Spatial and temporal patterns in water quality were analysed in the multivariate domain using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on untransformed, standardised water quality variables (Clarke and Gorley, 2006), complemented by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for univariate measures (Underwood, 1981). The ANOVA models were factorial, comprising three terms: (a) bay, (b) date, and (c) depth. Following significant main or interaction effects, post hoc comparisons were performed with Student Newman Keuls (SNK) tests.