The Tatiara proclaimed region, southeastern South Australia: hydrogeological investigations and groundwater management

Preliminary groundwater assessments indicated that groundwater use for irrigation purposes in some areas was close to or possibly exceeded acceptable levels of groundwater extraction. Monitoring of groundwater quality has shown increased groundwater salinity in a number of observation wells, particularly in the western part of the region. It is considered that these increases are mainly due to the localised leaching of salts left in the soil profile following irrigation. An assessment of groundwater resources has been made by determining the water balance of several areas within the region, total groundwater availability being the sum of the recharge to the aquifer and the lateral groundwater inflow. In order to maintain the maximum possible groundwater throughflow in these areas, groundwater use should not exceed localised recharge. - from Authors