Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland


Location map of SWMA Herbert River

Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Herbert River

Introduction

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Herbert River SWMA has a catchment area of 10130 sq km and flows in a south-easterely direction to the Pacific Ocean just - north of Ingham. The system is formed by the Dividing and Seaview Ranges to the west and Cardwell and Yardwell Ranges to the east. The main tributary of the system is Stone River. Other tributaries includes Rudd, Sunday, Cameron, Blencoe, Garrawatt, and Stony Creeks.

The mean annual rainfall for the 50 year period 1920 to 1969 varies between 750 and 4800mm across the catchment.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 10,130 Km2
Total storage volume: no data
Total surface water use: 49,107 ML/yr
Development category: LOW DEVELOPMENT
Mean annual run-off: 4,330,000 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.

CategoryDevelopment status
1<30% Low development
230 - 70% Moderate development
370 - 100% Highly developed
4100% Overdeveloped

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

PLEASE NOTE:

Sustainable Yield:

No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.

This SWMA is in an isolated area with little or no development. Rainfall is distinctly seasonal and extremely variable on an annual basis. There is little demand water in this catchment due to its isolation and low population.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Herbert River surface water management area?

No data were available about the salinity of surface water resources in the Basin / SWMA for the Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000.

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

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