DWLBC REPORT Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment 2006/12 Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment Rehanna Kawalec and Sally Roberts Knowledge and Information Division Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation December 2005 Report DWLBC 2006/12 Knowledge and Information Division Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation 25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001 Telephone National (08) 8463 6946 International +61 8 8463 6946 Fax National (08) 8463 6999 International +61 8 8463 6999 Website www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au Disclaimer The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained herein as regards to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation and its employees expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice. Information contained in this document is correct at the time of writing. © Government of South Australia, through the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation 2007 This work is Copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth), no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission obtained from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Chief Executive, Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001. ISBN 978-1-921218-12-5 Preferred way to cite this publication Kawalec, R & Roberts, S 2006. Review of South Australian state agency water monitoring activities in the Torrens Catchment, DWLBC Report 2006/12, Government of South Australia, through Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Adelaide. FOREWORD South Australia’s unique and precious natural resources are fundamental to the economic and social wellbeing of the State. It is critical that these resources are managed in a sustainable manner to safeguard them both for current users and for future generations. The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) strives to ensure that our natural resources are managed so that they are available for all users, including the environment. In order for us to best manage these natural resources it is imperative that we have a sound knowledge of their condition and how they are likely to respond to management changes. DWLBC scientific and technical staff continues to improve this knowledge through undertaking investigations, technical reviews and resource modelling. Rob Freeman CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF WATER, LAND AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Report DWLBC 2006/12 iii Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment Report DWLBC 2006/12 iv Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank personnel in the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, Environment Protection Authority and Bureau of Meteorology for their assistance and comments in preparing this report. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation Neil Power Manager, Strategy and Planning Edward Pikusa Program Manager, Surface Water Group Dominic James GIS Analyst, Surface Water Group Graham Blair Senior Hydrological Information Officer, Surface Water Group Robin Leaney Supervising Hydrographer, Surface Water Group Bruce Murdoch Senior Hydrological Information Officer, Surface Water Group Ashley Greenwood Program Manager, Surface Water Group Peter Stace Principal Hydrological Information Officer, Surface Water Group Theresa Heneker Engineering Hydrologist, Surface Water Group Steve Barnett Principal Hydrogeologist, Knowledge and Information Division Lloyd Sampson Hydrogeologist, Knowledge and Information Division Michelle Bald Project Ecologist, Knowledge and Information Division Torrens Catchment Water Management Board Keith Downard Technical Manager, Torrens Catchment Water Management Board Pedro Schultz Scientific Officer, Water for the Environment Marion Santich Hydrogeologist Environment Protection Authority David Duncan Principal Advisor, Water Quality Peter Goonan Senior Aquatic Biologist, Water Quality Linda-Marie McDowell SA Waterwatch Coordinator, Community South Australian Water Corporation Damien Venema Water Quality Advisor, Australian Water Quality Centre O’Connor NRM Dr Patrick O’Connor Report DWLBC 2006/12 v Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment Report DWLBC 2006/12 vi Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment CONTENTS FOREWORD...........................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................v PREFACE ................................................................................................................................1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................3 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED FUTURE MONITORING ...........................................................5 1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................9 1.1 BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................9 1.2 AIM .............................................................................................................................9 1.3 OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................................9 1.4 METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................................10 1.5 CONSULTATION .....................................................................................................10 1.6 STUDY AREA ..........................................................................................................10 1.7 STAKEHOLDERS ....................................................................................................11 2. CATCHMENT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................13 2.1 PHYSICAL FEATURES ...........................................................................................13 2.2 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES ..........................................................................13 2.3 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.............................................................................14 2.3.1 Rural Catchment ................................................................................................................14 2.3.2 Metropolitan Catchment.....................................................................................................14 2.4 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS .......................................................................................15 2.5 LAND USE ...............................................................................................................15 2.5.1 Impact of Land Use on Water Resources..........................................................................15 2.5.2 Future Trends in Land Use ................................................................................................15 2.5.3 Changes in Land Use in relation to Water Monitoring .......................................................15 2.5.4 Irrigation .............................................................................................................................17 3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS ............................................19 3.1 ROLES OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS....................................................................19 3.1.1 Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) ..............................19 3.1.2 Environment Protection Authority (EPA)............................................................................19 3.1.3 Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH).............................................................20 3.1.4 South Australian Water Corporation (SA Water) ...............................................................21 3.1.5 Torrens Catchment Water Management Board (TCWMB)................................................21 3.1.6 Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)............................................................................................22 3.2 RESPONSIBILITIES OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS...............................................23 Report DWLBC 2006/12 vii Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Torrens Catchment CONTENTS 4. CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEMS ............................................................................25 4.1 OVERVIEW OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN SA.............25 4.1.1 Water Quantity ...................................................................................................................25 4.1.2 Water Quality .....................................................................................................................25