Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area, Kununurra, Western Australia

Transcription

1 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area, Kununurra, Western Australia Anthony Smith and Daniel Pollock CSIRO Land and Water Duncan Palmer Department of Water, Western Australia CSIRO Land and Water Science Report 71/06 July 06

2 Copyright and Disclaimer 06 CSIRO To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO Land and Water. Important Disclaimer: CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Cover Photograph: Ivanhoe Plain, Ord River Irrigation Area Photographer: Anthony Smith 04 CSIRO

3 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area, Kununurra, Western Australia Anthony Smith and Daniel Pollock CSIRO Land and Water Duncan Palmer Department of Water, Western Australia CSIRO Land and Water Science Report 71/06 July 06 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page i

4 Acknowledgements This research was undertaken as a partnership between the Ord River Irrigation Cooperative (OIC), the Western Australian Department of Water (DoW) and CSIRO. Project funding was provided by the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia through the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality project 0316: Improved Water Management in the Stage 1 Ord River Irrigation Area. In-kind contributions were provided by CSIRO and DoW. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page ii

5 Executive Summary Groundwater monitoring in the Ord Stage 1 is currently carried out by the Department of Water (DoW), the Department of Agriculture (DAWA) and CSIRO, as part of several separate but related groundwater programs. Under the terms of its water allocation licence, the Ord Irrigation Cooperative (OIC) also will assume a direct role in the monitoring and management of groundwater affected by irrigation activities. The purpose of this review was to rationalise the existing groundwater monitoring programs and recommend a revised program that will be suitable for assessing the ongoing affects of irrigation management on groundwater level and salinity. The review will assist the DoW and OIC to establish the groundwater monitoring and reporting requirements within the OIC s Operating Strategy and its Water Use Improvement Plan. Only groundwater systems of the Ord valley that are affected by the existing Ord Stage 1 developments were examined. The review did not consider potential impacts on groundwater from the proposed Ord Stage 2 areas that may ultimately adjoin the Ord Stage 1 (e.g., Green Swamp, Ord East Bank, Ord West Bank and the Packsaddle Plain Development Area). The review was concerned with the monitoring and management of groundwater level and salinity. Other groundwater quality aspects were not examined because the incidence of anthropogenic nutrients and agrochemicals in groundwater is unknown. These chemical concentrations will be measured across the irrigation area in 06. To rationalise the existing groundwater monitoring locations, recommended monitoring sites were identified by progressively eliminating redundant bores according to the following prioritisation: (1) currently active DoW bores were selected first; (2) active CSIRO bores were selected second; (3) active DAWA bores were selected third; (4) currently inactive monitoring bores were selected fourth; and (5) new monitoring bore locations were added last. A total of 270 existing monitoring bores and associated water level records were examined The resulting recommended bore network (Figure 5 1) consisted of 103 groundwater monitoring sites of which 77 are currently active, 18 inactive and 8 new. A total of 175 bores were excluded from the network on the basis that they would provide mostly redundant water level information. The average bore density of the recommended monitoring network was 0.6 bores per square kilometre, which is equivalent to one bore every 1.6 square kilometres. The average distance between neighbouring monitoring sites in the network was approximately 1.25 kilometres. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page iii

6 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Purpose and Scope Project Context Past Groundwater Monitoring Groundwater Level Groundwater Quality Recent Groundwater Monitoring Department of Water Department of Agriculture Integration of DoW and DAWA Groundwater Data Ivanhoe Plain Groundwater Pumping Trial Future Groundwater Monitoring Ord Irrigation Cooperative Department of Water Department of Agriculture Recommended Groundwater Monitoring Program Target Measurements Groundwater Level and Salinity Nutrients and Agrochemicals Selection of Recommended Monitoring Sites Monitoring Protocols Water Level Measurement Groundwater EC Measurement Measurement and Sampling Methods Data Storage and Reporting References Figures Figure 1-1: Stage 1 Ord River Irrigation Area, Western Australia... 7 Figure 4-1: Recent groundwater monitoring locations Figure 4-2: Groundwater monitoring sites from the OIC Operating Strategy Figure 5-1: Recommended groundwater monitoring sites Tables Table 1-1: Past groundwater reviews of the Ord Stage Table 5-1: Summary of recommended groundwater monitoring locations Appendix Tables Appendix Table A-1: Ivanhoe Plain monitoring bores Appendix Table A-2: Packsaddle Plain monitoring bores Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page iv

