Policy Drivers
The key policy drivers where connectivity has become an emerging issue in Australia include:
- Water scarcity and demand; as there has been significant increase in water use over the last two decades, particularly with expansion of irrigated agriculture. This has led to water allocation nearing, and in some cases exceeding, the defined sustainable limits of water resources in parts of Australia.
- Climate variability and water availability; as Australia's climate is characterised by highly variable rainfall, streamflow and aquifer recharge. This means dealing with extreme events of floods and droughts, the frequency of which may alter due to climate change.
- Impacts of groundwater extraction on surface water; concerning the issue of streamflow depletion due to groundwater pumping either capturing baseflow or inducing stream leakage. Recent work has focused on how current and projected groundwater use will reduce streamflow in the Murray-Darling Basin, and so impact on the integrity of the Cap.
- Stream salinisation; where the role of groundwater and connectivity processes in increasing salt loads in streams has been long recognised. Existing salt interception schemes along the River Murray are a good example of a conjunctive water management approach.
- Environmental water needs and ecosystem health; acknowledging that ecosystems such as particular wetlands, high baseflow streams and vegetation communities can have a dependency on the underlying groundwater system for their long term viability. This means that environmental water provisions should not be assessed and managed from just a surface water perspective, but also include a groundwater component.