Groundwater Management Unit
Groundwater Management Unit: Bungaree
Introduction
The groundwater resource characteristics for the Bungaree groundwater managment unit are presented below. This includes technical detail on aquifer properties and water level change for key monitoring bores.
What is the character of Bungaree's groundwater resource?
Vital Statistics:
| Area | 200 km2 |
|---|---|
| Total Water Allocated | 5,870 ML/yr |
| Total Water Used | 3,325 ML/yr |
| Average Salinity | 640 mg/L |
| Sustainable Yield | 4,400 ML/yr |
| Depth to top of aquifer | 5 m |
Unconfined fractured Newer Volcanics basalt aquifer. Need explanation of fracture flow and anisotropy
Method used for determining sustainable yield:
The PAV developed for the Bungaree GMA has been estimated at 4,436 ML/year. This figure has been calculated using the rainfall recharge method with limited information and has low confidence limits.
Comparison of a number of aquifer recharge determination methods were used to calculate this figure. The Bungaree GMA has shown considerable variation between these methods. The method of rainfall infiltration was favoured over hydrograph fluctuation as the availability of water level data for analysis was very poor.
Discharge at the margins of the lava flows to the underlying Tertiary sediments and basement rock, as well as to streams, springs and lakes was considered.
It should be noted that the PAV specified above applies to a large area and localised intensive extraction is likely to cause local interference effects between bores through local drawdown in water level.
Assumptions used for allocating development categories:
Groundwater categorisation was assessed in terms of the requirements of the audit documentation. Information applied to the categorisation of both abstractions and allocations was based on the best information available from a combination of information supplied by the responsible Rural Water Authority and information from the Groundwater Database.
Forward projections of abstraction were based on a combined surface and groundwater demand evaluation model. This model projected potential demand for water based on predictions of population growth, industry development, agricultural development and water consumption trends.
Are groundwater levels changing?
Technical information on the key groundwater bores and monitoring stations is presented below, including hydrographs where available. Link to a discussion on groundwater levels and trends at a State level as it relates to dryland salinity.
| Bore ID | Start record | End record | Depth of bore (m) | Reduced level (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC119330 | 26-Oct-94 | 23-Sep-99 | 30 | 523 |
| VIC119337 | 26-Oct-94 | 23-Sep-99 | 66 | 378 |
| VIC119341 | 26-Oct-94 | 24-Sep-99 | 80 | 597 |
The following groundwater management units also occur in Lachlan Province:
- Alexandra (VIC)
- Araluen Alluvium and Weathered Granite (NSW)
- Ascot (VIC)
- Bell Valley Alluvium (NSW)
- Belubula River Alluvium (NSW)
- Billabong Creek Alluvium (NSW)
- Bullarook (VIC)
- Cudgegong Valley Alluvium (NSW)
- Glengower (VIC)
- King Lake (VIC)
- Lancefield (VIC)
- Lower Macquarie Alluvium (NSW)
- Mid Murrumbidgee Alluvium (NSW)
- Mid and Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Fractured (NSW)
- Molong Limestone (NSW)
- Moolort (VIC)
- Mudgee Limestone (NSW)
- Murrumbidgee (ACT)
- Namadgi (ACT)
- Orange Basalt (NSW)
- Queanbeyan and Molonglo (ACT)
- Spring Hill Groundwater Supply Protection Area (VIC)
- Tourello (VIC)
- Unincorporated Area - Lachlan (VIC)
- Unincorporated Area - Lachlan Fold Belt Province (NSW)
- Upper Lachlan Alluvium (NSW)
- Upper Macquarie Alluvium (NSW)
- Wandin Yallock (VIC)
- Young Granite (NSW)
Further information
- Victoria Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- Victoria Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- For more information about water and other natural resource issues link to www.dse.vic.gov.au .
- Link to data available for download on the Groundwater management units and provinces - ARC/INFO export
- Link to Map maker to make a map using this information.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window