Ord River surface water plan area

The Ord River basin is in the east of Western Australia's Kimberley region and drains an area of 55 100 km². At 650 km long the Ord River is one of the state's major river systems.

Ord River water resources

The Ord River is fed from its tributaries, the Dunham, Negri and Wilson rivers. The flow of the Ord River has changed dramatically since the Kununurra diversion dam and the Ord River dam were constructed on the river.

Water allocation planning for the Ord River

We released an Ord River allocation plan in 2006 setting out how the waters of the Ord River were to be shared amongst irrigation, power generation and downstream.

We are now updating the 2006 plan with a new plan that we will release for public comment in late 2011.

Why is the department updating the Ord plan?

We are updating the Ord River allocation plan to take into account new work that we have completed since the 2006 plan.

Our recent work to update the Ord plan includes:

• confirming the existing allocation limits
• establishing the licensing approach for allocations to the Ord River Irrigation Area expansion project
• establishing new hydro power generation rules
• defining dry and wet season releases from the Ord River dam for downstream uses and the environment.

How can I access information on the Ord that the department has produced?

We are committed to making our technical information that is used in the planning process available to the public.

Please click on the links to access the following documents:

Allocation plan and supporting documents

Ord River water management plan
Publish Date: 01/12/2006

Ecological reports

Assessment of pesticides in aquatic organisms : Ord River Western Australia
Publish Date: 11/07/2008

Environmental values, flow related issues and objectives for the lower Ord River, Western Australia
Publish Date: 01/07/2008

Ecological water requirements for the lower Ord River
Publish Date: 01/05/2007

Lower Ord River functional habitat mapping : evaluation and field trial of remote sensing platforms and imaging techniques
Publish Date: 12/12/2005

Lower Ord River : fish response to lowered Ord River flow [for Water and Rivers Commission]
Publish Date: 14/04/2003

Lower Ord River fish habitat survey [report to the Water and Rivers Commission]
Publish Date: 14/04/2003

Lower Ord River invertebrate habitat survey final report
Publish Date: 14/04/2003

Social and cultural reports

Gunanurang : (Kununurra) Big River : aboriginal cultural values of the Ord River and wetlands : a study and report for Water and Rivers Commission
Publish Date: 11/11/2004

Hydrological reports (or hydrogeological)

Hydrogeology of the Ord River irrigation area
Publish Date: 07/01/2003

Further information

For licensing information, please contact the Kimberley Regional office in Kununurra. Phone 08 9166 4100, or visit the Water regions website.

For planning information, please contact the Department of Water's Water Allocation Planning branch. Phone 08 6364 7600 or email allocation.planning@water.wa.gov.au.