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Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

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LEGEND<br />

NYABING<br />

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Towns<br />

Roads<br />

Subcatchments<br />

Lakes<br />

Dra<strong>in</strong>age L<strong>in</strong>e<br />

Flowtube #1<br />

Flowtube #2<br />

Flowtube #3<br />

Flowtube #4<br />

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ONGERUP<br />

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FLOWTUBE modell<strong>in</strong>g was used to model the<br />

effects <strong>of</strong> four recharge scenarios: 10, 20, 40 and 60<br />

mm on water levels and groundwater discharge to<br />

2100. Four sub-catchments were modelled.<br />

Flowtube#1 represented the flow patterns and rates<br />

<strong>of</strong> rise <strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle stream catchment. Flowtube#2<br />

simulated the flow <strong>in</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> the reserve and<br />

showed the effect <strong>of</strong> vegetat<strong>in</strong>g more than 50% <strong>of</strong><br />

the catchment on groundwater levels and<br />

groundwater discharge. Flowtube#3 represented<br />

multiple flows from a large sub-catchment.<br />

Flowtube#4 represented n<strong>in</strong>e m<strong>in</strong>or subcatchments.<br />

The results <strong>of</strong> FLOWTUBE modell<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

Flowtube#1 (Figure 5) showed that at the present<br />

rates <strong>of</strong> recharge (40 mm), water levels will cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />

ris<strong>in</strong>g at a rate vary<strong>in</strong>g between 0.1–0.35 m year.<br />

The rate <strong>of</strong> rise varied depend<strong>in</strong>g upon the position<br />

<strong>in</strong> the landscape, <strong>with</strong> the highest rise be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

upper parts <strong>of</strong> the catchment that receives the<br />

highest recharge. Reduc<strong>in</strong>g the recharge to 20 mm,<br />

the rate <strong>of</strong> rise would range between 0.05–0.18 m<br />

per year, while reduc<strong>in</strong>g the recharge to 10 mm the<br />

rate <strong>of</strong> rise would be only 0.01–0.06 m per year.<br />

Although reduc<strong>in</strong>g the recharge rate does not reduce<br />

water levels except when the recharge rates are<br />

PINGRUP<br />

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Figure 4: Modelled sub-catchments<br />

– 9 –<br />

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Morrell, Hatton and Curry<br />

reduced by 90%, the results <strong>of</strong> the FLOWTUBE<br />

modell<strong>in</strong>g showed that the surface water discharge<br />

(overflow from the aquifers and subsurface lateral<br />

flow) is greatly reduced from 12,000 m 3 d –1 for 40<br />

mm <strong>of</strong> recharge to less than 300 m 3 d –1 for 10 mm <strong>of</strong><br />

recharge. On the other hand groundwater discharge<br />

through the aquifer system would be reduced from<br />

300 m 3 d –1 for 40 mm recharge to about 150 m 3 d –1 .<br />

This is not greatly reduced as it is controlled by the<br />

aquifer thickness and its capacity <strong>of</strong> transmitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

water.<br />

The results <strong>of</strong> modell<strong>in</strong>g for Flowtube#2 (Figure 6)<br />

showed that at the present rates <strong>of</strong> recharge (40<br />

mm) water levels will cont<strong>in</strong>ue ris<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the cleared<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the catchment at a similar rate to<br />

Flowtube#1. The results also showed that the only<br />

effect the reserve had is that it shifts the boundary <strong>of</strong><br />

the groundwater catchment to the edge <strong>of</strong> the<br />

reserve. Due to the ris<strong>in</strong>g water levels <strong>in</strong> the areas<br />

adjacent to the reserve, water level gradients will be<br />

reversed and groundwater will start flow<strong>in</strong>g back to<br />

the reserve at a rate depend<strong>in</strong>g on the hydraulic<br />

properties <strong>of</strong> the aquifer. It is expected that if this<br />

trend cont<strong>in</strong>ues, the marg<strong>in</strong>al areas <strong>of</strong> the reserves<br />

would be progressively degenerated. It is also shown<br />

that if the reserve is cleared or lost, more than 57%<br />

<strong>of</strong> the area <strong>of</strong> the catchment will be waterlogged.<br />

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