7 1. Introduction Groundwater monitoring in the Ord Irrigation Scheme Stage 1 (Ord Stage 1) is currently performed by the Western Australian Department of Water (DoW) as part of its regional groundwater monitoring program. The first monitoring bores in the irrigation area were installed in From 01, the DoW also has maintained an additional network of monitoring bores that were established by CSIRO as part of the Ord Bonaparte Program (OBP), which has since ceased. Since 1991, the Department of Agriculture Western Australia (DAWA) has maintained a separate network of groundwater monitoring bores within the Ord Stage 1, with some overlap between the bores that are monitored by DAWA and DoW. Under the terms of its water allocation licence, the Ord Irrigation Cooperative (OIC) is to assume an active role in monitoring and managing the groundwater systems beneath the Packsaddle and Ivanhoe irrigation areas Purpose and Scope The purpose of this review was to rationalise the current groundwater monitoring activities in the Ord Stage 1 and recommend a revised groundwater monitoring and reporting program to assess the ongoing effects of irrigation management on groundwater level and salinity. Only groundwater systems of the Ord valley that are affected by the existing Ord Stage 1 developments were considered in this review. In practical terms, the review area included the aquifers beneath the irrigated parts of Ivanhoe Plain and Packsaddle Plain; the groundwater systems surrounding the Kununurra Diversion Dam and Lake Kununurra; and areas outside of the Ord Stage 1 (e.g., Packsaddle Creek) where the watertable has been raised by lateral groundwater movement from within the irrigation area (Figure 1-1). The review did not consider potential impacts on groundwater from the proposed Ord Irrigation Scheme Stage 2 (Ord Stage 2). The Ord Stage 2 includes several new irrigation areas that directly adjoin the existing Ord Stage 1 (e.g., Green Swamp, Ord East Bank, Ord West Bank and the Packsaddle Plain Development Area). In the event that the Ord Stage 2 is approved and these areas are developed for irrigation, additional groundwater monitoring will be required to assess and manage the potential impacts on the local aquifers Project Context This review was funded under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) Project 0316: Improved Water Management in the Stage 1 Ord River Irrigation Area, with in-kind funding support from the Ord River Irrigation Cooperative (OIC), DoW and CSIRO. Specifically, the review was carried out in association with the linked sub-projects Salinity Modelling and Feasibility Assessment of Groundwater Management Options, Dewatering Bores; and Integration of Groundwater Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Programs. The outputs and recommendations in this report reflect a broader understanding of the Ord Stage 1 groundwater systems that was developed in the context of those linked activities. A listing of the previous groundwater reviews and hydrogeological investigations relating to the Ord Stage 1 is presented in Table 1-1. Regional context for Natural Resource Management in the Ord catchment is provided in the following documents: Draft for Comment: Kimberley Natural Resource Management Plan (Kimberley Development Commission, 04); A Strategy for Managing the Natural Resources of Western Australia s Rangelands: A Draft for Public Comment and Review (Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group, 05); Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 5

8 National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality Ord Catchment Priority Projects 05 (Ord Reference Group, 05). Table 1-1: Past groundwater reviews of the Ord Stage Ord River Irrigation: analysis and interpretation of drilling and hydraulic testing programme Ivanhoe Plains Ord Irrigation Area Ivanhoe Plain record of groundwater levels and irrigation Groundwater conditions in the Ord Irrigation Project Area Kununurra WA McGowan (1983) Banyard (1983) Laws & George (1984) 1987 A review of the Ord Irrigation Area monitoring data McGowan (1987) A review of the Ord River Irrigation Area monitoring data September August 1990 The Ord River Irrigation Area, a review of available information and proposals for future investigations Preliminary results of Ord River Irrigation Area Stage 1 hydrological investigation 1994 Review of groundwater monitoring data in the Ord River Irrigation Area 1996 Laws (1991) Laws (1993) Nixon (1995) Yestertener (1997) 1999 Water table monitoring in the Ord River Valley Nulsen & Sherrard (1999) 01 Hydrogeology of the Ord Irrigation Area O'Boy et al. (01) 02 Hydrological response units of the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area and the dynamic filling of the aquifers of the Ivanhoe and Packsaddle Plains Salama et al. (02). Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 6

9 Figure 1-1: Stage 1 Ord River Irrigation Area, Western Australia Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 7

10 2. Past Groundwater Monitoring 2.1. Groundwater Level Groundwater monitoring in the Ord Stage 1 was first established by the Western Australia Public Works Department (PWD) in 1964 following construction of the Kununurra Diversion Dam and the commencement of irrigated agriculture on Ivanhoe Plain (Figure 1-1). The groundwater level beneath Packsaddle Plain was not measured until 1971 when irrigation was commenced in that area. At that time, significant groundwater rise already had taken place beneath Packsaddle Plain in response to the elevated pressure head in Lake Kununurra and the associated movement of lake water into the surrounding aquifers. The groundwater monitoring networks on Packsaddle Plain and Ivanhoe Plain were expanded during subsequent years and modified through the drilling of additional monitoring bores. Hydrogeological investigations (Table 1-1) were carried by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), the Department of Agriculture, the Water Authority of Western Australian (WAWA), the Department of Resources Development (DRD), the Water and Rivers Commission (WRC) and CSIRO. During the same period, monitoring was ceased at some bore locations in response to revised monitoring priorities and due to damage and miss-location of bores. A summary of monitoring bore installations in the Ord Stage 1 is presented in APPENDIX A. O Boy et al. (01) provided a more detailed review of past groundwater investigations in the Ord valley Groundwater Quality There has been no regular monitoring of groundwater quality in the Ord Stage 1. Various opportunistic groundwater quality measurements have been made and the results are recorded in the reports listed in Table 1-1 and the Department of Water s WIN database. A NAP funded project to compile and review groundwater quality data in the Ord Stage 1, and to sample and analyse existing groundwater bores for anthropogenic nutrients and agrochemicals will be conducted in Recent Groundwater Monitoring Two separate groundwater monitoring programs are managed co-operatively by the Department of Water and the Department of Agriculture. A map of the current groundwater monitoring locations is presented in Figure Department of Water The Department of Water manages the main network of regional groundwater monitoring bores including the local network of monitoring bores within the Ord Stage 1. Bores within the irrigation area are located mainly along the irrigation conveyance system and adjacent to the supply channels and drains. The water level in approximately 57 bores is measured manually twice per year once at the end of the dry season and once at the end of the wet season to provide estimates of the minimum and maximum groundwater levels within the year. Longterm trends in groundwater level also are assessed from this information. Groundwater quality is not monitored. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 8

