research program 4
salinity mapping and hazard assessment
Murray Darling Basin Commission funded projects
Project Leader : Overall management Ken Lawrie, with sub-project leaders John Wilford, Geoscience Australia
Start date and duration: March 04- end June 08
Participants : Geoscience Australia, CSIRO Exploration and Mining and Land and Water, Australian National University, Adelaide University
Brief project description :
This is a co-investment project between MDBC, DPIVic, and CRC LEME, and liked to activities in CRC Salinity. Over the past 3 years, strategic research projects covering 4 key areas of project activity have been carried out. These are:
1. Catchment characterisation and management. This activity has focussed on evaluating the value-adding potential of regolith geoscience for salinity management in dryland landscapes. The focus has been on developing value-added GFS approaches, and is linked to evaluation in salinity modelling and investment decision making tools in CRC Salinty.
2. Floodplain salinisation processes. Activities include the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of airborne geophysics and regolith-landscape modelling for salinity studies on the Murray Floodplain, and assessment of climate impacts on extent of salinisation.
3. In-stream processes. This activity is focussed on demonstrating how geomorphology/sedimentology and sub-surface architecture studies of floodplain environments can assist with understanding salinity processes, as well as contributing to better estimates of surface-groundwater interaction and sub-surface flow paths;
4. Salt Interception Investi ga tions. This sub-project was established to assess the value of in-river nanoTEM conductivity mapping to optimise salt interception schemes.
Scientific Deliverables (new scientific advances)
- New methods for mapping and predicting salinity in upland landscapes, and relating these to management actions.
- New products for understanding salinisation processes in floodplain landscapes.
- New insights into floodplain landscapes, surface-groundwater connectivity, and salinity dynamics in floodplain landscapes.
Deliverables to Client (Adoption mechanisms)
- Publication of MDBC ‘Knowledge Series' publications (listed below) for distribution jointly by MDBC and CRC LEME to clients across the Murray-Darling Basin (relevant more broadly).
- Or ga nise and run regional workshops on the value-adding potential of the new GFS methodologies. Target audience is CMAs (and Irri ga tion cooperatives for AEM products)
- Publication of maps and digital data through web-interface on LEME website.
- Stand-alone products (digital) of value-added GFS constructs (for sub-catchment scale use)
- Incorporation of LEME products as data layers or 3D constructs into hydrogeological and NRM planning models and tools.
- Reports, knowledge transfer workshops and on-line materials.
- Joint workshops with CRC Salinity to assess the uptake of P4 research into CRCFFI.
Impacts
• Improved salinity predictions in upland landscapes
• Improved salinity, groundwater and surface water management in floodplain landscapes
• Input into salinity interception scheme and disposal basin design.
• Uptake of LEME products will be greatly aided by partnering with MDBC to disseminate products tailored for a specific audience (eg CMAs and NRM managers more generally)
• Participation in MDBC-facilitated workshop on GFS methodologies should also be of great benefit in science adoption with key peer and clients groups
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