The Guidelines
This page describes the guidelines used to identify high quality hyrdrologic stations for inclusion in the portal.
In 2010, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) were commissioned to develop guidelines for the selection of high quality Hydrologic Reference Stations (HRS) across Australia (SKM 2010). The objective of developing the guidelines was to identify Hydrologic Reference Stations that can be used in long-term and seasonal prediction of water availability and to identify decadal streamflow variability and trends. In 2011, the guidelines were adapted and applied to streamflow reference stations in all catchment across Australia (Turner et al. 2012).
Essentially, the application of the guidelines was broken into four tasks:
- Identify unregulated catchments with minimal land use change.
- Identify gauging stations with high quality streamflow series and a long period of record (greater than 30 years).
- Ensure the distribution of streamflow reference stations is spatially representative of all hydro-climate regions.
- Consult with relevant agencies in each jurisdiction to review the application of the guidelines.
The aims and criteria of the project were then divided into four phases. These phases are detailed in the table below. For more information about the application of the guidelines please see Turner et al. (2012).
Aims and criteria for each of the four phases.
| Phase |
Aim |
Criteria applied to achieve aim |
| 1 |
To collate a list of potential hydrologic reference stations |
- Station is not clearly identifiable as a drain, weir or non-river site.
- No dams, weirs or irrigation infrastructure upstream.
- Long-term time-series (minimum of 1975 onwards).
- Minimum of fifteen years continuous data in each climate phase (dependent on series length)
|
| 2 |
Undertake stakeholder consultation to identify and understand impacts in upstream catchments that may impact on the quality of the streamflow reference stations |
- Are there minimal farm dams in upstream catchment (capturing less than 10% of runoff)?
- Does the list provide adequate representation of reference stations located on un-impacted reaches in the region?
- Are there any reference stations that are not currently included but would be more relevant?
- What is an estimate of the volume of diversions occurring upstream of the selected reference station?
- What is the likelihood of the volume of diversions increasing in the future?
- Are there any regulatory structures upstream of the reference station?
- If a coastal region, is there any tidal influence on the reference station?
- Are there any point source discharges upstream of the selected reference station?
- Have there been any significant land use changes that would impact on catchment hydrology? Land use practices could include farm dams, clearing, forestry, urbanisation, fire and water resource development
- Are there any land use practices likely to increase in the future?
- Does the reference station have a particular importance, for example, water supply or ecological?
- What is the data quality of each reference station?
- Is the rating curve sensitive to all facets of the flow regime?
- Is there any uncertainty related to the streamflow series?
|
| 3 |
Quantify land use changes and hydrological quality of streamflow series |
- Is there less than 10% land use change in the catchment upstream from the streamflow station
- Is there minimal missing data (less than 5% over the period).This condition was waived for some stations, because of either their importance or their enhancement in spatial representation.
- Is the rating curve sensitive to all facets of the flow regime?
- Minimal data outside the gauging limits
- Minimal data anomalies and unusual flow patterns
|
| 4 |
To identify climate region |
- Köppen climate classification region. See this explanation for more information.
|