11 More recently, the Department of Water has maintained a supplementary network of approximately 98 monitoring bores that were installed by CSIRO in 01 as part of the Ord Bonaparte Program. These bores were arranged into around twenty-one transects along irrigation supply channels and drain throughout the Ord Stage 1. Approximately 50 bores were equipped with electronic water level measurement devices and automatic data loggers to record the water level at a sub-daily frequency. Another existing bores within the Department of Water s monitoring network also were equipped with electronic water level recorders as part of the Ord Bonaparte Program. All water level data from the instrumented bores is regularly downloaded and transferred into Department of Water s WIN database. The Ord Bonaparte Program is now ceased but the monitoring bores remain active and are included in this review Department of Agriculture More than 60 bores on Ivanhoe Plain and Packsaddle Plain were installed and are monitored by the Department of Agriculture. These bores are mostly located on-farm and within cropping areas. The first bores were drilled in 1991 and there were subsequent installations during 1994, 1995 and Groundwater level is measured manually in all bores at a frequency of around 3 to 4 times per year. Approximately half of the monitoring bores currently are equipped with electronic water level recorders that measure the water level once per day. The collected data is used to assess both short-term and long-term impacts on groundwater of individual irrigation events and sequences of irrigation events Integration of DoW and DAWA Groundwater Data Under the linked NAP sub-project Integration of Groundwater Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Programs ( see Section 1.2. ) the Department of Agriculture s groundwater monitoring data for approximately 57 groundwater bores was recently transferred into the Department of Water s WIN database. That information is now available to the region s water resources managers and stakeholders upon request to the DoW. As far as known, the data transfers were once off and there is no program in place for regular future transfers of data from DAWA to DoW Ivanhoe Plain Groundwater Pumping Trial In 03, an additional monitoring bores were installed for CSIRO on northern Ivanhoe Plain as part of a field trial to assess the effectiveness of groundwater pumping to control watertable rise (Smith et al., 05). Each monitoring bore was equipped with an electronic water level recorder and all water level information collected during the trial was downloaded and transferred into the Department of Water s WIN database. The pumping trial was completed in March 05; however, the groundwater monitoring sites remain active and are included in this review. 4. Future Groundwater Monitoring 4.1. Ord Irrigation Cooperative Under the terms of its water allocation licence, the OIC is to assume a direct role in the monitoring and management of groundwater beneath the irrigation area. Specific details are established in the OIC s Operating Strategy and its Water Use Improvement Plan (WUIP). Groundwater monitoring sites identified in the Operating Strategy are shown on Figure 4-2 and were included in this review. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 9

12 4.2. Department of Water The Department of Water is responsible for assessing and reviewing Western Australia s groundwater resources to ensure sustainable management of the State s aquifers and groundwater. The department provides advice on resource development and licensing, coordination of groundwater drilling for exploration and monitoring, and all aspects of groundwater resources management. In this context, the DoW will continue to maintain the regional network of groundwater monitoring bores outside of the irrigation area, and will advise on groundwater management and aquifer condition within the Ord Stage 1. The department also is the manager and custodian of the State s major water resources information system, known as the WIN database. It is assumed in this review that all groundwater information collected in the Ord Stage 1 under the rationalised monitoring program will be provided to the DoW for entry and archiving in the WIN database Department of Agriculture Groundwater monitoring by the Department of Agriculture in the Ord Stage 1 is carried out in support of its research and extension activities. The department works with growers to help them improve water application efficiency and groundwater management but is not directly responsible for managing groundwater resources. It was assumed in the review that groundwater data collected by the Department of Agriculture through its groundwater monitoring activities would be available to the OIC and DoW. Also, that DAWA s existing monitoring bores could be incorporated into the rationalised groundwater monitoring network. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 10

13 ( Ivanhoe North Green Location ( (( ( (( ( ( ( ( ( (( (( ( ( ( ((( ( ( ((( ( ( (((( ( ( (((( ((( ((( (((( ((((( (((( ( ( ( ((( ( ( ( Martins Location Cave Spring Gap Ivanhoe South ( ((( ((((((( (((( (((( Ivanhoe Central Legend M1 Supply Channel Surface Drain Irrigation Area Ord River ( ( ((( ( ( Packsaddle Plain ( ( ( ( ( ( (( ( ((( ( Lake Kununurra Current Monitoring Bore Locations ( CSIRO DAWA DoW Inactive 10,000 Meters Figure 4-1: Recent groundwater monitoring locations Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 11

14 Green Location Cave Spring Gap Ivanhoe North Martins Location Ivanhoe Central Ivanhoe South Legend M1 Supply Channel Surface Drain Irrigation Area Ord River Lake Kununurra Packsaddle Plain OIC Operating Strategy Appendix C Bore Yes No 10,000 Meters Figure 4-2: Groundwater monitoring sites from the OIC Operating Strategy Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 12

