Quantifying surface water/groundwater exchange using thermal and chemical measurements
Project details
| Objective: | To develop field equipment and a proven scientific methodology to quantify surface water flux to groundwater below stream beds |
| Funding: |
$210,000 plus GST |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commences: | December 2008 |
| Completion: | September 2011 |
About the project
The difficulty in identifying and measuring the exchange between streams and groundwater has impeded understanding of surface water/groundwater connectivity and the ability to manage connected resources in an integrated manner.
This project, to be conducted by the University of New South Wales, will help quantify the exchange of surface water and groundwater in river beds. This will improve the mapping of connections and interactions between surface and groundwater.
Tools will be developed to measure depth, thermal and chemical characteristics. This will advance the conceptual model of the hyporheic zone, leading to better understanding of surface water / groundwater fluxes and more informed management decisions. It is expected that the tools developed could also be applied to dams, lakes, rivers and wetlands.
The project is being co-funded by the National Plan for Sustainable Irrigation.
Project benefits
By developing field equipment and a proven scientific methodology to quantify surface water flux to groundwater below stream beds, the project will contribute to mapping the many complex connections and interactions between groundwater and surface water.
This will improve knowledge and understanding, underpinning more informed policy development and water allocation decisions.
Progress
The project is progressing with an extensive field testing program underway to monitor the effectiveness of a suite of heat tracing products developed to assess the direct impact of groundwater pumping on water exchange in streambeds in the Namoi Valley, NSW. The UNSW team presented their work at the Maules Creek Groundwater Forum in November 2009. The Forum was very well attended by local graziers and irrigators and CMA representatives.