Springs of Queensland - Distribution and Assessment (Version 4.0)

Abstract

This dataset and its metadata statement were supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and are presented here as originally supplied.

The information presents some data from a survey of spring wetlands throughout many areas of Queensland. The field surveys were conducted between 1995-2002. The data is almost complete for some areas and incomplete for other areas (see Data Quality Lineage below).

Purpose

Survey assessment of the health of spring-fed wetlands, including floristics, soils and water quality.

Dataset History

Spring wetland criteria

This database only includes springs with a permanent discharge, although springs from within the GAB region that have become inactive within the period of European settlement are also included.

Data type

GPS and survey - Sites field surveyed and complete field data available as per Fensham and Fairfax (2003).

Location only - Location recorded in field but complete field data not collected. These represent visited springs of little conservation significance or their conservation values are reflected by nearby spring wetlands for which field data is available.

Not visited - Sites determined from sources described in Fensham and Fairfax (2003), but unsurveyed.

Site number

Database number for GPS and survey springs (Data type field).

Region (within Queensland)

This field relates to the broad location and comprehensiveness (almost complete, incomplete) of the data. Bioregions follow Sattler and Williams (1999).

GAB Great Artesian Basin springs emanating from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) aquifers (Habermehl and Lau 1997). Almost complete for Queensland excluding Cape York Peninsula (see Fensham and Fairfax 2003).

Eastern Desert Uplands Areas straddling the boundary between the Desert Uplands and Brigalow Belt bioregions; outside the GAB; mostly associated with outcropping Dunda beds (incomplete)

Burnett Brigalow Belt bioregion; South-east of region outside GAB (incomplete)

Carnarvon basalt Brigalow Belt bioregion (Buckland Basalts sub-region); aquifers overlying GAB (incomplete)

Darling River Plain Brigalow Belt bioregion (Darling River Plain sub-region); aquifers overlying GAB (almost complete)

Western Desert Uplands Western end of Desert Uplands bioregion; aquifers overlying GAB (almost complete)

Donors Hill Gulf Plains bioregion (Donors Plateau sub-region); aquifers overlying GAB (incomplete)

Western Cape York Gulf Plains bioregion; northern end of region; aquifer overlying GAB (incomplete)

Einasleigh Einasleigh Uplands bioregion excluding GAB (incomplete)

Lawn Hill Northwest Highlands bioregion; northern end of region (almost complete for sandstone springs of region)

Mt. Isa Northwest Highlands bioregion; central area of region (incomplete)

Central Tertiary aquifers overlying the central GAB (incomplete)

Location (Latitude Longitude)

Spring locations are given in decimal degrees to three decimal places as this best reflects the positioning accuracy of the GPS technology employed during the survey. Locations for sites marked Not visited in the data type field have not been field surveyed and have variable accuracy depending on the data-source.

Active/Inactive

This field identifies whether springs are currently active or inactive. The inactive springs are only included for the Great Artesian Basin (Region). Inactive refers to a spring where no free water was visible at the ground surface.

NCA

Surveyed springs (S in origin field) that contain species listed within the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994 and therefore protected by the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Dataset Citation

"Queensland Herbarium, Environment Protection Agency" (2006) Springs of Queensland - Distribution and Assessment (Version 4.0). Bioregional Assessment Source Dataset. Viewed 07 December 2018, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/82749253-f555-47d9-ba76-7140c55b2a65.