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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: Russell River
Introduction
The Russell SWMA occupies an area of 668 sq km and is located in North Queensland in the wet tropics. Its primary river, the Russell River, originates in the Frances Range, not far from the highest mountain in Queensland, Mount Bartle Frere. It flows intitially through wet tropical rainforest and Bartle Frere before terminating at coastal plains. It joins the Mulgrave River at the outlet to the Coral Sea. The main water users in the SWMA are sugar cane growers. The rainfall in this wet tropical region is the highest in Australia with the mean annual rainfall for the period 1920 to 1969 ranging between 3200 and 4000 mm across the catchment.
Vital Statistics:
| Area: | 668 Km2 |
|---|---|
| Total storage volume: | no data |
| Total surface water use: | 1,480 ML/yr |
| Development category: | LOW DEVELOPMENT |
| Mean annual run-off: | 2,131,965 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 low level of development. A Water Management Plan is currently being developed for this SWMA to guide future development.
How saline are the surface water resources in the Russell 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:
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.