Data Set Name:
Short Description:
Surface Water Subcatchments
The sub-catchment layer contains boundaries of discrete areas within catchments that each defines the
watershed of a major tributary or tributaries. Attributes include the names of basin, catchment and subcatchment, and sub-catchment area. Related layers include catchments, reservoir catchments and
gauging station catchments.
Update Frequency:
As required
Last Updated:
June 1998
Organisation:
Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources (DEWNR)
File Location:
http://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/Downloads
File Format:
ESRI Shapefile
Author:
DEWNR DEWNR.CustomerServiceCentre@sa.gov.au
Mentors:
Chris Roberts chris.roberts@sa.gov.au
Trent Daley trent.daley@sa.gov.au
Themes:
Boundaries Conservation, Boundaries Management, Water Management, Water Quality Management,
Water Surface Management
Meta Data
The boundaries were digitised on-screen (heads-up digitising) using contour and drainage layers as the reference
for the ground topography. The contour and drainage spatial layers were 1:50,000 scale TOPIS data obtained from
the Environmental and Geographic Information Division of the Department for Environment and Heritage circa
1997. Coastal linework was also sourced from the TOPIS database. In hilly areas with high contour detail, the
catchment boundaries were digitised on-screen at scales around 1:10,000 using a minimum vertex spacing around
25m. In other areas a smaller scale and wider vertex spacings were used to suit the lower detail required. Where
linework is common to more than catchment dataset that linework is spatially coincident.
In general the spatial accuracy of the catchment boundaries is similar to that of the contour data, i.e. suitable for
use at 1:50,000 scale. In hilly areas with reasonably dense contour data the correct position of the catchment
boundaries could, generally, be determined with little uncertainty. In these areas, the catchment boundaries are
believed to be hydrologically correct at the scale and accuracy of the contour data. There is uncertainty as to the
correct position of the catchment boundaries in (a) flat areas with little contour detail, (b) areas with low relief and
complex contour detail (e.g. sand dunes and undulating country), and (c) urban areas where the surface drainage
is affected by stormwater infrastructure. In flat and low relief areas the boundaries are believed to show areas
that are likely to contribute to surface drainage under most conditions. However, during large flood events the
flow will cover a much larger area and may be reversed. In urban areas, stormwater infrastructure where available
was used as a guide, however, the catchment boundaries will only be approximate and must not be used at the
property scale.
The nomenclature created by the Australian Water Resources Council was used for basins. The name for
catchments and sub-catchments were taken from the major watercourse where named. Where a watercourse was
not named a locality name was used. Many small coastal catchments and catchments with undefined terminal
drainage were not named. Names were sourced from maps, water management plans and informal sources.
Where the sources disagreed, the name was confirmed with the State Gazetteer (Geographical Names) database.
Field Definitions
SUBCAT_ID – Sub catchment numeric identifier
BAS_NUM – Basin numeric identifier
CATNAME – Main catchment name
SUBNAME - Sub catchment name
For more information on Water Resources in South Australia please refer to the DEWNR WaterConnect website:
http://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/WaterResources