Groundwater quality and quantity have been identified
as land and water management issues central to the
Burdekin Dry Tropics region.
In most parts of the region, rainfall is far less than the
amount of water used by plants for transpiration.
Therefore, in general terms, not much water passes through the
soil to recharge the groundwater aquifers. However, heavy monsoonal
rainfall during the wet season usually provides some recharge.
Only limited water balance and groundwater resources information
is available for the region. These tend to be areas where shallow
groundwater aquifers are important irrigation, industrial or
residential water resources.
Because of the lack of data and information, much of the
groundwater program is focusing on collecting this information. A
number of work briefs have been developed in consultation with
agencies, stakeholders and peak industry groups.
