Supporting Indigenous stewardship of water: reflections on a decade of water quality research in the Tully River basin adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Water quality monitoring programs (WQMPs) are an important means for assessing water quality, particularly in river basins where agricultural intensification and development pressures raise concerns in freshwater and adjacent marine environments. WQMPs, if supported by scientists, Indigenous peoples, and local communities, and if based on the knowledge needs of all rights holders and stakeholders, can provide crucial actions to protect water resources and values. This paper presents a decade of water quality research in the Tully River basin, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Identification of knowledge issues raised by Indigenous peoples during development of the Tully Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) in 2008 highlighted needs for a targeted local WQMP in this basin. Subsequent development and successful implementation of a community-agreed and Indigenous-led pilot WQMP in 2012 paved the way for further Indigenous-led research in the Tully and neighboring river basins identified as containing pollutants of concern. WQMPs can successfully be led by Indigenous peoples based on collaborative partnerships to provide an evidence base for freshwater management. Recent WQMPs and other Indigenous-led research in this basin and surrounding catchments suggest genuine and respectful relationships, developed and maintained over time, can support Indigenous stewardship of water. However, they also indicate the important role of locally embedded and trusted organizations, such as Indigenous corporations and community-based not-for-profit environmental management organizations, in supporting these collaborations to produce better outcomes for people and Country.