Environmental monitoring if appropriately designed and implemented should serve two functions. Firstly, it should serve to protect the environment against undesirable and otherwise unmeasured degradation, through the detection of change in selected environmental or ecological parameters.

The second, equally important function is to protect the interests of the proponent or developer. Appropriately designed environmental monitoring can serve to show that environmental degradation, visible in the vicinity of a development is actually part of a much broader (natural) pattern of species diminution, habitat loss, etc. As such an environmental monitoring program can serve to protect both the public interest against the consequences of 'genuine' impact, whilst at the same time protecting the interests of the developer against baseless accusations of environmental misconduct.

Through the application of such techniques as cost-benefit and power analyses, monitoring programs can be designed that are both highly cost-effective and demonstrably appropriate to the required task. FRC has gained a wealth of experience in the field of experimental design for biological surveys and environmental monitoring programs, and in the rigorous analysis of data.
Examples of recent studies include:

• Baseline Survey and Monitoring of Estuarine Ecosytems, Bowen, Hamilton Prawn Farm.
  
  FRC Environmental is undertaking the assessment and monitoring of the environmental impacts of this prawn farm on the surrounding estuarine ecosystem. Benthic invertebrates, cover of epiphytic algae on mangrove roots, seagrass distribution and the d15N isotopic signature of seagrass, mangroves and algae in the vicinity of the effluent discharge and in nearby control creeks are monitored. This monitoring program was designed to be statistically rigorous, meeting predetermined power and error criteria.


• Pioneer Bay Environmental Monitoring Program, Whitsunday Shire Council.
  
  FRC were commissioned to design and undertake a monitoring program to assess the effects of sewage effluent discharge on the seagrass and coral communities of the Whitsunday coast. Biannual surveys are undertaken by FRC, comprising the collection of water quality data, quantitative data on hard and soft coral, macroalgae and seagrass distribution and abundance, and video footage of seagrass and coral communities. This program was established in 1998 and is ongoing.


• Ecological Monitoring of Kirra Reef, Gold Coast; NSW Department of Public Works.
  
  FRC's Dr John Thorogood was responsible for the design and implementation of an ecological monitoring program to assess the impacts of dredging and beach 'nourishment', on adjacent rocky reefs. Studies considered the likely impacts on a range of benthic communities and the reefs fish fauna. The experimental design was based upon a random-stratified sampling program. Cost-benefit analysis was used to determine the most effective sample (quadrat) size, whilst power analysis was used to demonstrate the ability of the sampling design to detect significant change.


• Environmental Impacts of Cooling Water Discharge; Tarong Energy.
  
  The impact of cooling water discharge from Tarong Power Station, on water and sediment contaminant levels, and on the biota of the impoundments within the power station and the creek downstream was monitored. The monitoring program involves the in situ measurement of water quality, the laboratory analysis of water and sediment samples, and the measurement of the abundance and community diversity of benthic biota.


• Environmental Monitoring Program, Heron Island; P & O Resorts / Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
  
  Installation of the largest 'day-trip' pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef required the developers to commission an environmental impact study and ongoing monitoring program. Included were studies of 'home range' and pelagic fishes, and intertidal and subtidal coral outcrops, in the vicinity of the pontoon. The monitoring design was based upon a 'before-after - impact-control' regime. Analysis of variance was used to detect impacts, whilst Power analysis was used to demonstrate the ability of the sampling design to detect significant change. A number of diversity indices were used to describe fish communities.


• Fisheries Survey, Mooloolah River; Kawana Estates Pty Ltd.
  
  As a component of the approvals process, the proponent was required to commission baseline studies of the finfish and crustaceans of the Mooloolah River. The study involved the broad description of aquatic and riparian habitat, acquisition of water quality data, and the sampling of aquatic fauna using beam trawl, beach seines, and traps.


• Development of a Coastal Environmental Monitoring Program, Weipa; Comalco Aluminium Ltd.
  
  FRC co-ordinated a multi-disciplinary team in a review of Comalco's existing coastal environmental studies, and in the development of a comprehensive, cost effective and defensible environmental monitoring program for the Embley and Mission River estuaries. Critical habitats and ecosystems that were considered included: intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows; fringing mangrove forest; benthic epi- and infauna; and fishes and crustacea of commercial and recreational importance. The impacts that were considered included: the effects of dredging, port activities, and mine run off on physical and chemical aspects of water quality and sediment deposition rates; and the contamination of shellfish by heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and sewage effluent.


• Establishment of Coastal Monitoring Sites within the Great Sandy Region; Qld. Commercial Fishermens Organisation / Qld. Dept. Environment.
  
  The study was designed to provide indicators of environmental degradation associated with urban and rural development. At each site seagrass, macroalgae, sediment, and sediment pore water were sampled. Survey design was based upon fixed, surveyed transects, and random sampling within distinct communities. Seagrass communities were characterised by species composition, cover, shoot density, biomass, and morphology.