - works are on-track and continuing.
QDNR managing unallocated state land manager program - Works are on-track and continuing.

Assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

SCYC Cyclone Jasper Recovery projects

SCYC has successfully implemented two new projects to rehabilitate degraded streambanks on Wallaby Creek and the Little Annan River following TC Jasper.

These projects have worked to reshape, stabilise and revegetate streambank erosion sites to prevent further soil loss from the riparian zones. This will increase the resilience of waterways to annual flood events and decrease soil erosion, thus improving water quality in the Annan River and reduce sediment loads to the Reef.

Above: SCYC streambank stablisation project.

These projects are funded through the Queensland Government's Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DFRA) as part of the 2023-2024 Environmental Recovery Program.

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