Water resources - Availability - Northern Territory
Basin & Surface Water Management Area: McArthur River
Introduction
This section presents information about surface water quantity and sustainability. For simplicity of communication, sustainability measures are based on assessing the level of water use and/or allocation with the quantity of water required to fulfil a sustainable flow regime (environmental water provision) - this has been expressed as a sustainable yield.
Vital statistics:
| Mean Annual Run-Off (Natural) (ML/yr) | 3,270,000 |
|---|---|
| Mean Annual Outflow (Natural) (ML/yr) | 3,270,000 |
| In-stream commitment (Total available flow - imported water - sustainable yield) (ML) | 2,640,000 |
| Sustainable Yield - Developed Yield (ML) | 629761 |
| Divertible Yield (ML/yr) | 3,170,000 |
| Developed Yield (ML/yr) | 239 |
| Sustainable Yeild (ML/yr) | 630,000 |
| Yield, Security of Supply | |
| Current Development Category | LOW DEVELOPMENT |
| Diversion (ML/yr) | 239 |
| Total Available Water | 3,270,000 |
PLEASE NOTE:
Mean Annual Flow:
The site selected to estimate the mean annual flow of the management area is G907121. This site was selected as it was located in the lower reaches of McArthur River and represented most of the flow from the management area. The mean annual flow from the selected site G907121was estimated. The management area mean annual flow is computed from the mean annual flow of the selected site using the linear proportional area method as explained in the subsection titled 'Mean Annual Flow' in the NT Technical Report. Therefore the value of alpha assumed was one.
Mean Annual Outflow:
The mean annual outflow for the management area is the same as the mean annual flow of the SWMA.
Developed Yield:
The developed yield is the total yield of natural storages, and the yield of infrastructure used for stock watering, irrigation, and mining. Developed yield is assumed as annual surface water usage because of insufficient data to estimate it. The developed yield figure is only a first pass estimate.
Divertible Yield:
Divertible Yield was based on 97% of the median annual flow of the management area. Please see general definition of Divertible Yield used in NT for this review in the section titled 'Divertible Yield' in the NT Technical Report.
How has flow regime changed in McArthur River?
Change in Flow Regimes:
The catchments within this SWMA are in natural condition.
Trade and Transfer - a bit of give and take:
Water use efficiency and optimisation strategies within existing infrastructure (eg. water supply efficiency, precision irrigation and scheduling, water recycling, trading and pricing) are part of the modern water resource development planning tool kit. Recognising that water is a finite resource, the States and Territories have developed water allocation systems where security and reliability are assigned to entitlement, trading is provided so water can be moved to high value uses and the choices of individuals are maximised.
Measurement Stations in McArthur River
Summary surface water measurement station statistics
| Name | Stream gauge ID | Mean annual flow (ML/yr) | Mean annual flow (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream guage 907142 | 907142 | 248,038 | 64 |
| Stream guage 907229 | 907229 | no data | no data |
| Stream guage 907132 | 907132 | 415,751 | 40 |
| Stream guage 907121 | 907121 | 2,958,446 | 188 |
Modelled unimpaired stream-flow sites in McArthur River
Over 300 sites across Australia were modelled to predict the unimpaired (natural) stream-flow. The long time series of stream-flow data are important for both research and management of Australia's hydrological and ecological systems. A simple conceptual daily rainfall-runoff model was used to extend the stream-flow data.
The model estimates stream flow from daily runoff and potential evapotranspiration data. The parameters of the model are first calibrated against the available stream-flow data. The optimised parameter values are then used to estimate monthly stream flow from 1901 - 1998.
For further information please refer to : Project Report - Stream Flow Study
There are no stream flow sites for this region.
Further information
- Northern Territory Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- report from the study of streamflow data and modelled streamflow
- Link to data available for download on the:
- extension of unimpaired monthly streamflow data and regionalisation of parameter values to estimate streamflow in ungauged catchments (NLWRA 2000)
- Surface Water Management Areas
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
Key
Links to an another web site
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