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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
Surface Water Management Area: Barratta
Introduction
Barratta Creek SWMA has a catchment area of 895 sq km and is surrounded by the Leichhardt Range, Dalrymple and Benjonney Mountains. It flows northward into the ocean and is bounded by the Haughton system to the west and Lower Burdekin system to the east. The major tributaries of the Barratta Creek are and include Scott, Horse Camp, Clay and Oaky Creeks. Most of the creeks exibit levee type banks with significant tree and grass growth within the bed.
The mean annual rainfall for the catchment for the 50 year period 1920 to 1969 varies between 750mm and 900mm across the catchment.
The Haughton Main Channel system supplies water from the Burdekin River and water is distributed via Barratta Main Channel system to the Barratta irrigators.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 895 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | no data |
| Total surface water use: | 11,185 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 345,000 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.
This SWMA has a high level of development. It is operated as part of the Burdekin Irrigation Area.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Barratta 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
- 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.