Metadata

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Atlas

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Aquatic groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDE)

Creation date

15-07-2019

Purpose

The aquatic GDE layer depicts aquatic ecosystems that are dependent on the surface expression of groundwater, including all groundwater-fed surface water bodies such as wetlands, rivers, lakes and springs. This relates only to the aquatic component of a system, and therefore excludes any vegetation that may fringe a surface water body.

Abstract

The aquatic GDE layer is comprised of data from the 2012 GDE Atlas layer—GDE reliant on the surface expression of groundwater—combined with new State and regional datasets ranging from 2012 to 2019. The 2012 GDE layer was derived from a national assessment involving remote sensing using Landsat and MODIS, and GIS rules-based analysis. The States/regions that have been updated with new aquatic GDE data including Queensland (wetlands, waterways and springs), Victoria (wetlands, waterways and some springs), the South Australian portion of Lake Eyre Basin (wetlands and springs), New South Wales (springs) and Northern Territory (springs).

The data is categorised by 'potential of ecosystem to be a GDE', which is classified as either known or potential (high, moderate or low) GDEs. This classification also highlights the different data sources, i.e. from the national assessment or from other studies.

Aquatic inflow-dependent ecosystems (IDE)

Creation date

15-05-2017

Purpose

The aquatic inflow-dependent ecosystems (IDE) layer shows the extent of rivers, wetlands and springs assigned with a likelihood of being inflow dependent.

Abstract

All surface water ecosystems (rivers, wetlands and springs) are considered to be inflow-dependent ecosystems, as they all receive inflows from surface water, and potentially groundwater. The aquatic IDE layer has been developed by assigning an inflow dependence likelihood (from remote sensing data) to each aquatic GDE polygon from the feature layer datasets.

Areas of update

Creation date

15-06-2017

Purpose

The areas of update layers show the areas where GDE data has been updated since the initial GDE Atlas release in September 2012.

Abstract

The GDE Atlas was first released in September 2012. Since then it has been updated with more recent and detailed GDE data from State and regional water agencies. The areas of update layers show the areas where GDE data has been updated. There are three layers; one for each type of GDE: aquatic, terrestrial and subterranean. For each area, the layer shows the GDE subtype that has been updated (spring, wetland, river, vegetation or cave) and the type of update that has occurred:

Replace–new mapping and attributes have replaced the original GDE Atlas data
Hybrid–area has a combination of original GDE Atlas data and new state/regional data
New attributes–some attributes have been updated with new State/regional data without changes to the mapping
No change–area contains the original GDE Atlas data

Bioregions

Creation date

15-04-2012

Purpose

The bioregions layer depicts regions with a similar set of major environmental influences (climate, geomorphology, landforms and lithology) that shape the occurrence of flora and fauna and their interaction with the physical environment.

Abstract

The bioregions layer was derived from the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) version 7.0. The IBRA Version 7.0 data consists of 89 biogeographic regions, which are larger-scale regional classification, and 419 sub-regions, which are more localised.

Bores

Creation date

31-07-2016

Purpose

The bores dataset is sourced from the National Groundwater Information System and is a point feature class in which each point represents the location of a bore and associated attributes.

Abstract

The bores dataset contains groundwater bore information collected by State and Territory lead water agencies including:

Unique bore identifiers including the State bore ID
State and agency responsible for collecting the information
Depth and date that the bore was drilled
Hydrogeological unit screened by the bore
Spatial location and reference elevation of the bore.

This information is exported from the relevant State or Territory groundwater database to the National Groundwater Information System.

Climate zones

Creation date

01-01-2006

Purpose

The climate zones layer maps the six major climate zones across Australia based on the differences between summer and winter rainfall.

Abstract

The climate zones layer is derived from the ‘Seasonal rainfall zones in Australia’ dataset (Bureau of Meteorology). This dataset uses the median annual rainfall (based on the 100-year period from 1900 to 1999) and seasonal incidence (the ratio of the median rainfall over the period November to April, to the period May to October) to identify six major climate zones.

Eco-hydrogeological zones

Creation date

01-04-2011

Purpose

The eco-hydrogeological zones layer delineates regions with similar ecology, geology, climate and groundwater/surface water connections. In each region similar processes are expected to determine the interaction between groundwater and ecology, and therefore consistent GIS analysis rules can be used to identify the presence of GDEs.

Abstract

The eco-hydrogeological zones (EHZs) layer was developed by the former SKM during the original GDE Atlas development. It integrates several national spatial datasets that, when combined, reflect key hydro‐ecological processes at this scale:

Bioregions (Geoscience Australia): eco‐hydrology zonation which brings in hydrological characterisation;
Groundwater flow systems (BRS): delineates regional, local, intermediate groundwater flow systems
Groundwater provinces (Geoscience Australia): defines hydrogeological extents such as the Great Artesian Basin and Murray–Darling Basin,
Watertable aquifers (Bureau of Meteorology): identifies watertable aquifers across Australia

This layer identifies a total of 57 EHZs. Further information is available from the GDE Atlas methodology report.

