Understanding the impacts of East Coast flooding

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), in collaboration with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), has released the final report of the East Coast Flood Project. This in-depth analysis sheds light on the challenges and opportunities posed by recent flooding events along the east coast of New South Wales.

The report details the results of a post-flood water quality monitoring program. The program, initiated in response to the devastating floods of 2022, aimed to assess the impact of the floods on local waterways and support environmental recovery. It focused on three key objectives:

1. Improved understanding of flood-impacted water quality: By conducting extensive water quality monitoring surveys, researchers gained valuable insights into the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of waterways affected by the floods.
2. Supported local capacity to monitor water quality: The project empowered local communities by partnering with citizen science programs, enabling them to actively participate in monitoring the health of their local waterways.
3. Facilitated environmental recovery: The findings of the report, accessible through a dedicated dashboard and the NSW government open data portal SEED, provide crucial information to state and local governments, stakeholders, and the community, aiding in informed decision-making and environmental recovery efforts.

The report underscores the importance of timely and comprehensive water quality monitoring in assessing the long-term impacts of flood events and supporting effective environmental restoration.

Key findings and insights

The report explores critical themes, including:

• Community impacts: Examination of the socioeconomic and health effects on affected communities.
• Environmental consequences: Insights into how flooding has impacted water quality.
• Resilience and adaptation strategies: Recommendations for building flood resilience and adapting to changing climatic conditions.

Each chapter provides data-driven insights, case studies, and actionable recommendations to inform policy and community planning.

Accessing the report

The full report is available as individual chapters in PDF format:

1. Executive summary: Provides background on the 2022 flood events, outlining their impact on communities and waterways and detailing the project's objectives to improve water quality understanding, support local monitoring capacity, and facilitate environmental recovery.
2. Overview: Offers an introduction to the project's scope and purpose, emphasising the need for a multifaceted approach incorporating scientific and traditional knowledge.
3. Methodology: Describes the comprehensive monitoring program conducted across 20 waterways, detailing the grading and statistical methods used to evaluate water quality and the impacts of floods.
4. North Coast region results: Focuses on the sub-tropical and temperate climates of the north coast, presenting water quality data, catchment characteristics, and the impacts of the 2022 flooding events.
5. Mid Coast region results: Highlights findings from the mid coast, examining the effects of concentrated rainfall and subsequent floods on water quality and recovery processes.
6. Hawkesbury-Nepean region results: Analyses data from this temperate region, assessing short- and long-term impacts of flooding on water quality and the influence of catchment characteristics.
7. Stakeholder engagement report: Summarises the project's efforts to connect with affected communities, share findings, and involve locals through citizen science initiatives to enhance waterway monitoring and management

The chapters can be downloaded here from the SEED Hub by clicking below.

Collaboration for a resilient future

This report represents a significant step in understanding and mitigating the impacts of flooding. We extend our gratitude to all contributors and stakeholders involved in its preparation. For more information, visit the EPA website: Flood recovery program for water quality monitoring - East Coast.