eriss research summary 2007–2008

Edited by DR Jones & AL Webb

It is SSD policy for reports in the SSR series to be reviewed as part of the publications process. 
This SSR is a summary of the 2007–08 research program of the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist and has been reviewed internally by senior staff and the editors of the volume.

How to cite this Supervising Scientist Report 
Jones DR & Webb A (eds) 2009. eriss research summary 2007–2008. Supervising Scientist Report 200, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT.
Example of citing a paper in this report:
Harford A, Hogan A, Cheng K, Costello C, Houston M & van Dam R 2009. Preliminary assessment of the toxicity of manganese to three tropical freshwater species. In eriss research summary 2007–2008. eds Jones DR & Webb A, Supervising Scientist Report 200, Supervising Scientist, Darwin NT, 12–19.

NOTE: the title page and this verso title page are replaced by final pages produced in Pagemaker. Use the print quality PDF file to print copies of this report from.

Contents
Preface	viii
Maps	x
PART 1:  RANGER – CURRENT OPERATIONS
1.2  ONGOING OPERATIONAL ISSUES
KKN 1.2.4  Ecotoxicology
Chronic toxicity of uranium to larval purple-spotted gudgeon 
(Mogurnda mogurnda)	2
K Cheng, D Parry, A Hogan & R van Dam
Influence of dissolved organic carbon on the toxicity of uranium	6
M Houston, J Ng, B Noller, S Markich & R van Dam
Preliminary assessment of the toxicity of manganese to three tropical freshwater species	12
A Harford, A Hogan, K Cheng, C Costello, M Houston & R van Dam
Screening level ecotoxicological assessment of treated pond water from Ranger uranium mine to five local freshwater species	20
A Hogan, R van Dam, A Harford & C Costello
Development of a reference toxicity testing program for routine toxicity test species	25
K Cheng, C Costello, R van Dam, A Hogan, A Harford & M Houston
1.3  MONITORING
KKN 1.3.1  Surface water, groundwater, chemical, biological, sediment, radiological monitoring
Atmospheric radiological monitoring in the vicinity of Ranger and Jabiluka	29
A Esparon & A Bollhöfer
Monitoring of radionuclides in groundwater  at Ranger	33
B Ryan
Surface water radiological monitoring in the vicinity of Ranger and Jabiluka	36
P Medley, A Bollhöfer & J Brazier

Suspended sediment, metal and radionuclide loads in Magela and Gulungul Creeks	40
P Medley & K Turner
Results from the routine stream monitoring program in Magela Creek catchment, 2007–08
Introduction	45
C Humphrey, A Bollhöfer & D Jones
Chemical and physical monitoring	46
J Brazier
Toxicity monitoring in Magela Creek	51
C Humphrey, C Davies & D Buckle
Bioaccumulation in fish and freshwater mussels from Mudginberri Billabong	53
J Brazier, A Bollhöfer, B Ryan & C Humphrey
Monitoring using macroinvertebrate community structure	57
C Humphrey, L Chandler & J Hanley
Monitoring using fish community structure	60
D Buckle, C Humphrey & C Davies
Stream monitoring program for the Magela Creek catchment: research and development
Introduction	65
C Humphrey, A Bollhöfer & D Jones
Future of the weekly water chemistry grab sampling program in Magela Creek catchment	66
J Brazier, C Humphrey & D Buckle
Continuous monitoring of water quality in Magela Creek	71
K Turner
Development of Magela Catchment area solute budget using continuous monitoring systems	75
K Turner & D Jones
Development of in situ toxicity monitoring methods for Magela Creek	86
C Humphrey D Buckle & C Davies
A longitudinal study of radionuclide and metal uptake in mussels from Magela Creek and Mudginberri Billabong	91
J Brazier, A Bollhöfer, C Humphrey & B Ryan
PART 2:  RANGER – REHABILITATION
2.1  LANDFORM DESIGN
KKN 2.1.5  Geomorphic and geochemical behaviour and evolution of the landform
Assess the impact of extreme rainfall events  on Ranger rehabilitated landform geomorphic stability using the CAESAR landform evolution model	100
KG Evans, GR Hancock, JBC Lowry & TJ Coulthard
Validation of the SIBERIA model, its erosion parameters and erosion rate predictions	106
GR Hancock, KG Evans & JBC Lowry
KKN 2.1.6  Radiological characteristics of the final landform
Pre-mining radiological conditions at  Ranger mine	111
A Esparon, K Pfitzner, A Bollhöfer & B Ryan
Radio- and lead isotopes in sediments of the Alligator Rivers Region	116
A Frostick, A Bollhöfer & D Parry
Radon exhalation from a rehabilitated landform	121
A Bollhöfer, P Lu, R Akber & B Ryan
KKN 2.1.7  Testing of ‘trial’ landforms
Erosion studies of the Ranger revegetation trial plot area	125
MJ Saynor, KG Evans & P Lu
2.2  ECOSYSTEM ESTABLISHMENT
KKN 2.2.1  Development and agreement of closure criteria from an ecosystem establishment perspective
Developing water quality closure criteria for Ranger billabongs using macroinvertebrate community data	130
C Humphrey, K Turner & D Jones
Use of vegetation analogues to guide planning for rehabilitation of the Ranger minesite	136
C Humphrey, G Fox & P Lu
Charles Darwin University seed biology research	147
S Bellairs