Elevation

Creation date

10-02-2014

Purpose

The elevation layer is a representation of land surface elevation in metres above the Australian Height Datum (mAHD). The elevation has been generalised into seven classes from low elevation (cream) to high elevation (brown).

Abstract

The elevation layer is derived from Geoscience Australia’s GEODATA 9 Second Digital Elevation Model (DEM-9S) Version 3 to enable quick loading of an elevation layer at a national scale. The raster has been categorised into seven classes ranging from low elevation ( < 150 mAHD) to high elevation ( > 950 mAHD).

Geomorphology

Creation date

2010-2015

Purpose

The geomorphology layer represents geomorphological regions of Australia. Each region has similar landform characteristics and is described in terms of its geographic name, major geologic and geomorphic features, and regolith materials.

Abstract

The geomorphology layer is a representation of the regions from the ASRIS Physiographic Regions of Australia (Geoscience Australia and CSIRO).

Groundwater flow systems

Creation date

09-02-2000

Purpose

The groundwater flow systems layer identifies regional, intermediate and local flow systems at the national scale.

Abstract

The groundwater flow systems layer is a representation of the Australian Groundwater Flow Systems dataset (National Land and Water Resources Audit). The dataset was created by combining geology, geomorphology and topographical information at a national scale.

Groundwater management areas

Creation date

31-07-2016

Purpose

Each State and Territory has groundwater management areas. The groundwater management areas layer is a collation of jurisdictional groundwater management areas into a national dataset by the Bureau for use in groundwater products.

Abstract

Groundwater management areas are identified by lead water agencies in each State and Territory for management and reporting purposes. Groundwater management area boundaries are created by lead water agencies on the basis of natural catchment or aquifer boundaries, as well as administrative and management boundaries. These jurisdictional datasets have been integrated into a single national dataset by the Bureau for use in groundwater products.

Groundwater provinces

Creation date

01-06-1999 to 15-12-2001

Purpose

A groundwater province is a major area having a broad uniformity of hydrogeological and geological conditions, with reasonably uniform water-bearing characteristics, and identified as either predominantly sediment or fractured rock.

Abstract

The groundwater provinces layer is derived from National Land and Water Resources Audit, Water Resource Assessment Database 2000.

Irrigation areas

Creation date

15-10-2015

Purpose

The irrigation areas layer provides a national coverage of areas with administratively defined boundaries and associated rights and obligations relating to the use of water for irrigation.

Abstract

The irrigation areas layer builds on the Australian Irrigation Areas, Version 1a (dataset published by the former National Land and Water Resources Audit in 2001) and an unpublished update to this dataset by the former Bureau of Rural Sciences in 2006. Recent improvements made by the Bureau of Meteorology include adding extra areas in Western Australian and Tasmania, and updating the names.

Lakes

Creation date

01-11-2012

Purpose

The lakes layer depicts surface water features that may interact with groundwater. For example, groundwater may discharge into rivers and provide base flow. Conversely the lakes may recharge the groundwater.

Abstract

The lakes layer has been created from the Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (Geofabric) Surface Cartography Version 2.

Land use

Creation date

2010-2011

Purpose

The land use layer represents national scale land use as nine broad classes relevant to water use and management in Australia:

Built environment
Dryland agriculture—non-irrigated drylands under cultivation
Irrigated agriculture—lands under irrigated cropping, horticulture and pastures
Livestock grazing—natural vegetation and modified pasture grazing lands
Forestry—plantation and production forestry
Nature conservation
Other protected areas, including indigenous uses
Minimal use
Waterbodies

Abstract

The land use layer was derived from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences’ (ABARES) Land Use of Australia 2010–11, a land use map of Australia for the year 2010–11. The primary land use was classified into nine broad classes relevant to water use and management in Australia.

Likelihood grid for inflow-dependent ecosystems

Creation date

27-04-2012

Purpose

The likelihood grid for inflow-dependent ecosystems expresses the likelihood that landscapes are accessing water in addition to rainfall. The likelihood is expressed as a range of values between 1 (low) and 10 (high), where 10 indicates landscapes that are most likely to access additional water sources. The additional water source may be soil water, surface water, or groundwater. A likelihood of 1 indicates landscapes that are most likely to rely solely on rainfall.

Abstract

The likelihood grid for inflow-dependent ecosystems was constructed using data from multiple satellite sensors, namely MODIS and Landsat. While MODIS estimates evapotranspiration from land surface (van Dijk et al., 2011 ), the Landsat measures vegetation dynamics sustained during a prolonged dry period (Barron et al., 2012). The two sources were combined by converting these metrics into a standard unit, based on the likelihood of additional water use ranging from 1 (low) to 10 (high). Within different landscapes, rules were applied to determine the combination of MODIS and Landsat data to develop a continental likelihood of IDE, expressed at 25 m resolution.

References:

Barron, O.V., Emelyanova, I., Van Niel, T.G., Pollock, D. Hodgson, G. (2012) Mapping groundwater-dependent ecosystems using remote sensing measures of vegetation and moisture dynamics Hydrological Processes, 01/2014; 28(2).

