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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: Dawson River
Introduction
The Dawson River system rises in the Carnarvan Range/Expedition Range regions on the western side of the sub-catchment and is bounded to the east by the Callide system. The SWMA has catchment area of 43965sq km. The Dawson River is dotted with large waterholes. Floods which occur yearly, tend to flood over large areas. Don River is a tributary of the Dawson River.
The mean annual rainfall as determined by 50 year mean isohyetal maps show average rainfall over the catchment to vary between 750mm and 600mm.
The storages on Dawson River include Glebe (16400ML), Gyranda (14350ML), Orange Creek (6140ML), Theodore (4760ML), Moura (7260ML) and Neville Hewitt Weirs (11300ML). The storages provides irrigation (90%), urban and industrial water supplies to the region.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 43,965 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 99,350 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 54,758 ML/yr |
| Development category: | HIGH DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 1,121,000 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 Allocation Management Plan has been developed for this SWMA but implemantion procedures have yet to be finalised.
PLEASE NOTE:
Categorisation:
No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.
This SWMA has a high level of development. A Water Allocation Management Plan has been developed for this SWMA but implemantion procedures have yet to be finalised.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Dawson 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) |
|---|---|
| Glebe | 17,300 |
| Gyranda | 14,700 |
| Orange Creek | 6,360 |
| Theodore | 4,760 |
| Moura | 7,700 |
| Neville Hewitt | 11,300 |
| Theodore | 37,230 |
| Total | 99,350 |
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.