Burdekin: Climate and water
Annual rainfall in the region was slightly above average during the 2016–17 year. Rainfall associated with ex-tropical cyclone Debbie in March led to very high streamflow conditions in the Bowen River which resulted in large outflows from the delta region.
For further information on the region's climate and water conditions during the 2016–17 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
About the region
The Burdekin region lies within the dry tropics of northern Australia, which has a distinct and predictable climatic seasonality. Almost all rainfall in the region occurs during the wet season (November–April). As a consequence, flow in the rivers is strongly seasonal (see Water resources in 'Region description' for more information).
Climate conditions
Rainfall
Figure C1 Annual and monthly rainfall deciles for the Burdekin region during the 2016–17 year
- The total area-averaged rainfall for the year was 658 mm, which is slightly above the average annual rainfall of 643 mm.
- Total wet season (November–April) rainfall was well below average. Only in March was the monthly rainfall above average, and this was due to heavy rainfall associated with ex-tropical cyclone Debbie.
- Above average rainfall occurred in July 2016 as a result of low pressure systems forming along the east coast. Heavy rainfall in May, associated with a surface trough located off the north Queensland coast, led to many locations experiencing their wettest May day on record (see Figure C1).
Figure C2 Total monthly rainfall for the Burdekin region during the 2016–17 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region
Actual evapotranspiration
Figure C3 Annual and monthly actual evapotranspiration deciles for the Burdekin region during the 2016–17 year
- Total area-averaged actual evapotranspiration was 623 mm, well above the mean value of 555 mm.
- The above average evapotranspiration may be attributed to a combination of above-average temperatures across the region and increased water availability during the dry season due to very high rainfall in July.
Figure C4 Total monthly actual evapotranspiration for the Burdekin region during the 2016–17 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region
- Actual evapotranspiration was below average for most of the wet season months (November–April).
Soil moisture
Figure C5 Annual and monthly soil moisture deciles for the Burdekin region during the 2016–17 year
- Soil moisture in the root zone (0–1m depth) during the 2016–17 year was generally average across most of the Burdekin region.
- Comparison of monthly rainfall and soil moisture deciles indicates close alignment with wetter months during the 2016–17 year. This is particularly evident following the July rainfall in 2016.
- More information on soil moisture distribution across the Burdekin region is available in the Australian Landscape Water Balance.
Streamflow responses
Streamflow
Figure C6 Key flow gauging stations along the main rivers within the Burdekin region
- The Burdekin, Cape and Suttor rivers provide the major inflows to Lake Dalrymple.
- The Bowen river contributes to one of the major water supply schemes in the region.
Figure C7 Total monthly flow for key rivers during the 2016–17 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles
- Despite total annual rainfall being average, streamflow across the region was generally below average. This is primarily due to relatively poor rainfall and soil moisture conditions during the wet season, a period when the majority of the total annual flow usually occurs.
- Cyclonic rainfall in March led to very high streamflow conditions in the Bowen River and above average in the Suttor River, which resulted in large outflows from the delta region.
- Flow in the northern part of the region (Burdekin and Cape rivers) was 30% of the mean average annual flow.
Major water reforms
Major water reforms that occurred during the 2016–17 year included:
- Under the Water Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014, water resource plans and resource operation plans have been replaced by new planning instruments: the Water Plan (Burdekin Basin) 2007, Burdekin Basin water management protocol, Burdekin Haughton resource operations licence and associated operations manual, Bowen Broken resource operations licence and associated operations manual, and Lower Burdekin distribution operations licence and associated operations manual. See Water management.
- In February 2017, the plan transitioned to reflect new arrangements and to make it consistent with the new water planning framework in the Water Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014 which commenced on 6 December 2016. This included consequential changes to terminology, updating cross referencing and removing redundant provisions.
- In June 2017 a Minister's Performance Assessment Report for the Water Plan (Burdekin Basin) 2007 was released.