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


Contextual information: Climate overview
Climate Overview 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.

 

Contextual information: Water overview
Water 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.

 

Water accounting statements
Accounting statements 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

 

Surface water storage
Surface water 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.

 

Water abstractions
Groundwater 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.

 

Urban water supply
Urban water system 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.

 

Irrigation scheme supply
Irrigation scheme 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.