Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Don River

Groundwater Management Unit: Don River

Introduction

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 YES

Salt Water Intrusion

 YES

SALINISATION

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 YES

Groundwater

 YES

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 YES

Diffuse Source Pollution

 NO

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 YES

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: Over extraction in localised areas within the Don River GMU, particularly around the coastal zones, has resulted in reducing yields, degradation of water quality and declining water levels.

Comments on Management Responses

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

Assessment of monitoring in Don River

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: 

In 1988, a sustainable yield of 19 000 Ml/yr for the Don River alluvial aquifers was calculated as part of a review on the water resources of the Bowen area. The review included a groundwater model of the area. The factors considered for the model were recharge, water use, natural losses and the maximum drawdown that would maintain sufficient head so that saltwater intrusion would be limited to an acceptable extent. This figure was based on a 20 % risk of failure.

An updated figure for the Sustainable Yield on the Don River Groundwater Management Unit has been reported in 1999 to be approximately 17 000 Ml/yr. This figure is based on the 1988 model correlated with recent water levels and water use values.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,990 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

12,792 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

17,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

33 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

17,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

33 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

No further information about assumptions used in this assessment was provided by QLD.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

The Don River Groundwater Management Unit has

203 monitoring bores. This network performs routine monitoring to provide general groundwater quality, monitoring saltwater intrusion into the coastal aquifers and monitoring groundwater levels. Water use is managed by a strict allocation policy and metering.

Groundwater quality is indicated by water sampling and testing for major ion parameters and conductivity measurements that are taken 4 times a year for a large proportion of the 203 bores. The frequency has reduced to twice a year in recent years. Over half of the monitoring network bores have post 1990 records for water quality.

A grid of 56 multi-piped bores monitors saltwater intrusion in the coastal aquifers. This enables conductivity profiles with depth to be derived. These measurements are taken twice a year, although in recent years the frequency has been reduced to once a year. The main function of the grid is to monitor the location of the saltwater-freshwater interface.

Groundwater level measurements are taken from a large proportion of the monitoring network bores described above. Bores are routinely measured every two to three months and have been measured since 1965. During pumping restrictions, the frequency is increased to monthly.

Meters on the discharge lines from bores are used for quantifying groundwater use. The meters have been in place since 1988. This information is used to set appropriate water charges and to allow for the equitable distribution of scant water resources during dry periods and pumping restrictions.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: There is a good coverage of monitoring bores for the Don River GMU enabling for comprehensive monitoring of the groundwater levels and quality trends pertaining to the resource. Gaps do exist particularly with regards to point source pollution issues.

Recommendations: The main recommendation for the Don River GMU is to improve monitoring. Issues such as saltwater intrusion and pollution of groundwater from contaminants are of concern regarding the water quality of the resource. A monitoring network for saltwater intrusion is already in place although in recent years the frequency of sampling has been reduced due to limited staff.

A monitoring program for contaminants needs to be established. The Don River GMU is a major agricultural area that uses pesticides. There is increasing concern regarding both the long- term and short-term effects these contaminants will have on the groundwater quality of the resource.

Further information

Key

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