Introduction

The NSW part of the Coopers Creek Basin comprises only a very small portion (some 625 square kilometres in New South Wales) of the total Coopers Creek Basin. It is situated along the NSW-Queeensland border with its western most boundary only some 20 km from "Four Corners", the junction of NSW, NT, QLD and SA. The small strip of the basin in NSW is almost totally encompassed within the Sturt National Park.

The southern end of the catchment includes some of the northern slopes of the Barrier Range. Within the NSW flow patterns are generally ill-defined. They proceed generally northward into Queensland channel country. The maximum elevation within the whole Barrier range area is about 480 metres while at the northern end elevations would be order of 1-200 metres.

In New South Wales average annual rainfall totals are within the range of 190 mm to 140 mm.

In view of the low rainfall, high evaporation, low relief and sandy nature of the land only minimal runoff can be expected from the New South Wales portion of the Basin.

Vital Statistics:

Please note:

No data were supplied about total surface water use for some river basins (eg. unregulated basins in NSW).

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.

* Water use as a percentage of sustainable flow regime (surface water) and sustainable yield (groundwater)

PLEASE NOTE:

Sustainable Yield:

No yield is expected from the NSW portion of this catchment and this catchment has not been examined as part of the NSW Stressed Streams program.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

No data is available for the categorisation of this Basin.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Coopers Creek (NSW Part Only) surface water management area?

Table: Surface water resource by salinity class.

Major water storages

Table: Major water storage areas:

There were no major water storages reported in this area as part of the assessment

Further Information

• View the New South Wales Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
• View the New South Wales 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.dlwc.nsw.gov.au.