Application Of The Sednet Model In Partnership With The Fitzroy Basin Community

Recent policy directions aimed at improving water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon require targets to be set for catchment sourced contaminants. Catchment models can assist in identifying pollutant loads and quantifying the impact of ameliorative land management practices on these loads at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. However, the use of catchment models by natural resource management organisations, has been hindered by a lack of transparency and hence confidence in model outputs. To address these issues an approach was adopted that involved the engagement, participation and communication of the strengths and weakness of the SedNet model to the Fitzroy Community. The aim of the approach was to ‘demystify’ the SedNet model, and obtain ownership in a process that would inform community target setting requirements.