Introduction

There is no major infrastructure or diversions for surface water extraction within this SWMA. This management area is same as the NT portion of Georgina River Basin. About 85% of the SWMA is on pastoral leasehold, 7% is Aboriginal land, and the remaining area is for other uses. About 2% of the SWMA has soils with few limitation to agriculture. There are thirty six pastoral leases, and half of them are totally located within the SWMA. Three highways cut across this SWMA, the sealed Barkly Highway, the unsealed Plenty and Sandover Highways. The main rivers are Sandover, Ranken, James, Bundey and Field. Ranken and James rivers flow from the low escarpment country in the north of the SWMA into Queensland. They are major tributaries of Georgina River. In the southern part of the SWMA, Field River with its major tributary Marqua Creek flow from the low hilly country into the sand dune desert country northeast of Simpson desert. It is believed that during very high rainfall years, the flows in Field River linkup with the Eyre Creek in Queesland. In the western side, the major stream is Sandover River which flows from an escarpment country into a valley and dissipates into sand desert and floodplains. The mean annual rainfall varies from 280 mm in the south to 380 mm in the north within the northern part of the SWMA. In the southern region, the rainfall varies from 100mm in the south to 200mm in the north. In the western region, the rainfall varies from 200 to 250mm. There is no surface water licensing, and surface water usage is for stock watering.

Vital Statistics:

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:

As this SWMA is in arid zone, the sustainable yield is estimated as 5% of the Divertible Yield. The assumptions, method and basis for estimation of environmental flow are explained in the section titled 'Environmental Flow Requirement' in NT Technical Report.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

Categorisation was based on the percentage ratio of Use to Sustainable Yield.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Georgina River (NT) 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 Northern Territory Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
• View the Northern 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.nt.gov.au/nreta.