1.1.6 Surface water – groundwater interactions

Summary

Detailed studies of surface water – groundwater interactions have been undertaken in specific areas of the Gwydir subregion but not for the subregion as a whole. General studies have suggested that groundwater discharges to most streams in the higher ground to the east and is recharged by streams in the lower lying areas to the west, although such relationships may be reversed in places depending on flow levels.

There have been some more detailed connectivity studies in the Gywdir subregion using a range of methods including field-based studies, examining groundwater contours and analysing groundwater hydrographs. These studies have investigated smaller river reaches and the results appear contradictory in places. This is likely to be due to variations in the study site and study scale, and climate and rainfall patterns at the time of each study.