In Western Australia (WA), the Environmental Impact Assessment process requires dredging proponents to make scientifically sound predictions of the likely extent, severity, and persistence of environmental impacts of the proposed activity under a spatially defined zoning pattern. This is achieved by using coupled hydrodynamic, wave and sediment transport models in conjunction with water quality (ecological) thresholds for sensitive receptors such as corals, filter feeders, or seagrasses/macroalgae. These predictions guide the scale and scope of associated monitoring programs, providing assistance to proponents as to where to establish environmental monitoring and reference sites. Increasingly, modelling is also being used by dredging programs to forecast a few days in advance, so as to understand the potential consequence of various dredging scenarios and optimize the dredging programs to minimize environmental damage. The overall objective of Project 2/3.4 was to improve the predictive capabilities of sediment dispersion modelling that incorporate dynamic plume and passive plume processes through assessing model sensitivity to key forcing and parameter values, such as met-ocean condition, particle settling velocity distribution, critical shear stress, sediment erosion and deposition, provide frequency and duration of biological stressor fields including suspended sediment concentration, sediment accretion and erosion, and available light; and provide guidance on developing best practice algorithms and parametrizations for dredge plume modelling. Based on the outcome Project 2/3.1, an appropriate modelling suite that includes hydrodynamics, waves, and sediment transport was chosen (Delft3D) to model the far-field passive plume. The model was set up and validated using the bathymetry and baseline data collected as part of the Chevron Australia Wheatstone Project, located near Onslow, Western Australia. The model outputs were assessed against monitoring data from Chevron Australia's Wheatstone Dredging program, including, remote sensing and in-situ data collected in Project 2/3.2. A 20 month hindcast of passive plume dispersal from the dredging project to the furthest extent of the passive plume were compared with the field data and MODIS images (where available). Spatial and temporal variability of plume dispersal under different forcing scenarios and sediment release rates were investigated and reported. This metadata record provides a description of the model input data (and where appropriate its location) and a short description of the software and model set-up. The simulation data files are located in the CSIRO DAP.

The Kimberley region is vast, remote and difficult and expensive to access and carry out field work in. Remote sensing technologies can provide cost effective methods to gather historical and baseline data at synoptic scales as well as near-real-time observations from metre to kilometre resolution. The Kimberley Node Project 1.4 focused on monitoring turbidity with reference to its impact on the water column and substrate light environment. The projects objectives were to analyse uncertainties of remotely sensed turbidity products by comparison of different algorithms and different resolution products with each other and with archived in situ data; and to analyse time series of remotely sensed turbidity data to provide first-stage pilot products that may be applicable for future use as marine management tools. In-situ water quality data was obtained from a number of cruises that occurred along the Kimberley coastline including Collier Bay; Walcott Inlet, Outer King Sound, Koolama Bay and Lesueur Islands, Van Diemen Gulf and the Pilbara Coast and used to validate remote sensing products. Data associated with this metadata record relates to in-situ water quality. MODIS satellite data obtained from IMOS has not been stored as part of this record, but can be accessed direct via IMOS (http://www.imos.org.au/).