15 5. Recommended Groundwater Monitoring Program 5.1. Target Measurements Groundwater Level and Salinity To provide for a base-level assessment of aquifer condition and groundwater response to irrigation activities in the Ord Stage 1, it is recommended that the following quantities be monitored on a regular basis at each recommended monitoring location: Value and trend in groundwater level; and Value and trend in groundwater Electrical Conductivity (EC). To determine the water table elevation and depth to water table below ground surface at each site, a reference elevation (e.g., top of piezometer) should be surveyed to Australian Height Datum (AHD) and the distance between ground level and the reference elevation measured and recorded. All water level measurements also should be relative to the reference elevation. Water level measurements should be frequent enough to capture seasonal variations that otherwise can mask inter-annual trends. Because there is distinct seasonal fluctuation in water table response to rainfall and irrigation in the Ord Stage 1, it is important to obtain a central measure of water level (e.g., an annual mean water level) that will be useful in the assessment of year-to-year trends. The number of monitoring bore locations and the space between them is important. The bore network should provide spatial data of sufficient density to construct dependable watertable maps using standard interpolation methods. If the monitoring network is too sparse, then the associated watertable maps will provide unreliable estimates of groundwater elevation and depth to groundwater at un-monitored locations. The shallowest part of the watertable does not necessarily occur at a monitored location. Water levels in individual monitoring bores are commonly affected by local responses to local-scale recharge and discharge processes (e.g., local watertable mounds near leaky sections of supply channels and drains). Watertable maps that are produced from a monitoring network with too few bores can contain uncertainty due to unreasonable interpolation of these local watertable responses over large areas. This situation is present in the Ord Stage 1 and reinforces the need to have a sufficient number of monitoring locations to provided dependable estimates of watertable elevation at un-monitored locations Nutrients and Agrochemicals Groundwater quality is not monitored on a regular basis in the Ord Stage 1 and the incidence of anthropic nutrients and agrochemicals in groundwater is unknown. In general, the recommended monitoring bore network should be suitable for detecting chemical distributions in groundwater at the valley-scale. The likely pathways for nutrients and agrochemicals to enter the groundwater system are via diffuse aquifer recharge beneath irrigated fields and local leakage of irrigation drainage water from the drain network. The lack of knowledge about nutrients and agrochemicals in groundwater was not a major limitation on the approach used in this study to identify a set of recommended groundwater monitoring locations. On the other hand, it should be acknowledged that these locations were selected based on water level information only, and in the absence of useful water quality data. A survey of nutrient and agrochemical concentrations in groundwater in the Ord Stage 1 will be undertaken in 06. The results will be useful for assessing whether the monitoring program recommended in this review should be broadened to consider groundwater quality measures other than salinity. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 13

16 5.2. Selection of Recommended Monitoring Sites The following broad approach was applied to rationalise the existing system of groundwater monitoring bores and establish a network of recommended monitoring locations for assessing impacts from irrigation. The preferred monitoring sites were identified by eliminating redundant bores and introducing new monitoring sites according to the following prioritisation: 1. All currently active DoW bores were selected first. These are the oldest monitoring sites and have the longest water level records. If particular bores were located close together and they exhibited similar hydrograph responses, then the bore with the best long-term water level record was retained in the network and the other bores were excluded. 2. Active CSIRO bores were selected second. Bores in under represented areas of the network were retained, while bores that would provide mostly redundant water level information were excluded. At transect locations with multiple CSIRO bores, the bore located furthest from the nearest irrigation conveyance channel was retained and the other bores excluded. The objective was to minimise local effects caused by leakage from channels. 3. Active DAWA bores were selected third. Bores in under represented areas of the monitoring network were kept and redundant bores were excluded using the same principles and process as above. 4. Currently inactive monitoring bores locations were selected fourth, giving preference to the bores with the longest water level records. Because water level measurements were discontinued at these locations some time in the past, monitoring will need to be reestablished by either reconditioning the existing bore or drilling a new bore dependent on the particular circumstance at the monitoring site. 5. Finally, eight new monitoring bore locations were added to the network. These were placed in areas of the network that were judged still to be under represented by monitoring locations. The results of this process are summarised in Table 5-1 and the recommended network of monitoring sites is depicted in Figure 5-1. A total of 270 monitoring bores and associated water level records were examined. The recommended bore network consists of 103 groundwater monitoring sites of which 77 are currently active, 18 inactive and 8 new. A total of 175 bores were excluded from the network on the basis that they would provide mostly redundant water level information. Tabulated information for all 270 bores is presented in APPENDIX B. Hydrographs for only those bores included in the recommended network are presented in APPENDIX C. Based on an irrigation area of approximately 16,000 hectares (160 square kilometres) the average bore density of the recommended monitoring network is 0.6 bores per square kilometre, which is equivalent to one bore every 1.6 square kilometres. If the network bores were place on a square grid that covered the same area as the network, then the distance between bores would be approximately 1.25 kilometres. This provides an estimate of the mean distance between the recommended groundwater monitoring locations. Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 14

17 Table 5-1: Summary of recommended groundwater monitoring locations Category of Bore Number in Recommended Network Number Excluded Total Number Reviewed in this study Department of Water CSIRO Department of Agriculture Inactive (must be re-established) New Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 15

