Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Eastern Recharge C - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Eastern Recharge C - Queensland

Introduction

The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) comprises 23 hydrologic zones (accounting for interstate / territory boundaries). These zones were determined by the Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council (GABCC) in 1999. The total area of the GAB is approximately 1.8 million sq km.

The eastern Recharge Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 31 thousand sq km, which accounts for 1.7% of the total GAB area.

The Eastern Recharge C zone is the eastern most GMU of the GAB. It is approximately 100 km wide and falls on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. It includes a narrow protrusion approximately 10 km wide that extends as far north as Monto.

A range of 300m to 500 m above mean sea level dominates natural surface levels. The narrow protrusion has natural surface levels as low as 100 m above mean sea level.

Rainfall in the Eastern Recharge C zone averages more than 600 mm/yr. Approximately 70% of rainfall occurs in the months November to March.

Evaporation generally exceeds average annual rainfall. Average annual evaporation may exceed average annual rainfall by up to 1600 mm/yr.

General agriculture, cotton industries and cattle grazing are the dominant land uses. Some combined cattle and agriculture industries are present.

Freehold land tenure dominates approximately 80% of this GMU with the remainder being Forest Reserve.

Sown pasture, woodland and (to a lesser extent) tussock grassland or sedgeland dominate the Eastern Recharge C zone.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 31,420 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 17,950 ML/yr
Average salinity: 1,500 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 15,690 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

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