Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Mimosa - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Mimosa - Queensland

Introduction

The GAB (Great Artesian Basin) 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 Mimosa Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 20000 sq km which accounts for 1.1% of the total GAB area.

The Mimosa zone is situated 100 km west of Biloela on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range

Natural surface levels range from 100 to 500 m above mean sea level.

Rainfall in the Mimosa zone is 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.

The dominant land use is for cattle and agricultural industry purposes. Approximately 50% of the GMU is defined as non- agriculture/grazing/cotton land use.

Freehold land tenure dominates this GMU. Forest Reserve, Nature Conservation Reserve and Leasehold land tenure are lesser contributors.

Open Forest, Woodland and Tussock grassland or sedgeland are equally represented while open woodland represents a lower proportion of vegetation types present.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 19,870 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 15,990 ML/yr
Average salinity: 17 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 13,970 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

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