Management of the Great Artesian Basin in Australia and lessons for the world

The Great Artesian Basin is a vast confined aquifer underlying one fifth of the Australian continent. Springs discharged at the terminus of the aquifer and also through faults. They have exceptional biological and cultural values in an arid landscape. The aquifer was ‘discovered’ and de-pressurised with thousands of bore holes. Half of the springs became inactive. A government-funded project has replace the open bore-fed drains with giant taps and pipe-lines restoring some pressure. Springs are recovering. The preservation of springs should be an essential indicator of sustainable aquifer management but recovery is also possible.

Thanks to a Fellowship from the Institute of Advanced Studies, Prof. Rod Fensham, a renowned international expert on spring ecosystems, particularly in arid climate contexts, and founder of the Fellowship of the Spring (FoS), is serving as a Visiting Professor at the BiGeA Department from April 6 to May 16. As part of the activities related to the Fellowship, he is delivering a series of seminars and lectures at the Bologna and Ravenna campuses. In particular, on May 7 and May 13, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, he will hold two seminars at the Via S. Alberto 163 campus (Teaching Rooms) on topics related to the environmental role of springs.