18 ORD9 (GS2) CO19C ( PN12S CO17D PN2D ( ( ORD6 (CG2) ( ORD5 (CG1) ( PB3M1 COH COE ( CO15A ( ( PN4S C ( CO31I ( ( PN3S COA CO31F ORD4 ( PN5D (ML1) PB1M1 CO29B ( 94- ( 4A PN6S COA ( ( ORDAG1 CO14B (94/) ( ( PN7S 4C 4D 11C Ivanhoe North Green Location PN11S ORD10 (GS4) PN1S V1506 ( ORD1 (CG3) ( ORD41 (ML6) ORD12 (ML3) ( Martins Location ORD8 (CG4) ( Cave Spring Gap HI3-78 HI2-78 Ivanhoe South HI1-78 3F 2B ( ( PN9D ( PN10S 1F PN8D 3D 3H CO3C CO13C 2E PN13S 2G B 1C PN14S Ivanhoe Central Legend M1 Supply Channel Surface Drain Irrigation Area Ord River Lake Kununurra ORD14 (PS15) ( PS2-78 P12 PS1-78 ORD15 (PS12) ( Packsaddle Plain ( P2 P17 ( ORD27 (PS3) ( PSPB1M1D CO2 ( P16-78 P18 CO1B P P14 P7 P13 PS5 ( P8 ORD (PS1) P10 ( P9 Recommended Monitoring Locations Excluded DoW ( CSIRO DAWA Re-establish ( New 10,000 Meters Figure 5-1: Recommended groundwater monitoring sites Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 16

19 5.3. Monitoring Protocols Water Level Measurement It is recommended that groundwater level be measured to Australian Height Datum (AHD) at each monitoring site at least twice per year and according to the following schedule: Once at the end of the wet season, preferably in April but no later than 15 May; and Once at the end of the dry season, just prior to the wet season, preferably in late October but no later than 15 November. A selection of monitoring bores in each of the groundwater management areas (Figure 1-1) also should be equipped with automatic water level loggers to record daily watertable elevations. High frequency measurements of groundwater level are essential to determine the causes of rising or falling groundwater trends that become evident from the biannual monitoring. For example, to take appropriate management action to mitigate a rising groundwater trend, it is fundamental to know whether the rise is a response to rainfall or irrigation. This type of determination cannot be made from twice-per-year records Groundwater EC Measurement It is recommended that groundwater electrical conductivity (EC) be measured in each monitoring bore on each occasion that the water level is measured (see section above). A selection of groundwater bores should be sampled annually and the water samples analysed for selected chemicals to monitor groundwater quality trends beneath the irrigation area. A review of historical groundwater quality data and a groundwater quality survey to be conducted in 06 will provide information to guide how many bores should be sampled and what suite of chemicals should be analysed Measurement and Sampling Methods Details of recommended measurement and sampling method will be established in the OIC s Operating Strategy and its Water Use Improvement Plan Data Storage and Reporting The requirements for the recording, storage and reporting of groundwater monitoring information also are established in the OIC Operating Strategy. It is recommended that these requirements should also take into consideration: Standard measurement units (e.g., water level in m AHD and EC in 25 C); and Data security (e.g., storage of hard-copy field records and backing up of electronic data). Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 17

20 APPENDIX A: Summary of Monitoring Bores Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 18

21 Appendix Table A-1: Ivanhoe Plain monitoring bores Year No. of Bores Naming Convention Purpose Organisation # - 11#, G#, CS# Long-tern monitoring Public Works Dep. WA PN#, PB# Long-tern monitoring Geological Survey WA Public Works Dep. WA /# On-farm monitoring Dep. of Agriculture WA /#, GS#, ML#, CG# On-farm monitoring PB4#, 96/# On-farm monitoring CO1# - CO# Ord-Bonaparte Program CSIRO 03 CO31#, CO# Groundwater pumping trial CSIRO Total 5 Data is modified from Table 1 in O Boy et al. (01) Dep. of Agriculture WA Dep. of Resources Development WA Geological Survey WA Water Authority WA Dep. of Agriculture WA Dep. of Resources Development WA Water and Rivers Commission WA Appendix Table A-2: Packsaddle Plain monitoring bores Year No. of Bores Naming Convention Purpose Organisation 1971 P# Long-tern monitoring Public Works Dep. WA PS1 PS2 Long-tern monitoring Public Works Dep. WA PS# Long-tern monitoring PSPB# Aquifer pump test 01 CO31#, CO# Ord-Bonaparte Program CSIRO Total 60 Data is modified from Table 1 in O Boy et al. (01) Dep. of Resources Development WA Geological Survey WA Water Authority WA Dep. of Resources Development WA Water and Rivers Commission WA Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 19

