Water Security for Northern Australia program: Daly River catchment (NT)

Project locations: Douglas Daly, Katherine

Project partners: Charles Darwin University (CDU)

Project summary and impacts

The Daly River catchment is one of four focal nodes within the Water Security for Northern Australia (WSNA) program, which is investigating how water resources can support sustainable economic development while protecting culturally and environmentally significant ecosystems across northern Australia. The Daly River region supports important agricultural industries, including mangoes and broadacre crops, and contains one of the Northern Territory’s most significant river systems.

This project brings together hydrology, climate science, ecology, agriculture and social science research to better understand the interactions between groundwater, surface water, ecosystems and agricultural development in the Daly River catchment. Research activities include modelling future climate impacts on water resources, improving understanding of the Oolloo Dolostone aquifer and spring systems, assessing the impacts of wet season water extraction on floodplains and ecosystems, and exploring opportunities and barriers for agricultural diversification and sustainable crop production.

The project is also working closely with Traditional Owners, government and industry stakeholders to inform future water allocation and management decisions that balance environmental, cultural and economic outcomes. Through improved understanding of water systems, climate risks and agricultural practices, the research aims to support resilient farming systems, biodiversity conservation and long-term water security across the Daly River catchment.

Node contact: Dr Dylan Irvine, Outstanding Future Researcher – Northern Water Futures, Charles Darwin University, email: dylan.irvine@cdu.edu.au

Online publications:

Producing Hydrological Projections under Climate Change: A Groundwater-inclusive Practical Guide was published in the journal Earth’s Future, 2025.

 

Background:

This Water Security for Northern Australia (WSNA) program is being delivered through a partnership between the CRCNA and the Northern Australia Universities Alliance.

The WSNA program will develop and implement a series of research projects which address problematic issues which are constraining sustainable water resource utilisation in four key precincts or focal nodes across Northern Australia. These focal nodes are (Gilbert catchment (QLD), Daly River (NT), Ord River Irrigation Area (WA) and Lower Fitzroy catchment (QLD)).

These focal nodes were selected by the CRCNA based on prior assessments and consultation indicating they are likely locations of further water resource development pressure.  In order to develop such a series of research projects, it was first required that the relevant stakeholders in each focal node be engaged in a co-design process.

The four focal nodes were developed through a 5-month engagement phase and now report to regional stakeholder advisory groups: Co-design phase of the Water Security for Northern Australia.