Water resources - Overview - Queensland
Surface Water Management Area: Bowen / Broken
Introduction
Bowen River SWMA has a catchment area of 9530 sq km. It flows in a north westerly direction and joins the Burdekin River upstream of the Blue Valley Weir. The Broken River is a tributary of the Bowen River system with its catchment area of 2,305 sq km.
Eungella Dam is located at AMTD 71.8km on the Broken River, some 40km west of Mackay in North Queensland. At full supply level the dam has a capacity of 112400 ML and covers an area 890 hectares.
Eungella Dam provides water supplies for coal mining in the Upper Isacc River area and the associated town of Moranbah. In addition the storage provides irrigation supplies for farms along the Bowen River and to riparian irrigators on the lower Burdekin River (between Dalbeg and Clare). Total average (1987/88 - 1997/98) annual water usage for the area is some 7,155 ML.
The Broken River drains some of the high rainfall country in the Clarke Range to the north-east, and the lower rainfall country in the Broken River Range to the south-west. The average rainfall for at the catchment is 760mm.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 9,530 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 230,087 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 10,938 ML/yr |
| Development category: | MEDIUM DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 1,451,000 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. A Water Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.
This SWMA has a medium level of development. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Bowen / Broken 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) |
|---|---|
| Collinsville | 2,150 |
| Eungella Dam | 112,400 |
| Bowen River Low- Lift Stn | 30,660 |
| Bowen River High-Lift Stn | 21,002 |
| Newlands Relift- Stage 1 (High Lift Stn) | 63,875 |
| Total | 230,087 |
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.