Australian Natural Resources Atlas

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Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Herbert River

Groundwater Management Unit: Herbert River

Introduction

Management Context:

The Herbert River GMU is not within a declared area however is actively monitored by the Department of Natural Resources through surveillance of a network of monitoring bores. From this monitoring management is concerned mainly with the prevention of saltwater intrusion, lowering of water table near wetlands, acid sulphate soils and pollution from leaching of chemicals in recharge areas.

Investigations carried out by the CSIRO, using departmental bores, have identified elevated nitrate levels in a number of areas in the GMU. Further interrogation is needed to find the source and extent of the anomally.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 NO

Salt Water Intrusion

 YES

SALINISATION

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 NO

Surface Water

 NO

Urban

 NO

Point Source Pollution

 NO

Diffuse Source Pollution

 YES

Subsidence

 NO

Artificial Recharge (ML/yr)

 no data

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: Management is concerned with the prevention of saltwater inrusion, lowering of water table near wetland and acid sulphate soils and pollution from leaching of chemicals in recharge areas.

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

Groundwater use in 2020 is estimated to reach 5000 Ml/yr based on increased sugar cane production and development potential.

2050 Management Response:

Groundwater use in 2050 is estimated to reach 8000 Ml/yr based on increased sugar cane production and development potential.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Herbert River

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network of 53 bores (102 pipes) is well distributed throughout the Herbert River alluvium. Water level monitoring commenced in 1967 during which time a number of gaps occurred from 1980 to 1982 and 1988 to 1993. Good water quality data exists for 44 bores within the GMU with post-1990 sampling. No groundwater metering or allocation exists in the GMU.

The current monitoring network for the Herbert River groundwater management unit consists of 53 observation bores with a proposed bi-annual to monthly monitoring frequency.

Data management requirements:

Queensland groundwater monitoring data, including water level and water quality, is stored within the Groundwater Database (GWDB) system. The GWDB system uses web technology and is available through the department's intranet. The GWDB is managed at a district level, with respect to the collection and entering of water monitoring data.

Protective management:

There is no immediate need to meter groundwater use in the Herbert River GMU. However the area continues to develope and pollution of the groundwater resource has been identified in a number of areas. Monitoring needs to be focused on the source of this pollution. As with all coastal communities there is also the threat of saltwater intrusion. Four coastal towns within the GMU obtain supplies from groundwater, and therefore require continuance of quality and quantity monitoring.

Options for monitoring:

CSIRO have been using department bores to monitor and attempt to find the source of elevated nitrate levels in the Herbert River GMU. CSIRO are also investigating recharge and groundwater flow in the 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: 

Estimates of the sustainable yield, from hydrological investigation, suggest that 64300 Ml are available annually from the four aquifers although only 57000 Ml/yr are considered usable. The uppermost aquifer (S4) contains 52000 Ml/yr, the lower (S1) 10000 Ml/yr, and the middle-upper (S2) and middle-lower (S3) aquifers have about 1000 Ml/yr and 1300 Ml/yr respectively. Of the 10000 Ml/yr contained in the S1 unit, only 5000 Ml are likely to be extracted because of availability of greater supplies and quality in the S1 aquifer. The S2 unit has poor quality water and the S3 unit has limited supplies.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

2,100 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

600 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

Estimated use in 2020:

5,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

734 

Resource development categorisation:

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

Estimated use in 2050:

8,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

1,234 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The development potential of the groundwater resource in the Herbert River GMU is considered high although rainfall alone, over most of the area, is sufficient for sugar cane production in most years.

Estimate of Use:

Groundwater use in the Herbert River GMU is highly depenent upon rainfall. Forecast use estimates have been made based on increased farm sizes and sugar cane production but are approximate and conditional.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

Monitoring of groundwater level commenced in 1967 after which time a number of gaps occured from 1980 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1993. Monitoring is proposed to continue in the current monitoring network of 53 bores (102 pipes). Post 1990 water quality data exists for

44 bores within the GMU. No bore licensing or groundwater allocation or metering is required in the GMU.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Gaps in monitoring of groundwater level occured between 1980 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1993. The GMU is not within a declared area and therefore requires no licensing, allocation or metering.

Recommendations: Groundwater level and quality monitoring should continue in the GMU. It is not however considered necessary to license bores, allocate or meter groundwater use.

Future Gaps:

High levels of nitrate have been identified in a small number of bores within the Herbert River GMU. Identification of the cause of the anomaly will require further investigation and involve sampling of private and department bores surrounding the polluted area.

Further information

Key

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