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Home > Water > Tasmania's Water Resources > Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity

Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity in Tasmania

Reports
Further Information

Tasmania’s groundwater and surface water resources are highly connected. A large proportion of annual streamflow comes from springs and direct discharge of groundwater into the beds and banks of watercourses.

Many lakes, wetlands and estuaries are also significantly connected to and reliant on groundwater.

The most highly connected systems are those in karst areas where cave systems and enlarged fractures supply water to springs, surface streams and lakes, and receive water from surface catchments. Landscapes in coastal sands, alluvium and basalt also contain highly to moderately connected groundwater and surface water resources.

Ecosystems in rivers, springs, lakes, wetlands, estuaries and caves which depend on groundwater inputs (along with terrestrial vegetation communities using groundwater) are called Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems.

Classification of Connected Water Regions in Tasmania

(from Sheldon 2011)

Connected water regions classification

Reports

Regionalisation and Risk Assessment for Groundwater and Surface Water Resources - Final Report

Streams and aquifers are connected in different ways in different circumstances, depending on the local hydrology, geology and landforms.

This report maps the distribution of connected systems across Tasmania, and assesses the vulnerability of surface water resources to groundwater extraction, and vice-versa.

The report is available via STORS here:
www.stors.tas.gov.au/au-7-0054-00575You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

Regional assessments of connected water systems - Final reports for the Duck River catchment (Smithton Syncline) and Sassafras-Wesley Vale

Surface and groundwater resources of the Duck River valley (within the Smithton syncline) are highly connected through a karstic groundwater system. Groundwater also forms an important source of both surface streamflow and water extracted for irrigation at Sassafras-Wesley Vale.

These reports document the nature and hydrological processes of the surface and groundwater systems in both areas, along with their groundwater dependent ecosystems.

The Smithon Report is available via STORS here:
www.stors.tas.gov.au/au-7-0054-00579You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

The Wesley Vale Sassafras Report is available via STORS here:
www.stors.tas.gov.au/au-7-0054-00578You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

Further Information

Contact: Senior Groundwater Officer
Ian Houshold
Senior Groundwater Management Officer
Water Management Branch
PO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 3868
Fax: 03 6224 4977
Email: Ian.Houshold@dpipwe.tas.gov.au


Tasmania Online


Tasmania Online | Service Tasmania

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