Research Article 2014 WRR Burdekin sediment budget | Page 11

Water Resources Research
10.1002/2013WR014386
Figure 3. (continued)
target remedial efforts (Figure 5). The tributaries with the highest mean TSS concentrations were observed
within the Upper Burdekin and Bowen subcatchments, reflecting the large sediment load contributions
from these two subcatchments (subsection 4.1). The Dry River and Camel Creek tributaries of the Upper Bur-
dekin subcatchment had the highest average TSS concentrations across the entire Burdekin (3395 and
4075 mg L 21 , respectively) (Figure 5). These sites are located in the northern area of this subcatchment, and
all monitored tributaries in this region had elevated TSS concentrations including Grey Creek (2465 mg L 21 )
and the Clarke River (1230 mg L 21 ); the Clarke River is the largest tributary (6400 km 2 ) draining into the
Upper Burdekin River (Figure 5). The other tributaries of the Upper Burdekin had much lower TSS concentra-
tions, particularly Fletcher Creek (130 mg L 21 ) within the basalt country and the two eastern tributaries that
drain the wet coastal range, the Star and Running Rivers (210 and 235 mg L 21 , respectively). The 5 year
BAINBRIDGE ET AL.
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