Water resources - Overview - Australian Capital Territory
Surface Water Management Area: Murrumbidgee River C
Introduction
410.c comprises the Queanbeyan River catchment and the Molonglo River to the ACT Border and includes mainly urban and rural activities. It includes an area of NSW from which the ACT draws water resources less the Upper Molonglo (NSW) catchment.
The mean annual runoff from 410.c controlled sub-catchments is 188.8 GL (Water Resources Management Plan). Of this, 116 GL is designated by the Environmental Flow Guidelines as environmental flow, leaving 72.8 GL available for consumptive use.
The major storages in the sub-catchment are Googong Reservoir and Lake Burley Griffin. Major land uses in the Mangement Area include urban development, nature reserves, water supply, forestry and grazing.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 1,513 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 158,000 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 15,500 ML/yr |
| Development category: | LOW DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 142,076 ML/yr |
A four-class classification system was developed to provide a simple method to communicate the status of the use and allocation of Australia's water resources in relation to sustainable water management.
It is important to recognise that adequately quantifying a sustainable flow regime or sustainable yield and consequent operating rules is a complex matter. State, Territory and scientific agencies continue to develop and apply methods and measures for determining sustainable flow regimes and sustainable yields.
This categorisation provides a general guide only. Please refer to the State and Territory Overview and Technical reports for detail on the analysis methods used.
| Category | Development status | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | <30% | Low development |
| 2 | 30 - 70% | Moderate development |
| 3 | 70 - 100% | Highly developed |
| 4 | 100% | Overdeveloped |
* Water use as a percentage of sustainable flow regime (surface water) and sustainable yield (groundwater)
How saline are the surface water resources in the Murrumbidgee River C surface water management area?
Table: Surface water resource by salinity class.
| Total Volume, Divertible Yield (ML/Yr) | |
|---|---|
| Total volume (ML/yr), DIVERSION | 35,000 |
| <500 mg/l (ML/yr) | 70,000 |
| 500 mg/l (ML/yr) - 1500 mg/l (ML/yr) | no data |
| 1500 mg/l (ML/yr) - 5000 mg/l (ML/yr) | no data |
| 5000 mg/l (ML/yr) - 14000 mg/l (ML/yr) | no data |
| > 14000 mg/l (ML/yr) | no data |
Major water storages
Table: Major water storage areas:
| Storage name: | Capacity (ML) |
|---|---|
| Googong Dam | 125,000 |
| Lake Burley Griffin | 33,000 |
| Total | 158,000 |
Further Information
- View the Australian Capital Territory Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- View the Australian Capital Territory Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- Link to data available for download on the:
- Surface Water Management Areas
- Data from the 1985 Review of Australia's Water Resources and Water Use
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
- For more information about water and other natural resource issues link to www.environment.act.gov.au.