❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses groundwater abstraction from the South West Yarragadee aquifer, seeking data on licensed volumes, actual usage, identification and protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The response provides data and outlines ongoing studies to determine ecological water requirements.
AnsweredQoN 1290Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the extension of the investigation into the South Yarragadee aquifer -
(1) What is the total volume of groundwater abstraction licenses currently issued for the South West Yarragadee aquifer?
(2) What proportion of this volume is currently being abstracted?
(3) Have all the possible groundwater dependent ecosystems that might be dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer been identified?
(4) Could these be listed?
(5) Have the ecological water requirements and conservation values of all these groundwater dependent ecosystems been identified and documented?
(6) If yes to (5), please provide the reports which document them?
(7) Have environmental water provisions been set to ensure the ecological water requirements of all the identified groundwater dependent ecosystems are protected?
(1) What is the total volume of groundwater abstraction licenses currently issued for the South West Yarragadee aquifer?
(2) What proportion of this volume is currently being abstracted?
(3) Have all the possible groundwater dependent ecosystems that might be dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer been identified?
(4) Could these be listed?
(5) Have the ecological water requirements and conservation values of all these groundwater dependent ecosystems been identified and documented?
(6) If yes to (5), please provide the reports which document them?
(7) Have environmental water provisions been set to ensure the ecological water requirements of all the identified groundwater dependent ecosystems are protected?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
23 days
(1) The Water and Rivers Commission’s water resource licensing database shows a total of 63.7 GL/yr issued for the South West Yarragadee aquifer current to 26 July 2003. It should be noted that this figure will change with time as new entitlements are issued. (2) It is estimated that as of 26 July 2003, 33.8 GL/yr are being abstracted from the Yarragadee aquifer or approximately 53% of the licensed entitlements. This figure will also increase with time as licensees utilise their entitlements. (3) An Ecological Water Requirements (EWRs) study, commissioned earlier this year identified all the possible groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) that might be fully or partly dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer, and any GDEs that might be dependent on other aquifers within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. The Stage 1 report from the EWRs study was finalised in mid-August 2003 and this report identified all potential Yarragadee-related GDEs, based on the most up-to-date hydrogeological and ecological information available at the time. Due to the lack of detailed information available, a conservative approach was taken in identification of the potential GDEs, and therefore the Commission believes that this list of GDEs will shrink, not grow, when more detailed investigation work is conducted. The Stage 1 report also identified the high priority, high risk GDEs, and it is these that are being focused on in the Stage 2 work, which will refine their geographic locations. The Stage 2 report is due to be finalised by the end of November 2003. (4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(2) It is estimated that as of 26 July 2003, 33.8 GL/yr are being abstracted from the Yarragadee aquifer or approximately 53% of the licensed entitlements. This figure will also increase with time as licensees utilise their entitlements. (3) An Ecological Water Requirements (EWRs) study, commissioned earlier this year identified all the possible groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) that might be fully or partly dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer, and any GDEs that might be dependent on other aquifers within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. The Stage 1 report from the EWRs study was finalised in mid-August 2003 and this report identified all potential Yarragadee-related GDEs, based on the most up-to-date hydrogeological and ecological information available at the time. Due to the lack of detailed information available, a conservative approach was taken in identification of the potential GDEs, and therefore the Commission believes that this list of GDEs will shrink, not grow, when more detailed investigation work is conducted. The Stage 1 report also identified the high priority, high risk GDEs, and it is these that are being focused on in the Stage 2 work, which will refine their geographic locations. The Stage 2 report is due to be finalised by the end of November 2003. (4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(3) An Ecological Water Requirements (EWRs) study, commissioned earlier this year identified all the possible groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) that might be fully or partly dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer, and any GDEs that might be dependent on other aquifers within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. The Stage 1 report from the EWRs study was finalised in mid-August 2003 and this report identified all potential Yarragadee-related GDEs, based on the most up-to-date hydrogeological and ecological information available at the time. Due to the lack of detailed information available, a conservative approach was taken in identification of the potential GDEs, and therefore the Commission believes that this list of GDEs will shrink, not grow, when more detailed investigation work is conducted. The Stage 1 report also identified the high priority, high risk GDEs, and it is these that are being focused on in the Stage 2 work, which will refine their geographic locations. The Stage 2 report is due to be finalised by the end of November 2003. (4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(2) It is estimated that as of 26 July 2003, 33.8 GL/yr are being abstracted from the Yarragadee aquifer or approximately 53% of the licensed entitlements. This figure will also increase with time as licensees utilise their entitlements. (3) An Ecological Water Requirements (EWRs) study, commissioned earlier this year identified all the possible groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) that might be fully or partly dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer, and any GDEs that might be dependent on other aquifers within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. The Stage 1 report from the EWRs study was finalised in mid-August 2003 and this report identified all potential Yarragadee-related GDEs, based on the most up-to-date hydrogeological and ecological information available at the time. Due to the lack of detailed information available, a conservative approach was taken in identification of the potential GDEs, and therefore the Commission believes that this list of GDEs will shrink, not grow, when more detailed investigation work is conducted. The Stage 1 report also identified the high priority, high risk GDEs, and it is these that are being focused on in the Stage 2 work, which will refine their geographic locations. The Stage 2 report is due to be finalised by the end of November 2003. (4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(3) An Ecological Water Requirements (EWRs) study, commissioned earlier this year identified all the possible groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) that might be fully or partly dependent on the South West Yarragadee aquifer, and any GDEs that might be dependent on other aquifers within the Blackwood Groundwater Area. The Stage 1 report from the EWRs study was finalised in mid-August 2003 and this report identified all potential Yarragadee-related GDEs, based on the most up-to-date hydrogeological and ecological information available at the time. Due to the lack of detailed information available, a conservative approach was taken in identification of the potential GDEs, and therefore the Commission believes that this list of GDEs will shrink, not grow, when more detailed investigation work is conducted. The Stage 1 report also identified the high priority, high risk GDEs, and it is these that are being focused on in the Stage 2 work, which will refine their geographic locations. The Stage 2 report is due to be finalised by the end of November 2003. (4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(4) The GDEs have been listed in a tabular format in the Stage 1 report and mapped. They are publicly available. (5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(5) Interim EWRs have been determined as described above. The conservation values of the GDEs have been identified based on the information that was already available for these systems. The Stage 1 EWR report classified the identified GDEs as high, medium or low conservation value and used this as one of the criteria to prioritise the GDEs in terms of their risk in relation to water level changes. (6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(6) This information is documented in a report by URS Consultants ‘Establishment of interim ecological water requirements for the Blackwood Groundwater Area, WA – Part 1” which is publicly available. (7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
(7) Environmental Water Provisions have not been proposed yet because the EWR and modelling work required to set them is still in progress.
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