Water balance analysis for Bobadeen Irrigation Scheme

Specifications

• Client: Glencore
• Scope:

  Verterra performed undertook a desktop analysis of the Bobadeen Irrigation Scheme comprised of 240ha irrigated pastures, primarily through crop water balance modelling and salt load modelling.  Parameter assessed and modelled to determine the key irrigation management drivers included:
  • Soil type,
  • Climate,
  • Crop type,
  • Management (e.g. irrigation frequency or irrigation salinity),
  • Crop-water balance (HowLeaky modelling),
  • Salt stores (SALF modelling),
  • Salt tolerance, and
  • Irrigation unit costs.

• Challenge:

  Ulan Coal operate under a salinity offset scheme to manage net salt export from their operation. Due to changes in the source loads and inventory, Ulan required a revieww to quantify salt leaving the Bobadeen Irrigation Scheme (BIS) through run-off or deep aquifer drainage.

• Solution:

  Verterra undertook a desktop water balance and salt load analysis for the BIS and presented results to the Ulan management team. These analyses allowed Ulan Coal to determine:
  • key management drivers to maintain a resilient irrigation scheme at various salinity tolerance levels; and
  • the appropriate size and metrics for the Salinity Offset Scheme (SOS), required by their Environmental Protection Licence (EPL). 

• Benefit to Client:

  Through the identification of the key management drivers, Verterra provided UCML with information to design and maintain a resilient irrigation scheme at various salinity tolerance levels.  Furthermore, through the quantification of the salt loads leaving the irrigation site, the salinity offset required under the mine’s EPL can be designed. 

• Market Sector: Mining
• Capabilities:
  • General land, water and vegetation technical services
• Location: NSW
• Year: 2014