State and trends of inland water flows and levels

Inland water
State and trends
Water flows and levelsWater flows and levels
State and trends of inland water flows and levels
Component
Summary
Grade
Very poor Poor Good Very good
Confidence
In Grade In Trend
Comparability
To previous years

Carpentaria Coast

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed the Carpentaria Coast division.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

 
 
 
Gulf of Carpentaria

Largely median streamflows across the region, reflecting recent variability in climate pressures.

No significant trends in flows evident since 2011.

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Somewhat adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Somewhat adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Carpentaria Coast

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Very low levels of development, leaving flow regimes largely intact; information quite sparse

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Lake Eyre

Streamflow gauging indicates below-average flows in recent years.

No significant trends in flows evident since 2011.

Year(s): 
2016
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Lake Eyre

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Little monitoring data available, but low levels of development of surface and superficial aquifer water resources; natural flow regimes largely intact; progress on recovering pressures in the underlying Great Artesian Basin

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Murray-Darling

Predominance of below average annual flows during recent years, with monthly flows around average early in 2016

Longer term downwards trends in flows seen at nearly 50% of stations, with no change in trends evident since 2011

Year(s): 
2016
2
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Murray-Darling

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

High level of development of both groundwater and surface water systems, apart from Paroo and Warrego rivers; drought-breaking floods and recovery of entitlements for the environment are positive

Year(s): 
2011
2
Improving
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

North-east Coast

State and trends of flows showing no evidence of significant changes since 2011

Year(s): 
2016
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

North-east Coast

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

 

Topics

Low level of development in north; higher levels of development in central and south-east, with associated changes in flow regimes

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

North-western Plateau

Low data availability, with no discernible significant change in state or trends

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Very limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Very limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

North-western Plateau

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Very low level of development, with mostly local self-supply abstraction or mine de-watering; very little (and sparse) data

Year(s): 
2011
4
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Pilbara-Gascoyne

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The Indian Ocean division was renamed the Pilbara–Gascoyne division.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

 
 
 
Indian Ocean

Low data availability, with no discernible significant change in state or trends

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Very limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Pilbara-Gascoyne

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Low levels of development, with mostly local self-supply abstraction or mine de-watering (extraction of water from underground mines); limited and sparse data

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

South Australian Gulf

Observations largely focused on a small part of the region, dominated by below-average flows in recent years

Year(s): 
2016
2
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

South Australian Gulf

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Flow regimes and groundwater levels strongly affected by high levels of development and flow regulation

Year(s): 
2011
2
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

South-east Coast (NSW)

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The South East Coast division was divided into 2 divisions: South East Coast (New South Wales), covering catchments north from Towamba River, and South East Coast (Victoria), covering catchments west from the East Gippsland river region.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.
 

 
 
 
South-east Coast

A range of below average to above average monthly streamflows across the division in recent years, with many sites showing a decreasing trend in annual medium flows

Year(s): 
2016
2
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

South-east Coast (NSW)

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Comments

Nil.

 

Topics

High levels of development in areas serving Sydney and Melbourne, and in areas east of Melbourne; less change in flow regime due to development in East Gippsland and north New South Wales coast

Year(s): 
2011
2
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

South-east Coast (Victoria)

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The South East Coast division was divided into 2 divisions: South East Coast (New South Wales), covering catchments north from Towamba River, and South East Coast (Victoria), covering catchments west from the East Gippsland river region.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

 
 
 
South-east Coast

A range of annual flows from very much below average to above average in recent years, dominated by below average to average.

Nearly half the reported sites showing weakly to strongly falling trends.

Year(s): 
2016
2
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

South-east Coast (Victoria)

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

 

 
 
 

Topics

High levels of development in areas serving Sydney and Melbourne, and in areas east of Melbourne; less change in flow regime due to development in East Gippsland and north New South Wales coast

Year(s): 
2011
2
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

South-west Coast

Mostly average to below-average annual flows, with some very much below average. Reference sites dominated by negative annual flow anomalies. Trends largely weakly to strongly falling

Year(s): 
2016
2
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

South-west Coast

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

Topics

Flow regimes greatly affected by high level of development and river regulation, and prolonged drought (changed climate); highly developed groundwater systems have widely lowered watertables beyond the reach of many dependent ecosystems on Swan Coastal Plain

Year(s): 
2011
2
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

South-western Plateau

Low data availability

Year(s): 
2016
4
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Low
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

South-western Plateau

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

 
 

Topics

Very low level of water resource development, with mostly local self-supply abstraction or mine de-watering; very little data

Year(s): 
2011
4
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Tanami-Timor Sea Coast

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The Timor Sea division was renamed the Tanami–Timor Sea Coast division.

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

 
 
 
Timor Sea

Mostly above-average flows in recent years, with some strongly significant rising trends, offset by recent lower flows

Year(s): 
2016
3
Improving
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Tanami-Timor Sea Coast

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

 

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Apart from Ord River and Darwin water supply, very low levels of development, leaving flow regimes largely unchanged

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Tasmania

A mix of above average and below average annual flows to 2013, transitioning to average to very much below average. Flows recently trending down

Year(s): 
2016
3
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Tasmania

20162011
Inland water
State and trends

Approach/Process

  • Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
  • Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments, noting:
    • changes to drainage divisions:
      • South-east Coast division is now considered as two divisions: South-east Coast (New South Wales) and South-east Coast (Victoria)
      • Gulf of Carpentaria division was renamed as Carpentaria Coast division
      • Indian Ocean division was renamed as Pilbara—Gascoyne division
      • Timor Sea division was renamed as Tanami—Timor Sea Coast division
    • detail on the method of assessment used in 2011 was not available for comparison.

Data/Information sources

 

Comments

Nil.

 
 

Topics

Low level of development relative to water availability; flow regimes changed by regulation of flows associated with hydro-electricity generation in places

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very good

There are no significant changes in long-term water flows or levels as a result of human activities

Good

Some flows or levels have changed in some areas, but not to the extent that the changes are significantly affecting ecosystem function

Poor

Some flows or levels have changed substantially in some areas, to the extent that ecosystem function is significantly affected in some areas

Very poor

Flows or levels have changed substantially and over a wide area. Ecosystem function is seriously affected

Recent Trends

  • Improving

  • Stable

  • Deteriorating

  • Unclear

Confidence

  • Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus

  • Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus

  • Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus

  • Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus

  • Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

  • Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment

  • Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment

  • Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment

  • Not previously assessed

Argent RM (2016). Inland water: State and trends of inland water flows and levels. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/inland-waters/state-and-trends-inland-water-flows-and-levels, DOI 10.4226/94/58b656cfc28d1