Literature Review of Approaches for Groundwater Management in the MDB.Pdf”
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Hamstead Consulting Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Use and Management of Groundwater Resources in the Murray‒Darling Basin Using Rules and Resource Condition Limits Literature Review Report Prepared for Murray‒Darling Basin Authority February 2014 Published by GHD Pty Ltd Postal Address: Level 8, 180 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Telephone: (03) 8687 8000 international + 61 3 8687 8000 Facsimile: (03) 8687 8111 international + 61 3 8687 8111 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.ghd.com All material and work produced for the Murray‒Darling Basin Authority constitutes Commonwealth copyright. MDBA reserves the right to set out the terms and conditions for the use of such material. 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GHD | Report for Murray‒Darling Basin Authority – Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Use and Management of Groundwater Resources in the Murray‒Darling Basin | i Disclaimer This report: has been prepared by GHD for the MurrayDarling Basin Authority and may only be used and relied on by Murray‒Darling Basin Authority for the purpose agreed between GHD and the Murray‒Darling Basin Authority as set out in section 1 of this report. GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than Murray‒Darling Basin Authority arising in connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent legally permissible. The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report were limited to those specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations set out in the report. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions encountered and information reviewed at the date of preparation of the report. GHD has no responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring subsequent to the date that the report was prepared. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on assumptions made by GHD described in this report. GHD disclaims liability arising from any of the assumptions being incorrect. GHD has prepared this report on the basis of information provided by MurrayDarling Basin Authority and others who provided information to GHD (including Government authorities)], which GHD has not independently verified or checked beyond the agreed scope of work. GHD does not accept liability in connection with such unverified information, including errors and omissions in the report which were caused by errors or omissions in that information. GHD | Report for Murray‒Darling Basin Authority – Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Use and Management of Groundwater Resources in the Murray‒Darling Basin | ii Glossary Terminology Description Environmentally Is the level of take at which water can be taken from a water resource Sustainable Level of without compromising key environmental assets, key ecosystem Take (ESLT) functions, the productive base or key environmental outcomes for the water resource (subsection 4(1) of the Water Act 2007) Electrical Conductivity EC measures the charge carrying ability (i.e. conductance) of liquid in a (EC) measuring cell of specific dimensions. It is necessary to clearly define the units of both conductance and length when talking ECs. The standard EC unit used by Murray‒Darling Basin Authority is microSiemens per centimetre (μS/cm) at 25oC. Environmental Water Defined in section 1.07 of the Basin Plan as “the environmental watering Requirements requirements of a priority environmental asset or priority ecosystem function, as the case may be, identified using the methods set out in Part 5 of Chapter 8” [of the Basin Plan. Groundwater Dependent A groundwater dependent ecosystem (GDE) is an ecosystem which has Ecosystem (GDE) its species composition and natural ecological processes determined by groundwater. That is, they are natural ecosystems that require access to groundwater to meet all, or some of their water requirements so as to maintain their communities of plants and animals, ecological processes and ecosystem services. ‘have regard to’ A number of provisions of the Basin Plan require decision-makers to ‘have regard to’ certain matters when performing functions and making decisions. The phrases ‘have regard to’ and similar phrases are intended to be interpreted consistent with case law, as it develops from time to time and as applied with appropriate regard to the circumstances. This note is intended to reflect the case law and not to limit its application or development. When a decision‑maker is required to ‘have regard to’ particular matters, it is expected that the decision‑maker will give those matters proper, genuine and realistic consideration, even if not ultimately bound to act in accordance with those matters. A requirement to ‘have regard to’ a particular matter or matters does not mean that the decision- maker cannot have regard to other relevant matters, for example, the benefits and costs of taking a particular action. See section 1.07 of the explanatory statement in relation to the Basin Plan for further information about the phrases ‘have regard to’, ‘having regard to’ and ‘regard must be had’. (Basin Plan s1.07 p.12). MDBA Murray–Darling Basin Authority Preliminary Extraction The preliminary extraction limit represents the MDBA’s initial assessment Limit (PEL) of the volume of water that can be extracted from a groundwater SDL resource unit such that the water needs are not compromised for key environmental assets, key ecosystem functions, the productive base and key environmental outcomes. RRAM Recharge Risk Assessment Method. Resource Condition Essentially an upper limit to an impact (i.e. above which an impact Limit (RCL) becomes unacceptable) to groundwater resources, as a result of groundwater abstraction. Resource Condition A metric by which a resource condition is measured or an RCL is Indicator (RCI) approached. Most common examples are piezometric levels and groundwater salinities which can be easily measured. Other RCIs that could be used include groundwater flux and hydraulic gradient. Rules To manage the effects of groundwater take within an SDL resource unit management arrangements or ‘rules’ may need to be applied. These rules may include specifying the times, places and rates at which water is permitted to be taken and defining of RCLs, and restrictions on the water permitted to be taken in order to prevent an RCL from being exceeded. GHD | Report for Murray‒Darling Basin Authority – Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Use and Management of Groundwater Resources in the Murray‒Darling Basin | iii Terminology Description Salinity Classes Four salinity classes were defined for groundwater when developing groundwater SDLs: class 1: <1500 mg/L TDS class 2: 1500 mg/L to 3000 mg/L TDS class 3: 3000 mg/L to 14,000 mg/L TDS class 4: >14,000 mg/L TDS. S/R Ratio Aquifer storage (S) to Aquifer Recharge (R) ratio. The ratio provides an indication of the intrinsic inertia (inertia of the aquifer storage to change in recharge condition, whether brought about by human activity or climate change) of the aquifer. Sustainable Diversion