Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Don and Dee Rivers

Groundwater Management Unit: Don and Dee Rivers

Introduction

Management Context:

Significant deterioration in water quality has occurred since 1977 within the Don and Dee Rivers groundwater management unit. Water quality gradually deteriorates along the edges of the alluvial deposits, and towards downstream. Water quality within the alluvial aquifers was reported in 1986 as being generally suitable for the irrigation of medium to high salt tolerant crops, and either marginal or unsuitable for domestic purposes. Water quality of the Tertiary sediments at that time was considered generally very poor and in most cases only suitable for stockwatering purposes, and in some case unsuitable for any purpose. The deterioration in water quality due to increasing salinity was highlighted in 1986 as a priority issue as it is endangering existing groundwater use for irrigation.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 YES

Salt Water Intrusion

 NO

SALINISATION

Dryland

 YES

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 YES

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 NO

Diffuse Source Pollution

 NO

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

The estimate of 11800 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the year 2020 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield, development potential and the desired level of resource management.

2050 Management Response:

The estimate of 11800 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the year 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield, development potential 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 Don and Dee Rivers

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network for the Don and Dee Rivers groundwater management unit consists of 63 observation bores and 5 gauge bores, with a proposed bi-annual to quarterly monitoring frequency.

Water levels have been recorded on a quarterly basis since the commencement of monitoring in 1965. Comprehensive water quality monitoring has been conducted since 1980. The Don and Dee Rivers GMU is fully committed with respect to groundwater allocation and it is desirable that the proposed level of monitoring continue.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, both water level and water quality, is stored within the Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The new 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 licence 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 Don & Dee Rivers groundwater management unit aims at maintaining a longterm, sustainable resource. Groundwater salinity is aggravated by land clearing, and is the greatest threat to the Don & Dee River's alluvial groundwater resources. Vegetation management appears to be the key to controlling impacts on groundwater in some parts of the catchment.

Options for monitoring:

Options for Commonwealth and State agencies to address data and information gaps include:

metering of groundwater abstraction, to assist in managing the resource and its assessment.

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: 

An assessment of 11800 ML/yr for sustainable yield was made in 1977 based upon water balance methods.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,980 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

11,800 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

11,800 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

11,800 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The future development potential of groundwater supplies in the Don & Dee GMU was defined in 1986 as limited. Poor water quality and/or low supplies severly limits the groundwater development potential in the alluvial aquifers of the lower Don and lower Dee Rivers, and also in the consolidated Tertiary aquifers within the GMU

Comparison of the allocation and estimated yield for the alluvial aquifer indicates that the alluvial aquifer associated with the Dee River and Alma Creek is already fully developed, and the development potential for the Don River section of the alluvial aquifer is limited. An additional hindrance to development in the groundwater management unit is that much of the alluvial flats, especially in the lower, downstream section of the groundwater management unit, are subject to periodic flooding.

In 1986, the potential to develop surface water resources was acknowledged, with the limited use of surface water resources attributed to the highly variable nature of streamflow. The Don and Dee Rivers were identified as offering the greatest potential for future water resource development.

Estimate of Use:

The estimate of 11800 Ml/yr for the forecast use for the years 2020 and 2050 is based upon the GMU's assessed sustainable yield, development potential and the desired level of resource management.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

In excess of 700 observation bores, both private and State owned, are located within the Don & Dee Rivers GMU. The availability of water level data is high, with continuous water level monitoring in 63 observation bores, since 1965 to the present. Comprehensive water quality data exists for 63 observation bores within the GMU, with recent analyses from 1991 to the present. Allocation data is available for the groundwater management unit as the GMU is within the Callide declared subartesian area.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: No metered groundwater abstraction data is available for the Don & Dee Rivers GMU.

Recommendations: A major knowledge gap is accurate groundater usage, given the resources of the GMU. Ideally, the area should be metered to assist in managing the resource and in its assessment.

Future Gaps:

A major knowledge gap is accurate groundwater usage, given the resources of the GMU. Ideally, the area should be metered to assist in managing the resource and in its assessment.

Further information

Key

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