groundwater resources of the south east
DESCRIPTION
Groundwater resources of the South East. South East groundwater resource. South East groundwater resource. South East groundwater resource. Two main aquifers in the South East: Unconfined Tertiary limestone (upper) aquifer Confined Tertiary sand (lower) aquifer - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Groundwater resources of the South East
South East groundwaterresource
South East groundwaterresource
South East groundwaterresource
Two main aquifers in the South East:
• Unconfined Tertiary limestone (upper) aquifer
• Confined Tertiary sand (lower) aquifer
• Separated by Tertiary clay layers (aquitard)
5 Year Trends in Groundwater
Levels
2003 - 2008
5 Year Trends in Groundwater
Levels
2005 - 2010
South East groundwaterresource
Red lines = water table contours (metres above sea level)
Black lines = groundwater flow direction in the unconfined aquifer
Direction of groundwater flow in the confined aquifer is similar to that of the unconfined aquifer
Unconfined Aquifer Salinity
Blue Lake Levels and Annual Extraction Rate
1970 - 2005
How is water used in the South East?
Area of irrigated activity by method, South East Catchment
region, 2003/04
Total area = 79,118 ha
Area of irrigated activity by crop, South East Catchment
region, 2003/04
Total area = 79,118 ha
(Econsearch,2006)Total Area = 79,118 ha
Pasture44.1%
Pasture/Seed7.0%
Potatoes3.1%
Vines19.2%
Cereals2.3%
Grain Legumes0.7%
Lucerne15.5%
Oilseeds2.4%
Other6.4%
Other0.0%
Recreation0.4%
Vegetables1.6%
Flowers/Shrubs0.2%
Fodder1.8%
Fruit and Nuts1.6%
Total Area = 79,118 ha
Centre Pivot/Lateral Move
37.5%
Fixed Sprinklers5.7%
Travelling Irrigator
6.5%
Drip18.8%
Flood29.8%
Other7.4%
Unknown1.0%
Portable Spraylines
0.4%
Microspray/Minisprinkler
0.3%
How is water used in the South East?
Estimated water pumped by crop, South East Catchment
region, 2003/04
Total volume pumped (95% from unconfined aquifer)=
459,007 ML
Gross value of production of irrigated activity, South East Catchment region, 2003/04
Total GVP = $324.6 million
(Econsearch,2006)
Total Pumped = 459,007 ML
Potatoes3.0%
Pasture/Seed5.2%
Vines4.9%
Fruit and Nuts1.2%
Vegetables0.9%
Oilseeds0.9%
Other0.0%
Recreation0.4%
Other4.6%
Cereals1.1%
Flowers/Shrubs0.1%
Fodder1.1%
Grain Legumes
1.0%
Pasture55.7%
Lucerne25.4%
Total GVP = $324.6 million
Vines58.1%
Vegetables4.0%
Potatoes11.8%
Pasture/Seed3.5%
Pasture12.3%
Fruit and Nuts1.4%
Lucerne6.1%
Other2.9%
Oilseeds0.8%
Other0.0%
Cereals0.5%
Flowers/Shrubs0.8%
Fodder0.6% Grain Legumes
0.2%
How has irrigation changed in the South East?
Irrigation Method
Area (ha) % of Total Area (ha) % of Total Area (ha) %
Flood 26,825 37% 23,542 30% -3,284 -12.2%
Drip 8,700 12% 14,907 19% 6,207 71.3%
Travelling Irrigator 8,700 12% 5,113 6% -3,587 -41.2%
Fixed Sprinklers 2,900 4% 4,518 6% 1,618 55.8%
Centre Pivot/Lateral Move 21,025 29% 29,711 38% 8,686 41.3%
Other or unknown 4,350 6% 1,326 2% -3,024 -69.5%
Total 72,501 100% 79,118 100% 6,617 9.1%
2003/04 Change since 1998/991998/99
Water Regulation Philosophy – NRM Act 2004
Principle of Ecologically Sustainable Development
» Recognises and protects the intrinsic values of natural resources
» Sustaining the potential of natural resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations
South East groundwaterresource
PAV. Permissible Annual Volume, defined as “the volume of water that can be sustainably used or assigned from the unconfined aquifer on an annual basis, in a particular management area.”
