Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Management and Development - Queensland

Location map of Unincorporated Area - Bowen

Groundwater Management Unit: Unincorporated Area - Bowen

Introduction

Management Context:

Salinity problems occur within the GMU along the coastal margins, due to saltwater intrusion, and along those perimeter areas adjacent to bedrock due to salt inflow. Saltwater intrusion is a potential threat to the water quality of the groundwater resources within the GMU which may occur as a result of dewatering in times of peak water demand, as the base of the aquifer is below sea level in a significant portion of the GMU. Salt water intrusion is a limiting factor on the yield of the groundwater resource.

The poor water quality of groundwater within the GMU is of concern as the over use of such water, particularly in clayey soils with poor permeability, may result in permanent impairment through the 'clogging' of the soil, due to the high sodium content. The deterioration in the groundwater resources of the GMU result from both salt water intrusion and infiltration of poor quality water from the older floodplain alluvials. The threat of water quality deterioration is compounded due to the heavy exploitation of the restricted localised aquifer, close proximity to saline water and the base of the aquifer positioned below sea level. Rising water tables, aggravated by irrigated agriculture, in the southern section of the GMU, presents as another priority issue for the GMU.

Water level conditions along the eastern margin of the GMU are very dependent on conditions in the neighbouring Burdekin River Delta GMU 89. Under favourable water level conditions in the delta, there is an inflow into the GMU, however, under conditions of high demand in the Delta, there is an outflow from the GMU leading to depressed levels below mean sea level.

The Bowen UA is not a major priority. There are no priority issues for groundwater management within the UA.

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)

 3,000

Ecosystems Protection

 NO

Surface Water Interaction

 NO

Management Plans

 NO

Defined Minimum Water Level

 NO

Comment: No priority issues are reported.

Comments on Management Responses

2020 Management Response:

Based on the current abstraction rates and the desired level of management, it is estimated that groundwater use in the Bowen UA for the year 2020 will be approximately 15000 Ml/yr.

2050 Management Response:

Based on the current abstraction rates and the desired level of management, it is estimated that groundwater use in the Bowen UA for the year 2050 will be approximately 20000 Ml/yr.

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

Assessment of monitoring in Unincorporated Area - Bowen

Efficacy of the network:

The current monitoring network for the Bowen UA consists of 140 observation bores.

Monitoring of water levels has occurred since the late 1960s to the present. Water levels are monitored an average of four times a year. The monitoring of the groundwater level assists in the interpretation of aquifer performance and is an indication of aquifer storage.

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 Bowen UA is limited. The groundwater resources are not heavily exploited and areas with higher bore concentrations are observed by monitoring bores. Subsequently, the resource is under no immediate threat that would require protective management plans.

Options for monitoring:

Management of the Bowen UA is limited. The groundwater resources are not heavily exploited and areas with higher bore concentrations are observed by monitoring bores. Subsequently, the resource is under no threat that would require input from National or State agencies.

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: 

A sustainable yield has not been assessed for the entire Bowen UA. Preliminary estimates of the sustainable yield were reported in 1992 for the sub-catchments within the south eastern half of the UA. The sub-catchments were namely the Mackenzie, Nogoa, Comet and Isaac areas.

The sustainable yield estimates totalled to approximately 260000 Ml/yr. The majority of the groundwater resources of the UA are within these sub-catchments, therefore this figure has been adopted as the sustainable yield of the Bowen UA.

Sustainable yield:

ML/yr

Threshold year for sustainable year:

2,100 

Abstraction Volume 1996/1997:

10,200 ML 

Current Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated Use in 2020

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2020:

15,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

48 

Resource development categorisation:

 

Estimated in 2050

Comment:

 

Estimated use in 2050:

20,000 ML 

% change from 1996/1997:

97 

Resource development categorisation:

 

What assumptions were used in this assessment

Development Potential:

The Bowen UA consists of several groundwater resources that are being utilised to much less than their full potential. The bore yields that are achievable are generally below 5 l/s and consequently most groundwater development would be limited to stock and domestic supplies.

Estimate of Use:

It is estimated that the demand for groundwater supplies in the Bowen UA will remain at levels similar to current levels with groundwater resources predicted to be able to meet water demands. The bore yields that are achievable are generally below 5 l/s and consequently most development potential would be limited to stock and domestic supplies.

Data Availability,Gaps and Recommendations

Data Availablility:

There are 140 monitoring bores within the Bowen UA. These bores are periodically observed as part of a monitoring network. Groundwater levels have been taken since the late 1960s to the present. Measurements are taken approximately four times a year. Post-1990 groundwater quality data is available for the majority of these monitoring bores.

A broad-scale groundwater investigation was conducted over the Theresa Creek-Upper Mackenzie River region which covers a large area of the UA. There is a moderate amount of data available from this investigation detailing the groundwater resources of the aquifers within the basin. Groundwater investigations on more discrete areas within the UA have also been conducted namely the Clermont and Ravenswood towns and the areas local to these towns.

Current Gaps and Recommendations:

Data Gaps: Data gaps exist in the Bowen UA with regards to assessment of aquifer properties and the quantification of all the groundwater resources within the UA boundary; and groundwater abstraction.

Recommendations: The Bowen UA is not a major priority. The management recommendation for the UA is that groundwater levels and groundwater quality continues to be monitored.

Future Gaps:

The Bowen UA is not a major priority. Although gaps exist in data with regards to the assessment of aquifer properties and the quantification of the resource; groundwater quality; and groundwater abstraction, it is not a priority to conduct groundwater investigations to assess these issues.

Further information

Key

   Links to an another web site
   Opens a pop-up window