Loss of sediment and particulate nutrients in runoff from the extensive grazing lands of the Fitzroy Basin, central Queensland, continue to contribute to the declining health of the Great Barrier Reef. This study measured differences in hydrology and water quality from conservative and heavy grazing pressures on rundown improved grass pastures in the Fitzroy Basin. Conservative grazing pressure was defined as the safe long-term carrying capacity for rundown buffel grass pasture, whereas heavy grazing pressure was defined as the recommended stocking rate for newly established buffel grass pasture. Heavy grazing of rundown pasture resulted in 2.5 times more bare ground and only 8% of the pasture biomass compared to conservative grazing. Heavy grazing also resulted in 3.6 times more total runoff and 3.3 times the peak runoff rate compared to conservative grazing. Loads of total suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff were also greater from heavy than conservative grazing.

昆士兰中部菲茨罗伊盆地广阔牧场的径流中沉积物和颗粒养分的流失继续导致大堡礁的健康状况下降。这项研究测量了 Fitzroy 盆地破旧的改良草场因保守和沉重的放牧压力而导致的水文和水质差异。保守放牧压力被定义为破败的牛羊草牧场的长期安全承载能力，而重度放牧压力被定义为新建立的牛羊草牧场的推荐放养率。与保守放牧相比，大量放牧导致裸地增加 2.5 倍，而草场生物量仅为 8%。大量放牧还导致总径流增加了 3.6 倍和 3 倍。与保守放牧相比，峰值径流率是其 3 倍。重度放牧导致的径流中总悬浮固体、氮和磷的负荷也高于保守放牧。