Groundwater responses to the 2010–11 floods
| Objective: | To systematically assess the groundwater response to recent high-rainfall |
| Funding: |
$50,000 plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | June 2011 |
| Completion: | December 2011 |
About the project
In late 2010 and early 2011 heavy rain and flooding occurred across large parts of eastern Australia, including areas that had experienced significant drought over the past decade. The project involved a preliminary assessment of groundwater responses to these events. The assessment covered five catchments:
- Lockyer Valley (Qld)
- Murrumbidgee (NSW)
- Loddon (Vic)
- Cam and Emu (Tas)
- Gascoyne (WA)
The project considered rainfall, streamflow and groundwater levels over short (12 months), medium (‘Millennium’ drought), and longer term (when monitoring began) timeframes.
Project benefits
Major weather events such as those experienced across Australia in 2010-11 provide an opportunity to track responses in groundwater levels that may be associated with groundwater recharge – an aspect of the hydrological cycle that is critical for our water supplies but is often difficult to measure.
Project outputs
The Groundwater responses to the 2010–11 floods report was released on 15 December 2011. The report indicates that although groundwater levels rose in all areas examined, they recovered to pre-drought levels in only some aquifers.