Overland flow measurement

We are improving the way we measure overland flow take. We are trialling this in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin (the QMDB) to support responsible and sustainable water management.

Overland flow water is an important source of irrigation. In parts of the QMDB many landholders capture and store this water on-farm for future use. Because most water in rivers, streams and groundwater systems begins as overland flow, knowing how much is taken is essential for long-term planning and fair access to water.

We manage overland flow through licensing and measurement. This ensures everyone uses the resource responsibly and a share remains available for communities, agriculture and the environment.

Licensing overland flow take

We use water plans to sustainably manage and allocate water resources, including overland flow.

We tailor water plans to balance the needs of water users (e.g. towns, agriculture and other industries) and the environment.

Through our water planning process, we assess the risks of overland flow take on water users and the environment. If risks are identified, we develop rules for water use, limits on how much water can be taken and ways to protect water availability and access.

We may implement these requirements through a licence that sets out clear rules and limits on how much overland flow water you can take.

Our focus for overland flow licencing is the QMDB.

Measurement requirements

Queensland’s non-urban water measurement policy (PDF, 2.1MB) outlines how we want to improve water measurement across the state, including the measurement of overland flow water.

The policy's implementation plan sets out the priorities for improving measurement and the timeframes for implementation.

Under the policy, the holder of an entitlement to take overland flow will be required to have a measurement plan in place for their property. The priority for measurement plan implementation is the QMDB.

A measurement plan will provide a consistent and transparent way to measure and record overland flow take. It will outline:

  • how you capture, store and use overland flow water on your property and
  • how you measure and calculate the volume of overland flow you take.

Overland flow measurement trial

Before requiring measurement plans through regulation, we are testing how they work on-farm. The trial will help to decide if measurement plans are practical, reliable and suitable across different operating conditions.

The trial will be run on up to 10 existing overland flow properties in the Lower Balonne water management area (PDF, 947KB) and the Border Rivers and Moonie water plan area (PDF, 794KB).

Trial stages

The trial has 2 stages.

Stage 1 – Measurement plan set-up

  • preparing properties for measurement and developing a measurement plan for each participating property

Stage 2 – Event measurement

  • using the plans during overland flow events and testing how measuring and calculating water take works under different flow conditions

The length of the trial will depend on the timing and number of overland flow events. We need multiple events to fully evaluate the approach.

Current status

The trial is underway in the Lower Balonne water management area (PDF, 947KB). We are working with participants and developing measurement plans for their properties.

We will use the results from the trial to refine our measurement plan approach and to develop the operational and administrative requirements needed to put measurement plans into practice.

The non-urban water measurement policy and overland flow measurement trial are part of the Queensland Government's commitment under the Murray-Darling Basin Compliance Compact (PDF, 1.47MB) to improve water measurement and compliance in the QMDB.

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