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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Water resources - Overview - Queensland
Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Ross River
Introduction
The Ross River SWMA has a catchment area of 1707 sq km and flows to the sea at Townsville. The main rivers are the Bohle River, Little Bohle River and Ross River. The catchment is bordered by Hervey Range to the west and the sea to the east. The major city is Townsville and the major storage the Ross River Dam (full capacity 420000 ML). Most of the catchment lies on the flat coastal plain.
The Ross catchment is in the dry tropics and has a mean annual rainfall for the 50 year period 1920-1969 ranging from 900 to 1350 mm. The major water use is urban (Townsville and Thuringowa).
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 1,707 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 425,060 |
| Total surface water use: | 46,601 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 589,000 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.
| 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)
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 has a high level of development the the main use being urban and industrial.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Ross 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:
| Storage name: | Capacity (ML) |
|---|---|
| Ross River Dam | 420,000 |
| Gleesons Weir | 380 |
| Black School Weir | 2,860 |
| Alpins Weir | 1,820 |
| Total | 425,060 |
Further Information
- View the Queensland Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- View the Queensland 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.nrm.qld.gov.au.
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