Groundwater

Thumbnail cover image

Guidelines for Managing Soil Salinity in Groundwater Irrigated Vineyards

Managers Update

 This report outlines the key findings from the project:

  • Rainfall percolation is the key to sustaining supplementary irrigation with saline groundwater
  • At 25 years of age, salt excluding rootstocks have equal or better yield than own rooted vines and half the fruit chloride
  • Soil water extractors give fast and cheap guidance on vineyard salinity status

  • Publication
  • Guides and Manuals
  • 2012
  • Product code NPSI06122
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download
Thumbnail cover image

Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions in the Fractured Rock Areas

of the South West of Western Australia

This report entails the component of works undertaken in the Wilyabrup catchment, located in the south west of Western Australia, near the town of Cowaramup and Smith Brook catchment located in the south west of Western Australia immediately south of the town Manjimup. These catchments were selected as they are both reliant on reliable water supplies to sustain established agricultural and viticultural systems.

  • Publication
  • Final Report
  • 2010
  • Product code NPSI510
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download
Thumbnail cover image

Sustaining perennial horticultural production

under supplementary irrigation drawn from saline groundwater

This publication explores ongoing perennial horticultural production using supplementary irrigation with saline groundwater. The role of rainfall, spatial distribution of salinity and salt-exclusion characteristics of rootstocks are among the considerations.

  • Publication
  • Report
  • 2010
  • Product code NPSI210
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download

Indigenous Interests in Tropical Rivers: Research & Management Issues

of the Scoping Study for Land & Water Australia’s Tropical Rivers Program

The report was requested by Land and Water Australia (LWA) as a scoping study to provide information for their new Tropical Rivers Program.

  • Publication
  • General Information
  • 2009
  • Product code PN30226
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download
  • Publication
  • Final Report
  • 2007
  • Product code PN30162
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download

Climate change and water use of native vegetation

Under climate change conditions Australia will generally be hotter and, for many parts of the country drier. Vegetation water use is strongly influenced by soil moisture availability (which is influenced by rainfall) and evaporative demand. Soil moisture will be more scarce in the future across much of the continent due to declining rainfall. The major input of water into the Australian landscape is rainfall and most rainfall (70–95%) returns to the atmosphere as (more)...

  • Publication
  • Fact Sheet
  • 2009
  • Product code PN30134
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download

Identifying Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are important elements in the landscape that require access to groundwater to maintain their health and vigour. They are important because of their conservation, biodiversity, ecological, social and economic value.

There are two threats to GDEs — outright loss of habitat and outright loss of groundwater resources.

  • Publication
  • Fact Sheet
  • 2009
  • Product code PN30129
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read More and Download

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Some terrestrial ecosystems are dependent at certain times of year on groundwater. These ecosystems are at risk as a result of systemic changes in the groundwater table. However little is known about the linkages between surface and groundwater use and the effects on these ecosystems. A small number of key projects will be undertaken under this theme to help quantify these linkages.

Thumbnail cover image

Implementation

A Framework for Assessing Environmental Water Requirements for Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

This report presents the National Framework for the assessment of EWRs of GDEs. It has been designed to assist water resource, catchment and ecosystem managers, or their advisors, in considering the needs of GDEs in water allocation planning policy.

Dr Richard Evans

Dr Richard Evans is a Principal Hydrogeologist employed by Sinclair Knight Merz Consultants In many catchments the water resources found above and below the ground are parts of the same system, linked in a poorly understood and complex manner. Yet access to surface water and groundwater is allocated as if they were independent of each other and without recognition of potential downstream impacts, particularly the effect pumping groundwater can have on stream and river flows. (more)...
  • Project
  • National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
  • Read more