Water resources - Overview - Queensland
Surface Water Management Area: Maranoa
Introduction
The Maranoa Surface Water Management Area (SWMA) is part of the Condamine River Catchment in Southeast Queensland. The SWMA covers an area of 20039 sq km including the town of Mitchell. The mean annual rainfall across the catchment for the 50 year period 1920 to 1969 varies between 500 mm and 650 mm.
The Maranoa River is the major drainage system within the SWMA. It originates in the Chesterton Range in Carnarvon National Park in Queensland at about EL 800 m. It flows from north to south resulting in the catchment being elongated in a north-south orientation. Johnson Creek is one of the main tributary streams of the Maranoa River.
The major storage within the SWMA is the Neil Turner Weir at AMTD 218 km near Mitchell. The Maranoa River joins the Balonne River near the Beardmore Dam north of St George.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 20,039 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | 2,000 ML |
| Total surface water use: | 1,000 ML/yr |
| Development category: | LOW DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 171,026 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. A Water Allocation and Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA.
This SWMA is in an isolated area with little or no development. Rainfall is distinctly seasonal and extremely variable on an annual basis. There is little demand water in this catchment due to its isolation and low population.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Maranoa 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) |
|---|---|
| Neil Turner Weir on Maranoa R.@222.2 km AMTD (DNR) | 2,000 |
| Total | 2,000 |
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.