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Wet Tropic Waterways Chair Simon Costanzo and Wet Tropic Waterways Partnership Executive Officer Rowan Hutchinson with the 2026 Wet Tropics Waterways Health Report Card and Reef & Rivers Magazine. Photo supplied: Terrain NRM
The Herbert River catchment has continued to demonstrate resilience despite one of the region's most significant flood events in recent years, according to the latest Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card.
Released this week, the report found waterways across the Wet Tropics continue to record "good" to "moderate" health, with long-term monitoring showing conditions have remained relatively stable despite repeated climate challenges.
The report highlights the impact of February 2025's extreme rainfall, when more than two metres fell across parts of the lower Herbert region, triggering widespread flooding around Ingham.
"This pushed low-salinity flood waters onto inshore coral reefs, impacting coral condition," Wet Tropics Waterways Chair Dr Simon Costanzo said.
Despite the impacts of flooding, the report found the region's waterways have remained resilient over time.
"With more than a decade of consistent, independent monitoring, we can look beyond seasonal fluctuations and better understand how our waterways are faring over time. So far, they seem to be holding ground, which highlights how important it is for everyone to stay focused on taking action," Dr Costanzo said.
The report card draws on 11 years of scientific monitoring to assess the health of rivers, estuaries and coastal waters throughout the Wet Tropics, providing valuable insights into long-term environmental trends.
Queensland Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said continued investment in improving water quality remained vital to protecting the Great Barrier Reef and the waterways that feed into it.
The Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card is released annually by Wet Tropics Waterways as part of ongoing efforts to monitor and improve the health of waterways across North Queensland.
More detailed information about the Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card and results can be found at wettropicswaterways.org.au/wet-tropics-report-card
(Contributed with thanks by Terrain NRM)
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