Van Dijk, A., Warren, G., Van Niel, T., Byrne, G., Pollock. D., Doody, T. (2011) Derivation of data layers from medium resolution remote sensing to support mapping of groundwater dependent ecosystems. CSIRO Land and Water, Internal Document for GDE Atlas.

Places

Creation date

2015

Purpose

The places layer depicts towns and places at a range of scales to provide context for the groundwater features.

Abstract

The places layer is derived from Geoscience Australia's topographic mapping product, Geodata Topo Series 3.

Rivers

Creation date

01-11-2012

Purpose

The rivers layer depicts surface water features that may interact with groundwater. For example, groundwater may discharge into rivers and provide base flow. Conversely the rivers may recharge the groundwater.

Abstract

The rivers layer has been created from the Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (Geofabric) Version 2 Surface Cartography.

River regions

Creation date

19-11-2012

Purpose

The river region layer represents hydrological boundaries at a regional scale.

Abstract

The river region layer is taken from the Bureau of Meteorology’s Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (‘Geofabric’) Version 2 Hydrology river regions. These regions are designed for use in regional scale reporting and hydrological modelling. They are an aggregation of contracted catchments developed to meet Bureau’s requirements for regional scale water resources assessment.

Roads

Creation date

2015

Purpose

The roads layer depicts roads at a range of scales to provide context for the groundwater features.

Abstract

Roads is a composite layer that comprises several road datasets at a range of scales to show varying levels of detail. The data is sourced from Geoscience Australia's topographic mapping products including:

Geodata Topo 10M 2002
Geodata Topo 5M 2004
Geodata Topo 2.5M 2003
Global Map 1M 2001
Geodata Topo Series 3.

State and Territory boundaries

Creation date

2015

Purpose

The State and Territory borders layer depicts the administrative boundaries for Australian States and Territories. This layer provides context for the groundwater features.

Abstract

State and Territory borders is a composite layer that comprises national several datasets at a range of scales to show varying levels of detail. The data is sourced from Geoscience Australia's topographic mapping products including:

Geodata Topo 10M 2002
Geodata Topo 5M 2004
Geodata Topo 2.5M 2003
Global Map 1M 2001
Geodata Topo Series 3.

Subterranean GDE

Creation date

15-05-2017

Purpose

The subterranean GDE layer depicts groundwater-dependent ecosystems that occur below the surface of the ground within fractured, porous or unconsolidated aquifers, and in caves in both the saturated and vadose zones.

Abstract

The subterranean GDE layer is comprised of data for Tasmania from the 2012 GDE Atlas subterranean GDE layer, combined with new State data for Queensland (DSITI, 2015). The 2012 subterranean layer was derived from other studies, both desktop and fieldwork based. The new Queensland GDEs were mapped using a combination of fieldwork and GIS rules-based analysis.

Surface geology

Creation date

05-01-2012

Purpose

The surface geology layer depicts broad groupings of Geoscience Australia’s 1 million and 2.5 million scale surface geology of Australia. The groupings are based on the age of the geologic unit. This simple representation of outcrop and surficial geology is useful for understanding the hydrogeology of an area.

Abstract

Surface geology is a composite layer. It is based on the 1:2.5 million scale geology of Australia at coarse resolutions, and the 1:1 million scale geology of Australia at fine resolutions. Both geology datasets have been sourced from Geoscience Australia.

This dataset has been simplified to show the age of the geologic units: Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, and Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary periods.

Terrestrial GDE

Creation date

15-07-2019

Purpose

The terrestrial GDE layer depicts ecosystems which access subsurface groundwater to meet all or some of their water requirements, including vegetation.

Abstract

The terrestrial GDE layer is comprised of data from the 2012 GDE Atlas subsurface GDE layer, combined with new state and regional datasets ranging from 2012 to 2019. The 2012 GDE layer was derived from a national assessment involving remote sensing using Landsat and MODIS, and GIS rules-based analysis. The States/regions updated with new terrestrial GDE data include Queensland, Victoria (attributes only), New South Wales, and the South Australian portion of Lake Eyre Basin.

Terrestrial inflow-dependent ecosystems (IDE)

Creation date

15-05-2017

Purpose

The terrestrial inflow-dependent ecosystems (IDE) layer presents the vegetation ecosystems that are likely to use groundwater in addition to rainfall.

Abstract

The terrestrial IDE layer has been developed by assigning an inflow-dependence likelihood (from remote sensing data) to each vegetation ecosystem polygon from the feature layer datasets. The resulting IDE mapping identifies vegetation ecosystems that are likely to use a water source in addition to rainfall, such as water stored in the unsaturated zone, surface water or groundwater. This layer has been further analysed to distinguish the vegetation ecosystems that potentially use groundwater, from those that rely on water stored in the unsaturated zone or surface water.

Vegetation

Creation date

14-01-2000

Purpose

The vegetation layer depicts the major native vegetation within an area. The classification contains different mixes of plant species within the canopy, shrub or ground layers, but are structurally similar and are often dominated by a single genus.

Abstract

The vegetation layer is derived from the Major Vegetation Groups of the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) Version 3.1.

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