22 APPENDIX B: Details of Monitoring Bores Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

23 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) 86 10A Ivanhoe north N Inactive CO29B 88 10C Martins Location Y Inactive A Martins Location N Inactive PN6S, B Martins Location N Inactive PN7S C Martins Location Y Inactive 85 1B Ivanhoe south Y DoE 82 1C Ivanhoe south Y DoE 82 1E Ivanhoe south N Inactive F Ivanhoe south Y Inactive 82 2B Ivanhoe central Y Inactive C Ivanhoe central N Inactive CO3C 82 2E Ivanhoe central Y Inactive F Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN13S 82 2G Ivanhoe south Y Inactive H Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN13S 80 2I Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN13S 82 3B Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN14S 83 3C Ivanhoe central N Inactive D Ivanhoe central Y Inactive 85 3E Ivanhoe central N Inactive HI F Ivanhoe central Y Inactive 88 3H Ivanhoe central Y Inactive 89 3I Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN14S K Ivanhoe central N Inactive PN14S A Ivanhoe north Y Inactive B Ivanhoe north N Inactive CO14B C Ivanhoe north Y DoW D Ivanhoe north Y Inactive A Ivanhoe north N Inactive COA C Ivanhoe north N Inactive COE, D Ivanhoe north N Inactive PN5D 81 5E Ivanhoe north N Inactive PB1M1 82 5F Ivanhoe north N Inactive COH 83 6B Green Swamp N Inactive PN12S Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S, PB1M Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB1M Ivanhoe north N DAWA CO29B, CO31F Ivanhoe north N DAWA COH Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA COH Ivanhoe north N DAWA COH Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB1M Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB3M Ivanhoe north N DAWA Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA COH Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north Y Inactive Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN12D Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 21

24 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB3M Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB3M Ivanhoe north N DAWA COH Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN5D Ivanhoe north N DAWA CO31F Martins Location N DAWA Martins Location N DAWA Martins Location Y DAWA Martins Location N DAWA Ivanhoe north Y DAWA Martins Location N DAWA Martins Location N DAWA Martins Location N DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA 4C Ivanhoe central Y DAWA Ivanhoe central N DAWA HI Ivanhoe south Y DAWA Ivanhoe south Y DAWA Martins Location Y DAWA Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB1M Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB1M Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB1M Ivanhoe north N Inactive ORD41 (ML6) Martins Location Y DAWA Martins Location Y DAWA BOSCHAMER DEEP Ivanhoe north N DAWA COE BOSCHAMER SHALLOW Ivanhoe north N DAWA COE CAMP DEEP Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB3M1, PN2D CAMP SHALLOW Ivanhoe north N DAWA PB3M1, PN2D 19 CO10 Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 1933 CO11A Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1C 19 CO11B Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1C 1935 CO11C Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1C 19 CO11D Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1C 1937 CO12 Packsaddle N CSIRO P 19 CO13A Ivanhoe central N CSIRO CO13C 1939 CO13B Ivanhoe central N CSIRO CO13C 19 CO13C Ivanhoe central Y CSIRO 1941 CO13D Ivanhoe central N CSIRO CO13C 1942 CO14A Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO14B 1943 CO14B Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1944 CO14C Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO14B 1945 CO14D Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO14B 1946 CO15A Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1947 CO15B Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO15A 1948 CO15C Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO15A 1949 CO16A Cave Spring N CSIRO ORD CO16B Cave Spring N CSIRO ORD1 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

25 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) 1951 CO16C Cave Spring N CSIRO ORD CO16D Cave Spring N CSIRO ORD CO17A Green Swamp N CSIRO CO17D 1954 CO17B Green Swamp N CSIRO CO17D 1955 CO17C Green Swamp N CSIRO CO17D 1956 CO17D Green Swamp Y CSIRO 1957 CO18A Green Swamp N CSIRO PN12S, CO17D 1958 CO18B Green Swamp N CSIRO PN12S, CO17D 1959 CO18C Green Swamp N CSIRO PN12S, CO17D 1960 CO18D Green Swamp N CSIRO PN12S, CO17D 1961 CO18E Green Swamp N CSIRO PN12S, CO17D 1962 CO19A Green Swamp N CSIRO CO19C 1963 CO19B Green Swamp N CSIRO CO19C 1964 CO19C Green Swamp Y CSIRO 1914 CO1A Packsaddle N CSIRO CO1B 1915 CO1B Packsaddle Y CSIRO 1916 CO2 Packsaddle Y CSIRO 1965 COA Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1966 COB Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1967 COC Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1968 COD Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1969 CO21 Packsaddle N CSIRO P CO23A Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA, PN4S 1971 CO23B Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA, PN4S 1972 COA Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1973 COB Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA 1974 COC Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA 1975 CO25A Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1976 CO25B Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1977 CO25C Ivanhoe north N CSIRO PN5D 1978 CO27A Packsaddle N CSIRO P CO27B Packsaddle N CSIRO P CO27C Packsaddle N CSIRO P COA Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1982 COB Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA 1983 COC Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COA 1984 CO29A Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO29B 1985 CO29B Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1986 CO29C Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO29B 1987 CO29D Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO29B 1988 COA Packsaddle N CSIRO P 1989 COB Packsaddle N CSIRO P 2125 CO31A-D Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F CO31A-S Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F CO31B Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F 2125 CO31C Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F, CO29B CO31D Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO29B 2125 CO31E Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO29B CO31F Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 2125 CO31G Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F CO31H Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F, PB1M1 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 23

