Groundwater Management Unit
Groundwater Management Unit: Lancefield
Introduction
The groundwater resource characteristics for the Lancefield 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 Lancefield's groundwater resource?
Vital Statistics:
| Area | 40 km2 |
|---|---|
| Total Water Allocated | 972 ML/yr |
| Total Water Used | 469 ML/yr |
| Average Salinity | 200 mg/L |
| Sustainable Yield | 1,480 ML/yr |
| Depth to top of aquifer | 20 m |
Aquifer Description:
Unconfined fractured rock system within the Newer Volcanics basalt, becoming confined towards the north.
Method used for determining sustainable yield:
The PAV for the Lancefield GMA has been calculated based on rainfall infiltration as 1,485 ML/year.
The low storage in the fractured rock aquifer produces large drawdowns which, when the bores are closely spaced, results in unacceptable local interference between bores. The total volume of groundwater available for use, is all bores were optimally spaced, is estimated at 1500 ML/year. However, as most of the high volume extraction bores are clustered in the one area significant local bore interference is likely. To avoid local interference a much lower PAV would need to be set, however this is contrary to the concept of the PAV, which is designed to consider the sustainable yield across the whole GMA.
The lack of monitoring bores and resulting water level data for the Lancefield GMA significantly hinders the accuracy of the assessment. An estimated error of +/- 40% is considered reasonable.
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.
There are no bore monitoring stations recorded in this area for this assessment
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)
- Bungaree (VIC)
- Cudgegong Valley Alluvium (NSW)
- Glengower (VIC)
- King Lake (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
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