KKN 2.2.4  Radiation exposure pathways associated with ecosystem re-establishment
Bioaccumulation of radionuclides in terrestrial plants on rehabilitated landforms	152
B Ryan, A Bollhöfer & P Medley
2.5  ECOSYSTEM ESTABLISHMENT
KKN 2.5.1  Monitoring of the rehabilitated landform
Development of a spectral library for minesite rehabilitation assessment	160
K Pfitzner, A Bollhöfer & A Esparon
KKN 2.5.2  Off-site monitoring during and following rehabilitation
Development of catchment geomorphic characteristics of Gulungul Creek – monitoring results	166
DR Moliere, MJ Saynor & KG Evans
Development of catchment geomorphic characteristics of Gulungul Creek – gauging station upgrades	170
D Moliere, G Staben, M Saynor & R Houghton
Assessment of the significance of extreme events in the Alligator Rivers Region – impact of Cyclone Monica on Gulungul Creek catchment, Ranger minesite and Nabarlek area	172
G Staben, MJ Saynor, DR Moliere, GR Hancock & KG Evans
Turbidity and suspended sediment management guidelines and trigger values for Magela Creek	178
D Moliere & K Evans
PART 3:  JABILUKA
3.1  MONITORING
KKN 3.1.1  Monitoring during the care and maintenance phase
Monitoring sediment movement in Ngarradj	184
D Moliere, M Saynor & K Evans
PART 4:  NABARLEK
4.1  SUCCESS OF REVEGETATION
KKN 4.2.1  Overall assessment of rehabilitation success at Nabarlek
Assessment of ingestion doses to people accessing the Nabarlek site	188
A Bollhöfer & B Ryan
PART 5:  GENERAL ALLIGATOR RIVERS REGION
5.1  LANDSCAPE SCALE ANALYSIS OF IMPACT
KKN 5.1.1  Landscape scale analysis of impact
Undertake an ecological risk assessment of Magela floodplain to differentiate mining and non-mining impacts	196
J Boyden, A Petty, C Lehman & P Bayliss
Definition of sediment sources and their effect on contemporary catchment erosion rates in the Alligator Rivers Region	199
MJ Saynor, G Staben, DR Moliere & JBC Lowry
5.2  SOUTH ALLIGATOR RIVER VALLEY REHABILITATION
KKN 5.2.1  Assessment of mine sites in the South Alligator River valley
Remediation of the remnants of past uranium mining activities in the South Alligator River Valley	206
A Bollhöfer, L Dunn, K Pfitzner, B Ryan, M Fawcett & DR Jones
PART 6:  KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
6.1  INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK
KKN 6.3  Effective communication channels between research providers
Spatial and remote sensing data management review	214
J Lowry
RESEARCH CONSULTANCIES
List of consultancy reports	218
Tropical marine toxicity testing in Australia: a review and recommendations	219
RA van Dam, AJ Harford, MA Houston, AC Hogan & AP Negri
Tropical rivers inventory and assessment project	220
R van Dam, R Bartolo & P Bayliss
APPENDICES
Appendix 1  SSD publications and presentations for 2007–08	222
Appendix 2  ARRTC membership and functions	232
Appendix 3  ARRTC Key Knowledge Needs	233