The floodplain sedimentology of Cooper Creek. Why billabongs (waterholes) in the Channel Country start and stop

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dc.contributor.authorNanson, GCen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLarsen, JRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFagan, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJones, BRen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-06T01:31:45Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-09-06T01:31:45Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2009-08-24en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-01-14en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe Channel Country of western Queensland consists of a low gradient anastomosing channels inset in muddy floodplains in a desert climate. Annual transmission losses are large, averaging 75-80% of total volume along a ~400 km reach of Cooper Creek. Billabongs (waterholes) are common and consist of local channel expansions in the mud-lined anastomosing network, as well as isolated scour-channels on a floodplain that is formed of 2-3m of clay-rich mud. Both the primary anabranching and overbank flood channels carry water during large floods but only the billabongs store water for long periods of drought, making them vital to the ecology and agriculture of the region. Despite penetrating a very extensive underlying Pleistocene-age sand body, they are impermeable much of the time. However, transects away from several billabongs reveal marked increases in salinity and provide compelling evidence that they act as fresh-water ‘entry valves’ through an otherwise impermeable muddy floodplain. The base of each billabong is scoured during floods, enabling large volumes of surface water to be dumped into the 10 m deep saline aquifer. As flows decline the billabongs self-seal with mud such that fresh water can be stored for a year or more. Transmission losses along Cooper Creek were initially believed to be due to evaporation, however, the lack of any solute concentration between gauging stations along the ~400 study reach, suggests that of the ~1.8 km3 of surface flow lost from the ~3.0 km3 entering the upper end of the study reach, most leaks through the base of the billabongs. Such massive losses also account for why the billabongs in the form of large and efficient channels, terminate after just a few kilometres. They reform repeatedly at locations where conditions are suitable, but their numbers decline downstream in accordance with the loss of total flow-volume.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationNanson, G. C., Larsen, J. R., Cendón, D. I., Fagan, S. D. & Jones, B. G. (2009). The floodplain sedimentology of Cooper Creek. Why billabongs (waterholes) in the Channel Country start and stop. Presentation to the 9th International Conference on Fluvial Sedimentology, San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, 24th-28th August 2009, (pp. 50-51).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate28 August 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename9th International Conference on Fluvial Sedimentologyen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSan Miguel de Tucuman, Argentinaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate24 August 2009en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination50-51en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13736en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherUniversidad Nacional de Tucumán, Fundación Miguel Lilloen_AU
dc.subjectFloodsen_AU
dc.subjectQueenslanden_AU
dc.subjectDesertsen_AU
dc.subjectClaysen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectDroughtsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.titleThe floodplain sedimentology of Cooper Creek. Why billabongs (waterholes) in the Channel Country start and stopen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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