Beetaloo Region, Northern Territory
In the savanna landscapes of the Northern Territory, lies the Beetaloo Region, a broad landscape of open woodlands, grasslands and seasonal rivers shaped by strong wet and dry seasons.
During the wet season, heavy monsoonal rains flood creeks and river channels, briefly transforming the landscape. As the dry season sets in, surface water quickly disappears under intense heat. While rivers may run dry, groundwater continues to flow year-round through hidden limestone layers.
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This underground water is stored mainly in a major groundwater system known as the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer. It slowly moves through cracks and channels in the rock, supplying springs, wetlands and river baseflows long after surface water has vanished. Many ecosystems in the Beetaloo region depend on this hidden water to survive the dry season.
A culturally significant, groundwater-fed wetland.
Connected crustaceans
These underground waters are home to a rich community of groundwater animals dominated by small crustaceans, including shrimps, amphipods, copepods, ostracods and syncarids.
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Many of these animals are new to science. One shrimp species, Parisia unguis, was found across sites up to 300 kilometres apart. Genetic testing showed very little difference between populations, indicating that groundwater is well connected across large parts of the aquifer.
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Groundwater also supports diverse microbial communities. Bacteria that use oxygen, nitrate and sulfate were commonly detected and play an important role in nutrient cycling and groundwater health.
Pastoral leases depend on groundwater to provide reliable water for cattle.
Water that supports people and Country
Groundwater in the Beetaloo Region supports pastoral industries, regional communities and culturally significant water places for Traditional Owners. This region is under increasing pressure from development and water use and is one of Australia’s most prospective shale gas areas.
Protecting this resource requires careful planning, strong science and respectful engagement to ensure this vital system continues to support ecosystems, culture and livelihoods into the future.
Maxine Piggott