Close Explore CSIRO Close

Explore CSIRO

About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

CSIRO's core areas of impact
Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - Enquiries@csiro.au | Contact Us

Overview

 
 printer friendly view
 

Water for a Healthy Country Flagship overview

This Flagship is addressing one of Australia’s most pressing natural resource issues, the sustainable management of our water resources.
 

Definitions of Terms

Inactive or Dead storage volume is is the volume where water cannot be released through outlet structures.

Current volume is the volume of water currently stored

Active volume is the volume of water currently stored that may be released through outlet structures and is equal to the current volume less the inactive volume.

Spillway volume is the volume at the spillway crest level.

Full supply volume is the maximum volume that can currently be held safely within the storage. Note for gated storages this may be larger than the spillway volume.

Flood mitigation volume is a volume that the storage is managed to minimise the risks of downstream flooding and may vary throughout the year.

Percentage full is the percentage ratio of current volume to full supply volume. Note this may be greater than 100% in some cases.

Tributary inflow is the volume of water flowing into the headwaters of the storage over a period of time.

Storage catchment runoff is the volume of water flowing into storage over a period of time from the catchment between the headwater tributaries and the dam wall and upstream of the storage water surface.

Rainfall on storage is the average depth of rainfall over a period of time on the storage water surface.

Rainfall volume on storage is the volume of rainfall over a period of time on the storage water surface.

Storage inflow is the volume of water flowing into storage over a period of time that includes upstream tributaries, storage catchment runoff and rainfall on the storage.

Storage demand is the volume of water that has been requested to be released from the storage. Note this may be more than the storage release.

Storage release is the volume of water released to meet downstream demands. Note this may be less than storage demand due to release or operational constraints.

Storage spill is the volume of water discharged from the storage in excess of the storage demand.

 		 

Fast facts

  • The Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship is the largest research partnership focusing on water in Australia
  • The Flagship is a partnership of leading Australian scientists, research institutions, private enterprise, community groups, government, non-government organisations and CSIRO
  • The Flagship aims to achieve a tenfold increase in the social, economic and environmental benefits from water by 2025
  • We aim to deliver relevant and effective water management options for government, community and industry

Primary Contact

Dr Ross Ackland
Theme Leader: Water Resources Observation Network (WRON)
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
Phone: 61 2 6216 7044 
Fax: 61 2 6216 7111 

Location

Water for a Healthy Country
CSIRO Black Mountain
Clunies Ross St
Black Mountain ACT 2601
Australia
GPO Box 2697
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Contact

Ms Roz Lemon
Science Communicator
CSIRO Land and Water and
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
Phone: 61 2 6246 5863 
Fax: 61 2 6246 5800