26 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) 2125 CO31I Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 2125 CO31K Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F, PB1M CO31L Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F, PB1M CO31M Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31F CO31N Ivanhoe north N CSIRO CO31I 2125 COA Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH COB Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH 2125 COC Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH COD Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH COE Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO COF Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH COG Ivanhoe north N CSIRO COH COH Ivanhoe north Y CSIRO 1917 CO3A Ivanhoe central N CSIRO CO3C 1918 CO3B Ivanhoe central N CSIRO CO3C 1919 CO3C Ivanhoe central Y CSIRO 19 CO4 Packsaddle N CSIRO PS1/ CO5A Packsaddle N CSIRO P18 19 CO5B Packsaddle N CSIRO P CO5C Packsaddle N CSIRO P18 19 CO6 Packsaddle N CSIRO P CO7 Ivanhoe south N CSIRO Lake Kununurra 19 CO8A Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 1927 CO8B Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 19 CO8C Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 1929 CO9A Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 19 CO9B Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 1931 CO9C Ivanhoe south N CSIRO 1F 8372 CS1A-78 Cave Spring N DoW 0123 CS2 Cave Spring N DoW 8273 CS3 Cave Spring N Inactive ORD5, ORD CS6 Cave Spring N Inactive ORD1 80 HI1-78 Ivanhoe central Y DoW 81 HI2-78 Ivanhoe central Y Inactive 83 HI3-78 Ivanhoe central Y DoW LERCH DEEP Martins Location N DAWA LERCH SHALLOW Martins Location N DAWA New1 Packsaddle Y New New2 Packsaddle Y New New3 Ivanhoe central Y New New4 Ivanhoe north Y New New5 Ivanhoe north Y New New6 Cave Spring Y New New7 Martins Location Y New New8 Martins Location Y New ORD1 (CG3) Cave Spring Y CSIRO ORD10 (GS4) Green Swamp Y DoW ORD12 (ML3) Martins Location Y CSIRO ORD13 (PS14) Packsaddle N CSIRO PS2/ ORD14 (PS15) Packsaddle Y CSIRO ORD15 (PS12) Packsaddle Y CSIRO Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

27 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) ORD27 (PS3) Packsaddle Y CSIRO ORD (PS1) Packsaddle Y CSIRO ORD29 (P12A) Packsaddle N CSIRO P ORD3 (CG5) Cave Spring N CSIRO ORD ORD4 (ML1) Martins Location Y CSIRO ORD41 (ML6) Martins Location Y DAWA ORD5 (CG1) Cave Spring Y CSIRO ORD6 (CG2) Cave Spring Y CSIRO 1135 ORD8 (CG4) Cave Spring Y CSIRO ORD9 (GS2) Green Swamp Y DoW ORDAG1 (94/) Ivanhoe north Y DAWA ORDAG2 Ivanhoe north N DAWA ORDAG1, ORDAG3 Ivanhoe north N DAWA 4C 88 P10 Packsaddle Y Inactive 89 P11 Packsaddle N Inactive P14, PSPB1M1D 8352 P12 Packsaddle Y DoW 8357 P13 Packsaddle Y DoW 8353 P14 Packsaddle Y DoW 0373 P16-78 Packsaddle Y DoW 8354 P17 Packsaddle Y DoW 8355 P18 Packsaddle Y DoW 81 P2 Packsaddle Y DoW 8356 P Packsaddle Y DoW 85 P7 Packsaddle Y DoW 86 P8 Packsaddle Y DoW 87 P9 Packsaddle Y Inactive 8314 PB1 Ivanhoe north N DoW PB1M PB1M1 Ivanhoe north Y DoW 84 PB2 Ivanhoe central N DoW PN8D 85 PB2M1 Ivanhoe central N DoW PN8D 86 PB2M2 Ivanhoe central N DoW PN8D 89 PB3 Ivanhoe north N DoW PB3M PB3M1 Ivanhoe north Y DoW 8311 PB3M2 Ivanhoe north N Inactive PB3M PB3M3S Ivanhoe north N Inactive PB3M PB4 Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S PB4M1D Ivanhoe north N Inactive PN6D PB4M1S Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S 1571 PB4M2S Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S 1579 PB4M3S Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S PB4M4S Ivanhoe north N DAWA PN6S 8297 PN10D Ivanhoe south N Inactive P10S 8296 PN10S Ivanhoe south Y Inactive 8298 PN11S Green Swamp Y DoW 8313 PN12D Green Swamp N DoW PN12S 8299 PN12S Green Swamp Y Inactive 81 PN13D Ivanhoe central N DoW PN13S 80 PN13S Ivanhoe central Y DoW 82 PN14S Ivanhoe central Y DoW 81 PN1S Green Swamp Y DoW 83 PN2D Ivanhoe north Y DoW Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 25

28 WIN Database Site ID Bore Name Location Recommended Network Bore Recently Monitored Nearest Network Bore(s) 82 PN2S Ivanhoe north N DoW PN2D 84 PN3S Martins Location Y DoW 86 PN4S Ivanhoe north Y DoW 88 PN5D Ivanhoe north Y DoW 87 PN5S Ivanhoe north N DoW PN5D 8290 PN6D Ivanhoe north N DoW PN6S 89 PN6S Ivanhoe north Y DoW 8291 PN7S Martins Location Y DoW 8293 PN8D Ivanhoe central Y DoW 8292 PN8S Ivanhoe central N DoW PN8D 8295 PN9D Ivanhoe central Y DoW 8294 PN9S Ivanhoe central N DoW PN9D 8350 PS1-78 Packsaddle Y DoW 8351 PS2-78 Packsaddle Y DoW 1781 PS5 Packsaddle Y DoW 15 PSPB1 Packsaddle N DAWA PSPB1M1D 1535 PSPB1M1D Packsaddle Y DoW 15 PSPB1M1I Packsaddle N DoW PSPB1M1D 1591 PSPB1M1S Packsaddle N DoW PSPB1M1D 1530 PSPB1M2S Packsaddle N DAWA PSPB1M1D PSPB1M3S Packsaddle N DAWA PSPB1M1D 1533 PSPB1M4S Packsaddle N DAWA PSPB1M1D 83 V1506 Cave Spring Y DoW VEPL DEEP Ivanhoe north N DAWA CO31F, CO31I VEPL SHALLOW Ivanhoe north N DAWA CO31F, CO31I Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