Existing PAV (Report DWLBC 2006/02) = 814,537 ML
Total taking allocations (unconfined) at 30/06/07 =
533,512 ML
Total volume pumped in the South East NRM region (2006/07) =
310,954 ML (unconfined)
18,366 ML (confined)
Prescribed Wells Areas
Terminology
• Prescription
• WAP
• Aquifer
• Triggers
• Precautionary principle
• Volumetric conversion
• GDE
• NRM
• A legal document setting out the rules for allocation, use and transfer of water from a prescribed water resource
• Prepared by the NRM Board in each region
• Adopted by the Minister for Environment and Conservation
• Administered by Department for Water (DfW)
What is a Water Allocation Plan (WAP)?
Principles for WAPs
• Best available science and information
• Active involvement of community and stakeholders
• Understanding of demands on water resource
• Appreciating needs of different sectors
• Community ownership of policy
• Regard for state and national policy directions
Concept Statement
Board and DfW develop options to address issues in the Concept Statement. Papers for Community Comment.
Community consultation on the preparation of the Draft Water Allocation Plan (A1)
Community consultation on the contents of the Draft Water Allocation Plan (A2)
Board develops draft Water Allocation Plans in collaboration with special interest groups, the Lower
Limestone Coast Reference Group and DfW
How is a Water Allocation Plan developed?
DfW review of plan under preparation
B consultation on the Plan as drafted
Revision for minor amendments and Plan approval by Minister
How is a Water Allocation Plan developed?
Development cont.
Board continues to develop draft Water Allocation Plans taking into consideration submissions and
feedback from A2 Consultation
At least every 5 years and considers:
• Trends in Water Resources
• New Science
• New Policy
• New Law
• Changes in societal views and values
Who’s who in water planning and management?
Board Sub-Committees
Department for Water
South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage
Board
South East Natural Resources Management Board
Border Groundwater Agreement Review
Committee
Minister for Environment & Conservation
Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood
Management Board
Who does a Water Allocation Plan relate to?
Licensed Water Users
• Irrigators and forest
industry
• Industrial
• Public Water Supply
• Recreational
Water Affecting Activities
•Well Drilling
•Dams
•Forestry
Environmental Water Needs
Stock and Domestic
Why develop a water allocation plan?
• To protect the natural assets dependent on groundwater resources.
• To ensure the long term viability of industry and stock and domestic use.
• To provide for equity in rights and consumption of the water resource.
• To ensure resource sustainability for the long term future of our region.
How Can You be Involved in Water Planning?
• Public consultation
• Written submissions
• Information sessions
• One on one
• Request presentations
• Check www.senrm.sa.gov.au
• Use nrmSpace
The really important message…..
A WAP sets out policy to manage a resource that science tells us will become increasingly scarce, in a
way that allows for continued regional growth, protection of our water and does not come at the expense of our other natural assets. All for the benefit of our children's
children.
Volumetric allocations
• Area-based (HaIE) allocations to be converted to Volume-based (Megalitre) allocations
• Conversion factor used to alter allocations
• A number of areas in the South East have, in the past, been over-allocated
• As a result, irrigators in some areas will have their allocations reduced
Annual Water Use Return Forms
• All licensed water use MUST be metered. Failure to do so may incur penalties in accordance with the NRM Act 2004.
• Administered by Department for Water
AWUR forms require:
• Provision of water use figures for the preceding financial year (calculated from meter readings)
• Provision of salinity readings if carried out by landholder
Irrigation BenchmarkingDfW’s Irrigation Benchmarking project is looking at 13 trial sites throughout the South East. Investigations include:
• Monthly sampling for soil water and drainage water
• Piezometer readings for aquifer depth, salinity etc.
• Bi-monthly Sonde readings to look at aquifer salinity stratigraphy
• Soil sampling and analysis pre-Irrigation season
• Post-Irrigation season soil sampling and analysis
• A number of centre pivot catch can tests
Irrigation BenchmarkingRequirement to:
• present and discuss results of investigations, including:
water and salt balances for the trial sites
nitrate leaching under irrigation and its impact on the groundwater resources.
• have community input into development of the best practice management guidelines which are to address/minimise impacts to groundwater resources and increase efficiency of irrigation enterprises.
Automatic Weather Stations (AWS)
• Regional AWS network established
• Recorded data useful when determining irrigation scheduling
• AWS located at Tintinara airstrip, as part of an Innovation Grants project
AcknowledgementsThe South East Natural Resources Management Board gratefully acknowledges the following information providers:
• Rural Solutions SA – Irrigated Crop Management Service
• Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources