Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Koumala

Groundwater Management Unit: Koumala

Introduction

Management Context:

groundwater resource.

The overallocation of the groundwater resource of the Pioneer River GMU is of high priority. Although abstraction is less than the allocation, there is concern regarding the potential for overabstraction of the resource. Further increases in development could lead to system unreliability, degradation of groundwater quality and possible failures in the near future.

Saltwater intrusion is a major concern within the GMU particularly in the area around the mouth of the Bakers Creek where the intrusion occurs as a wedge along the creek. A network of

70 multi-piped bores is sampled bi-monthly for groundwater quality with a particular emphasis on monitoring salinity level changes both laterally and with depth. The bores in this network are located along the coastline and adjacent to Bakers and Sandy Creek. It is desired that the results of the investigation will improve management strategies for the prevention of saltwater intrusion.

The sustainable yield of the Pioneer River groundwater resource is currently being recalculated as part of a groundwater investigation. The investigation includes developing a groundwater flow model. The results of the investigation will be the basis for improved management plans for the sustainability of the resource.

Formalisation of the existing Pioneer Groundwater Consultative Committtee by the formation of a community based advisory committee would increase the input into the development of management strategies. It would enhance community awareness regarding the groundwater resource and could improve use efficiency through the promotion of more efficient irrigation methods.

The Koumala GMU may be overallocated and overabstracted. Further increases in development could lead to system unreliability and possible failures in the near future. Management strategies should be developed so as to prevent any negative long-term effects on the quality and quantity of the resource.

It has been recommended that the sustainable yield be assessed. In order to achieve an accurate result, a groundwater level monitoring programme needs to be established for observing aquifer performance.

The establishment of a monitoring network within the GMU is of high priority. Abstraction currently exceeds the informal estimate of sustainable yield. There is no monitoring of the effects that this overabstraction may have on aquifer performance and groundwater quality.

The formation of a community based Advisory Committee would increase the input into the development of management strategies. It would enhance community awareness regarding the groundwater resource and could improve use efficiency through the promotion of more efficient irrigation methods.

Priority issues

Declining Water Levels

 NO

Salt Water Intrusion

 NO

SALINISATION

 

Dryland

 NO

Irrigation

 NO

Groundwater

 NO

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

 YES

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: The Koumala GMU is a new area of GW interest and currently has no monitoring network. Over 5000 ML was allocated for 1999. Very little is known about water quality, water level trends, aquifer recharge and the sustainable yield of the resource.

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

The Koumala GMU is estimated to be overallocated and at full abstraction level. There is no developmental potential for the fractured rock aquifers of the GMU. Consequently, it is approximated that use in the year 2020 will be similar to the current level of 3000 to 4000 Ml/yr at the desired level of sustainable management.

2050 Management Response:

The Koumala GMU is estimated to be overallocated and at full abstraction level. There is no developmental potential for the fractured rock aquifers of the GMU. Consequently, it is approximated that use in the year 2050 will be similar to the current level of 3000 to 4000 Ml/yr at the desired level of sustainable management.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Koumala

Efficacy of the network:

There is currently no formal monitoring network for the Koumala GMU. Monitoring of water levels and quality has generally only occurred once, at the time of bore construction. It is estimated that the GMU is overallocated and it is desirable that a monitoring network be established to monitor the threat of any long- term effects that the current level of abstraction has on the resource.

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 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 Koumala GMU aims at maintaining a long-term, sustainable resource and therefore, requires an assessment of the sustainable yield to distribute appropriate allocation rates, and the accurate monitoring of groundwater extraction, water level and water quality fluctuations.

Maintaining the groundwater allocation to the estimated range for sustainable yield of between 3000 and 4000 Ml/yr will help to protect the groundwater resource from depletion and deterioration.

Implementation of a monitoring bore network to observe groundwater levels and quality will enable the early detection of the degradation of the resource.

Options for monitoring:

A comprehensive monitoring program for groundwater levels and quality is required for the Koumala GMU and would be the basis for the implementation of long-term sustainable management of the resource. The monitoring program would require additional resources, such as staffing for monitoring and funding.

An assessment of the sustainable yield of the resource is required to determine the upper limits of allocation and abstraction for sustainable management.

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: 

No quantification of the sustainable yield of the Koumala GMU has been undertaken. A preliminary estimate has been made similar to the current use, which is estimated between 3000 and 4000ML/y. The value of 4000 Ml/yr has been adopted as the sustainable yield of the GMU.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

1,992 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

4,000 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2020:

4,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2050:

4,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

0 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The Koumala GMU is estimated to be overallocated and at full abstraction level. There is no developmental potential for the aquifers of the GMU.

Estimate of Use:

The Koumala GMU is estimated to be overallocated and at full abstraction level. There is no developmental potential for the aquifers of the GMU without any large-scale water infrastructure.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

There are no monitoring network bores within the boundary of the Koumala GMU. This GMU is relatively new in terms of any groundwater management of the resource. Consequently, data is very limited in terms of aquifer properties, water quality, water levels, recharge and sustainable yield. With allocations having increased in recent years, there is a need for a monitoring network to assess and monitor the development of the aquifer.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: The main gaps in data pertaining to the Koumala GMU occur due to the absence of a monitoring network. There is no data available on long- term trends for water quality or water levels.

Recommendations: The establishment of a comprehensive monitoring network within the Koumala GMU is recommended. Abstraction currently exceeds the informal estimate of sustainable yield. There is no monitoring of the effects that this overabstraction may have on aquifer performance and groundwater quality.

It is also recommended that a groundwater investigation into quantifying the resource be conducted.

Future Gaps:

The Koumala GMU is poorly documented. There has been a limited amount of groundwater investigation within the GMU. There is a need for the resource to be quantified to assess sustainable allocation and abstraction limits.

Information gaps exist with regards to the monitoring of water levels and water quality. Water levels and quality have only been sampled once, at the time of bore construction. A monitoring network needs to be established to assess aquifer performance.

Further information

Key

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