Water Resources of the Victoria River District
Tickell, S. J. (Steven); Rajaratnam, L. R. (Lakshman)
Northern Territory. Department of Lands, Planning and Enviroment. Water Resources Division
E-Publications; E-Books; PublicationNT; Report no. 11/1998
1998-08-01
Victoria River Region
The aim of this study is to map, describe and evaluate the region's water resources. The project was started in 1993 at the request of the Victoria River District Conservation Association (YRDCA) and it was funded jointly by Landcare, the NT Government and the purpose is to provide pastoralists and communities with water resource information that will assist with property planning. VRDCA.
English
Groundwater -- Northern Territory -- Victoria River; Water-supply -- Northern Territory -- Victoria River; Water resources development -- Northern Territory -- Victoria River
Northern Territory Government
Darwin
Report no. 11/1998
33 pages : illustrations and maps ; 30 cm.
application/pdf
Attribution International 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)
Northern Territory Government
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/672982 [Water Resources Survey of the Western Victoria River District - Water Resources of the Victoria River District_WRD98011.pdf]; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/672981 [Water Resources Survey of the Western Victoria River District - Water Resources of the Victoria River District_WRD98011.pdf]
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/229442
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/672981
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/672982
Technical Report WRD98011 Viewed at 15:07:47 on 29/07/2010 Page 13 of 37. Note that sustainable yield of a bore is generally less than the reported airlift yield because the Jatter is only determined during a short duration test. Natural variation in the properties ofrocks means that a certain variation in bore yield within an area will also occur. For example Figure 6a sho\vs that within a zone mapped as 0.5 to 5.0 Lis. a percentage of bores will have higher yields and a percentage will be lower, but most will full inside the limits. Yields Less than 0.5 Us It is generally considered uneconomic to construct and equip a stock bore with a yield of Jess than 0.5 LIs. In the past however, yields as low as 0.1 or 0.2 LIs were considered satisfactory and bores were equipped with \vindmills. Yields belween 0.5 and 5.0 Us An optimum supply for a single watering point is about 1.5 to 2.0 Lis. Mos[ stock bores are only equipped to pump that amount, even if they are capable of higher yields. Bores with higher yields have the potential to supply several remote watering points via pipeline networks. Yield,' more than 5. 0 u:~ Bores with yields in this range may have sufficient capacity to supply mUltiple watering poims and t,x limited irrigation. No aquifers capable of supplying groundwater fi,r major irrigation have been identified. tVa!t!r Ouality Two cJtlsses of ground water quality are shown on the map: suitable for stock and unsuitable for stock. Total Dissolved Solids was used as a measure of water quality and a valtle of 10,000 mgiL marks the limit between the (,vo zones. SURFACE W-iTER ALiP The surfacewater maD show'S suitabilitv for surfacewater storages. Three catel!ories have .... >' '-' been mapped, suitable, locally suitable and unsuitable. A general description of each zone is gi ven below: Suirable jor excavated tank, These are the most prospective areas and are extensive plains ",itll black clay soils, Major occurrences include the coastal and alluvial plains on Legune and Spirit Hi1ls and alluvial plains on Auvergne, Bradshaw, Wallamunga, I3irrindudu, Bunda.. Kirkimbi and Inverway. Most existing excavated tanks are situated on this type of country. The clay soils Seal the tanks well and they are generaliy deep enough to provide adequate depth of excavation. In the case of Auvergne and Bradshaw the soils are relatively thin but they are underlain by weathered shale which is soft enough to be ripped and which also forms an impervious base, Although these areas are classed as suitable, soil depth and type can vary markedly so site investigations need to be carried out before any excavation begins. Localiy suit able for excavated tanks Two main types of area are included in this category; flat to undulating areas of black clay soil on basalt and narrov'i alluvial plains. The depth and type of soil and the nature of the material below the soil tend to be more variable in these environments, resulting in reduced prospecl<; fix successful exc::rvated tanks. The clay soils on basalt are often less than two metres deep and the underlying rock is too hard tor excavation. Dam site,,; will be restricted 9