Daly: Key findings
A large portion of the region's annual rainfall occurred during a large storm event in late December. The storm caused a major flood in the Daly River: more than half the annual flow in the river occurred during this 2-week flood. Yet poor rainfall during the typically wettest months of the year (January–March) resulted in an overall decrease in aquifer recharge and contributed to an increase in water use. This was the fourth consecutive year groundwater availability dropped in the region.
CLIMATE AND WATER
Rainfall
1,171 mm
above the long-term average
Streamflow
55%
of flow occurred in 2 weeks
during the Daly River flood
Aquifer storage
336,000 ML
drop from last year
WATER USE
40,093 ML
Water sourced
77%
23%
17%
more water used than last year
individual users
91%
urban system
9%
WATER STATUS
Entitlements
122,204 ML
total surface water and groundwater entitlements
Water assets
336,000 ML
drop in net water assets
during the 2015–16 year
Outlook
increase in storage expected
during the 2016–17 year
