2.1.5.1 Observed data


2.1.5.1.1 Stream stage and groundwater levels

Stream stage comparisons to local groundwater levels are presented in consultant reports of the water balance and conceptual groundwater model of the Gloucester subregion (Parsons Brinckerhoff, 2013a, 2013b; AGL, Dataset 2), and the data is reproduced with permission in Figure 15. These data show that bores between 4 and 662 m distant from the gauge are consistently above the measured river stage. At times in 2013 and 2014 when the gauge is at cease-to-flow levels, the bores retain a water level above this value. There is a consistent gradient shown where the most distant bore has the highest water elevation, and slopes toward the stream gauge level as closer bores have levels more similar to the stream stage. This is a necessary condition for a gaining stream.

Figure 15

Figure 15 Stream stage (TWS01) and bore hydrograph records (TMB01, TMB02 and TMB03) for Avon River gauging site in the Gloucester subregion

CTF indicates the cease to flow point for the gauge, and GL indicates the ground elevation of each bore

Bore distances are: TMB01 4 m, TMB02 328 m, and TMB03 662 m from gauge

Data for single gauges and observation bores are presented in Figure 16. These are on tributary streams of the Avon River and show the same features as each other, and provide further support for the hypothesis that the Avon River is a net gaining system.

Figure 16

Figure 16 Stream stage and nearby bore hydrograph records for Avon River gauging sites ASW01 and ASW02 for the Gloucester subregion

CTF indicates the cease to flow point for the gauge, and GL indicates the ground elevation of each bore

Bore distances are 455 m from AMB01 to ASW01, and 18 m from AMB02 to ASW02

2.1.5.1.2 Water quality data

Flow and water quality data for the monitored streams of the Gloucester subregion were supplied by NSW Office of Water (Dataset 1). The water quality data from the NSW Office of Water consists of a series of samples taken at irregular intervals, and analysed for major anions and cations, salinity, turbidity, etc. Table 16 shows the first and last sample dates, along with the total number of electrical conductivity (EC) records over that period for Gloucester gauges.

Table 16 Temporal range and number of stream water electrical conductivity records for gauges in the Gloucester subregion


Gauge name

Gauge ID

Start date

End date

Salinity samples

Avon River at Wenhams Cox

2080019

11 Nov 1994

12 Nov 1997

33

Avon River at Gloucester

2080017

11 Nov 1994

16 Sep 1997

19

Gloucester River at Gloucester

208020

09 Mar 1999

03 Jul 2007

72

Gloucester River at Doon Ayre

208003

02 Jun 1971

06 Jun 1990

115

There is no description of the sampling strategy, storage or analysis methods included with the quality data. The simplest parameters such as EC, pH, and temperature can be made in the field, while those more complex such as specific ion concentrations will be laboratory based. The accuracy of each measurement is related to the specific techniques and instruments used in the field or laboratory to derive them, and is unknown at this time.

As part of a water monitoring investigation, Parsons Brinckerhoff (2012) analysed the water chemistry of the alluvial aquifer, shallow weathered rocks, coal seams and interburden layers. They concluded that:

Alluvial aquifer water quality is fresh to brackish, sodium-chloride dominant, with minor dissolved metals, minor detection of naturally occurring TPH, and no detection of dissolved methane or BTEX compounds.

Shallow rock water quality is brackish, sodium-chloride-bicarbonate dominant, with minor dissolved metals, low to moderate dissolved methane concentrations, and minor detections of naturally occurring TPH and toluene at a few sites.

Note that in this quote, ‘TPH’ is an acronym for ‘total petroleum hydrocarbons’ and ‘BTEX’ represents ‘benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene’.

The water in the two aquifers appears to be similar, except that the shallow rock aquifer is more saline. This supports the hypothesis of discharge to the alluvial aquifer making it more saline, and then this water is mixed with rainfall recharge and discharged to the stream.

Last updated:
22 January 2019
Thumbnail of the Gloucester subregion

Product Finalisation date

2018