Groundwater and surface water interactions in the Wilyabrup and Warren-Pemberton agricultural regions

Surface water sources in viticultural and horticultural regions in the south west of Western Australia are becoming close to being fully allocated with irrigators looking to groundwater sources to supplement supply. Using techniques that include water balance modelling, baseflow separation modelling and Darcy’s Law.

This project will analyse existing gauging data and groundwater data to quantify the status of each resource and describe the interactions between the resources. The investigation outcomes will be discussed with peak body water management in each region as well as with regulators and water management policy advisers. Discussion of future landuses and growing demand for water resources will be included in the report.

Recent Activities

This project began in June 2009 and is scheduled to finish in October 2009.

Aims

• Determine and describe the implications of surface water and groundwater interactions in the irrigation districts of the south west of Western Australia
• Review policy and planning principles for the allocation of irrigation water in fully allocated systems.
• Develop a methodological template to report on the status of surface water and groundwater and their interactions in irrigation districts across Australia.

Outcomes

This project aims to:

1. Determine and describe the implications of surface water and groundwater interactions in the irrigation districts of the south west of Western Australia

2. Review policy and planning principles for the allocation of irrigation water in fully allocated systems.

3. Develop a methodological template to report on the status of surface water and groundwater and their interactions in irrigation districts across Australia.

Publications and Resources