Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - Queensland


Location map of SWMA Lockhart River

Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Lockhart River

Introduction

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The Lockhart Surface Water Management Area (SWMA) is located in far northern Queensland on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula. The SWMA covers an area of 2825 sq km and is bounded in the west by the Dorriwill Ridge, Maxs, Iron, Table and McIlwrath Ranges. The catchment contains the Claude, Nesbit and Chester Rivers, which flow into the Coral Sea.

This is an isolated area with little development.

The mean annual rainfall for the 50 year period 1920 to 1969 varies between 1400mm and 1800 mm.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 2,825 Km2
Total storage volume: no data
Total surface water use: 0 ML/yr
Development category: LOW DEVELOPMENT
Mean annual run-off: 1,992,535 ML/yr

Please note: No data were supplied about total surface water use for some river basins (eg. unregulated basins in NSW).

A four-class classification system was developed to provide a simple method to communicate the status of the use and allocation of Australia's water resources in relation to sustainable water management.

It is important to recognise that adequately quantifying a sustainable flow regime or sustainable yield and consequent operating rules is a complex matter. State, Territory and scientific agencies continue to develop and apply methods and measures for determining sustainable flow regimes and sustainable yields.

This categorisation provides a general guide only. Please refer to the State and Territory Overview and Technical reports for detail on the analysis methods used.

CategoryDevelopment status
1<30% Low development
230 - 70% Moderate development
370 - 100% Highly developed
4100% Overdeveloped

* Water use as a percentage of sustainable flow regime (surface water) and sustainable yield (groundwater)

PLEASE NOTE:

Sustainable Yield:

No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.

This SWMA is in an isolated area with little or no development. Rainfall is distinctly seasonal and extremely variable on an annual basis. There is little demand water in this catchment due to its isolation and low population.

PLEASE NOTE:

Categorisation:

No sustainable yield studies are available for this SWMA.

How saline are the surface water resources in the Lockhart River surface water management area?

No data were available about the salinity of surface water resources in the Basin / SWMA for the Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000.

Major water storages

Table: Major water storage areas:

There were no major water storages reported in this area as part of the assessment

Further Information

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