Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Callide Valley

Groundwater Management Unit: Callide Valley

Introduction

Management Context:

Excessive demand placed upon the groundwater resources within the GMU has resulted in water level declines and degradation of water quality in some areas of the GMU. The water overdraft situation has been addressed with the construction of surface water storages to augment the groundwater supply but years of below average rainfall has greatly reduced the amount of water available for recharge purposes. Management of the water resources within the GMU have significantly changed since the implementation of the artificial recharge scheme, with the system now considered one of conjunctive use of both surface and groundwater supplies.

The current development of a groundwater management model for the GMU area aims to assist in evaluating the long-term water management strategies.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 YES

Salt Water Intrusion

 NO

SALINISATION

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 YES

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 NO

Diffuse Source Pollution

 NO

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 10,000

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 YES

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: Water levels have been declining since 1978 due to below average rainfalls and overallocation

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

The estimate of 12000 ML/yr for the forecast use for the year 2020 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield and the desired level of resource management.

2050 Management Response:

The estimate of 12000 ML/yr for the forecast use for the year 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield and the desired level of resource management.

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of management responses.

Assessment of monitoring in Callide Valley

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network for the Callide Valley groundwater management unit consists of 290 observation bores with quarterly to monthly monitoring frequency.

Continuous monitoring of water levels has occurred since the early 1960's to the present.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, both water level and water quality is stored within the Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The new GWDB system is based on web technology and is available through the department's intranet.

Allocation and use data is obtained through the Water Entitlements Registration Database (WERD) which is an electronic database for water licenses details.

Both databases are managed locally at district level, with respect to the collection and entering of water monitoring, allocation and use data; and are accessed statewide.

Protective management:

Management of the groundwater resource of the Callide Valley groundwater management unit aims at maintaining a longterm, sustainable resource and therefore, requires appropriate allocation rates, and the accurate monitoring of groundwater extraction, water level and water quality fluctuations.

Protective management requirements for the Callide Valley GMU include a reduction in the groundwater allocation to ensure that the usage does not exceed the sustainable yield

Options for monitoring:

No options for Commonwealth and State agencies, or community groups to address data gaps are identified or reported for the Callide Valley GMU

See QLD Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report for a review of monitoring.

What is the estimated demand for groundwater?

Sustainable Yield

Comment about sustainable yield figure: 

Sustainable yield for the aquifer was calculated using the results of a detailed computer model analysis. The yield was calculated for natural recharge conditions, as well as a yield using augmentation from surface water facilities.

The yield under natural recharge conditions is estimated to be 12000 Ml/yr. An analysis of the behaviour of the aquifer in conjunction with augmentation from Callide Dam estimates the yield to be 22000 Ml/yr.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,973 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

16,614 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

12,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

-27 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

12,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

-27 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The aquifer within the Callide Valley groundwater management unit is stressed and overcommitted and offers no potential for increased development, based upon the assessed sustainable yield and the desired level of resource management.

Estimate of Use:

The estimate of 12000 ML/yr for the forecast use for the years 2020 and 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield and the desired level of resource management.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

The availability of water level data is high, with continuous water level monitoring from the early 1960's to the present. Comprehensive water quality data exists for some 180 observation bores within the GMU, with some bores having over twenty years of water quality records. Formal use and allocation data is available for the GMU.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: The Callide Valley GMU is well documented, with a lengthy history of data from water level and water quality monitoring. No data gaps exist for the GMU.

Recommendations: The current level of monitoring, both water level and water quality, is sufficient and the groundwater resource is well managed.

Future Gaps:

Further information

Key

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