2.6.1.1 Methods

Summary

A generic methodology for surface water modelling in the Bioregional Assessment Programme appears in companion submethodology M06 (as listed in Table 1) (Viney, 2016). This section describes the departures from that generic methodology that have been applied in the Hunter subregion.

Surface water modelling of the Hunter subregion includes landscape water balance modelling and river modelling. Streamflow inputs are obtained by accumulating output from the Australian Water Resources Assessment (AWRA) landscape model (AWRA-L) for input into the AWRA river model (AWRA-R). Baseflow contributions from the Hunter subregion groundwater model are also fed into the AWRA-R model at points along the river network. Thus, the river model integrates the impacts of mining development on groundwater and surface water systems.