For Key Groundwater-dependent Systems
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The Department of Water undertakes regular water level monitoring to evaluate the condition of the groundwater resource and to assess compliance with Environmental Water Provisions (EWP) water level criteria set in Ministerial conditions. EWPs are the water levels that are determined through the water allocation decision making process and take into account ecological, social and economic requirements. The primary focus of EWPs on the Gnangara and Jandakot Mounds is the protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems.
Wetland water level data is obtained from staff gauges that identify surface water levels, or from adjacent groundwater monitoring wells when the wetland dries. Groundwater level monitoring data is obtained from monitoring wells which have water level criteria established for the protection of phreatophytic native vegetation (vegetation dependent upon direct access to the water table) or the protection of Declared Rare Flora. A selection of hydrographs have been chosen to provide an indication of water levels across the Jandakot and Gnangara Mounds. Compliance or non-compliance with environmental conditions is determined by comparison of actual water levels against EWP water level criteria.
Over recent years, water levels have fallen below minimum criteria levels
at a number of sites. In many areas on the Gnangara Mound water levels
are at their lowest ever recorded. To find out what the causes are and
how this is being addressed, go to the Gnangara Mound section of our web site.
Please note that water level data for Thomsons Lake has been provided by the Water Corporation of Western Australia.
