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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: Burrum River
Introduction
The Burrum SWMA has a catchment area of 2395 sq km and is part of the total Kolan/Burnett system. It is bounded to the south by the Mary River system and to the north by the Isis system. Its main tributaries includes Duckinwilla, Harwood, Doongul, Powell and Logbridge Creeks. The terrain in the area is mildly to very undulating. Soil surfaces are mainly red and yellow sandy duplex types with rocky surface soils in some areas. The major land uses are grazing and forestry.
The area experiences a subtropical climate and a mean annual rainfall of 1070mm.
The major storage in the system is Lenthall's Dam located on the Burrum River. At full supply level the storage has a capacity of 15500ML and covers an area of 420ha. Other storages in the area include (with capacity) Burrum Weir No. 1 (1400ML) and Burrum Weir No. 2 (1590 ML).
The main water uses are for the town water supplies and irrigation for Harvey Bay and surrounding centres.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 2,395 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 18,490 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 6,134 ML/yr |
| Development category: | MEDIUM DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 222,500 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.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.
There is a medium level of development in this SWMA. The Hervey Bay City Council is the main water user from this SWMA.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Burrum River 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) |
|---|---|
| Lenthalls Dam | 15,500 |
| Burrum No 1 Weir | 1,400 |
| Burrum No 2 Weir | 1,590 |
| Total | 18,490 |
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.