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The enrichment of sediments with nutrients and organic matter (eutrophication) is a key anthropogenic stressor of estuaries worldwide, impacting their sediment condition, ecology and ecosystem service provision. A key challenge for estuary managers and scientists is how to effectively quantify and monitor these changes in ecological condition in a timely and cost-effective manner. We developed a Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP) for characterizing sediment condition based on the qualitative characteristics of sediment colour, odour and texture. We evaluated its utility for assessing sediment condition, and particularly the degree and effects of sediment enrichment (as quantified by complementary measurements of total C, organic C and total N) across 97 sites throughout a eutrophic microtidal estuary. RAP results were strongly and significantly correlated with the degree of sediment enrichment, with RAP scores …