29 APPENDIX C: Bore Hydrographs

30 C1. Packsaddle Plain All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted CO1B CO ORD14 (PS15) 42 ORD15(PS12) ORD27(PS3) ORD(PS1) P P P P P P P P16-78 (unsurveyed - metres below datum) P P P PS1/ PS2/78 P10 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

31 All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted PS PSPB1M1D 42 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 29

32 C2. Ivanhoe Plain South All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted 1B 1C F 2G /41 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /42 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) PN10S Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

33 C3. Ivanhoe Plain Central All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted 18 2B 2E 3D 3F 18 3H /39 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) CO13C HI1/78 HI2/78 42 PN13S 42 PN14S PN8D PN9D HI3/78 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 31

34 C4. Ivanhoe Plain North All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted A 4C 4D /06 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /12 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /14 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /16 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /18 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) /25 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) / (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) CO14B CO15A COA COA CO29B CO31F CO31I COE COH 94/33 (unsurveyed - water level change (m)) Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

35 All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted 18 ORDAG1 PB1M1 PB3M1 PN2D PN4S PN5D PN6S Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 33

36 C5. Cave Spring Gap All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted ORD1 (CG3) ORD5 (CG1) ORD6 (CG2) ORD8 (CG4) 18 V1506 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

37 C6. Martins Location All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted 10C 11C 94/31 95/01 96/05 96/06 ORD12 (ML3) ORD4 (ML1) ORD PN3S PN7S Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 35

38 C7. Green Location (Green Swamp) All water level elevations are in m AHD, unless otherwise noted CO17D CO19C ORD9 (GS2) 18 ORD10 (GS4) PN11S 18 PN12S 18 PN1S 18 Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page

39 References Kimberley Development Commission (04) Draft for Comment: Kimberley Natural Resource Management Plan, December 04. Laws, A. T. (1991) A review of the Ord River Irrigation Area monitoring data; September 1986 August 1990, Geological Survey of Western Australia, Hydrogeology Report 1991/14 (unpublished). Laws, A. T. (1993) The Ord River Irrigation Area, a review of available information and proposals for future investigations, Geological Survey of Western Australia, Hydrogeology Report 1993/10 (unpublished). Laws, A. T. and George, P. R. (1984) Groundwater conditions in the Ord Irrigation Project Area Kununurra WA, Geological Survey of Western Australia, Hydrogeology Report (unpublished). Nixon, R. D. (1995) Preliminary results of Ord River Irrigation Area Stage 1 hydrological investigation 1994, Water and Rivers commission, Western Australia, Hydrogeology Report No. 1995/2 (unpublished). Nulsen, R. A. and J. H. Sherrard (1999) Water table monitoring in the Ord River Valley, report by Agriculture Western Australia to Sugar Research Development Corporation (unpublished). O'Boy, C. A.; Tickell, S. J.; Yestertener, D. P.; Commander, D. P.; Jolly, P. and A. T. Laws (01) Hydrogeology of the Ord Irrigation Area, Water and Rivers Commission, Western Australia, Hydrogeological Record Series Report HG 7, ISBN , ISSN X. Ord Reference Group (05) National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality: Ord Catchment Priority Projects 05. Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group (05) A Strategy for Managing the Natural Resources of Western Australia s Rangelands: A Draft for Public Comment and Review. Salama, R.; Bekele, E.; Pollock, D.; Bates, D.; Byrne, J.; Hick, W.; Watson, G. and G. Bartle (02) Hydrological response units of the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area and the dynamic filling of the aquifers of the Ivanhoe and Packsaddle Plains, CSIRO Land and Water Technical Report 07/02. Smith A. J.; Pollock, D, W.; Salama, R. B. and Palmer, D. (in review) Groundwater Management Options to Control Rising Groundwater Level and Salinity in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area, Western Australia, CSIRO Land and Water Client Report. Smith A. J.; Pollock, D, W.; Salama, R. B. and Palmer, D. (05) Ivanhoe Plain Aquifer Pumping Trial July 03 - April 05: Stage 1 Ord River Irrigation Area, Kununurra, Western Australia, CSIRO Land and Water Technical Report /05. Water and Rivers Commission (1999) Draft Interim Water Allocation Plan - Ord River, Western Australia, Water and Rivers Commission, Water Resource Allocation and Planning Series, No WRAP 2. Yestertener, C. (1997) Review of groundwater monitoring data in the Ord River Irrigation Area 1996, Water and Rivers Commission, Western Australia, Hydrogeology Report HR 60 (unpublished). Review of Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting in the Ord Stage 1 Irrigation Area Page 37