Modelling the impact of subcatchment and regional scale drainage in the Blackwood Basin, Western Australia

This study assesses the impacts of several subcatchment and regional scale artificial drainage on on-site groundwater levels and salinity, and off-site streamflows, salt loads and lake discharge rates using a hydrological model LASCAM. The model is applied to the 21,147 km2 Blackwood Basin in southwestern Australia, much of which has been experiencing long-term rises in groundwater levels in response to large-scale clearing of native vegetation over the past 160 years. These rises in groundwater levels have led to substantial increases in stream salinity, waterlogging and land salinisation.