MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog – State Supplement¶
Victoria¶
Version: 0.1 test template
Purpose: State-specific data sources and hydrological context for MIKE SHE models in Victoria
Complements: MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog – Australia (national datasets are not repeated here)
1. Hydrological Context¶
1.1 Climate¶
- temperate climate with winter-dominant rainfall in the south
- semi-arid Mallee in the north-west (about 250–350 mm per year)
- alpine climate with seasonal snow in the north-east
- long-term decline in cool-season rainfall and the Millennium Drought (2001–2009)
1.2 Landscape¶
- Great Dividing Range running east–west
- northern riverine plains draining to the Murray (Murray-Darling Basin)
- southern coastal basins (Otway, Port Phillip, Westernport, Gippsland)
- Western District volcanic plains with lakes and springs
1.3 Key Modelling Challenges¶
- dryland and irrigation salinity (Shepparton Irrigation Region, Mallee)
- Latrobe Valley coal mine dewatering and pit-lake rehabilitation
- groundwater-dependent ecosystems (Western District lakes, Gippsland Lakes)
- land-cover change after major bushfires
- groundwater-surface water interaction in unregulated rivers
2. Major Aquifer Systems¶
| Aquifer / System | Type | Modelling Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Basin (Murray Group limestone, Renmark Group, Shepparton Formation) | Sedimentary | Salinity, irrigation, shallow water tables |
| Otway Basin (Dilwyn Formation, Port Campbell Limestone) | Confined sand / limestone | Regional supply in south-west Victoria |
| Gippsland Basin (Latrobe Group, Boisdale Formation) | Confined sand | Coal mine dewatering, offshore depressurisation |
| Port Phillip and Westernport basins | Sedimentary | Urban and peri-urban use |
| Newer Volcanics | Fractured basalt | Lakes, springs, GDEs |
| Highland fractured rock | Fractured rock | Baseflow |
3. State Data Sources¶
| Component | Source | Content | MIKE SHE Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface water and groundwater monitoring | Water Measurement Information System | Streamflow, levels, groundwater levels, water quality | Calibration, boundaries |
| Groundwater and aquifer framework | Visualising Victoria's Groundwater | Bores, Victorian Aquifer Framework (VAF) 3D surfaces, salinity, GDEs | SZ layers, initial heads |
| Water licensing and use | Victorian Water Register | Entitlements, allocations, trade | Pumping and irrigation demand |
| Water policy and accounts | Water and Catchments Victoria | Victorian Water Accounts, groundwater management | Water balance checks |
| Soils and land | Victorian Resources Online | Soil and land surveys, soil profiles | Local UZ refinement |
| Geology | Earth Resources Victoria (GeoVic) | Geological maps, boreholes | Hydrogeological layering |
| Spatial data | DataVic | Vicmap Elevation (LiDAR), land use (VLUIS) | DEM refinement, land use |
| Native vegetation | NatureKit | Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) | Vegetation zones, rooting depth |
4. Water Management and Regulation¶
- groundwater is managed through Groundwater Management Areas and Water Supply Protection Areas
- rural water corporations (Goulburn-Murray Water, Southern Rural Water, GWMWater, Lower Murray Water) hold licensing and local data
- Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) manage waterways and floodplains and are a good source of local LiDAR and flood studies
5. Modelling Notes¶
- import the VAF surfaces directly as SZ layer boundaries in MIKE SHE
- use GMA and WSPA boundaries as zonation and reporting units
- represent irrigation drains in the Shepparton region with the MIKE SHE drainage option
- for Latrobe Valley models, include mine dewatering as pumping boundaries
- for Murray-side models, see also the Murray-Darling Basin supplement
6. Checklist¶
- VAF layers downloaded and clipped
- relevant GMA / WSPA identified
- WMIS gauges and bores selected
- licensed use obtained from the rural water corporation
- CMA flood studies and LiDAR checked