Author(s): K. Fowler; R. Morden; C. Wiesenfeld; P. Delaney; N. Kiely; L. Walpole; L. Lowe
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Farm dam; Regionalisation; Murray Darling Basin; Hydrological model
Abstract: Regional farm dam characteristics have previously been developed for Victoria. In some cases these farm dam characteristics have been adopted for modelling outside of Victoria without any confirmation that they are representative of the local region. This paper describes the revision of these farm dam characteristics using data from across the Murray Darling Basin (MDB). The equation relating dam volume and surface area is validated with a larger dataset than previously. The magnitude and pattern of on-farm water use is explored using remotely sensed evapotranspiration data at a fine spatial scale. A new method for estimating a dam's upstream area is developed using high resolution terrain data. Lastly, the uncertainty associated with these regional farm dam characteristics is explored using a Monte-Carlo framework. The results of this study provide a greater degree of confidence in estimates of farm dam impacts across the MDB.
Year: 2011