Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland

Location map of Great Artesian Basin - Northwest - Queensland

Groundwater Management Unit: Great Artesian Basin - Northwest - Queensland

Introduction

The GAB (Great Artesian Basin) comprises 23 hydrologic zones (accounting for interstate / territory boundaries). These zones were determined by the GABCC (Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council) in 1999. The total area of the GAB is approximately 1.8 million km2.

The Northwest Groundwater Management Unit (GMU) is one of these hydrologic zones. Its area is about 61000 sq km which accounts for 3.4% of the total GAB area.

The Northwest zone spans from approximately 200 km south of Mount Isa to 200 km north of Birdsville. Its western boundary forms part of the GAB western boundary. This zones eastern and southern boundaries join the Barcaldine and Central zones respectively.

Natural surface levels predominantly range from zero to 100 m in the south sloping up to 300 m above mean sea level in the north.

Rainfall in the Northwest zone varies from about 150 mm/yr (inland at the western boundary of the GMU) to greater than 200 mm/yr (in the east).

Evaporation generally exceeds average annual rainfall. Average annual evaporation may exceed average annual rainfall by up to 4000 mm/yr (in the west) to 2400 mm/yr (in the east).

The dominant land use is for cattle industry purposes with a minor proportion used for sheep grazing.

Leasehold land tenure dominates this zone with some nature conservation reserve represented in the southeast.

The dominant vegetation type is open tussock grassland accounting for approximately 90% of the GMU area. Other minor vegetation types include tall shrubland and low open woodland in the north and other shrubland types in the south.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 61,070 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 12,230 ML/yr
Average salinity: 635 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 10,680 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 0 m

Further Information

Key

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