National scale vulnerability assessment of seawater intrusion impacts on groundwater
| Objective: | To assess the vulnerability of Australia's groundwater resources to seawater intrusion |
| Funding: |
$1,800,876 |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | November 2009 |
|
Completion: |
May 2012 |
Progress
About the project
Seawater intrusion occurs when seawater is drawn into a coastal aquifer and is often caused by excessive levels of groundwater pumping. The project outputs will assist with more detailed modelling of coastal groundwater catchments and sub-catchments.
The project has three objectives:
- to provide a baseline assessment of the impacts of seawater intrusion on groundwater in Australia
- to improve understanding of the risk of seawater intrusion to coastal groundwater systems, where there is continued and/or planned groundwater extraction
- to improve understanding of the potential future impacts of rising sea levels as a result of climate change on groundwater.
Project activities will contribute to an overarching assessment of vulnerability and deliver a number of standalone products including new maps and models of Australia's coastal aquifers and seawater intrusion risk.
The project will be undertaken by Geoscience Australia and project partners include all state and territory governments, CSIRO and Flinders University.
Project benefits
A national approach to assessing seawater intrusion impacts on groundwater will provide valuable information to determine sustainable levels of extraction in coastal aquifers, to assist water managers across the country.