The Ord region
Overview of the 2012–13 year
The Ord River is one of the most significant waterways in northern Australia. A distinctive feature in the region is Lake Argyle: a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance and Australia's largest human-made storage. The storage was purpose built to support irrigated agriculture and hydroelectric generation in the region. Over the next few years, the region is undergoing substantial development of irrigated farmland. With the subsequent increased demands for water supply, it is important that water allocation plans continue to incorporate the environmental, cultural, and social values of the region.
Water supply in the region is primarily sourced from storages and rivers, with some town supply sourced from local aquifers. Rainfall across the entire Ord region was slightly below average for the 2012–13 year. These rainfall conditions, compared to the 2011–12 year, contributed to decreased streamflows into the storages. The volume of water held in storages decreased during the 2012–13 year by 2,182,011 ML. Closing net water assets in the region was 8,299,451 ML, compared to 10,465,536 ML at the end of the 2011–12 year. For more information on the region's water assets refer to Water accounting statements.
The key water account information for the Ord region during the 2012–13 year is presented in the following table. Information on the uncertainty associated with the volumes presented in the table is provided in the relevant sections of the account.
Key water account information for the Ord region during the 2012–13 year
2012–13 | 2011–12 | Long–term average | |
Rainfall: 624 mm | Rainfall: 771 mm | Rainfall: 673 mm | |
Evapotranspiration: 641 mm | Evapotranspiration: 717 mm | Evapotranspiration: 563 mm | |
For more detail on the Ord climate refer to Climate overview. |
Upper Ord River | Negri River | Lower Ord River | |
below mean annual flow | below mean annual flow | record low annual flow | |
For more detail on streamflow in the Ord region refer to Water overview. |
2012–13 | 2011–12 | ||
Total water assets (as at 30 June) | 8,594,623 | 10,775,781 | |
Total water liabilities (as at 30 June) | 295,172 | 310,245 | |
Change in net water assets | (2,166,085) | (4,375,186) | |
Closing net water assets | 8,299,451 | 10,465,536 | |
For more detail on water assets and water liabilities refer to Water accounting statements. |
Notes: Water resources and systems
30 June 2013 | 30 June 2012 | ||||
Total capacity | Volume | % of capacity | Volume | % of capacity | |
10,923,678 ML | 8,577,385 ML | 78.5% | 10,759,396 ML | 98.5% | |
For more detail on surface water storage in the Ord region refer to Surface water. |
Total water abstracted | |||
2012–13 | 2011–12 | Recent activity | |
Surface water: 181,422 ML | Surface water: 175,813 ML | Surface water abstraction for private users has increased. | |
Groundwater: 10,764 ML | Groundwater: 13,108 ML | ||
For more detail on water abstraction in the Ord region refer to Surface water and Groundwater. |
Total water supplied | |||
2012–13 | 2011–12 | Recent activity | |
2,173 ML | 2,264 ML | Groundwater abstraction for urban supply has decreased. | |
For more detail on the urban water system in the Ord region refer to Surface water and Groundwater. |
Total water supplied | |||
2012–13 | 2011–12 | Recent activity | |
153,697 ML | 155,362 ML | Irrigation scheme supply relatively unchanged. | |
For more detail on the irrigation scheme in the Ord region refer to Surface water and Groundwater. |